Iceland Six-Day Five-Night Travelogue: The Journey's Beginning and a Bumpy First Day

Iceland has always been the country I most wanted to travel to. The northern lights, glaciers, and volcanoes felt so out of reach for a child born in East Asia—I really wanted to see with my own eyes what that land looked like! That distant and mysterious land had long since planted a seed of longing in my heart. This trip began with a Facebook post looking for travel companions, which set the wheels of fate in motion and led me into this unforgettable six-day, five-night journey through Iceland. Origins: The appearance of a travel companion made my Iceland dream come true When I first saw a Hong Kong girl's post about her plan to travel to Iceland, Norway, Finland, and other countries, I could only quietly envy her — I never imagined that a week later, I'd suddenly get a private message from another travel companion from Taiwan: "Are you still interested in going together?" I said yes right away, and that's how my Iceland plan officially got started. We joined a local tour arranged by "Guide to Iceland." It was originally scheduled as five days and four nights, but was eventually adjusted to six days and five nights, running from March 19 to 24.Iceland's volcanic activity has been frequent, and two days before our departure we received notice that our originally scheduled Blue Lagoon trip would need to be postponed — this set the stage for a rather turbulent start to our journey. Day 1: A Departure Day Full of Twists and Turns We set off from London and met up with our Taiwanese travel companions at Heathrow Airport, full of anticipation as we prepared to begin our Iceland trip. However, fate decided to play a little joke on us first — an hour after takeoff, the captain announced over the intercom that a crack had appeared in a window and the plane would have to turn back. In that moment, all sorts of anxious thoughts raced through our minds, but thankfully we made it safely back to London. The airline had said they would arrange a substitute plane for the midday slot, but when I went to the airport to collect the compensation, they changed their story and said it couldn't be arranged until 2pm. I used the compensation to have brunch at the airport, wander around, and then wait anxiously at the gate, with the time being pushed back again and again, until finally at half past three in the afternoon I was able to board another flight to Iceland.

▲ A pricey brunch that costs NT$1000 with a cocktail pairing Landing in Iceland: Baptized by a Frozen Land and Bone-Chilling Wind As the plane began its descent, the landscape of southwestern Iceland came into view—a layer of pure white snow blanketing the frozen earth. A few minutes later, signs of life gradually appeared on the ground: yellow-tinted land, roads, and a scattering of buildings. The closer we got to the airport, the more man-made structures began to appear.

There aren't many flights to Iceland, so the immigration queue wasn't too long, and the inspection wasn't very strict (they asked to confirm which hotel we were staying at) — we managed to get through in about 20 minutes. Following the agent's instructions, we picked up the bus tickets into the city; it takes about an hour from the airport to downtown. We arrived in the city at 8pm, and amazingly, it was still light out!? But the wind was bone-chillingly cold — still dressed for British temperatures, I was shivering, dragging my luggage against the strong wind on the way to our accommodation, but I was in a great mood!

This is our accommodation in Iceland, Norðurey Guesthouse — a tiny space where two people's luggage barely fits on either side, and the bathroom is shared, but it has a fully equipped kitchen and, my favorite, a coffee machine. First Glimpse of the City: Landmarks and Dinner in the Night Tonight's aurora tour was cancelled due to the weather, so we switched to a free walk around the city instead. After putting on our Iceland gear, we visited Reykjavik's most iconic landmarks: Hallgrímskirkja Church: its exterior design draws inspiration from basalt rock formations, standing proudly on high ground in the city center Rainbow Street: the pathway in front of the church is paved with colorful stripes, fully showcasing the Nordic minimalist design style

Afterward, we headed to the popular restaurant Íslenski barinn. Even though it was already 9 p.m., there was still a long line at the entrance. We kept hearing people chatting in Chinese, and it turned out this place had gone viral on Xiaohongshu, making it a pilgrimage spot for Chinese tourists visiting Iceland. We ordered three dishes recommended online: Lobster Burger: seasoning was ordinary, visually appealing but lacking depth of flavor Whale Steak: looked like a beef steak, but tasted somewhat sour, like eating sashimi Lamb Soup: piping hot with a rich tomato flavor, reminiscent of the Russian-style borscht from Harbin The average cost per person was about NT$1,100, which isn't cheap, but is considered a reasonable price in Iceland.

Concert Hall and Sun Voyager: The Artistic Soul of Reykjavik After dinner we continued along the seaside sights: Harpa Concert Hall: Its glass curtain-wall design was inspired by Iceland's basalt columns. Even amid the financial crisis, construction was insisted on being completed, symbolizing the Icelandic people's unwavering dedication to culture.

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

Near midnight, we received a notification from the Aurora app, and although we walked out of the hotel full of anticipation, the sky was still thick with clouds, and we could only console ourselves: "It's only the first day, there'll still be chances later." Conclusion: We didn't see the aurora, but we remembered 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 trip began with a "sudden change," but precisely because of that, I'm even more convinced — true travel doesn't lie in the plan, but in the unexpected. Explore more of the fantastic 6-day, 5-night Iceland journey! 👉 【Iceland 6-Day Highlights Self-Drive Guide】Itinerary Planning × Local Group Tour Experience × Budget Estimate Get a full overview of the itinerary and plan your dream trip to Iceland! 👉 Iceland 6-Day 5-Night Travelogue: Where the Journey Begins and a Bumpy First Day Arriving in Iceland, strolling around Reykjavik 👉 Iceland 6-Day 5-Night Travelogue: Snæfellsnes Peninsula Day Trip Guide and Hidden Gems Explore Iceland's enchanting peninsula and capture its magnificent natural scenery. 👉 Iceland 6D5N Travel Journal: Golden Circle One-Day Tour — Classic Sights and Itinerary Guide Feel the breathtaking allure of Iceland's classic sights and gather memories you'll treasure for a lifetime. 👉 Iceland 6D5N Travel Journal: Exploring the Magnificent Black Sand Beach and Waterfalls of Southern Vik (Part 1) Step into the mysterious world of Vik and feel the natural beauty of the south. 👉 Iceland 6D5N Travel Journal: The Wonder of the Blue Ice Cave and a Night of Auroras in the South (Part 2) Experience the Blue Ice Cave adventure firsthand and capture the dazzling spectacle of the Northern Lights. 👉 Iceland 6-Day 5-Night Journey: Helicopter Volcano Viewing Experience, Overlooking the Majestic Lava Land Fly over Iceland's volcanic landscape and enjoy a truly one-of-a-kind adventure.