Visiting Iceland for the first time? Siggadóttir gives essential tips

Visiting Iceland for the first time? Well, I can tell you that when you live in a country like Iceland, it is hard not to develop a passion for exploring it. Since I was a kid, I have loved being out in nature, seeing the new breathtaking nature we Icelanders are blessed with. When I had recently gotten a driver’s license, I borrowed my stepfather’s truck and invited my cousin for a road trip to Snæfellsnes peninsula from my hometown of Akureyri. That same summer, we borrowed the truck again, drove up to lake Mývatn and explored Dimmuborgir. Since then, I have made it my mission to see some new part of Iceland every year.

Introducing Jórunn Siggadóttir

I am not the only one. I have a kindred spirit in Jórunn Sigurðardóttir, who has recently launched a great blog called Siggadóttir. Siggadóttir is short for her full surname of Sigurðardóttir. Icelandic surnames are either patronymic or matronymic. Jórunn is the daughter of Sigurður, so she is the “daughter of Sigurður.” My surname is matronymic. I am Ragnheiðarson, the son of my mother, Ragnheiður.

But I digress  Siggadottir.is has excellent articles on wonderful places such as Djúpalónssandur on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, Fjadrargljúfur canyon, and Seljavallalaug. Jórunn also shares her perspective on what it is like to live right next to a volcano. Sign up for her newsletter you get nine tips for your Iceland trip.

It is also worth noting that we once used to work together at the same IT company. Yes, Iceland is a small world  Jórunn has no other motive for her website and social media activity but to share the wonders of Iceland with the world, which is why I knew it would be fun to interview her.

Hey, Jórunn – can you give my readers some background information about you?

Sure, I’m a born and raised Icelander. For the first 20 years of my life, I lived in a tiny town in North Iceland called Sauðárkrókur, but for the last 20 years, I have been living in the capital area with my husband and two children.

I’m a huge nature lover and am incredibly lucky to be born in a country like Iceland. My love for stunning nature and hiking goes way back, but in the past three years or so, I began to pursue this passion of mine. The main reason being my kids are both teenagers now, so I suddenly have much more time on my hands and more freedom to do the things I want to do.

2020 is the year I decided to go all in, and I love every minute of it. I’m on a mission,  a mission to explore as many places as possible in the coming years and share the experiences with others on my blog and social media. The goal is to inspire people along the way, Inspire them to come on a visit one day and experience it all themselves.

When did you develop your passion for Icelandic nature?

I think it started when I was 20 years old and moved to Denmark for a few years. When I came back, I began to notice how magnificent Icelandic nature is. It gave me a new perspective to live in another country where nature is different from the one we have in Iceland. At this point, I decided to visit at least one new place every year, Either one I’d never been to before or hadn’t seen since I was a child and therefore didn’t remember.

What are your favorite activities and places in Iceland?

Hiking is my favorite outdoor activity. I say it’s the best way to experience and get the feel of Icelandic nature.

I have so many favorite places and hikes, and to be honest, I think it’s a bit cruel to make me choose, But I can honestly say that the three following places/hikes are definitely on my top 10 list 🙂

The trail above Skógafoss Waterfall

Climb up the stairs by the waterfall. Keep walking up along the river, and you are in for a treat. If you do the whole hike, you’ll see over 20 different waterfalls in beautiful surroundings and, in many places, some stunning gorge views. This hike is one of my favorites, for sure.

Múlagjúfur Canyon

Another big favorite of mine is the hike along Múlagljúfur Canyon. This trail blew me away when I did it two years ago,  especially when I reached the top  You don’t have to hike to the top, though; You’ll get stunning views even if you don’t, but if you have the time and energy, I recommend you climb to the top.

Landmannalaugar

Last but certainly not least is Landmannalaugar, a  stunning area in the highlands. Two years ago, I went on a day-long hike in perfect weather conditions. This hike left me speechless  I felt like I was in another world or something  Utterly unbelievably beautiful, I don’t think this hike will ever be topped  True story!

What places are you planning to visit this summer?

There are quite a few places on my bucket list for the summer. Those I look forward to the most are the Eastfjords, where a hike to Stóruð is on the top of my list.

Exploring more trails around Landmannalaugar is also very high on my bucket list. I can’t wait for that!
I also am excited to explore the area around Höfn. Vestrahorn, waterfalls I’ve never seen before, and some lesser-known glacier lagoons are among the places I plan to visit in that area.

What advice would you give to those visiting Iceland for the first time?

Go hiking!

As I mentioned before, hiking is the best way to experience and get the feel of Icelandic nature.

Treat the northern lights as a possible bonus, not the main reason for your trip

The northern lights are one of the most popular attractions in Iceland during winter. The only problem is that they are a natural phenomenon that plays by their rules. It’s impossible to know beforehand if you’ll be able to see them or not. You might stay here for days without seeing as much as a vague sign of them. I know about people who didn’t see them until their fourth visit to Iceland, So nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the northern lights.

Accept you can’t see it all in one trip

There are a lot of “must-sees” in Iceland. The country is packed with them, which makes it an impossible task to check them all off your list in one trip.

I guess this is one of the reasons why so many visitors revisit Iceland  Again and again. They never feel like they have seen it all. There is always something more to explore.

Expect all kinds of Weather all Year round when Planning a Trip to Iceland

Ok, maybe you shouldn’t expect sunny and warm weather in winter, but you can expect pretty harsh weather in summer. Not guaranteed, but sometimes it gets quite brutal, let me tell you.

Even though we have higher temperatures and better weather in summer, it’s essential to be well prepared for all kinds of weather. Heavy rain and storms can mess up your plans whenever. In winter, the storm can turn into a snow storm, but we also offer heavy rain storms during the winter months. Even though there isn’t a storm, it’s almost always windy  Summer and winter  No joke.

Try not to over-plan and enjoy

I think the key to a great trip to Iceland is to make an effort not to over plan. Make room for some unexpected things. The weather can easily mess up your plans, so you need to be flexible. If you come with an open mind, adventurous spirit, and are prepared for the weather, you’ll have a great time  No matter how long the trip is or how many sites you manage to see. Above all, enjoy 🙂