Reykjavík Grapevine - Jul 2022, Page 30

30The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 07— 2022
Where does one go when you only have
one day off from work this week, but
you’re long overdue for an adventure,
something to remind yourself that you
are actually in the Iceland that you fell
for? Dramatic landscapes, geysers and
waterfalls? We say Laugarvatn. Only
50km past the traffic-jammed confines
of Reykjavík, we found the small lake-
side town, enveloped by nature.
Weather Schmeather
Laugarvatn is situated along the
Golden Circle. The lake has geothermal
springs under its surface, which has
attracted crowds since the first people
settled in Iceland. The weather started
out pretty foul, but that was not going
to stop us, and as Icelandic people love
to say: “There’s no such thing as bad
weather, just bad clothing,” we made
sure to come prepared.
Google’s shortcuts
The way there is smooth sailing, but if
you are using Google Maps, be aware
that it will often try to find a shortcut.
When you are using a small electric
car, without four wheel drive, faster
is not better. From Reykjavík you take
Route 36 towards Þingvellir and then
Laugarvatn. As you get closer, to your
left there’s an unassuming, safe-look-
ing road. Follow your survival instinct,
that little voice saying 'hmm, maybe
not,” drive another five minutes, and
turn left on Route 365 (an easy way to
remember this is 365 days per year of
smart decisions). Spare yourself the
nightmare of accidentally travelling
on what appears to be an unmarked
F-road—aka FU-road. Rant over.
Cave People
The Cave People is a guided tour of a
restored home dug into the soft volca-
nic rock on the side of a mountain. It is
in Laugarvatnshellir and has been open
to the public since 2017. Over the past
100 years it has been a home to many
sheep, and two separate families, one
of which even gave birth to two of their
three children inside the cave.
Driven by their passion to preserve
Icelandic history, the staff spent a year
researching and renovating, making
this a very unique stop that should defi-
nitely be part of your Golden Circle tour.
The staff will entertain you with true
tales of those who lived in the cave, as
they dealt with freezing winters, harsh
living conditions, and encounters with
the hidden people, often referred to as
elves.
It’s also a great chance to try the
local delicacies in the section of the
house where sheep were kept, now
the Cave Café. Have a hot beverage
with your kleina (Icelanders’ favourite
pastry), or some traditional lamb soup.
The caves are open every day from
10:00 to 18:00. We highly recommend
you go on the 25 minute tours, which
are available every half hour.
Paddleboarding
With full, happy stomachs we headed
to another of Laugarvatn Adventure’s
tours just ten minutes down the road:
paddleboarding. Our guide was knowl-
edgeable, patient, and very helpful,
especially when it came to putting on
the dry suits which are a challenge in
itself. Paddleboarding was surprisingly
easier than expected, and even if the
weather was not on our side, we were
not going to let it spoil our fun.
The beautiful scenery and patches of
warm water of the shallow lake helped
too. We recommend going with a large
group of friends, so you can play some
bolder paddleboarding games, such
as running across lined up boards, or
trying to form a pyramid. Or try your
hand at some paddleboard yoga—but
be prepared to fall in the water several
times.
Fontana spa
Nothing beats treating yourself to a
spa following your afternoon of splash-
ing around the lake. Fontana harnesses
the geothermal waters underneath the
lake to create natural hot pools and
steam vents. It also has a lovely little
pier, from which you can access the
colder waters for a dip. Thankfully it is
close enough for you to give your Wim
Hof life a try, but then run back to the
comfort and safety of the bubbling
tubs.
Laugarvatn makes for the perfect
day away from the hubbub of the city,
allowing you to reconnect with nature
and the wondrous and magical side of
Iceland that we love. We cannot wait for
our next day off, rainy or not.
Distance from
Reykjavík:
78 kilometres
Tour
provided by:
Laugarvatn Adventure
laugarvatnadventure.is
Laugarvatn
Waterproof Entertainment
Words: Alice Poggio Photos: Joana Fontinha
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Busy despite the weather
I'm on a boat!
Probably cheaper to rent than in Reykjavík
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