I spent nearly three months planning my trip to Iceland, but as soon as I thought I was done planning.... I realized I had forgotten something! Tours! Ok, you're probably thinking jump-on-a-giant-bus-with-50-people type of tour. No, that's not what I am talking about. Although Iceland has so many different terrains and natural attractions that anyone can wander to, some of these activities need to be guided by experts. While whale watching and horseback riding sound fun, I wanted something a little bit more thrilling so I decided on Katla ice cave and snorkeling in Silfra. There are plenty of companies who offer tours in Iceland but I went with Arctic Adventures because they seem the most stress-free, organized, and that the group is very small.
Let's start with the ice cave... I have never been inside an ice cave before, let alone one under Katla, an active volcano. We were already in Vík so we met on location, however if you are in Reykjavík, they also pick up from there. There were only 6 of us and our guide Stefan. We hopped into a Super Jeep and drove through black sand with movie-like landscapes and jaw-dropping sights that a normal car wouldn't be able to get through. I love how Stefan also did some tricks going over crazy dunes and such. About 45 minutes later, we strapped on our crampons and hiked out across the Myrdalsjokull glacier before arriving at the black and white ice cave of Kötlujökull glacier on Mt. Katla. It was sooooo coooooool!!! PS. These photos are NOT black and white photos, they truly look like this in real life!
As for Silfra... Snorkeling in Iceland? Unheard of, I thought! However, my excitement grew as I was researching and soon I was completely fascinated with the idea of swimming (well, snorkeling) between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plate. The Silfra fissure, located in the heart of Thingvellir National Park, is one of the world’s most desirable snorkeling spots. From above, it doesn't look like much but through the water, it has perfect visibility (reaching somewhere around 150 meters) of supernatural shades of blue and incredible rock formations. We chose to meet on location for the "Into the Blue - Snorkeling Tour" because we were already exploring the Golden Circle that day. If you want to get picked up from Reykjavík, you can choose the "Snorkeling in Sifra Fissure from Reykjavík" tour instead. Instruction to the meeting point was very clear and simple. After the staff and snorkeling instructor set up all the equipment, we (again, it was just a small group of 6) were given a detailed rundown of everything. Although the water at Silfra is 2°C, I didn't feel cold at all. I was layered up in an insulated jumpsuit and a neoprene dry suit. I also had on a neoprene hood and neoprene wet gloves which protected my head and hands from the cold. We were also provided with fins, mask and snorkel. To be honest, I know how to swim but I am never truly comfortable in water of any kind but the drysuit helped me float and all I had to do was, well, float (and frog-kick with your feet). Snorkeling in Silfra is probably one of the coolest things I have ever done and what a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Did I also mention this is the clearest water on Earth??? Like c'mon, you kind of HAVE to experience this!
Thank you Arctic Adventures for sponsoring us and for these incredible experiences that I will never forget!
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