M&M Travel Journal · Iceland
Glaciers, black sand, waterfalls—and a country we could keep coming back to for the rest of our lives.
We’ve been twice, and Iceland still tops my list of the most beautiful places I’ve visited. This is our Iceland travel guide to the places that stayed with us, the lessons we learned, and how we made an expensive destination work for our budget.
Memories from two visits · South Coast, Golden Circle & Reykjavík
Why we return
We’ve seen extraordinary scenery in New Zealand and Switzerland, but for me, Iceland is still the one to beat. It isn’t just a single famous waterfall or one perfect viewpoint. It’s the way the landscape keeps changing: green hills, black volcanic ground, blue ice, and then another waterfall you hadn’t quite prepared yourself for.
Our video brings together different places and personal thoughts from our visits. So does this page. Think of it as a collection of favorites to help shape your own trip, rather than a day-by-day itinerary around the entire Ring Road. Our summer flowers and autumn northern lights belong to different visits.
Big falls. Little memories.
These falls each have their own character. The first four belong to our South Coast story; Gullfoss is on the Golden Circle.
South Coast
Seljalandsfoss makes a wonderful introduction to Iceland’s South Coast: a ribbon of water dropping from green cliffs into an open landscape. It was one of our early stops, and exactly the sort of scene we had hoped to find.
Pair it with nearby Gljúfrabúi rather than rushing straight back to the car. Waterproof layers are worth having close at hand.
Beside Seljalandsfoss
This waterfall is tucked inside a narrow, mossy cleft in the rock. Getting close felt like stepping into a different world—and gave us one of our favorite memories.
While others picked their way across rocks, Michelle waded through in her waterproof gear and stayed dry. Mine did not perform nearly as well. Expect spray and wet footing; follow the conditions and signs on the day.
South Coast
People at the base look tiny beside this wall of falling water. Even after seeing so many waterfalls, Skógafoss still made us stop and stare.
Its broad curtain and constant spray give it a completely different character from the hidden Gljúfrabúi. We would make room for both on a South Coast trip.
South Coast countryside
Foss á Síðu caught our attention with its long, slender drop and green countryside. The surrounding cliffs are as much a part of the scene as the water itself.
It is one of those reminders that the scenery between Iceland’s headline attractions deserves time too. Our video shows it from the air; that view is not a walking route.
Golden Circle
Gullfoss has a different kind of drama: from some angles the rushing water seems to disappear into the earth. The power of it is what stayed with us.
We have kept it in the waterfall collection here, but plan it with the Golden Circle rather than treating it as another South Coast stop.
The places I could stare at for hours
South Coast glacier
Sólheimajökull was one of my favorite places. Standing near that immense sweep of ice felt like getting a glimpse of the Ice Age. Dark streaks, jagged surfaces, and reflections made it hard to look away.
Enjoy the landscape from permitted viewpoints; going onto glacier ice is something to arrange with a qualified guide.
A view from our drone
One of the most striking waterfalls in our film sits above the glacier landscape. I joked that it was one of the most amazing places I had seen—or at least my drone had.
We are including it because it is part of the story, but we did not hike to it. Treat this as an aerial view to enjoy, not a separate accessible trail stop.
Guided excursion from Vík
We loved our guides and the small-group feel of this excursion. Moving between walls of blue and dark-streaked ice was a very different experience from viewing a glacier at a distance.
Check current guided tours for your dates. Caves and access change, so the exact chamber in our video is a memory of our visit, not something a future tour can promise.
Glacier lagoon
Watching ice move through Jökulsárlón is an experience in itself. The blue water, scattered icebergs, and mountains beyond it made this a place to linger rather than simply tick off.
We would plan the lagoon and nearby Diamond Beach together, allowing time for the wide view as well as the smaller details along the shore.
Near Jökulsárlón
Pieces of glacial ice washed onto the dark shore give Diamond Beach its name. Some are large and sculptural; others look like small glass treasures against the black sand.
It is a lovely companion to the lagoon, but the ocean is part of the scene too. Keep well back from the surf and enjoy the ice from the shore.
Glacier and lagoon landscape
The broad, fractured face of Fjallsjökull gave us another perspective on Iceland’s ice. In our aerial footage, it stretches down toward the gray water with mountains rising behind it.
This is a separate glacier landscape from Jökulsárlón. Our film’s aerial view helps show the scale; it does not mean we walked on the ice.
A different world around every bend
South Coast landscapes
Dark volcanic ground, green mountains, and braided waterways made this landscape feel almost unreal. Away from the busier stops, the sense of space was part of what we loved.
Katla Geopark is a broad area rather than a single attraction. Use our scenery as inspiration, then check the roads and access for the particular places you plan to visit.
South Coast canyon
A river that seems modest opens into these extraordinary, jagged canyon walls. It is the kind of place that makes you stop talking for a moment.
The view down into the canyon was the highlight for us. Follow the marked paths and any closures so the green edges stay intact for the next visitors.
Moss-covered volcanic scenery
The thick moss draped over the lava made Eldhraun feel like another planet. After glaciers and waterfalls, this quieter landscape offered a completely different texture.
Give it a little time rather than treating it only as scenery through the windshield. Enjoy it from established paths and leave the moss undisturbed.
A summer memory
Broad fields of purple lupines changed the whole mood of the landscape. Against Iceland’s green hills and dark ground, the color was something we could not pass without enjoying.
These flowers belong to our summer visit. They are a seasonal part of the scenery, so do not expect the same view during an autumn northern-lights trip.
Black-sand beach near Vík
The dark beach, cliffs, and white surf make Reynisfjara immediately recognizable. It is one of the strongest contrasts in our South Coast footage.
This is also a place to take every warning seriously. Stay well away from the water and check current access before visiting; the shoreline has changed since our trip.
Sea stacks off Reynisfjara
These jagged sea stacks are the detail that draws your eye offshore. We liked how their shapes rose out of the water beyond the dark beach.
They belong with your Reynisfjara stop rather than a separate beach excursion. Admire them from a permitted safe viewpoint, without moving closer to the surf for a photograph.
Iceland rarely sits still
Haukadalur geothermal area
After all the falling water, watching it shoot upward was a change of pace. We stood with the other visitors and watched Strokkur send its plume into the sky.
Pair it with Gullfoss when planning your Golden Circle time. Stay behind the barriers around the hot springs and let the eruption come to you.
A night we will remember
Seeing green and purple moving across the Icelandic sky was extraordinary. After days spent looking at glaciers, waterfalls, and mountains, this was a completely different kind of wonder.
This belongs to our autumn memories. We would leave room for a night like this without making it the one experience a trip has to deliver.
A softer landing
A little time in the capital
Our time in Reykjavík was brief, but we found it charming. After so much wide-open scenery, its colorful streets made a lovely change of pace.
Michelle’s stop on Rainbow Street is one of our favorite city photographs. For us, this part of the trip was about a wander and a change of rhythm.
A relaxing finish
Sky Lagoon was our reward after traveling in the campervan. We loved the ocean view, the ritual, and relaxing with a glass of sparkling wine as the sun went down.
It was a splurge we were happy to make. Check current packages and availability for your dates.
What worked for us
Iceland is expensive. But with a few choices that suited the way we travel, we managed to make our trips comparable in cost to other vacations. That doesn’t mean there’s one cheapest way to do it, or that our old costs are a quote for your dates.
A campervan gave us both a way to move around and a place to sleep. It made sense for us compared with staying in Reykjavík and paying for tours to the places we wanted to see. Compare the whole cost: rental, insurance, fuel, campsites, and the comfort you need.
Being able to cook was a big part of the savings. Stocking up on groceries helped us avoid paying restaurant prices for every meal and left room in the budget for experiences we really wanted.
Fuel was expensive, though we were pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of our vehicles on both visits. Your rental and route will make a difference. Build fuel into the plan before deciding that a long driving day is a bargain.
We saved on everyday costs and still made room for the ice cave and Sky Lagoon. For us, that balance mattered more than doing Iceland for the smallest possible number.
Visitor-information links checked October 28, 2026. Access, tours, campsite availability, and conditions can change.
Come along with us
Our original video brings these places together with more scenery, personal thoughts, and the money-saving choices that worked for us.
Watch “Must see spots and ways to save money in Iceland” on YouTube ↗
More from our travels
Absolutely. Iceland is somewhere I can imagine returning to for the rest of my life.
No luxury. No hostels. Real travel for real people.
Travel well. Make it count.
