Explorer's Journal: Exploring Iceland’s Golden Circle & Beyond with Destination Experts Isabel & Laura

Join SA Explorers Isabel and Laura on a winter journey through Iceland, where geothermal lagoons, dramatic waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, and the Northern Lights showcase the country at its most magical. From exploring the Golden Circle and Iceland’s rugged South Coast to soaking in the Blue Lagoon and watching the Aurora Borealis dance across the night sky, each day brought a completely different side of Iceland.

Hi everyone, SA Explorers Isabel and Laura here! Along with fellow Destination Expert Jana, we recently traveled through Iceland in the heart of winter, experiencing some of the country’s most iconic sights along the way. We chased the Northern Lights, explored the Golden Circle, visited powerful waterfalls and glaciers along the South Coast, and made plenty of time for Iceland’s famous geothermal lagoons. Come along as we share some of our favorite moments from the trip!

A Relaxing Arrival at Iceland’s Blue Lagoon

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Enjoying a relaxing first evening in Iceland at the legendary Blue Lagoon (Photo: Laura Wingfield).

Hello from Iceland! I’m Laura, a Destination Expert with SA Expeditions, and I’m here with Isabel and Jana to show you the magic of Iceland in the wintertime.

Our first stop was the legendary Blue Lagoon, perfectly situated near Keflavík Airport—a great stop to make right after you land or before you fly home.

I landed early this morning, and we headed straight to the Blue Lagoon for a serene start to the day. Even though it was still dark, the lagoon’s lights guided us, and we got to witness a breathtaking sunrise while soaking in the warm, beautiful blue water. It was incredibly relaxing!

Upon entering, you receive a towel, robe, and bracelet that manages your locker and allows you to redeem your complimentary drink (I recommend the green smoothie!) and the famous silica mud mask. The lagoon is huge, allowing plenty of space to spread out.

We took full advantage of the amenities, enjoying a refreshing green smoothie, a relaxing mud mask, and some time in the sauna and steam room. Fun fact: Icelandic tap water is potable and some of the cleanest in the world!

When you’re done, the changing rooms are fully equipped with showers, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and hair dryers. Don’t forget to stop by the café and gift shop, where you can pick up some of the popular Blue Lagoon products. If you’re traveling to or from the airport, the Blue Lagoon is a convenient and relaxing way to start or end your trip!

The Sky Lagoon & Icelandic Wellness

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Spending the day at the magnificent Sky Lagoon, a different kind of Icelandic relaxation (Photo: Laura Wingfield).

Today, we dove into a different kind of Icelandic relaxation at the magnificent Sky Lagoon.

It’s strategically located just outside Reykjavík on the southwest coast. The brilliant design truly immerses you in nature—surrounded by towering lava rock and offering infinite ocean views—all while being just minutes from the city center.

We started with the luxury of a private changing room, where we stored our belongings before stepping out into the crisp Icelandic air. The transition from the warm interior down the stairs into the steaming lagoon, surrounded by dramatic lava rock walls, felt like entering a hidden world.

Entry includes access to the signature seven-step Skjól Ritual, a journey inspired by ancient Icelandic traditions. After relaxing in the geothermal waters, we braced ourselves for the invigorating outdoor cold plunge—a powerful jolt to the system! Then, we were guided into the charming turf house for the remaining five steps.

The staff provided perfect guidance throughout the ritual. The spacious sauna was a true highlight, with its floor-to-ceiling glass wall offering an unbelievable, sweeping panorama of the Atlantic Ocean. It felt less like a room and more like a warm, front-row seat to the sea.

Next came the open-air cold mist room, where a cool rain fell from above, preparing our skin for the volcanic Sky Scrub. This all-over salt scrub instantly made our skin feel refreshed and smooth. The steam room followed, where we rinsed off the scrub before the final, uniquely Icelandic step: the Elixir. This small shot of sweet yet tart crowberries provided the perfect, revitalizing finish to the entire ritual.

Completely refreshed and deeply relaxed, we headed back into the main lagoon to simply float and enjoy the beautiful ocean views, with the calming sound of the waterfall as our soundtrack. This is truly an essential Icelandic experience.

Chasing the Northern Lights

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Our Northern Lights adventure (Photo: Laura Wingfield).

Today, Isabel, Jana, and I had a magical nighttime adventure in pursuit of the spectacular Northern Lights. Our journey began promptly at 8:30 PM as we met our excited group, ready to venture into the dark, wintry landscape in search of the Aurora Borealis.

After approximately thirty minutes of driving, our expert guide navigated the van onto a remote gravel road, finding the perfect, isolated spot away from any light pollution. He prepared us for the show by explaining how to adjust the camera settings on our phones, ensuring we had the best chance of capturing the celestial display. The moment we stepped out of the warm van and into the crisp night air, the magic began: we started to see faint swirls of green and soft pink Northern Lights gently dancing across the vast sky.

Our guide, who is also a professional photographer, quickly set up his specialized camera equipment. He captured stunning wide-angle photos of the sky, as well as beautiful individual portraits of each of us with the Aurora as our dramatic backdrop. After a wonderful initial display, the lights began to fade. However, our guide told us not to worry, promising they would return. While we waited patiently, we were treated to a magnificent view of the perfectly clear, starry sky and bright, serene moon—a beautiful sight in itself.

To keep our spirits high and the cold at bay, our guide provided us with cozy wool blankets, steaming cups of hot chocolate, and kleinur, a delicious local donut-like pastry. We continued to watch the sky, catching glimpses of faint Northern Lights for the next hour or so. For those who needed a break from the cold, the van was kept warm and ready. Our guide’s enthusiastic and knowledgeable commentary about the science and folklore of the Aurora kept the entire group engaged and excited throughout the lull.

When the lights had fully faded and we started to feel the chill, our guide took us on a short drive to a nearby gas station for a quick comfort stop to use the restroom and grab a few snacks. Refreshed, we headed back out to continue searching the sky. This time, we were surprised and utterly delighted as the Northern Lights reappeared, even stronger and brighter than before. The colors were incredibly vibrant, and we were even treated to streaks of purple mixed with the dominant green. It was a truly magical, breathtaking spectacle.

After several hours of appreciating this powerful natural phenomenon, we finally boarded the van and headed back to our hotel, completely content with nature’s generous and colorful display that evening.

Exploring Iceland’s Golden Circle

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A day trip around the famous Golden Circle (Photo: Isabel Falls).

Hi! I’m Destination Expert Isabel. I’m currently exploring the magic of Iceland with fellow Destination Experts Jana and Laura, and I’m looking forward to sharing our trip with you!

We’ve come to Iceland in January to experience the beauty of Iceland in winter. However, Iceland is really a place you can visit year-round, with each season offering a completely different experience. This year, we caught it at a time when snowfall was fairly limited, but that’s just part of the Iceland experience—some years, you may be navigating your trip with feet of packed snow, while other times, it’s quite green.

Today, we explored the famous Golden Circle, a scenic 300 km/190-mile driving route where you can see waterfalls, geysers, and some of the country’s most iconic scenery. In winter, you can do some light hiking or opt for a more driving-focused route to limit your time outside in the chilly weather. In summer, longer hikes are a bit more feasible. The Golden Circle is definitely a must-do on any Iceland trip, regardless of the season!

In summer, you can have incredibly long days, with the sun setting around midnight. But in late January, the sun rises around 10 AM and sets around 4 PM, so we were really looking to make the most of the sunlight during our time here! Often, this means starting your tours in the dark so you can maximize the daylight you do have.

We left Reykjavík at about 9 AM so that when we arrived at our first stop, Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, about 45 minutes later, we were able to catch the sunrise. Thingvellir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, possibly best known as the park where you can see the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates drifting apart. You can even snorkel between the tectonic plates here—and this can be done year-round! And for the Game of Thrones lovers out there, the park was also used as a filming location for episodes in Season 4.

Next, we headed to Gullfoss Waterfall. It’s nicknamed the Golden Falls, and it really lived up to its name. When we arrived, the sun came out and gave the landscape a beautiful golden hue. While the weather in Iceland is very unpredictable year-round, even in the dead of winter, you can still have quite nice weather. The great thing about the Golden Circle is that you can see many of the highlights right from the parking areas, so you don’t have to walk too far to catch some of the best views of the powerful waterfall.

And no Golden Circle trip is complete without a visit to the Geysir Geothermal Area. Iceland has a high concentration of geothermal activity and is home to the famous Geysir, which gave us the English word “geyser.” Here, we took a light walk around the area and were able to catch a few eruptions.

Our final stop of the day was Kerið volcanic crater, where, when there’s no snow, you can easily see the vivid red rock and turquoise-blue water. This trip, we were able to see some of those colors, although the lake at the bottom was fully frozen over. You can either hike around the rim of the crater or walk down to the lake itself, which gives you an interesting perspective from inside the crater. As the sun started to set, it was time to head back to Reykjavík!

Waterfalls, Glaciers & Black Sand Beaches on the South Coast

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Exploring Iceland’s South Coast (Photo: Isabel Falls).

Our Iceland exploration continues with a tour of the South Coast today. The South Coast is another one of Iceland’s most iconic driving routes, and because the landscape is exposed to harsh coastal elements, the scenery is quite different from the Golden Circle. The route includes large, powerful waterfalls, impressive glaciers, and black sand beaches to explore.

To make the most of our daylight, Jana, Laura, and I left Reykjavík around 8:30 AM and traveled toward the dramatic landscapes of the South Coast.

The most iconic waterfalls along this route are Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. At Seljalandsfoss, you can walk behind the waterfall if conditions are favorable. You’re certain to get a bit wet, so come prepared! During our visit, it was too icy, so the path behind the waterfall was closed, but the views from the front were still impressive.

Next up was the iconic Skógafoss Waterfall. In Icelandic, “skógar” means “forests” and “foss” means “waterfall.” The waterfall itself is 60 meters high, making it taller than Niagara Falls. There are different walking routes you can take to get closer to the falls or head toward the top.

If you’re an avid hiker and want to explore more of Iceland on foot, there are longer hiking routes that connect to Skógafoss, including multi-day backpacking routes such as the Laugavegur Trail. I’ve hiked this route, and it ultimately connects toward Skógafoss, making it an incredible way to get off the beaten path and see more of Iceland’s pristine landscapes that you can’t access by car. There are also several year-round activities to enjoy along the South Coast, including ziplining, glacier hiking, and shorter hikes.

A little farther up the road is Sólheimajökull Glacier. Iceland is home to numerous glaciers, and like many glaciers around the world, Sólheimajökull is unfortunately receding quickly. A visit is a powerful reminder of the changing climate and an incredible opportunity to see Iceland’s glacial landscape up close.

Our final stop of the tour was Reynisfjara, commonly known as Black Sand Beach. The weather is often quite windy here, and you have to be careful around the powerful waves, as they can surge unexpectedly. I always find the landscapes along these polar coasts to be incredibly powerful and unique.

Afterward, we drove into the small town of Vík, where you can see the picturesque church overlooking the town, before heading back to Reykjavík for a cozy evening.

Thank you for following along on our Iceland adventure! From chasing the Northern Lights to exploring waterfalls, glaciers, geothermal lagoons, and the Golden Circle, this trip gave us an incredible look at Iceland in the winter. We hope our journey inspires you to experience the magic of Iceland for yourself someday!