Iceland in November and December? Really? I saw an Icelandair promotion on Instagram which I couldn’t resist. The catch? It had to be late November to the start of December 2022. But I could – easily – enthuse Oriol to come along for a road trip in the South and West of Iceland. 

Day 7 was the last full day for Iceland Tours‘ road map. It didn’t say much except returning to Reykjavík and perhaps do the Blue Lagoon. But Oriol found some nice places to see. 

Esja(n)

Esja, in Icelandic called Esjan, which means “the Esja”, is a 914 m (2,999 ft) mountain situated in the south-west of Iceland, about ten kilometres north of Iceland’s capital city Reykjavík.

Esja is not a single mountain, but a volcanic mountain range, made from basalt and tuff. 

You can do several hikes. But as our time was limited as we had a time slot at Blue Lagoon at 4 PM, we only did a small one. The one we chose was also quite muddy and slippery and my motivation dropped rapidly. I’m not a talented mountain hiker. 

The Eldborg hike the previous day also put me off. 

Úlfarsfell

Úlfarsfell was a better match.

Úlfarsfell is a mountain in the municipality of Mosfellsbær in the Reykjavík metropolitan area. It is 296 meters high. The mountain slopes have been subject to extensive forestry.

Although also not an easy hike, at least that one was feasible. The climb up was steep, but there was alternative route down, using parts of the off-road track and the mountain bike trail. 

Seltún Hot Springs

The Seltún Hot Springs, also known as Krýsuvík-Seltún Geothermal Hot Springs, Seltúnshverir and Krýsuvíkurhverir, is a geothermal hot spring system in Krýsuvík volcanic area, in southwest Iceland on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge of the Reykjanes Peninsula.

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The hot springs area contains solfataras, bubbling mud pools, fumaroles, hot springs and warm springs. The high sulphur content of the springs give them a characteristic yellow-orange color. 

Sulfur was mined at this location until the 1880s. An explosion caused by nearby drilling took place in 1999 that opened up a large crater vent. In 2010 and 2019 other explosions took place, spewing hot mud, water and steam over the area.

 A boardwalk with viewing platforms has been constructed over the area.

The hot spring water is heated from underground geothermal sources and emerge through deep cracks and vents in the crustal zone. Superheated steam rises from below the surface of a boiling underground reservoir. It condenses and mixes with ground water, and eventually with surface water.

Iceland, November & December 2022

1. REVIEW | Icelandair Brussels Airport (Zaventem) to Reykjavík (Keflavík International Airport) on Boeing 737 MAX 8 in Economy.
2. ICELAND | Kevlavík – Bridge Between Continents – Reykjanesviti Lighthouse – Reykjanestá – Gunnuhver Hot Springs – Grindavík – Reykjavík.
3. REVIEW | Hotel Cabin in Reykjavík.
4. ICELAND | Seljalandsfoss Waterfall – Skógafoss – Sólheimajökull – Dyrhólaeyjarviti – Reynisfjara – Vík.
5. REVIEW | Hotel Katla in Vík.
6. ICELAND | Skeiðará Bridge – Diamond Beach – Jökulsárlón – Skaftafellsjökull – Dverghamrar – Kirkjugólf – Fjaðrárgljúlfur – Skaftáreldahraun.
7. ICELAND | Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach near Vík.
8. ICELAND | Fjaðrárgljúlfur – DC-3 Plane Wreck at Sólheimasandur – Geysir – Gullfoss.
9. ICELAND | Secret Lagoon in Flúðir.
10. REVIEW | Guesthouse Flúðir.
11. ICELAND | Þingvellir or Thingvellir National Park – Hvalfjörður Fjord – Húsafell.
12. REVIEW | Guesthouse Bjarg in Borgarnes.
13. ICELAND | Eldborg Crater – Bjarnarfoss – Búðakirkja – Arnarstapi – Hellnar – Djúpalónssandur – Kirkjufell – Stykkishólmur.