PostcardsFromM

After spending the night in Hófsós and having a great first day with beautiful waterfalls and volcanoes, we continue our way around the ring road and exploring the Icelandic landscape. And all that while it isn’t really getting dark outside. To be honest, it was a bit strange, but luckily the curtains in our camper were pretty effective at blocking out the light.

Early morning and sleepy sheep

We got up nice and early and had a quick breakfast before we packed the car up. The plan was to get to Hjalteyri before 10 am. So we had two options for getting there: follow the Ring Road or drive along the coastline. The second option takes longer, but we went for that one as it sounded like a really scenic drive. We headed off on a 1hr 50 min drive along the coast. Not long after starting to drive, we realised that it might be too early for some Icelandic residents. The sheep. They were still asleep and some couldn’t be bothered to get up and leave the street for us to drive past. So there were a few smaller breaks on our route where we had to wait for the sheeps to get up and walk off. Even though it took us longer to reach our stop, we really enjoyed watching them. The landscape was stunning, I can’t even put it into words. There’s the ocean on the one side and the land on the other. If you’re ever heading north and have the time, I’d say it’s definitely worth taking this route. Just to let you know, you’ll need to take your time on this one though. There were bits where it was gravel and the road became really narrow, so you couldn’t even drive as the speed limit suggested. But at least you could enjoy the view a little as well as the driver. We were glad we’d allowed a bit more time, as it took us nearly two and a half hours to get to the port of Hjalteyri. But there was still plenty of time before our activity started. So, we parked, had a snack and then went to the entrance.

My dream come true

You might be wondering why we’re in Hjalteyri. Before coming to Iceland, I did some research to find the best spots to see whales. We’d booked a whale-watching tour in Husavik with North Sailing, but the weather forecast wasn’t great. So the company got in touch to ask if we’d like to go on the tour on a different day in Husavik or on the dame day but in Hjalteyri instead. We decided to go with the same day but the different location. And it was the definitely the right choice. But let’s start from the beginning. We arrived at the dock 30 minutes early to talk to the staff and everything was going to plan. But everything went smoothly and we were  on our way to the boat. Despite the sun being out and it being quite warm, everyone got an overall to wear. So, after the captain and guide gave us a quick intro, we set off. We didn’t get very far before the first dolphins started jumping out of the water and following the boat. I couldn’t believe how playful they were. And then the guide started pointing out something in the distance. It was the fin of a whale. The captain did his best to get us a little bit closer, but he also made sure not to get in the way of the whale and give him enough room. Every couple of minutes the whale came to the surface before disappearing for another couple of minutes. Meanwhile the guide filled us in on the different species and the challenges they face. It was actually pretty informative. This time it was an adult humpback whale. After spending some time with him, we moved on to give him space. But not far from the first whale, we spotted another humpback whale and a pod of dolphins. After three hours on the sea, a quick stop with hot chocolate and a cinnamon bun, plenty of dolphin, humpback whale and fin whale sightings later, we arrived back in the harbour. Before leaving the boat the guide made sure that every question was answered and helped us off the boat. All in all, it was just an incredible experience. I gained a lot of knowledge due to the amazing guide. It was a dream come true for me! Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been desperate to see a whale in the wild. And to experience it in a country that already caught my heart, with like-minded people and a great environmental-friendly sailing company, it made me and my younger self so happy. I’d definitely recommend booking with North Sailing, if you’re planning a trip to Iceland! It’s a once in a lifetime experience. Just a heads-up though – make sure you wear sunscreen! I got quite sunburnt on my face, even though it was only 15°C.

City strolls and relaxing evening

When we got back to the car, we decided to go and have a look around Akureyri, the second biggest city in Iceland, and have a look around. Half an hour later we arrived and had a wander around the little town, checking out the church and the colourful houses. We also did a bit of souvenir shopping, because I try to bring back a fridge magnet from every country I visit as well as a sticker of the country’s flag to put on my small hand luggage suitcase. I haven’t used it in a while, but it is a great memory. We also found some little shops selling hand-knitted Icelandic sweaters. Akureyri is a great place to spend an afternoon, strolling around and soaking in the fresh air, but we decided to keep on driving. We ended up making a last-minute booking on the day before to go to the Geosea Geothermal Sea Bath in Husavik. We chose this place because it felt more intimate, and it’s built on a cliff overlooking the sea. The drive there took us about an hour and we arrived at 6 pm, just in time to enjoy a relaxing evening in a hot pot and reflect on the incredible day we had, while watching the waves go by. But since it was on a cliff, it was also more windy, so I was glad that I brought my headband with me to cover my ears while the rest of my body soaked up the heat from the geothermal pool. It was the perfect way to end the the day.

Today’s Route & Facts

• Hófsós to Husavik
• Main attractions: Whale Watching Tour, Akureyri, Geosea Geothermal Sea Bath
• Highlight of the day: seeing whale in the wild
• Hours spent in car: 3h 10 min
• Kilometers made: 220 km
• Days more to go: 8
• Animal encounters had: too many to count, but grateful for every single one of them

Tomorrow’s Plan

After spending the night in Husavik, we head towards the east and spend our day seeing more waterfalls, inhale a little too much of an egg smell and fall in love with a little town.

Until next time,

M.

I’d love to hear all about your experiences on whale-watching tours! Feel free to share all your stories in the comments below! And if you found a great sustainable whale tour, please let me know as well!