Iceland is a gorgeous country and has been receiving its fair share of hype due to social media. I went in March 2016 and it was 100% worth it, even though it was cold AF (I’m not going to lie to you). Here are 7 reasons why Iceland should be your next travel destination.

7 Reasons Why Iceland Should Be Your Next Travel Destination

1. Waterfalls – Waterfalls are EVERYWHERE in Iceland. It was pretty standard to see at least one an hour when we were driving. Here are just two examples, the first is Seljalandsfoss and the second is Haifoss (the ending -foss denotes that it is a waterfall).

2. Icelandic horses – As you drive around the Ring Road or throughout Iceland’s beautiful scenery, you will most likely chance upon some Icelandic horses. They’re extremely adorable and remind me of ponies. Sometimes, they’re so still that you feel like you’re looking at a photograph, with only their tails blowing in the wind to hint at their realness.

3. Double rainbows on the regular – With its random rains, seeing double rainbows in Iceland is a pretty regular magical occurrence. And being in Iceland, you have the added benefit of a dope background, whether it’s in front of a waterfall or in front of a glacier lagoon.

4. Snorkeling the Silfra (or diving) – This had been an item on my bucket list for a while, and so I couldn’t be more excited to snorkel the Silfra. The Silfra is a fissure between two tectonic plates that is open for snorkeling or scuba diving. To be fair, it is cold AF but it was well worth it to see the rock formations underwater and experience the majesty of the ocean.

5. Blue Lagoon and other hot springs – Ah, the place where your troubles melt away. If you stack your visit towards the end of your trip, it will feel amazing as your soreness disappears for a quick moment in these hot thermal waters. At the Lagoon, there are stations where you can partake in a silica mask, which will leave your skin feeling smooth and might have you looking a bit like a White Walker. There are also plenty of photo ops at this photogenic site.

6. Glacier hiking – This is definitely not easy to do by any means but it was quite fun to do at least once and educational as well. You learn more about the history of glaciers and what is causing them to recede at such a fast pace, while also getting in a solid workout. You’re also climbing a freaking GLACIER so it’s pretty cool (literally). Arctic Adventures offers glacier hiking and you can learn more here.

7. Black sand beaches – The black sand beaches of Vik were beautiful to behold. While it’s not going to be your typical beach where you can swim at, its rock formations are gorgeous and the black sand is pretty damn unique. It was supes windy when we got here but its definitely worth checking out.

All in all, Iceland was an unforgettable experience. To learn more about what to do and where to stay, you can check out my 10-day itinerary here: Part 1 and Part 2