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Iceland Northern Lights Exploration + London Sightseeing Trip Report and Itinerary

Posted by Unknown at 1:58 AM Sunday, February 9, 2014 Labels: Iceland, London, Reykjavik, Trip Itinerary 0 comments

Iceland + London . 2013 . Nov 21 - Dec 4

Iceland - a land of many contrasts. It is home to the largest glacier in Europe, yet, it is also home to some of the most active volcanoes in the world. For this reason, it is also known as the Land of Fire and Ice. With a land mass of 103,000 sqm and a population of 300,000, Iceland is also one of the most sparsely populated country in Europe, with huge parts of the country largely uninhabited.

Here's our itinerary with some photos and links to our reviews for our trip. The links will become clickable as we post them. Do bookmark this page as we update the reviews! :)

Keen to visit Iceland? You may also check out our top tips and recommendations in visiting Iceland!

Last Updated: 09 Feb 2014

Day 0 Singapore -> London

2100 Check in at Singapore Changi Airport
2345 Flight to London Heathrow Airport

Day 1 Watford Junction and London City Sights

0555       Arrive at London Heathrow Airport
0700       Take Green Line coach 724 to Watford Junction
0812        Reach Watford Junction Station Stop 2
0845       Check in at Holiday Inn Express London – Watford Junction
0900       Breakfast
1000        Train to London city
1020        Reach Euston - Transfer to South Kensington Staion via Tube
1030       Visit Natural History Museum
1500       Visit Science Museum
1700       Visit Royal College of Music and Royal Albert Hall
1800       Back to Holiday Inn Express London – Watford Junction

Day 2 Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour

0800       Breakfast at Holiday Inn Express London
0920       Board Mullany's Shuttle Bus 311 to Warner Brothers Studios
0932       Reach Warner Brothers Studios
1000       Commence Harry Potter Studio Tour
1300       Lunch at studio
1400       Continue with studio tour
1600       Board Mullany's Shuttle Bus 311 to Watford Junction Bus Station
1612       Reach Watford Junction Station Bus Station
1630       Dinner at Junction Cafe
1800       Back to hotel

Day 3 Shopping at Watford Junction + Flight to Reykjavik

0800       Breakfast at Holiday Inn Express London – Watford Junction
0900       Shopping at Watford market
1000       Shopping at Intu Watford, Primark
1300       Lunch at Junction Cafe
1400       Check out of Holiday Inn Express London
1600       Take Green Line coach 724 (Central Bus Station) to London Heathrow Airport
1700       Check in @ London Heathrow Airport Terminal 1
1900       Dinner
2035       Board Icelandair FI455 to Reykjavik
2335       Arrive at Keflavik (KEF) Airport, Iceland

Day 4 Reykjavik and Blue Lagoon

0035       Flybus Airport Shuttle to Fosshotel Lind
0100       Check in at Fosshotel Lind
0900       Breakfast at Fosshotel Lind
1000       Shuttle pickup for Blue Lagoon
1100       Relaxing @ Blue Lagoon
1700       Shuttle back to Fosshotel Lind

Day 5 to 10 Northern Lights Exploration Package Tour

Day 5 Reykjavik City Tour & Borgarjordur Saga Valley

0700       Breakfast at Fosshotel Lind
0900       Coach departs from hotel
0930       Reykjavik City Tour
1100       Icelandic Wool Outlet Store
1200       Lunch
1300       Climb Grabrok volcano crater
1430       Visit Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hotspring
1530       Visit Hraunfossar and Barnafoss
1700       Check in at Fosshotel Reykholt

Day 6 Snaefellsnes Penisular and Fjord Cruise

0700       Breakfast at Fosshotel Reykholt
0800       Coach departs for Snaefellsnes Penisular
1100       Lunch cruise in Breioafjorour fjord
1400       Fermented shark tasting at Bjarnarhofn
1600       Visit Icelandic settlement centre museum at Borgarnes
1700       Back to Fosshotel Reykholt

Day 7 Golden Circle, Geothermal Food Tasting & Icelandic Horses

0700       Breakfast at Fosshotel Reykholt
0900       Check out of Fosshotel Reykholt
1030       Visit Thingvellir National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
1130       Visit the Golden Waterfall, Gulfoss
1200       Taste geothermally cooked rye bread and boiled eggs
1300       Visit Strokkur geyser
1400       Lunch
1600       Visit geothermal greenhouse
1630       Interaction with Icelandic Horses
1530       Check in at Hotel Hekla

Day 8 South Iceland & Eyjafjallajokull Volcano

0700       Breakfast at Hotel Hekla
0830       Check out of Hotel Hekla
1030       Visit Skogafoss Waterfall
1130       Visit Icelandic Folk Museum
1300       Lunch
1400       Stop at Eyjafjallajökull Information Center
1500       Visit the black lava beach of Vik
1630       Visit the outlet store at Vikurprjon (Icewear)
1730       Check in at Fosshotel Skaftafell
0000       Northern Lights Galore!

Day 9 Skaftafell National Park & Vatnajokull Glacier

0700       Breakfast at Fosshotel Skaftafell
0900       Coach departs from hotel
0930       Visit turf church at Hof
1030       Visit Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon
1200       Lunch
1330       Hiking along Svinafellsjokull
1500       Hike around Vatnajokull Glacier to Fosshotel Skaftafell
1630       Reach Fosshotel Skaftafell

Day 10 South Shore, Coastal Villages & Blue Lagoon

0700       Breakfast at Fosshotel Skaftafell
0800       Check out of Fosshotel Skaftafell
0900       Visit Systrafoss waterfall
1030       Visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall
1200       Lunch
1300       Drive back to Reykjavik
1600       Check in at Fosshotel Lind
1730       Depart for Blue Lagoon
1900       Northern Lights are on again!
2000       Dinner at Northern Light Inn
2200       Back to Fosshotel Lind
2300       Goodbye to tour group members

Day 11 Lava Tubing

0800       Breakfast at Fosshotel Lind
1000       Pick up for lava tubing tour
1100       Lava caving at Cave Leidarendi
1300       Back to Fosshotel Lind
1330       Lunch
1500       Shopping at Laugavegur street
1730       Dinner at Ruan Thai Restaurant

Day 12 Free & Easy at Reykjavik

0800       Breakfast at Fosshotel Lind
1000       Shopping at Laugavegur street
1300       Coffee at Stofan Cafe
1400       Lunch at Icelandic Fish and Chips
1430       Reykjavik Harbour views
1500       Coffee at Café Haiti
1530       Visit HAPA
1700       Shopping at Laugavegur street
1800       Dinner at Sjavargrillio Seafood Grill
2000 Visit Hallgrímskirkja Church
2030       Back to Fosshotel Lind

Day 13 Reykjavik -> London -> Singapore

0500       Rise and Shine
0530       Check out Fosshotel Lind and leave for airport
0630       Check in for Icelandair flight to London
0700 Breakfast
0900       Icelandair FI450 to London
1200       Arrive at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 1
1300       Lunch
1400       Check in flight to Singapore
1430       Shopping at London Heathrow Airport
1815       Board flight back to Singapore

Day 14 London -> Singapore

1455 Arrive at Singapore Changi Airport

Keen to visit Iceland? Do check out our top tips and recommendations in visiting Iceland!

The links will become clickable as we post them. Do bookmark this page as we update the reviews! :)

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Top 5 items to buy in Iceland!

Posted by Unknown at 2:30 PM Tuesday, February 4, 2014 Labels: Iceland, Reykjavik, Shopping, Travel Tips 0 comments

Iceland . 2013 . Nov 23 - Dec 3

Iceland – a large island isolated from the rest of Europe depend largely on imports to sustain it’s population. Nevertheless, the country does make use of its excellent geology and the innate creativity of their people to produce items that are unique to Iceland. Here are the top products to purchase when visiting this remarkable country.

1. Icelandic Wool Products

Icelandic wool is reputed for its warmth, lightness and insulation abilities and are able to keep you warm even when wet (think of how all those Icelandic sheeps survive in the harsh outdoors during winter). So wool products such as gloves, caps, scarves, socks and other accessories are guaranteed to keep you warm in the harsh winter. The one item that you will find only in Iceland is the Icelandic wool sweaters, also known fondly as Lopapeysa locally.

These sweaters are hand-knitted using 100% pure Icelandic wool and the name of the knitter usually comes as a tag to the sweater. Almost every Icelander we see owns one of these woollen sweaters. Grab one when in Iceland. You won’t be able to find these traditional Icelandic patterns in other parts of the world. Prices are not cheap – each sweater usually cost USD200 and above. Some brands to consider are Icewear, Nordic Store and Alafoss.

2. Winter Wear

Lightweight, 100% waterproof and windproof material, these winter wear are well-made, sturdy and most importantly fashionable. 66°North and Cintamani are all Icelandic brands.

3. Icelandic Chocolates

Just like their coffees and Swiss Mochas, Icelandic chocolates are a superior breed.

Pure Icelandic Chocolate (Credits: http://mymorningchocolate.com)

4. Blue Lagoon Products

Located just 15 mins from Keflavík International airport and 45 mins away from the city centre, the Blue Lagoon is the must-go destination in Iceland. This outdoor geothermal pool with milky blue waters sits in the middle of a lava field and has a surreal and ethereal feel to it. It is little wonder that the Blue Lagoon is consistently ranked as one of the top in the world. Besides letting the mineral rich waters in the lagoon work wonders for your skin, why not consider bringing some of the benefits home with you. The Blue Lagoon has a suite of excellent skin care products that contains the same active ingredients and benefits of the waters of the Blue Lagoon. Most notable are the silica mud mask and algae mask. You can also get these products from their online shop.

5. Icelandic Jewellery and Crafts

Iceland has a large number of craft shops selling products made from natural materials such as rocks, stones and volcanic ashes. For cheap and creative art and craft materials and souvenirs, pay a visit to Tiger Stores along Reykjavík's Shopping Street.

Or purchase your own vial of volcanic ash or rocks at selected stores. These ashes come labelled with the name of the volcano they erupted from and the year of eruption.

Top Tip of the day:

For any single purchase above ISK4000, tourists are entitled to 15% VAT refund. Just get the signed receipt and the tax refund form from the cashier and make the claim at the departure lounge at the airport.

Relaxing Blue Lagoon @ Reykjavik, Iceland

Posted by Unknown at 4:01 AM Friday, January 31, 2014 Labels: Iceland, Reykjavik 0 comments

Iceland . 2013 . Nov 24

Icelanders absolutely love their hot bath, and are always ready to hop into it they see one. It’s little wonder then that the Blue Lagoon is a hot favourite, literally speaking. Not just among the locals, mind you. This world famous resort is also popular with tourists. The Icelanders have cleverly marketed the Blue Lagoon as a convenient 20 mins drive away from Keflavik International Airport. With frequent schedule trips to and from the airport, the Blue Lagoon is a convenient spot for travellers making a pit stop over at Iceland.

The Blue Lagoon was the first and the last attraction we visited in Iceland, effectively starting and wrapping up our vacation in Iceland. Yes, we went there twice, once during daylight hours and once in the evening where we got to see (and I was the first to point out) the Northern Lights at the Blue Lagoon.

The Blue Lagoon was our introduction to the way of life of the Icelanders. It also gave us the first taste of the standard of living in Iceland. Priced at €35 each for a standard entrance ticket, the Blue Lagoon can hardly qualify as a cheap getaway. The Blue Lagoon is actually a man-made lagoon, a by-product of the nearby power plant. In the years that followed, people started bathing in this lagoon and found that it had great effects on their skin. It wasn’t long before this world class resort was born.

Steaming blue milky waters combined with the mist of a cold winter day gave the Blue Lagoon an ethereal and heavenly feel. If I must paint a picture of heaven, then this must be it! Soaking in the luke-warm waters is pure bliss, and a romantic getaway for couples. Completely rejuvenated, my skin felt firm, bouncy and smooth like a new born baby.

Despite visiting this resort twice over a short span of two weeks, the Blue Lagoon gave us a different feeling each time we visited it. Now we can understand why it is featured in every visitor’s top to-go list.

The temperature at the Blue Lagoon is kept at about 40 degrees Celsius, but on a cold and rainy winter day, this feels hardly sufficient to keep the cold out. There is however a benefit of visiting during winter - crowds are significantly smaller and the tickets are cheaper.

If you have the time, pay a visit to the non-public pool, a short walk from the entrance of the visitor centre. Viewed during sunset, this picturesque landscape seemed is just unbelievably and touchingly beautiful.

Tips for visiting the Blue Lagoon

1. Unless you are coming straight from the airport, borrow a towel and a bathrobe (if available) from the hotel you are staying at. Bring a pair of slippers from home as well. These accessories are charged at the Blue Lagoon and are paid on top of the standard entrance ticket prices. You’ll save yourself rental fees of €5 on a towel, €10 on a bathrobe and €8 on slippers!

2. Buy your tickets online. If you have the intention to purchase a higher end ticket (Comfort and Premium package), you get to shave €2 off the usual price. Most importantly, the queue for collection of ticket at the Blue Lagoon is substantially shorter.

3. Due to the Blue Lagoon's massive size, the temperatures of its water tend to be inconsistent. The coolest waters are found at the middle of the pool, and the warmest around the generators - wooden structures found at various places around the lagoon. Yet, even the waters around these generators cannot compare with the waters between the outdoor Lagoon Bar and Blue Café. The waters here are so hot, it is scalding. So if you do not like the temperature, do move around the pool to find a suitable spot for yourself.

4. Look around for the free silica mud mask. These are located at the wooden platforms near the generators. I am a skin-care fanatic and even I must agree that this mask is absolutely fantastic. If it works for you, consider purchasing them at the gift shop at the Blue Lagoon (although we later found that the same item was cheaper online during the Black Friday sale and they ship free internationally).

5. The waters of the Blue Lagoon have a high mineral content and are absolutely beneficial for our skin. Conversely, the same mineral content is detrimental for our hair. Therefore, ladies with long hair may want to consider bringing a shower cap. After the soak, make sure to use the free shampoo in the shower room. This shampoo is special in removing the minerals in your hair thereby restoring its natural balance.

6. You do not need to brave the cold weather in your swim wear by leaving the warmth of the indoors to walk to the outdoor pool. There is a heated lap pool indoors which opens up and leads to the outdoor pool.

7. People really do walk around naked in the changing rooms, so for visitors who are shy, there is actually a small room for privacy in each section of the changing room.

8. Last but not least, you might want to bring along some food or sandwich to eat after soaking in the pool. There is a cafe and a restaurant in the Blue Lagoon complex but as like all things Iceland, prices are quite expensive.

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