I was traveling to Iceland in autumn, right after my birthday, for seven days. Holidays are the presents you can make to yourself and this one was just perfect. My best travel companion was up for a new adventure when she sent me the offer for this trip and asked twice maybe three or four times. How could I have resisted it? I signed up for the plan, drew some potential road maps, set some destinations and we could only gaze at pictures in astonishment until leaving. Read here How to Plan Your Trip to Iceland.

Day 1

Blue Lagoon

Hot 38 degrees water, heated steam, blue-ish , green-ishcolor from the Silica, Algae & Minerals brought from the underground, few saunas, and water jets. All in an Icelandic natural panorama. How great it is to be able to just disconnect! You’ll have a mud mask included, but you can pay for more, or even add a massage.

Blue Lagoon is amazing, you’ve probably seen tons of pictures on the internet. To be honest, I’ve read contrary reviews before going there. It’s too expensive, too touristic, too overrated, there are better options. It is expensive, true that, but I don’t regret at all those 50 Eur for the ticket. This is close to the airport and the capital city, so will be handy to pay a visit.

10 degrees or less? Who cares? Blue Lagoon geothermal spa

Make sure you bring towels and flip flops. And don’t be surprised or shy when they’ll ask you to shower naked before getting into the pool. Read about this common practice here. Oh, and don’t forget to buy your ticket online – you’ll have to choose for the access hour. This is a good option to organize the access to the spa, so not all the people will stay in a queue in the same time of day.

Mud mask at Blue Lagoonin Black and Blue Float and Have a Massage

If you want to understand a bit of their spa culture, remember that Icelanders go to natural hot tubs and swimming pools as we go to the bar. Due to the volcanic activity within the land, hot water is so common there that they use it everywhere: for the pools or to heat the cities.

Day 2

Snaefellness Peninsula

Going into the west means huge waterfalls, alluring fjords and dramatic cliffs. Overall, it’s very quiet and less visited by tourists. There are a few fish villages and towns where you can stop and wander. As a curiosity, Jules Verne used Sneffels (Snæfellsjökull National Park) as the setting for his well-known book “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”.

Firstly, we stopped in Borgarnes city and we saw a whale shot by chance. You never know, maybe it needed to feed some local stomachs or it got stranded on the shore.

In the west we saw our first waterfall in Iceland, called Bjarnarfoss: huge, close to a nice house and surrounded by large empty fields. Sheep were around. We were simply amazed. What I didn’t know at that time is that I’ll have plenty of waterfalls and I’ll be constantly wowed!

Bjarnarfoss Waterfall West Iceland

Rauðafeldsgjá is the first canyon I’ve seen in the country. You barely realize there’s a canyon, but you’ll find a plate in the parking lot with details. Go in and explore the narrow paths, it’s a short stop and it’s worth the walk.

Sheeps and Waterfalls SnæfellsnesView from the entrance of RauðafeldsgjáCanyonCanyon on SnaefellsnesPeninsulaPanoramic view of west Iceland

Arnarstapi is a small village, a must stop on your route, especially due to its cliffs. We’ve walked along the coastline although it was heavy raining and I’ve got wet to the skin. Gatklettur rock is a well-known attraction and it means “the rock with the hole in it”. I admit I didn’t find it, but I enjoyed the remnants of a large crater, Lóndrangar rock formation, you can spot it if you walk along the coast. Pretty close is Hellnar fish village, which seemed abandoned to me.

Ocean’s waves breaking into the cliffsTheLóndrangar Cliffs HellnarAbandoned swing West Iceland

Kirkjufell Mountain and Waterfall

We’ve reached Kirkjufell Mountain and Waterfall at dusk. It’s said to be one of the most photographed areas and you can imagine why.

Day 3

Golden Circle

It’s probably the most famous route, but you can’t go to Iceland without seeing the geysers, the wonderful Þingvellir National Park, or Gullfoss waterfall. If you don’t spend too much on every stop, you’ll also have time for Kerið Crater Lake.

I’ve been eager to reach Þingvellir National Park once I’ve heard it’s the place where you can dive in between the two tectonic plates: Nord American and Eurasian. If you thought Iceland was so magnificent with its natural beauties, let me also tell you that Iceland is divided by Mid-Atlantic Rift. This is the only place in the world where you can see it above sea-level, so the feeling of walking in this National Park is hype.

Thingvellir national park – Canyon Diving in Silfra Fissure

Historically, Þingvellir, which translates directly to “the fields of parliament”, represent an ancient form of Parliament. Starting 930 AD, men gathered here to discuss and take decision collectively.

After a few hours in the park, the next stop was at the geysers. The hot springs in this area spout from time to time and while the Geyser is barely active, the show is stolen by Strokkur. It erupts once in a few minutes and reaches more than 10meters.

Make sure you evaluate as good as possible the distances between the landmarks. When we’ve reached Gullfoss waterfall it was almost sunset. Gullfoss is atypical: it’s a two flow-stages waterfall, very large and kind of fury. The river flows so fast that it can fill 60 transportation containers in ONE SECOND. Can you imagine?

I believe that, if you want to get to know a country, you also need to get off the grid and out of the capital city. With this goal in mind, I am going to try to get you just a little bit interested in Apuseni region in the Western Romanian Carpathians. I have a list of things for you to do/try, always willing to add to the list.

Visit ethnographic museums built by locals by the side of the road to attract tourists.

10 minutes away from Bears Cave (one of the must-see caves in Apuseni), by the side of the road, you can visit the ethnographic museum set up by a family in Chișcău. It’s a mesmerizing mix of old cars, tractors, carts. Go into their backyard to see more and even get housing there for reasonable prices.

Local etnographic museum hosts tourists in Chișcău

Old wheels stored by Chișcău local etnographic museum

Walk around Roșia Montana AFTER visiting Geamănalake.

You might have heard of the controversy. Gold Corporation, a company controlled by the Canadians at Gabriel Resources, was set up with the sole purpose of exploiting gold in Roșia Montana, Apuseni. They promised to build the most modern mine in Romania. However, they faced popular scrutiny and resistance from Romanians who took to the streets in protest against the mining project as it planned to scrape two mountains from the surface of the earth.

The story gets even more interesting. You can see the effects of that sort of exploitation 30 minutes from Roșia Montana, a mine the communist state exploited back in the 80s. The government created an artificial reservoir in a valley close to a mountain crest and evacuated an entire village. The residuals flooded the valley that was once the home of an entire community. Decades later you can only see the dome of the local church rearing its head under the copper lake at the foot of the bald mountain. Yes, I meant it, the mountain was bald: no vegetation survived the exploitation. Locals from Roșia told us that exploitation is still going on despite a lack of proper paperwork and complete ignorance of environmental legislation.

Geamănalake, a toxic deposit from the mining pits of the 80s

You might imagine that my mind was already set: the mining project should never ever take place. And then I saw Roșia Montana. Deserted. It was like the war for the gold resources had scared all people away. Most of the population was once employed by the state mining company. People have relocated or emigrated in search of a better life. The local guide in the Roman mines dating 1900 years ago told us with regret that locals would love to work and mine the ~300,000 tons of gold that the underground hosts. Right now it’s all wasted, buried under the ground.

A fan of Age of Empires II The Forgotten? Visit the Apuseni castle that inspired it.

Corvin Castle, the Gothic castle, was rebuilt after a great fire based on what the architects imagined the castle should have looked like.

Go visit Corvin castle, featured in the video game as the wonder of Magyar civilization. The castle is situated high up on a mountain and is said to have been the prison for the Romanian ruler Vlad Dracul, the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Eat cheese pies baked on lespede (slab) traditionally prepared for weddings. And buy home-made honey you’ll pay for on your next visit.

Locals advertise their Moțești home baked pies on the side of the road.

Locals know how to cook and advertise it, they love to share stories on food if you grant them the time. One auntie sold us home baked cheese and dill pies just the way they cook them for wedding celebrations. Another local could not shut up about bees, honeycombs and how to nurture the patience to really understand them and appreciate their honey. When I could not buy more than one jar of honey (I did not have enough cash) he offered another: ‘You will pay next year when you get back’.

Lie on a green-green hill with scattered wooden cottages and haystacks, then listen to crickets and nothing else.

Not even kidding. If you take a long weekend off, wander into the green hills of Apuseni and just stay put. Look around, take photos and listen to crickets, that’s all you can hear for miles around. Refreshing, no? Maybe meditation was born in these places.

Discover small towns like Ștei and how it was built by the Soviets back in the ’50s to exploit uranium from the area.

Let yourself end up/sleep in weird places and … google them. I kid you not, you might find out more on the hidden history school books don’t tell. Like how Ștei town came into being and the melting pot of cultures that the city was made of, Romanians, lots of Russians and aromâni. Back in ’52 in an era of dependence on Russia, the Romanian government let the Russians come in and turn this small 200 houses village into a 20,000 inhabitant city. Why? They needed miners to exploit the wealth of uranium discovered in the area. In four years time, they built the entire town: blocks of Soviet flats, infrastructure and transportation railroads to take the uranium out of the country. Tones and tones of premium quality uranium exited the country and ended up in Russia on the account of economic deals made between the two countries. Now, with the mining industry as a whole seeing its demise, the town looks and feels dead, stuck in its history, unable to reinvent itself.

Meziad Cave boasts an awe inspiring entrance. and hosts 12 species of bats out of the 27 still roaming Europe.

Have fun with trivia on the 12 species of bats living in the Meziad cave.

Did you know bat excrement is the BEST natural fertilizer ever? Or that bats use sound as GPS? That they are more scared of us than we are of them? Enter Meziad cave, amazing bat stories await you in the dark to tell stories long forgotten. Take in the cold air and the biology lesson. Enjoy the cold silence of the cave and photograph this amazing entrance.

OK, so summer vacation has been a lot on my mind lately. And the first thing that comes to my mind is the beautiful island of Thassos. With its diverse beaches and crystal clear water, this gem of the Mediterranean is also known as the “emerald island” thanks to it lush pine forests. It’s simply the dream destination for our summer vacation!

And there’s no doubt of that considering this year it will be our 5th time there! I must admit that at first, I didn’t even consider it as a probable destination. It seemed too popular and commercial, what could it possibly have to offer? And that’s actually what everyone asks us every time we say we’re going back. Aren’t you bored? Why not visit other places, too… explore a little while you’re young? Isn’t Thassos more like a family/elders kind of spot? And the list goes on.

I could have never anticipated the deep connection and unexpected love I felt for this piece of land. Each summer they draw me back to Thassos. And this is how, after taking a break last year to visit Spain (more on that to come), my boyfriend and I felt the need to take the safe, known and beloved road to Thassos this year.

Why choose Thassos?

Everyone goes to Greece for the sea and the beaches, and Thassos has over 50 beaches to choose from. So here ‘s a list of our favorites, the main reason we keep coming back:

Marble Beach

Also known as Saliara, this is probably the most popular and beautiful beach in Thassos and all because of its deep turquoise color that resembles a tropical beach.There used to be a bar there where you could rent beach beds, umbrellas and also buy refreshments or a sandwich. Now you have to bring your own, but it is so worth it! You should also know that the road is not the best. That is why it’s a good idea to rent an ATV from Limenas or Golden Beach and improvise a 30 – 40 minutes safari to the beach.

Marble Beach, Thassos

Marble Beach, Thassos

Paradise Beach

This is my favorite beach by far because the water is crystal blue and so clear you can easily see your toes Also because it has fine sand all the way in the water, it’s shallow and I’ve had the best musselssaganaki (tomato sauce and feta cheese) at the restaurant on the beach.

Also, this is the best spot to come if you like a wavy sea. Even on the sunniest, most clear-skyed of the days, at Paradise Beach there are always waves to play in. Some days they’re rougher than the others, but they are always a lot of fun!

Paradise Beach Thassos

Paradise Beach Thassos

Paradise Beach Thassos

Golden Beach

We stayed twice in this village and we loved how intimate it felt. The sea is clear, sandy and shallow and there’s a rock from which the brave (boyfriend included) take turns jumping into the sea. Last time we went, you would get 2 beach beds, an umbrella and a drink for 5 euros – neat!

Golden Beach Thassos

Golden Beach Thassos

Golden Beach Thassos

Blue Bay Beach

I don’t actually think this beach has a name, but that’s how I call it after the only hotel you can see in the area, somewhere up on the cliffs. I think it’s actually one of the hidden gems of the island as it’s very little and looks kind of deserted but it’s the perfect spot for snorkeling (and skinny dipping  ). It’s not reachable by car, you have to drive up to a spot and then continue by foot, and you might want to keep your crocs on when swimming – thank you sea urchins!

Needless to say, there are no bars, beach beds, toilets or anything of the likes on this beach. So bring your own umbrella and lunch if you’d like to stay longer. Also, it’s good to know that this beach is close to Golden Beach, so worst case scenario you can go back there for shade and food.

Blue Bay Beach Thassos

Blue Bay Beach Thassos

Blue Bay Beach Thassos

Pefkari Beach

It’s perfect for snorkeling, that’s probably why they also have a scuba diving center here. You can also find one in Potos, but Pefkari is less crowded. It also doesn’t hurt that when you’re finished swimming you can grab a delicious lunch from one on of the many restaurants nearby.

Pefkari is also known as one of the most colorful seaside villages in Thassos, thanks to its’ vibrant vegetation, but also to the traditional buildings in gorgeous shades of blue.

Note: the photos below are not taken during a scuba dive session. My boyfriend took the photos while snorkeling around, so there’s a lot to see!

PefkariThassos

PefkariThassos crab

Pefkari Beach Thassos

PefkariBEachThassos

PefkariThassos

PefkariThassos

Aliki Beach

It’s a very small beach, so make sure you arrive early in order to grab a sunbed, or two. If you know you like to sleep in, or you are a larger group you can book the sunbeds a day in advance from one of the tavernas. The sea is beautiful, though rocky. However, the main attraction for me is the road that leads you up the cliffs, with a gorgeous view of the sea and that ends at an archaeological site.

Aliki Beach Thassos

Aliki Beach Thassos

Aliki Beach Thassos

Aliki Beach Thassos

Aliki Beach Thassos

AlikiArcheological Site Thassos

Trypiti Beach

This is a wide sandy beach, not very crowded and popular with families that stay at the hotel placed right on the beach. I wouldn’t mention this one if it wasn’t for a lagoon nearby. It’s not necessarily swim-able, but it looks pretty. You can also rent sunbeds here and eat really well.

TrypitiThassos

Trypiti Lagoon

Livadi Beach

Livadi is a small beach, a good option if you want to avoid the crowded beaches. It’s not sandy, so bring your crocs with you as the shore is quite rocky and you risk injuring your feet getting into the water. There’s a small beach bar that serves sandwiches and drinks, but there’s no toilet in sight. I suppose the closest one is taking the car up back to the main road and finding the first restaurant, but that would be a while. Actually, when we were there last time and asked where the toilet is, the guy at the bar pointed laughing to the sea… so be prepared to take that way or the highway, literally!

Livadi Beach Thassos

Livadi Beach

What you can skip

Makryamos Bungalows

We didn’t stay there, but many seem excited of the ideal position and the 4 stars they promise. We visited someone there and rooms seemed very old, with paint peeling off the ceiling. The beach is also not the best I’ve seen on the island and it all seems isolated from the beautiful sights of Thassos.

Makryamos Bungalows Thassos

Makryamos private beach

Potos beach

It’s a great place to base your accommodation, but don’t bother to go to the beach. It’s so crowded and it really doesn’t offer anything out of the ordinary. Rent a car (if you don’t have one) and explore the island.

Limenaria Beach

Same situation as in Potos, only the beach here is not necessarily crowded, but very small.

Giola

You will see mesmerizing photos of this natural pool, nestled on the rocky shores, but most of them are edited. The water is dirty and stinky, the rocks are crawling with some kind of bugs and it’s a long rocky walk to get there and back. Many who’ve been there liked it and will advise you it’s a “must-see”, but I wouldn’t hurry back.

What else?

If you liked this article, make sure to let us know, we will get back with:

The best road to Thassos and how to plan it

A food guide of the island

What is there to see in Thassos on a rainy day…

Play some SigurRós in the background and get in the mood for Icelandic sounds. You can add some videos for the perfect experience, as they`ve promoted the country on certain cases. Heima (EN: At home) is a documentary about the band’s tour around Iceland in the summer of 2006. Gusgus, Bjórk, or Monsters and Men may work also.

This is not a post about Icelandic musicians, but I think it can get into the proper atmosphere.

The Viking, the elves or other magical spirit put a spell on this ground. Try not to make fun of these spirits while you are there, some natives are still believing in their existence. Even more, this is a land with multiple sagas. So many waterfalls, canyons, and other natural wonders come with a story, make sure you read all the nameplates and details around it.

Canyon on Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Raudfeldsgja Canyon

Rock Totem in a fish Village, Arnarstapi

In Iceland, you can find a big void and only a few concentrations of cities. Or I’d better call them fish villages that look unoccupied. So, expect to meet locals quite rarely. Almost the entire population lives in the capital city, Reykjavík, and the people outside the capital are living a secluded life. However, don’t expect to be alone everywhere. When you’ll stop at well-known landmarks that are at a short distance from Reykjavík you’ll have all the tourists and photographs gathered.

Secluded House in Iceland

Photographers in Iceland

Svartifoss waterfall

snaefellsnes west iceland

Below are my personal recommendations if you plan a trip to Iceland.

I consider Iceland the most special place I’ve visited until now, so don’t judge if this sounds like a biased post.

#1: Take at least one week off for this trip

Don’t go just for Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon, it’s a pity.

You want a summary of what Iceland is all about? Remember it’s also called the land of fire and ice. It’s about natural wonders; it has volcanoes and ice, protected moss, tiny cities, secluded and peaceful homes, sheep crowds (more than actual Icelanders).

Icelandic Horses

Cottages in West Iceland

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Moss field

Icelandic Kid, who we called “little troll”

Our personal experience

One amazing week, but still not enough. And a comeback checklist: Highlands, hike around that impossible to remember mountain that erupted in 2010 (Eyjafjallajökull is a volcano completely covered by an ice cap), sleep in a secluded Icelandic house, drive Route 1 completely (which includes going North).

Wondering what to visit in Iceland? Stay Tuned! I’ll publish my 7-days trip recommendations pretty soon!

#2: Plan ahead

Make sure you put on the list all the places you want to see. And do a more thorough research.

There are long distances to drive.  Most of the tourists stay in Reykjavik or around, but it will be hard to reach some destinations and drive back.

Having shops and restaurants all around, gas stations and easy public transportation may sound natural if you are used to traveling to cities all around the globe. But this is Iceland and doing more research for this trip will ensure you a better vacation.

Reykjavik, the Rainbow city

Iceland South Coast, Dyrhólaey

First waterfall seen in Iceland

Our personal experience?

Our accommodation was at BASE HOTEL – Hostel by Keflavik Airport, close to a closed American base and to the International Airport Keflavik (30 km away from Reykjavik). This is cheap and clean, but you are kind of far from restaurants and you can only buy snacks and coffee.

Also, the glacier lagoon was a must-see for us. The only possible way was to get another accommodation one night in East, in Hofn.

#3: Transportation – car is the common way to get around

Rent a car or make reservations to trips, otherwise it will be hard to get anywhere. No, you can’t just take a regular bus to drive you somewhere. Especially if that “somewhere” is a waterfall in the middle of “nowhere”.

Renting a car will be cheaper and more flexible. You just need to be careful to keep the tank full all the times and mark the gas stations on your routes.

Small cars are useful, but it’s impossible and forbidden to use them off road. If you want to experience some hiking routes (F road as an example), check the routes’ conditions and maybe rent a 4WD.

Big car on Iceland

On the Road

There’s also the option of car sharing or carpooling if you are truly spontaneous. It may be funny to see that people are sharing cars while going to the supermarkets because these can be kind of far. Check this carpool site.

#4: Pack proper clothes!

Dress for the occasion and forget about that fancy dress you have! Wear the same type of clothes you’re using when going for a hike, although you’ll just walk around.

You’ll need multiple layers, thermal or synthetic fabrics, water repellent and windproof.

Add hiking boots or shoes. The weather is tricky and always changing.

Quick-dry materials will be useful for rainy days and not only. The wind will hit you with water drops in the waterfalls areas.

Stormy weather, Gatklettur cliff

Stormy weather, Gatklettur cliff

Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls in Iceland

Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls in Iceland

However, don’t forget your swimming suit. Iceland has a culture of thermal water pools and spa, and you have to try it. This is the most common activity in Iceland, so just think how relaxed these guys can be! Blue Lagoon is the well- known and most expensive geothermal spa, but you’ll find here other options to take a dip in their hot natural spots.

Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon geothermal spa

#5: What to eat?

The best answer to “where to eat in Iceland” will be on the road or on a pit stop on a fish village. Don’t starve, make sandwiches and take snacks with you. Restaurants are in the cities, some close early, some are closed during mid-day. Even grocery shops close early in the afternoon, about 6 pm.

And not to mention about the hard-to-get alcohol. Vínbúð are government-run stores from where you can buy alcohol. Most of them are in the capital and a few around the country but you’ll have to check the program.

Local food recommendation: fish soup, lobster, fresh fish from the port that you can serve on a stick, skyr (a sort of yogurt), lamb.

Fresh Fish in the old harbor

Volcanic Askja, icelandic apple schnapps

Icelandic beers

#6: What to buy

Local products, of course. Maybe wool sweater or gloves?

I’m not a fan of spending money on unnecessary stuff, so I got a fridge magnet for my collection and some cards designed by a local illustrator, NinnaThorarinsdottir. And my priceless black shiny sand from the Diamond Beach.

Postcards created by NinnaThorarinsdottir

Postcards created by NinnaThorarinsdottir

Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach

Good-to-know info:

Iceland is very expensive, it has local currency, but you can use your card almost everywhere

Aurora borealis can be seen from October to March

Puffins can be seen starting in spring and through the summer

Probably the safest country – 5 prisons and less than 200 prisoners (majority are politicians that were involved in that Financial Crisis in 2008)

Inspired by Iceland is one of the best website and social media account for national tourism promotion I’ve ever followed.

A few words about the locals

Although Nordic people are known to be quite serious and solitary, the Icelanders I’ve met were sociable, friendly and even funny.  These people truly love their land. And they try to do their best to protect it. Take this pledge as an example.

Music reference again: Justin Bieber’s videos, I’ll show you and the collaboration with Major Lazer, Cold Water are filmed here and have truly amazing shots. However, it showed as an offense to nature and locals. For example, if you step on that moss, it can take hundreds of years to recover. So, don’t act like Justin Bieber! Rather enjoy this post and avoid some dumb and reckless things to do in Iceland.