I went to Iceland recently for the first time, in the last week of November 2024. I was exhilarated, but oversharing on WhatsApp texts or Facebook posts (or any other social media) may feel like spamming – a flood of one-sided excitement not everyone welcomes. So, I refrained myself for doing so. Anyway, here I am, writing this travelogue.
Why?
I want to write something for myself, in case my memory fails me one day, and maybe for those of you who want a glimpse of what it’s like to experience Iceland, through my lenses.
This was not just another trip. It was a series of new experiences for me:
- The farthest country I’ve ever visited.
- The longest flight I’ve endured (14 hours from KL to London, and another 3 hours to Keflavík).
- The coldest temperature I’ve faced (down to -14°C!).
- And… the most expensive splurge I’ve made – every ringgit was totally worth it.
Since the epic journey of Zahariz’s “Dengan Basikal Aku Menjelajah“, I have been wanting to witness the Northern Lights (Aurora) with my own eyes and maybe stumble upon a few spots that looked like Asgard village.
But once I got there, Iceland turned out to have so much more to offer. The amazing landscapes, interesting history, and a unique connection to nature. The aurora isn’t the only amazing highlight, there are also volcanoes, glaciers, geothermal hot springs, and black sand beaches to discover.
Months of preparation went into this trip: surveying the tickets, mapping out the locations, and looking for travel buddies. In the end, it was just me and my courage, with flight tickets, hotel bookings, and a loosely sketched plan.
Packing for winter in Iceland was a task in itself. I had to ensure I had all the right gear – thermal base layers, water-resistant jackets, a suitable pair of gloves, and waterproof boots with good traction. In fact, I had to add a few more items on top of what I had for years.
Day 1: The Arrival – Reykjavík, Here I Come!
I traveled from KLIA to London the day before, staying overnight in a hotel near Terminal 4, London Heathrow Airport. After breakfast, I checked out of the hotel as early as 7.30 a.m., successfully navigating from Terminal 4 to Terminal 2 via its free terminal transfer train, the Elizabeth Line.
The Icelandair check-in counter hadn’t even opened yet. I was an hour early, and the flight was at 12:15 p.m.
After passing through security, there was still plenty of time to wander around the airport shops with no budget to buy.
Going from London to Keflavic airport, you can choose various options of airlines: Icelandair, British Airways, or budget airlines like easyJet or Fly Play (but likely they depart from other London airports).
Malaysia Airline arrives in Terminal 4 London Heathrow, meanwhile Icelandair departs from Terminal 2 and British Airways departs from Terminal 5. Your choice should be based on the ticket price, the flight timing, which airport/terminal and how long your transit is.
From KLIA to Iceland, you can opt for other airlines like Qatar Airline, Singapore Airline or Emirates, but likely you need to go through 3 transits meaning possible of longer travel time.
Keflavik Airport. Full of people.
I arrived in Keflavik Airport, Iceland after 3 hours and 15 min from London. Reykjavík city was a 45-minute bus ride from Keflavik Airport. I took a bus transfer via Airport Direct Bus because they have option to send you off to the nearest bus stop to the hotel. FlyBus is another bus company you can hop on. The bus ticket can be bought much earlier via Klook or Agoda or just after you arrive.
Renting a car is another way to explore Iceland. But driving solo on icy roads in a left-hand driving country felt like a risk to me. Adventurous, yes. Smart, no.
While on the way to the city, we saw an erupting volcano near Grindavik, on the Reykjanes Peninsula, from the bus.
Reykjavík is the capital city of Iceland and is home to about 135,000 people, which is nearly 40% of the country’s total population. In Reykjavík, I stayed at Center Hotels Arnarhvoll, which was my home for the next seven nights. It’s located right by the iconic Harpa Concert Hall, and my room faced the sea. Though not very large, the room was cozy and warm. The floor was so well-heated that I had to wear the slippers to keep my feet from getting toasty! Of course, there are plenty of other hotels and Airbnb to choose from, depending on your budget, location preferences, and other needs.
Day 2: Exploring Reykjavík
The view from my room at 6 a.m. local time. The roads were already filled with cars, likely heading to work or school. I had been wide awake by 3 am!
The blue-illuminated building is Harpa Concert Hall, an iconic landmark in the city. A minibus was parked by the road near this building, right at Bus Stop #5, a significant point during this trip.
10.18 am: The view looked completely different at daylight. Many tour buses started appearing at the Bus Stop #5.
I planned not to have a big plan that day. So, I spent the day exploring the city and stocked up some groceries.
The Rainbow Street (a 350m from the hotel) and Hallgrimskirkja Church, an iconic landmark in the city.
HRC & DJI next to each other.
Admiring and drooling.. haha
Some groceries shopping.
Window-shopping.
Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre. Wish to have a neuro conference here someday.
The close-up view of the mountain range from Bus Stop #5 , which can be seen from my room.
I had booked a Northern Lights tour for 8 pm, but the tour company sent an email that they were cancelling it due to bad weather. I had to reply with a new date I prefer.
During earlier planning, I had a vision of going for a few jogs while in Reykjavik, but somehow, I left the idea behind at KLIA.
So, that evening, I just stayed in my warm room, enjoying the street view and savouring the best hot egg ramen soup (mi segera telur) in Reykjavík, all while hoping for a miracle that the Northern Lights might still can be seen from my window room that night.
Day 3: FlyOver and Whale of Iceland
I waited when the day was brighter before deciding to step out the hotel. It was windy and cloudy, with some raining on my way there. My small black umbrella was fighting hard for me. I took a half-hour walk along the bay, cute cafes and the shops, to visit FlyOver and Whale of Iceland.
A frozen pond in front of a building near to the Harpa (according to Google Maps, that is the building for Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
FlyOver Iceland is a motion-based attraction that gives its audience a bird’s-eye view of Iceland’s stunning scenery. It is like a flight-simulation ride where the audience sit in a theatre-like space and are suspended in front of a huge, curved screen. As the film plays, you “fly” over glaciers, mountains, waterfalls, and coastlines. The experience uses special effects like wind, mist, and scents to make it feel more real. It was a fun and easier way to see Iceland’s natural landscape, especially since I didn’t have time to travel all over the country.
Whales of Iceland is just a few meters from FlyOver Iceland.
Walking inside the Whales of Iceland, felt a bit like stepping into an underwater world – minus the wetsuit, the regulator and the tank! I’ve seen some pretty cool marine life before, but seeing these massive whale models hanging right above me was still mind-blowing.
Whales of Iceland is a large-scale exhibition dedicated to – no surprise – whales. Inside, you’ll find life-size models of various whale species and dolphins too, that inhabit or pass through Icelandic waters. Each model is designed to help you understand the size, anatomy, and characteristics of these magnificent creature.
I had no chance to book a Whale-watching Cruise and certainly no time (neither the budget) for scuba diving. You need to get dry suit certificate for scuba diving in Iceland. Therefore, this real-size-whales’-replicas-watching was the next best idea!
