Iceland Six Days Five Nights Travel Journal: Journey's Start and a Tumultuous First Day

Iceland has always been the country I most wanted to visit — auroras, glaciers, volcanoes, so far out of reach for a kid born in East Asia. I longed so much to see with my own eyes what that land actually looked like! That distant and mysterious land had long since planted a seed of longing in my heart. This journey began with a Facebook post looking for travel companions, which set the gears of fate turning and led me into this unforgettable six-day, five-night trip to Iceland. The origin: the appearance of a travel companion made my Iceland dream come true When I originally came across a Hong Kong girl's post about planning a trip to Iceland, Norway, Finland, and other countries, I could only silently admire it—I never expected that a week later, I would suddenly receive a private message from another Taiwanese travel companion asking, 'Are you still interested in joining?' I immediately said yes, and my Iceland adventure officially began. We joined a local tour organized by 'Guide to Iceland', originally scheduled for five days and four nights, but ultimately adjusted to six days and five nights, from March 19th to 24th.Volcanic activity has been frequent in Iceland, and two days before our departure we received notice that our originally planned Blue Lagoon itinerary would need to be postponed — this set the stage for a rather bumpy start to the trip. Day 1: A Departure Day Full of Twists and Turns We set off from London and met up with our travel companions from Taiwan at Heathrow Airport, full of anticipation as we prepared to begin our Iceland journey. However, fate decided to play a little joke on us first — an hour after takeoff, the captain announced over the PA that a crack had appeared in one of the windows and the plane would have to turn back. In that moment, all sorts of little worst-case scenarios flashed through our minds, but thankfully we made it safely back to London. Around noon, the airline originally said they would arrange a replacement aircraft. However, when I arrived at the airport to receive compensation, they changed their story and said it could only be arranged by 2 PM. I used the compensation to have brunch at the airport, wandered around, and then waited anxiously at the boarding gate as the departure time kept getting delayed. Finally, at 3:30 PM in the evening, I was able to board another aircraft heading to Iceland.

▲ A pricey brunch paired with cocktails, costing NT$1000 Landing in Iceland: an encounter with the frozen land and the bone-chilling wind As the plane began its descent, the landscape of southwestern Iceland came into view—a layer of white snow blanketing the frozen ground. A few minutes later, signs of life gradually appeared on the surface: yellow-tinged land, highways, and a scattering of buildings. The closer we got to the airport, the more man-made structures began to increase.

There weren't many flights to Iceland, the immigration queue wasn't long, and the customs inspection wasn't very strict (they did ask to confirm which hotel I was staying at), and I successfully cleared immigration in about 20 minutes. Following the agent's instructions, I got a bus ticket to the city. The trip from the airport to the city took about an hour. I arrived at the city around 8 o'clock, and amazingly, it was still daylight!? However, the biting cold wind made me shiver—despite wearing clothes suitable for English weather, I was freezing. Braving the strong wind, I struggled to drag my luggage to my accommodation, but my mood was joyful!

This is our accommodation in Iceland, Norðurey Guesthouse—a small space where we could barely fit our luggage for two on either side, sharing bathrooms, but equipped with a fully-stocked kitchen and my favorite coffee machine. Exploring the City Center: Landmarks and Dinner in the Evening Light Tonight's northern lights tour was canceled due to weather, so we adjusted our plans to freely explore the city center. After putting on our Iceland gear, we visited Reykjavik's most iconic landmarks: Hallgrímskirkja: The architectural exterior is inspired by basalt formations, standing majestically on the elevated land in the city center Rainbow Street: The walkway in front of the church is painted with colorful stripes, showcasing the minimalist Nordic design style perfectly

Afterward, we headed to the popular restaurant Íslenski barinn. Even though it was already 9 PM, there was still a long queue at the entrance. We occasionally heard Chinese conversations, and it turned out this place had gone viral on Xiaohongshu and has become a pilgrimage destination for Chinese tourists visiting Iceland. We ordered three dishes recommended online: Lobster Burger: Average seasoning, visually appealing but lacks depth in flavor Whale Steak: Appearance similar to beef steak, slightly sour taste, like eating sashimi Lamb Soup: Hot and comforting, with rich tomato flavor, reminiscent of Harbin-style Russian borscht The average cost per person was around 1,100 NTD, which while not cheap, is considered reasonable for Iceland.

Concert Hall and Sun Voyager: The Artistic Soul of Reykjavik After dinner, we continued to visit coastal attractions: Harpa Concert Hall: The glass curtain wall design is inspired by Iceland's basalt columns. Despite the financial crisis, it was completed as planned, symbolizing Icelanders' dedication to culture.

Sun Voyager: a Viking ship sculpture symbolizing hope and freedom, standing in the North Atlantic wind, exceptionally moving

Around midnight, we received a notification from the aurora app. Although we walked out of the hotel full of anticipation, the sky was still thick with clouds, and all we could do was console ourselves: "It's only the first day, there will still be chances later." Conclusion: We didn't see the aurora, but we'll remember this day We didn't see the aurora on the first day, but those moments of waiting, turning back, and dragging our luggage through the cold wind became the most unforgettable memories instead. This journey began with a "sudden change," but precisely because of that, I've come to believe even more firmly — true travel doesn't lie in the plan, but in the unexpected. Explore more of the magical 6-day, 5-night Iceland adventure! 👉 【Iceland 6-Day Highlight Self-Guided Tour Guide】Itinerary Planning × Local Group Experience × Cost Estimation Understand the complete itinerary and plan your dream Iceland journey! 👉 Iceland 6-Day, 5-Night Travel Journal: Journey's Start and the Eventful First Day Arriving in Iceland, Reykjavik Walking Tour 👉 Iceland 6-Day, 5-Night Travel Journal: Snæfellsnes Peninsula One-Day Tour Guide and Hidden Gem Exploration Explore Iceland's enchanting peninsula and capture stunning natural landscapes. 👉 Iceland Six Days and Five Nights Travel Guide: Golden Circle One-Day Tour - Classic Attractions and Travel Tips Experience the stunning charm of Iceland's classic attractions and create unforgettable lifetime memories. 👉 Iceland Six Days and Five Nights Travel Guide: Exploring the Magnificent Black Sand Beach and Waterfall Journey in South VIK (Part 1) Step into the mysterious world of VIK and experience the natural beauty of the south. 👉 Iceland Six Days and Five Nights Travel Guide: Blue Ice Cave Wonders and the Northern Lights Adventure in the South (Part 2) Experience the blue ice cave adventure firsthand and capture the dazzling Aurora in this northern spectacle. 👉 Iceland Six-Day Five-Night Travel Journal: Helicopter Volcano Scenic Tour, Marvel at Magnificent Lava Landscapes Soar over Iceland's breathtaking volcanic terrain and experience an unforgettable adventure like no other.