BenThere in Iceland – Wild Landscapes, Cozy Stays, and Epic Road Trips
From glacier hikes and volcanic black sand beaches to cozy Airbnbs and steaming geothermal pools, Iceland left us breathless (and not just from the cold). Whether you’re planning your own Ring Road itinerary or dreaming of northern lights and waterfalls, this is where our Iceland adventure unfolds — tips, stories, and photos included.
What to Pack for Iceland in the Fall: Layers, Waterproof Gear, and What We Wish We’d Known
Planning a fall trip to Iceland? Here’s what we actually wore — thermal base layers, waterproof shell jacket, waterproof pants, wool socks, and waterproof hiking boots. We drove the Ring Road in October and got soaked at nearly every outdoor stop. This is the layering system that worked.
Icelandic Wool: Why It’s Worth the Price, How to Care for It, and What Our Guide Wore Into the Glacier
Icelandic wool is expensive, warm, and built to last decades. We bought a lopapeysa and a blanket in Reykjavík — here’s what makes it different, how to care for it, and why our glacier guide wore his grandmother’s sweater into the ice.
Reykjavík Travel Guide: What to Do, Where to Eat, and How Many Days You Actually Need
Reykjavík is small enough to walk in a day and interesting enough to need three. Here’s what we did, what we ate, what we skipped, and how to use the capital as your Iceland base camp — including actual lodging costs and day trip options.
Iceland Travel Costs: What We Actually Spent on a 10-Day Ring Road Trip
Our Iceland Airbnb receipts alone came to $4,197.31, making lodging the biggest cost of our Ring Road trip. Here’s what we spent, why we chose Airbnbs, and how to budget less with more reasonable accommodations.
Iceland Puffins: Where They Go, When They Come Back, and the August Night Tradition That Will Make You Love Them
Iceland hosts 60% of the world’s Atlantic puffins every summer. Here’s where to find them, what their extraordinary lives look like, and why October visitors like us completely missed them.
Northern Lights in Iceland: We Searched Every Night and Didn’t See Them. Here’s What We Learned.
We checked the forecast every night. We downloaded the aurora app. We drove away from city lights, pulled over on the Ring Road more times