{"id":7447,"date":"2018-06-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-06-05T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rent.is\/camperstories\/the-magic-of-iceland\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T12:02:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T12:02:31","slug":"the-magic-of-iceland","status":"publish","type":"camperstories","link":"https:\/\/www.rent.is\/de\/camperstories\/the-magic-of-iceland\/","title":{"rendered":"The Magic of Iceland"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have a little secret, and I\u2019ll share it here with you. But only because you all are fellow camper van lovers<\/a> and adventure seekers. I discovered something in Iceland in April. Guess what it was? It was\u2026\u2026..Magic. Yes, Magic. Although in retrospect, I suspect this magic is present in Iceland every month of the year, but I\u2019d like to believe it was a unique experience I was gifted with at just the right moment. Why was it so magical in April, you ask? Spring in Iceland is a transitional time bookended by very extreme and diverse conditions when you consider Winter and Summer. In the springtime, you have both the snow covered peaks contrasting with the dark basalt rocks AND you begin to see the moss and wildflowers peeking through the earth. It\u2019s simply magical!<\/p>\n

\"Renault<\/a><\/p>\n

My two children and I explored Iceland in April via the Renault Trafic 3 camper van. Our journey took us 10 full days around the Ring Road. By the blessings and grace of the Norse Gods, we completed our adventure with open roads, amazing weather, furry animals, kind people, yummy Sk\u00fdr, warm pools, and restful nights. On the second to last day before returning our camper van, my kids and I did have a moment of sadness ~ we had become perhaps a wee bit emotionally attached to our van and just wished the journey could never end. I suppose this means we are already planning our next trip to Iceland!<\/p>\n

Test yourself:<\/strong><\/span> How much do you know about Iceland?<\/a><\/p>\n

Although one mere post could never do Iceland justice, I will attempt to be as concise but informative as possible in chronicling our journey, in addition to providing tips as you plan your own adventure! I am also very tempted to use an exclamation point after ever sentence, as a representation of how much I love Iceland. However, I will try to restrain myself.
\nNote on travelling with kids: You will want to stop and take pictures every 5 km. This will annoy your kids greatly. Do it anyway. Just tell them, \u201cIt\u2019s Iceland, baby!\u201d<\/p>\n

We traversed the Ring Road in a counter-clockwise direction. Spending days 1 and 2 in South Iceland, we hit up all the usual attractions: Seljalandsfoss, a swim at Seljavallalaug, Sk\u00f3gafoss, Sk\u00f3gar Folk Museum, and Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. Every one of these places are popular for a reason \u2013 they are incredible. We camped at Sk\u00f3gar Campground, at the base of Sk\u00f3gafoss. There were only a few other campers in the lot, and to see the waterfall at sunrise with a light dusting of new fallen snow with not a soul in sight was the best morning greeting.<\/p>\n

\"Iceland<\/a>\u00a0\"Hiking<\/a><\/p>\n

On the evening of the second day, we drove on to camp for the night at the Skaftafell campground, in Vatnaj\u00f6kull National Park. On the way there, I had hoped to take a detour to see Fja\u00f0r\u00e1rglj\u00fafur Canyon, but road conditions didn\u2019t allow for that. We set up camp at Skaftafell, where at this time of year the only two hiking trails open were: Brei\u00f0amerkurj\u00f6kull Glacier and Svartifoss. Both absolutely brilliant sites, and the basalt columns at Svartifoss were nothing like I\u2019d ever seen.<\/p>\n

\"Basalt<\/a>\u00a0\"Crystal<\/a><\/p>\n

Interjecting here with a note on campground conditions: Being April (pre-tourist season), many campgrounds were open but not fully \u201cready\u201d for tourists. Toilets\/showers were operable, but water was not running in the outdoor sinks, garbage disposal was a bit haphazard, and there were not many options for sheltered cooking areas (which made cooking with a propane stove challenging in the cold and wind). As long as you can laugh through this, all will be well, and will bring you closer to your fellow campers. And to the best of your ability, please clean up after yourself and dispose of your waste properly. Not everyone does this and it leaves a bad taste for the local communities. So let\u2019s all do our part to show respect to Icelanders and their home!<\/p>\n

Okay, back to the journey\u2026.<\/p>\n

Days 3 and 4 were spent enjoying the Eastern Fjords. J\u00f6kulsarl\u00f3n Glacier Lagoon<\/a> was every bit as stunning as you imagine, and an even bigger highlight was playing on Iceberg Beach, across the road from the Lagoon. If I were here in winter, exploring ice caves would definitely be on my list! On the third night, we rolled into Camping H\u00f6fn, and spent the evening at the local swimming pool. Swimming in an outdoor naturally heated pool with snowflakes falling on your head is pure joy. And a great way to have a cozy sleep – crawl into your sleeping bag toasty warm, with the wind rocking your van like a cradle.<\/p>\n

\"Viking<\/a>\u00a0\"H\u00f6fn<\/a><\/p>\n

One our way up the Eastern fjords<\/a>, we stopped in to visit the Viking Village, about 5 km North of H\u00f6fn. An abandoned movie set, and us being the only visitors, it was fun to imagine what life might have looked like at the time of the Vikings. Driving along the fjords was the treat for this fourth day. The rugged coastline and the dramatic peaks were simply stunning! Our goal for the fourth night was to reach Egilssta\u00f0ir Campground. To get there, we had to drive through a very cool 6 km long tunnel, which emptied us out on a snowy\/icy stretch of mountain road that was a bit hairy\u2026\u2026Thankfully, we arrived in Egilssta\u00f0ir unscathed, but we had passed a truck driver who was not so lucky. The snow banks had helped keep him and his truck from tumbling farther \u2013 snow to the rescue!<\/p>\n