Getting to the Base Camp

We booked the tour from the Into the Glacier company web site. Booking in advance is strongly encouraged. The way it works is depending on the tour you get there is a specific address to which you have to drive to. We got their best seller tour and our meeting point was here. It is pretty remote and you go via some rough gravel roads. 4×4 vehicle is required.

They have a small base camp a mile or so next to the entrance into the Langjokull glacier. Once you arrive you leave your car and they dress you and drive you to the actual glacier entrance. You are transported in these giant trucks with tires which on a first glance seem severely deflated. That however is on purpose in order to have better traction against the ice.

Into the Glacier

Once there each group follows their tour guide into the glacier. Inside your first stop is an orientation room where you are given instructions. These cover how to explore the glacier and also how to put those special spikes for your boots so you have better traction against the ice. It is chilly inside. Even with the extra clothing, they give you it is somewhat cold. We were there with our three-year-old son at the time and he did not appreciate it very much. What makes it even more interesting is that there is water dripping from the ceilings constantly. Other than that it is an awesome experience. They do give you enough time to stop and take pictures etc.

You have to be careful if you are caring for high-end photo equipment. It goes without saying that if you are planning to take high-end photos inside you would need a flash. Tripods are allowed but it will be tricky to carry them inside. In some places, it is somewhat dark and not easy to see so be careful. During our tour, there were at least three people with high-end cameras and flashes but nobody other than us carried a tripod.

Tour Details

The entire duration of the tour is close to four hours. That includes the drive from the base camp and back. You walk for about an hour. There are various rooms that you either explore as a group or gather there for tour guide instructions and information. Some of the rooms are very nicely lit while others are practically underwater. Depending on the season some parts of the tunnels are not as well maintained as others.

There was no food or water on the trucks. Make sure you bring both with you. Water especially. Tour guides were very nice and all were locals living nearby. Pice-wise we thought the tour was worth the money. It is not every day that you walk under one of the biggest glaciers in the world. We definitely recommend it.

Links

• Into the Glacier Official Web Site
• Directions to the Klaki base camp

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Iceland was a dream for us. A dream which was in the form of a checkbox in a travel wish list for a very long time. Even now after we spend more than ten days there it feels like one. Maybe because it is one of those countries that once you been there you want to be back that much more. It is up to this day by far the most amazing travel experience we ever had. No other country felt as pure and virgin nature wise and as beautiful to us. It is like Hawaii and Alaska had a baby together and named it Iceland.

The Ring Road

To us the only way to truly experience a country is to drive/travel through it. Iceland has a perfect road going through most of its “treasures” called “The Ring Road”. Quite famous and popular among experienced and novice travelers alike. It is about 1,332 kilometers (828 mi) in length. We drove on it for the majority of the time we spend in Iceland. You can find tons of various itineraries online suggesting different attractions based on the number of days you want to drive on the Ring Road etc. We did our own since we traveled with our 3-year-old son and we loved everything about it.

Food, water, and supplies we got from the super-markets next to the airport and in the few cities we passed by. We stayed in a different hotel every night on our road trip. If you are not traveling with a small child camping is a big thing in Iceland. We were just not that brave back then, next time however most likely we would be 🙂

Needless to say, a 4×4 car would be preferred if you plan to go on the Ring Road and especially if you want to go on the gravel roads (which most insurances tell you not to). We rented a Kia SUV 4×4 and went everywhere we wanted to without any issues.

Things to See

The list of things to see in Iceland is enormous. It is not just the main attractions but everywhere you go you want to stop and enjoy the views and pause for a few moments. Experienced hikers would probably have an even larger list and I can not even imagine the beauty you would find at those known and unknown trails. Here are things we were able to see and experience:

Hallgrimskirkja church & Reykjavík (Iceland capital)

Our trip started and ended in Reykjavik and we spend about three days there. A beautiful and clean city with colorful streets and buildings. We walked around the city exploring the many cafes and restaurants there.
The main part of the city where the famous Hallgrimskirkja church is located was especially nice.

The Blue Lagoon, Grindavík

Not sure how much of an introduction is needed here really. The iconic Blue Lagoon is as world-famous and it is as amazing as everyone says it is. A very unique experience and extremely relaxing. It was packed however so those of you who think it would be just you (like in most advertising materials) … think again. Regardless it is an absolute must-see/experience.

Other Geothermal Spas

Just like Blue Lagoon, there are plenty others similar geothermal spas spread around the populated areas. We went to every chance we had.

Langjokull, Iceland’s second largest glacier

We started our trip with a crazy tour into the Langjokull glacier. They basically carefully dug an entire tunnel under the glacier and via these enormous trucks, you get to it. Then you get to explore it inside for about two hours. The experience is amazing. Click on the link above to learn more.

Jökulsárlón / Glacier Lagoon

Another unbelievable place. Also, world-famous and surprisingly not as packed as we though it would be. My heart still hurts thinking about how our drone crashed the day before we got to the Glacier Lagoon!

There are various boat tours that we now wish we did in the Glacier Lagoon. Do yourself a favor and book one of them before you head that way. You would not be sorry you did!

Goðafoss Waterfall 

Another world-famous attraction in Iceland. Not sure how to adequately describe it so I would let the photos bellow do the “talking” (although they hardly do any justice). You can see more in the video in the post header.
There was a large parking lot as well as a restaurant and a gift shop. The place was quite busy but if you are there in the late afternoon it gets better. We loved this place so much that we came back again to see it the next day.

Dettifoss Waterfall

In Vatnajökull National Park in Northeast Iceland, you find another amazing waterfall. Dettifoss was by far the largest waterfall we witnessed and the most impressive in terms of size and amount of water that was running through.

Skógafoss Waterfall

Situated on the Skógá River in the south of Iceland at the cliffs of the former coastline lies the Skógafoss waterfall. Definitely worth stopping by and admiring the view.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss is located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland. We were surprised by somewhat of bad weather while visiting this awesome waterfall and the fact that was so extremely wet around the viewpoint made it very difficult to take good pictures.

Kirkjufell Mountain, Grundarfjördur

Mt. Kirkjufell is another landmark made famous by various movies and shows (Game of Thrones among them).

The Arctic Henge, Raufarhöfn

Located in one of Iceland’s most remote northern villages, the Arctic Henge is a colossal monument inspired by the mythical world of the Eddic poem Völuspá. Getting to it was a dangerous experience for us. There was not anything even remotely resembling life around us during the 3+ hours we drove. Everything around us looked like it was left for dead for centuries. You start to visualize yourself traveling on the road and looking from a bird’s view and thinking “Where are we going!?”. But in the end was worth it. How many people can say that they crossed the Arctic Circle and were inside the Arctic Henge? 🙂

Kerið, Golden Circle

A volcanic crater lake located in the Grímsnes area in south Iceland. One of the attractions along the famous Golden Circle route.

Geysir Hot Springs, Golden Circle

Another must-see if you are on the Golden Circle route. Quite fascinating and popular. There is plenty of parking and various restaurants and places to rest.

Reynisdrangar & Reynisfjara Black Beach

Reynisdrangar are basalt sea stacks situated under the mountain Reynisfjall near the village Vík í Mýrdal, southern Iceland which is framed by a black sand beach that was ranked in 1991 as one of the ten most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world.

The Mossy Lava Fields

Moss is a common plant in Iceland. It grows abundantly and in many places, it would not be an attraction. Here however it covers entire lava fields and it looks out of this world. One of the most spectacular moss blankets is located on the southern coast of Iceland, over the Eldraun Lava Field.

Lóndrangar Pillars

We really did not plan to visit Lóndrangar but it was a stop right on the Ring Road and we noticed cars and busses stopping. Se we did as well 🙂

Turf Houses

Among the road you can see few of these. Quite fascinating.

Icelandic Sheep

Wild horses and Icelandic sheep were among the few living beings we met during our trip.

Links

Here are some useful links to have in mind when planning your trip:

1. Iceland Official Web Site
2. Hotels in Iceland

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Santorini hardly needs any introduction or praise. It really is as amazing island as described in most of the travel guides/blogs/movies etc. You simply could not go wrong visiting it and experiencing the landscape, culture, and cuisine. Once on the coastal side everywhere you look you see breathtaking views and unique architecture.

Santorini (Greek: Σαντορίνη, pronounced [sandoˈrini]), classically Thera (English pronunciation /ˈθɪərə/), and officially Thira (Greek: Θήρα [ˈθira]), is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast of Greece’s mainland.

It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago, which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera. It forms the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 km2 (28 sq mi) and a 2011 census population of 15,550.

The Island

Getting to the island is an experience by itself. The local airport is quite small and the organization is not the most efficient. For the hotels and most of the Airbnb clients, there is a shuttle or a driver waiting to get you to your hotel/room. We got picked up and dropped at Oia’s main parking/bus stop. Getting from there to our place took some imagination. Due to the terrain and the way the city is built the luggage is carried by hand or by mules to most of the places in Oia.

Lodging

We were extremely lucky to stay right next to the Blue Domes of Oia. Booking our stay was a funny experience since almost all of the hotels in Santorini double book and then cancel on those unlucky souls who got the cheaper price. We got canceled three times! But I guess it was meant to be since the fourth time we used AirBnB and booked one of the most amazing and convenient locations we could have possibly hoped for. Literally twenty meters from the Blue Domes of Oia!

Oia

We spend most of our time enjoying the views and restaurants in the town of Oia. There were so many amazing places to eat, drink, relax, and enjoy the views. The town is filled with little “streets” and stairways everywhere and quite a few people on them as you would expect. Oia was busy from 9 AM to midnight. However early in the morning is quite empty and perfect if you are after some sunrise photos or videos. Drones are for the most part banned so we flew ours only over the ocean from the bottom of the island far away from the people/hotels etc.

At the pinnacle point of Oia is the ruined castle which was the seat of the Argyri family under the Venetians and serves as a lookout point with a complete 360-degree view. It is also called Fort Londsa. One of the most recognizable buildings in the town is an old windmill, which often appears on postcards. There are many kiosks offering a range of ethnic goods, handicrafts, jewelry and souvenirs, and several small art galleries, including Art Gallery Oia and The Art Gallery.

As impressive as Oia was during the day at night it as just as stunning. Walking on those main little “streets” and seeing the lights everywhere was surreal. Every direction you look … just beautiful views and people having the best time of their lives.

Fira

We also managed to spend a day in the town of Fira. There we explored the main streets and had a few meals in some of their most famous restaurants.

Firá (Greek: Φηρά, pronounced [fi.’ra]) is the modern capital of the Greek Aegean island of Santorini. A traditional settlement, “Firá” derives its name from an alternative pronunciation of “Thíra”, the ancient name of the island itself.

It is a noticeably larger town than Oia and very busy. The main walking streets are just exploding with various stores, galleries, and places to eat. One of the attractions there is the Cable Car. It is basically a small cable car for 6 people which gets you from the top of the town to the port at the bottom and back up. It is a nice experience and the port was great to see. There were two cruise ships at the time passing by right when the sun started to go down.

Other things to see

We also visited Red Beach as well as a few other beaches and attractions. We missed the buggy riding experience which is quite popular. It did not work for us since we had a kid and they did not have a 4 seater buggy. However, we rented a small car and drove around the island.

Conclusion

There is no need to probably further explain how truly special Santorini is. We spend a week there and time just flew by like it was just a few days. It was by far one of the most relaxing and rewarding trips we have ever done and one we will repeat the first chance we get again. If you have the opportunity do it! You will thank us later.

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Greece is quite famous for its amazing landscapes, culture, and cuisine. As a travel destination, it has always been on our radar. In June of 2017, we decided to travel to Europe & Iceland and made sure Greece was one of the main destinations. We started with Athens and ended in Santorini. Vacation none of us would ever forget and a vacation that left us wanting to come back in the near future.

The journey started with a few days in Athens, the capital of Greece. We stayed right in the middle of the city and most of the attractions we wanted to see were conveniently located around us. As many tourists would do first thing on our lists was to see the pantheon and the surrounding its attractions. After a long wait in lines etc, we managed to get inside and view this amazing reminder of how unique and capable ancient greeks were.

Attractions

However, we were not impressed by the condition of the pantheon. One-third of it was under construction/restoration and the remaining seemed like it has seen better days. Honestly, the majority of Athens felt somewhat abandoned, painted with graffiti, and for the lack of a better word … dirty. However, it felt like that to us during our day trips and explorations.

It got much better after the sun went down and everything somehow came alive. Funny how it works but Athens before and after sunset felt like two completely different cities. After 6 PM every possible square, restaurant, and place to eat were completely full. Getting a table in the local “goto” places was like mission impossible. We managed somehow to try a few of the places recommended by some of the locals and they all were worth the wait.

We also visited various other attractions like the smaller pantheon, their famous botanical gardens, and explored the main streets of the city. It is a busy city during the week but most of the attractions we went to were not crowded and accessible. The Pantheon being somewhat of an exception here. It does get crowded there and that is understandable.

Cuisine

The food was unbelievable. We did not have a single place where we had a meal that was not absolutely phenomenal. After the first few meals, we realized that Athens was all about the nightlife and the food. Everything else almost felt like either was not as important to the locals or they just had no way to make it better due to the economic state of the country. It was like someone flipped the switch and all of a sudden everything was alright and everyone was having fun everywhere.

Conclusion

Athens is a great city to visit for a few days and explore the Pantheon and the other attractions. It a must-see and experience if you want to say that you have seen and tasted Greece 🙂

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Bulgaria was the first destination during our 2017 European adventure. A small and beautiful country with an amazing culture, cosine, and nature. It was the perfect starting point since its located at a central location bordering famous travel destinations like Turkey, Romania, Greece, and Serbia. The plan was to explore Bulgaria for a week and then continue on our trip to Greece.

On the Road

We drove around the country as much as we could and our time allowed. Stopping to fly our drone and take pictures as frequently as possible. Realistically you can spend weeks doing that in just a few of the places we visited. You really are overwhelmed by the natural beauty of this country. It should be on anyone’s travel plans when visiting Europe!

Shipka Monument

The Shipka Monument is a Monument to those who died for the Liberation of Bulgaria during the Battles of Shipka Pass in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. It was opened with a ceremony in 1934 and designed by Bulgarian architect Atanas Donkov and sculptor Aleksandar Andreev.

Note that Shipka and the Buzludzha Monuments are close to each other. You can visit both in one day. The views are breathtaking and it is a prime spot to fly your drone or just enjoy the silence and nature. With that being said be prepared to go through some bumpy roads trying to reach the monuments. The roads (we visited during 2017) there were not at all well maintained so have that in mind.

Buzludzha Monument

The Monument House of the Bulgarian Communist Party (also known as the Buzludzha Monument). It was built on Buzludzha Peak in central Bulgaria by the Bulgarian communist regime.

Asen’s Fortress

Asen’s Fortress, is a medieval fortress in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains, 2 to 3 kilometers south of the town of Asenovgrad, on a high rocky ridge on the left bank of the Asenitsa River. The fortress is 279 meters above sea level.

Sofia

Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. The city is at the foot of Vitosha Mountain in the western part of the country. Being in the center of the Balkan peninsula, it is midway between the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea, and closest to the Aegean Sea.

Sofia, Plovdiv, and Varna (Bulgaria 2nd and 3rd largest cities) are the three major destinations that should be on your list if you want to experience the cities in Bulgaria. One is surrounded by mountains the other by ancient ruins and history and finally Varna with its beautiful coast of the Black Sea. If you are looking to relax and stay in resorts at the sea Varna would be the city for you.

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