10 day Iceland Road Trip in early April. Advice Needed!
 

We (hubby, me and 16yr old photographer son) are embarking on our first trip (10 days) to Iceland in 2 weeks! Here's our "proposed" plan (knowing that weather is a factor). We have a backup plan and will roll with it.

1) We are adventurers and are up for a new lodging nearly every night.
2) Renting a Rover Defender for the entire stay with ISAK (used 20% discount) to tackle inclement weather.
3) Objectives: Northern Lights viewing and extensive photography stops.
4) We are skipping Blue Lagoon and Reykjavik to focus on other areas.
5) We plan to eat-in during kitchen stays. Loading up on groceries for quick eats on the road and in-house at Bonus or other cheap grocery stores.
6) We have about 6 restaurants that are "must eats".
7) Plan to hit as many natural hot spring places we can in each area.

Would love any tips, advice, recommendations. THANK YOU!

Sunrise is approx 6:15am, Sunset 8:15pm (14 hours of Sunlight)

3/31
LAX to KEF arrive 1:45pm (WOW Air)
Duty free to stock up on tax-free alcohol
Driver to transport to ISAK for car pickup
Lunch: Baejarins Betau Pulsur in Reykjavik
Drive to Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Stop at Budir (Sunset shots)
Lodging: Fosshotel Hellnar
Dinner: Fjoruhusid Cafe

4/1
Breakfast at hotel
Coastal Hike to Arnarsatapi (5mi rd trip not including photo stops)
Explore Snaefellsnes (Kirkjufell, etc.)
Lodging: Stykkisholmur (apartment at Baenir og Braund B & B)
Meal (dinner or lunch next day in Stykk)

4/2
PLAN A: 3pm Ferry to West Fjords (longshot depending on road closures on WF)
PLAN B: drive 6+ hours to Isafjordur
Lodging: 2 nights AirBnB Guesthouse (not booked until we are certain of weather)
Meal at Tjoruhusid

4/3
Explore towns and areas that are open in WF

4/4
Drive to Skaholt
Lodging: Sel Guesthouse
Plan to enjoy the journey. Between two days we will stop at the major attractions along the Golden Circle.
Meals: Fridheimar (tomato soup) and Efsti-Dalur ice cream

4/5-4/7
Lodging: 2 nights-The Garage, Holt
Using this as our base, we will visit all the main South Iceland attractions (waterfalls, plane crash site, Dyrholaey, puffins, etc.) and others off-the-beaten path.
Tour: Glacier hike and Ice Cave (RECOMMENDATION NEEDED)

4/7
Explore: Kirkjubaejarklaustur, Jokulsarlon
Maybe: Hofn (Langoustine meal)

4/8
Lodging: Cottage at Gardar (on Reyfsjara beach)
Explore area (sharing the sights on this day with the stay during 4/5-4/7)

4/9
Lodging: Myri Guesthouse, Selfoss
Meal: Vid Fjorubordid
Leisure day exploring Stokkseyri and area
Drop off car at Reykjavik office
Kef to fly out at 5:40pm

It's Adventureseeker!

To be clear, we fly out on 4/10.

ttt

Hi I'm in Iceland now on the last night returning from my second visit. A few points I think you should be aware of. Bonus and all super markets are very very expensive for instance it is around £3 for a bottle of 500ml cola and in a shop two coffees and two biscuits will cost around £20 just to give a few examples. It is possible to eat cheaper in places like bonus but fuel and food are very expensive compared to elsewhere. I came in April 2016 and it was amazing hardly no snow in the south and a lot in the north the roads were clear and easy to navigate I would recommend the secret lagoon over blue lagoon as it is a lot cheaper and also less commercial. Top places to visit would be a quick tour of the golden circle although this year it was so over crowded that it was a struggle. I would get out of Reykjavik area and the golden circle and head towards Vik, and the glaciers and lagoons. Once you get past vik it will be a lot less busy.

It is an amazing country and so so picturesque but we visited in April 2016 and march 2017 this time it was extremely busy.

You will love it and remember your visit for a long time to come.

All the best
Steve

A few ideas/points of feedback:
-I actually disagree with the poster above - Bonus had great prices and we stocked up often! We stayed in Arnarstapi and there's a big Bonus on the way from Reyk to Hellnar where you can stock up!
-There's a great secret hot pot on the road between that Bonus and Hellnar, Landbrotalaug I think?
-Fjoruhusid Cafe doesn't serve dinner. Consider dinner at Budir!
-One of my favorite dinners of the trip is Sjávarpakkhúsið on the harbor in Stykkisholmur!
-There are a million beautiful things to see and photograph between Hellnar and Stykki! Plan accordingly!
-We loved Icelandic Mountain Guides for our ice cave/glacier tour in Skaftafell

Enjoy!

Thank you both for your responses!

MileHighHC...completely loved your trip report and photos! Thank you for sharing and inspiring us travelers!

I'm bummed to learn that Fjoruhusid Cafe isn't open until May. That means...we'll have to return!