[Road trip in Iceland] Day 9: Godafoss, Geothermal Sea Baths and the Northern Fjords
Fatigue begins to be felt. After taking a long time to wake up and get ready, we plan a day with few visits but a lot of driving.
Part 1: Travel Diary Part
2: Practical Tips
Part 1: Travel Diary
Itinerary
Stop 1 : Lake Myvatn
Lake Myvatn, immense, is partly frozen. While passing in front of a viewpoint near the lake, JB had the crazy idea to walk on it (seeing tire tracks on the lake). Fortunately this part is really frozen, all ends well.
Stop 2 : Grenjaðarstaður
I really like houses with grass roofs, it reminds me of Norway, so on the way to Husavik, we make a little detour here. It is an old farm, which we can visit in summer. Opposite is a typical Icelandic church, very beautiful too. As everything is closed, it is only a photo stop for us.
In the distance you can see a real farm, modern. It looks very peaceful.
Stop 3: Husavik and Geosea Geothermal Sea Baths
Husavik is known as THE place to be for whale watching. But we have already seen them twice, once in South Africa, and another time by chance in Moorea. And as the excursions last at least 3 hours and we have little chance to see them in April, we prefer to go to Geosea geothermal Sea Baths.
It is a new spa in Husavik. The spring water in this town is salty and contains far too many minerals to heat the houses, so they had the genius idea – to make baths out of it. This water is very good for curing a lot of skin diseases.
We were ready to pay the high price 4300kr (about 35€/person), when the receptionist announced a discount price of 2700kr. The reason? One of the two infinity pools has just been emptied, so it is only half filled. Wow, what a commercial gesture!
As usual, there are men’s and women’s changing rooms. It is necessary to WASH (as one washes at home), completely naked before putting on his bathing suit. This makes it possible to be completely clean, because the water of the baths has no chemical products.
I think it is the best thermal water spa in Iceland, with an extraordinary view, two infinity pools, warm water, slightly salty and full of minerals. I highly recommend it! While lounging in the hot tub, you can see the boats going by – whale watching boats, and they look like they have to go very, very far to see them.
Note: we also take advantage of our visit to the Olis gas station in Husavik to wash – free of charge – our much needed car. Indeed, water hoses (with brushes), are available to the customers, as well as a vacuum cleaner.
Stop 4: Geitafoss
We stop near the N1 gas station to go and see the Geitafoss waterfall. It is small, but we like it very much because it reminds us too much of Huka Falls in New Zealand. A very strong flow, same blue color, almost the same bridge.
Stop 5: Godafoss
And then, we follow, on foot, a marked path to go and see the Godafoss waterfall. We are happy to be parked on this side because we can see it better from here (there is also a parking lot on the other side of the waterfall).
There is a small staircase leading to a snowy path, to approach the waterfall. It is composed of many waterfalls, one discovers the big waterfall on the left when approaching. The whole is harmonious, there are some caves here and there on the other side. I like it very much!
Stop 6: Akureyri
We pass in gale to Akureyri, the 2nd most important city of Iceland.
Pay tunnel BEFORE Akureyri
Just before arriving in Akureyri, we have to cross a paying tunnel. There are just two signs: one before, and one after the tunnel, announcing us that we have to pay. Luckily our car rental company has put a sign in his office: we have to go on tunnel.is to pay the fee within 3 hours after our passage. I guess they take pictures of all the car plates. In any case, when we go there, you just have to give the number plate of the car, they immediately recognize the model & color of the car. And if you don’t pay on time, the owner of the car will be charged, and you will pay a fine – to the car rental company – in the end.
There is a picnic area just past the tunnel so take the opportunity to stop and pay – online.
Lunch in Akureyri
So I was saying that Akureyri was an important city. Besides, tourists who do not wish to tour Iceland can pay an option to return their car here, and fly back to Reykjavík. In this city, tourists come to visit 3 things: (1) its cathedral (2) its botanical garden (3) its ice cream store with lots of Brynja toppings.
But we won’t do any of that. It’s true that after 9 days of seeing only moss, water, snow and clouds, we’re short of green plants, but we expect to see them soon in Canada.
The priority of the moment is to find the nearest Subway! Ahahaha, JB is a fan of it, and when I told him 3 days ago that we were going there soon, it made him so much want to go there that we went ASAP, well it’s an international channel, it’s exactly the same thing as in France. Just next to it is a cheap all-you-can-eat sushi (20€), for sure!
We then go to Netto, a discount supermarket, with the intention of buying frozen langoustines. We find them for 7€ per 500g, but they are tiny, nothing like the ones I ate in Hof. The salmon – fresh – are very affordable, in the 35€/kg range, the same price as in France.
Stop 7 : Dalvik
We then go to Dalvik, another spot for whale watching. I only put you the pictures because we don’t know anything about this city, it is just too beautiful.
Stop 8 : Olafsfjordur
I think that in this part of the country, I just have to put the pictures, that’s all 🙂 Anyway, we are glad to have some sun today because fjords without sun, it’s quite disappointing (see the pictures of the eastern fjords). We have the impression to have taken revenge for the absence of the sun – by contemplating the northern fjords.
A rather special tunnel will follow. I’m glad Martha (from the 2nd day) told me about it because I wouldn’t have understood the “rules of the game” in time. The tunnel has only one lane, and cars travel in both directions. The tunnel is too long to see the other end of the tunnel. Therefore, there are priority rules. In this direction (towards Siglufjordur), cars don’t have priority and must pull into the areas marked “M”. The cars in front of us, some of them having the right of way, drive like crazy so it’s up to us to be careful. As soon as we see the lights (even from a distance), we are too scared and we pull over to the side. Afterwards, we understood that the “M” zones were more frequent than we thought (every 50 meters or so), so we drive with a little more confidence 😀
Stop 9 : Siglufjordur
What you have to see here is the Herring Era Museum, with objects and pictures of the prosperity that the herring fishery brought to Iceland in the 1960s. But it is closed right at our time of arrival. In any case, the city is really charming, the houses are very beautiful compared to other fjords. It is nicknamed “Icelandic Alps”. And it is one of the ideal spots to see the Northern Lights.
I think the whole city has made an appointment to meet at the hot pots – hot baths – of the Siglo Hotel(link Booking) which overlooks the port.
Then, I think we have linked 3 tunnels, including 2 in a row, and one single-track. Until we saw the ocean – an incredible blue color!
Photo stop 10 : Mikalavatn
Photo stop 11: Hofsos
This is where we sleep tonight. We discover that the kitchenette mentioned in the guesthouse description is actually – just a kitchen with a microwave. So instead of sautéing our defrosted langoustines in air and butter – we had to put them in the microwave. Of course, this is much worse than we had hoped for #fail.
I will tell you about the visit to this city tomorrow.
More of our adventure here
Part 2: Practical Tips
Budget
- Hot salt water bath at Geosea in Husavik : 2700kr/person (reduced rate), otherwise it would have cost 4300kr/person
- Hot dog : 350kr/person
- Gasoline: 6831kr
- Tunnel: 1500kr/car
- Lunch at Subway: 1500kr/person
- Races at Netto: 3101kr (langoustines, eggs, bread)
- Sunnuberg Guesthouse(link Booking) in Hofsos, 78€, room with private bathroom, simplistic kitchen with microwave only
