We wrapped up our stopover in Iceland with two absolute “must do’s”— an Icelandic pony ride and Geysir hot springs.
If Icelandic ponies were cars they would have two extra gears – not for speed but for performance. One second you are bouncing in a hard saddle like a rag doll thinking, “Well there goes my plan for a walking tour in the city tomorrow”, and then the next second, your pony has shifted into the Cadillac version of a trot called a tölt. Amanda fell in love with her pony like a girl on her 5th birthday. They have such great hair too. Multiple ponies had manes that would make a hairdresser drool. Imagine a mashup of “The Rachel” (remember those roots?) and “The Bieber comb-over.”
The ponies (even though they are tiny, they’re now called horses, but we all know pony is more fun to say) dot Iceland hillsides so it’s a cinch organizing a 2 hour, half-day, or full-day trip, and many outfitters will pick you up at your Reykjavik hotel.
Geysir is a thermal hot springs area about two hours from the capital featuring spouting water, bubbling hot pots and steam vents. If you recognize the name, it’s because it’s the original – all other superheated water spraying in the air has adopted the name from the father of all geysers. Unfortunately, idiot tourists in the 50’s nearly plugged him up by throwing rocks inside (thinking they could set him off) and he now only blows twice a day. Thankfully, there is another nearby called Strokkur that erupts every six minutes like clockwork.
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Hopefully by now, we’ve convinced you that Iceland is well worth a visit, and if you’ve found yourself sitting in your cubicle dreaming about a getaway, here is some basic information to set you up:
Getting There – If you’re flying to Europe from the US, you can take Icelandair and arrange a free stopover. The Blue Lagoon is only minutes from the airport, and a Golden Circle tour (featuring Geysir, Pingvellir, and a massive waterfall called Gulfoss) can be done as a day tour, so even a short stop is well worth it. There are direct flights from Seattle and many East Coast cities.
Getting Around – Renting a car is a must if you plan to see anything beyond Reykjavik or the Golden Circle. Driving is easy – once outside the city you’ll often travel twenty minutes to an hour without seeing another car.
When to Go – High season is short (June-August). Beyond that, expect snow and driving rain. Remember, at any given time you’re less than 200 miles from the Arctic Circle.
Cost – It’s not cheap, but it’s cheaper than it was before the country went broke. For two people, plan on $200-250/day if you rent a car.