Drive from Reykjavik; Hike up a snow covered mountain; Bathe in a natural Hot Spring

We woke up to an extraordinarily beautiful day – despite our plans of lounging around the house there was no way we weren’t getting out and having a childfree adventure in the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland.

 

The air was still but freezing cold so we bundled ourselves up in merino wool base layers and hiking gear before we headed out. We drove from Reykjavik up under Hvalfjordur – whale fjord, grabbing coffee along the way, and headed up towards Borganes before coming off the main road and finally off the tarmacked road. This is why we need a 4×4 in this country!

 

The sun came up during our drive – it’s at the time of year with only a few hours of sunlight so we have to make the most of it, and it was stunning; the sun casting a soft glow on the snow-covered peaks the roads wound around. We got to a spot to leave the car and got out onto icy rock, there was snow around, but not enough to leave the landscape colourless – the long grass – now the colour of straw looked like cornfields, made even more golden by the angle of the sun. 

 

The hike was invigorating, each step crunching a little, especially as we broke tiny iced over puddles beneath our boots. The air was so pure, and the silence of the mountains was broken only by the sound of the nearby waterfall. Despite being alone we spoke in soft voices; somehow it seemed rude to disrupt the peace of the landscape. 

 

There is something about getting out of the city ( and yes I am aware a lot of you would feel Reykjavik is too small to really count as one but it does to us ) that recharges you. Like a reboot button, having that connection with the incredible untouched nature that surrounds us. 

 

Panoramic views stretched out behind us as we climbed, and it got icier as we went, until we took time to stop and admire the world around us before heading back down. It is all very well appreciating the beauty of the Icelandic mountains but we must always be aware that they can be deadly. We were kitted out for a hike, not a winter climb, so we didn’t want to put ourselves into a position when we might have to be rescued.

 

By the time we got back to the car our faces were cold and pink but we were too warm so we stripped off layers, throwing them and our boots back into the car. We changed into bikinis and flipflops, wrapped a towel around us and then ran to the nearby hot springs – we knew their location because of the steam rising in the crisp, windless air. Before we got in we rolled in the snow – firstly because it makes the hot water tingle so pleasingly when you get in, but also because we wanted to be as clean as possible before getting in to maintain the water quality. 

 

No one else was at the pool, and we clambered down the rocks around it and got into the hot water with a sigh. Sitting in it was heaven, surrounded by grass and snow, in a cocoon of warmth, with not another soul in sight except for each other. It was enchanting. We were so grateful for this incredible experience, and spoke of how amazed we were that this was a normal – albeit amazing – day for us living here. 

 

The fact we are both childfree meant that we could spontaneously change our plans for the day – having woken up naturally when we wanted. Throughout the day our plans shifted, from where we would get food (anywhere because we both eat everything) to the time we would head back, the route we would take, whether we would stop in at our friends’ summerhouse on our way etc. It truly made us grateful for our total freedom. 

 

The entire day ranged from comfortable silence, to giggling until we couldn’t breath, our phone signal was so limited there was no social media, and so the day had a beautiful simplicity to it.