A Family Adventure in Iceland: Glaciers, Geysers, Waterfalls & the Northern Lights

Brightsun staff member Mala recently experienced incredible Iceland and has shared some of her holiday highlights.

I visited Iceland for an Easter family holiday at the end of Iceland’s Winter season and my family and I were blown away with the epic adventures we experienced - the trip satisfied the energetic spirits of our teenagers and the natural landscapes were unforgettable. We had planned a 6 day tour, and learnt it was not enough. We plan to visit again in the summer season someday.

Here is an overview of the highlights we would recommend if you are visiting Southern Iceland:

We landed in the morning at Keflavík International Airport, and picked up our Suzuki Grand Vitara rental car from Lotus which was quick and easy. As we had 4 large suitcases packed with winter layers, it was a real struggle fitting them and us in the car, so make sure you plan better than we did for boot space!

There was a strong snowstorm when we landed and visibility was low when driving, so we kicked off the trip with a stop at the Krónan supermarket for some snacks and drinks, before heading into the capital. Our first real taste of Icelandic wonder came in Reykjavík — we spent the afternoon exploring the interactive Perlan Nature Museum, which gave us a great insight on Iceland’s natural energy forces, unique volcanic climate, and history of invasions. After that, we stopped off at Brauð & Co to pick up a local delicacy - freshly baked cinnamon buns.

We then drove to FlyOver Iceland where we enjoyed a thrilling 30 minute virtual flight that gave us goosebumps and glimpses of the breathtaking scenery that we would soon experience.

We chose to stay at the peaceful Hotel Rangá, our base for the next few nights, for several reasons: it had been featured on Married At First Sight UK and the hotel and cuisine looked amazing on the show, some friends had recommended it, and it was so rural; there was a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights with minimal light pollution. The restaurants here were incredible - Michelin star quality. We were recommended the half board option as it was amazing value.

The hotel had outdoor hot tubs, and despite there being a snowstorm and minus degree temperatures, we ventured there several times which was truly relaxing and refreshing after the long days sightseeing. With a games room, bar and lounge, there was ample space to relax together or mingle with other tourists.

The next day, we visited Hjörleifshöfði Cave which was on a desolate and isolated beach. As we went in the morning, there were no other tourists there, and we could clamber around freely inside the cave, take beautiful photos, and walk along the serene beach, only hearing the sounds of the sea.

Our next stop in the town of Vik was the most beautiful, stark and eerie Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach. The volcanic sand was so light to touch and the tide came in with such force and power it was fun running back and forth to avoid the crashing waves.

Even more magic came that evening with a waterfall crawl. We visited not one, not two, but five waterfalls. Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss were thunderous and powerful, but Kvernufoss — with its hidden trail that leads behind the falls — was an unforgettable highlight. We got soaked but didn’t care. Our daughter declared it “the coolest hike ever.” The secret waterfall at Gljúfrabúi was like stepping into another world. After drying off, we had dinner back at Hotel Rangá, warmed by hearty food and the hotel’s cozy atmosphere.

Next on our list was a visit to the Geysir Hot Springs with a front-row seat to geothermal action of the hot springs shooting out of the ground, which we captured luckily in a slo-mo video!

The next stop was Gullfoss Waterfall and whilst packed with tourists it was truly still spectacular. We went for lunch at Friðheimar — a tomato greenhouse restaurant — and be warned you must make reservations in advance. We had not and they were full, so we were directed to their brasserie instead and in the end, preferred it to the greenhouse which was unbearably hot (in our winter layers) and the vibe was very French Allo Allo, where we enjoyed large bowls of tomato soup with basil oil and chunky bread. Other quirky offerings on the menu included tomato beer and even tomato ice cream!

We did a drive-by past the Secret Lagoon, surrounded by rising steam and snowy views, then wrapped up the day with a visit to the colourful Kerid Crater. The winds were so strong, it was hard to keep balance but it was well worth it for the unforgettable views of the aquamarine lake in the deep crater.

Back at Hotel Rangá for our last night, we kept one eye on the sky, hoping for northern lights, but once again it was too cloudy so we missed out.

The next day, we slowly made our way back westwards, stopping at another stunning waterfall and a hike in Selfoss, well worth a visit. In the afternoon we went to an attraction that was conceived and designed by an Icelandic couple, inspired by a volcanic eruption, called The Lava Show. It was incredible –so informative to learn about volcanic eruptions and they had created a fake volcano with real lava from a volcano which they heated up so molten lava poured down it right in front of us! They did suggest not wrapping up too warm for that show and they were right! We finished the day with a serene drive around Lake Kleifarvatn and a walk through the Seltún geothermal area before settling into the Northern Lights Inn.

Our penultimate day started with a bucket-list moment: the Blue Lagoon. We deliberately booked an early morning slot to get in before the big crowds. You can stay as long as you want and about 2-3 hours is enough time to explore the entire lagoon, enjoy facemasks, a detoxifying juice at the bar, and relaxation in the steam and sauna rooms.  Floating in the warm, milky-blue water as the sun peeked over the horizon was surreal and rejuvenating. This was a truly memorable and calming experience and one we would repeat (although it was quite pricey).

Our last attraction was a tour of the Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel — a dramatic, colourful underworld surprisingly filled with stalagmites. We went on a fantastic guided walking tour and experienced a moment of complete darkness and silence to fully comprehend why there was barely any life in this incredible underground trove.

After six days of glaciers, geysers, and active adventures, we were ready for a quiet evening but every single evening prior, we had cloudy skies and no chance to see the Northern Lights. We spontaneously decided to book a last minute tour departing from Reykjavik, even though this meant we would return to our hotel around 2am and needed to check out by 6am for our flight. We took the risk and it absolutely paid off! Our tour took us to Thingvellir National Park, where there was all the right ingredients: cloudless night skies filled with stars! For an hour we got to experience pink, green and purple hues dancing across the sky. A fantastic tip from our guide, who was yelping with excitement as it had been a while since she has seen such a fantastic display, was to look at the lights through our mobile phone cameras (without torches on), which gave exceptional clarity to see all the vivid colours, compared to what the naked eye could see in the dark.

We made it back to our hotel, had no sleep, and returned home on our flight the next day so content.

Iceland gave us everything! Adventure, beauty, peace, and family memories that will last a lifetime.

To book your Icelandic holiday, call our team of friendly experts on 0208 819 0531, to curate your dream trip.