LOVE…
The very word is lyrical, its sound musical and the experience magical. Expressions of love have propelled us to go places to find our love nests for celebration. Sunrise, sunset, underwater, mountain peaks, beach, desert, waterfall, forests, flowers, rain, mist, rainbow, hills, snow, stars, sky, moon, trees, rocks, leaves have all been instrumental in upraising laudable love stories into fabulous fairy tales.
Love has been a timeless travel inspiration and it has not eluded us from the gravity of distant lands in frigid zones on this blue planet. The new entrant joining the orchestra fueling love stories are the glaciers. There is a growing infatuation for Iceland in the last couple of years inspired by the love stories staged on silver screen and satellite television. Iceland shooting locations in Game of Thrones and The Secret Life of Water Mitty has wooed people around the globe to visit Iceland tripling its’ Tourism and now there are organized trips taking the visitors through these coveted locations.
However the blooming enthusiasm in the Sub-Continent that is gravitating the folks to the glaciers in Iceland is the melody from the movie Dilwale that has almost redefined the color of love as Gerua(meaning orange). Here is a 7 days – DIY guide that enables you to plan your visit to Iceland taking you through the mesmerizing locations where the song Gerua from the movie Diwale was shot, giving you ample time in each location to let the hearts flutter in Iceland infatuation.
Best time to visit: July, August. However the months of May, June and September too would be nice if glaciers are to be seen in its best form with day light.
International Airport: Keflavik international airport, Reykjavik. Route map: 
All the major attractions in Iceland are along the Golden circle which a popular tourist route starting from Reykjavik looping through southern lands and back all way to the capital city.
https://goo.gl/maps/X4eQSC8BRyp
Local Commute: Car hire is available from leading vendors. Here is one recommendation: https://www.bluecarrental.is/
Stay: Highly recommend to stay in cottages, home stays that are available on Airbnb. These add character and the experience is totally worth it. For more adventures try out hiring a campervan that gives freedom to camp amidst the exotic landscapes of Iceland.
Essentials: For essentials and groceries, Bonus, Kronan and Netto are discount supermarket chains in Iceland.
Navigation: Highly advise buying a local prepaid SIM card for multiple reasons – to be updated of unpredictable Iceland weather, local navigation and calling. Pick up a prepaid SIM from airport. Recommended operator is Siminn for quality connectivity.
Other handy websites/apps for local conditions are: http://safetravel.is/, http://www.vedur.is/, http://www.road.is/. Ensure to have these on your phone for access at any time and go through the details that will aid in understanding traveling safely in Iceland, weather and road conditions. Live data is available which are highly advised to check regularly during the stay in Iceland. Don’t let these tips amplify the anxiety of traveling to Iceland but use it to accentuate the experience during the travel in Iceland.
Vegetarian/Vegan Food anxieties? Reykjavik has a lot of options for vegetarians and vegans, however along the golden circle too the food is easily customized for vegan/vegetarian needs. Keep a stock for fresh fruits and local snacks handy with you that can be bought from the supermarkets as a back up.
Clothing: Visiting Iceland is not anywhere close to visiting other parts of Europe. Highly important to respect the weather and carry enough winter clothing to keep you warm even when traveling in summer months.
Itinerary
Day-1: Land in Reykjavik and relax the day
Acclimatize and useful to stock up some groceries. Take a walk around the city and visit tourist information center. Even though there are DIY guides, it is highly advised to visit the tourist information center that can aid getting information which will be useful and enhance the overall travel experience.
Day-2: Seljalandfoss and Skogafoss
Drive to the Splendid Seljalandfoss Waterfall from Reykjavik which is about 2.5hours and the very first sight will justify all that effort that went into traveling all the way to Iceland and it is natural to experience the attraction to the land that far beats the anxieties of travel into frigid zone. Reminisce the bliss of opening your arms in ecstasy just like in the song Gerua. Live the moment!
Post lunch head out to the Spectacular Skogafoss and experience the ecstatic dance of the element WATER! The very pictures turns me into a poet. If the effect of double rainbow doesn’t get the poet out of one, what else would!
Deep in the woods…to the rhythm of falling rain…
…the aroma of your soul promulgating in the drizzle…
…prosody of my heartbeat…to the syllables of your transcendental self…
…the ballet is renaissance evoked by your touch…
…the remnants you leave is an eternal spell…
…a metamorphosis in me as a dance to your love…
Day-3: Solheimasandur Plane Wreck and Reynisfjara Black beach
Drive to Solheimasandur, the location of US Navy DC plane wreckage. Be ready for a hike to get here. Its an hour long walk from the main road on Golden circle but totally worth it. Take the liberty to climb up the wrecked plane and open your arms to the sky just like in the movies for that epic shot. Here the experience is perfect amalgamation of science fiction and romance!
Drive down next to Reynisfjara black beach where the opening shot of song Gerua was shot. The majestic walk of Baadshah of Bollywood at the back drop of regal rocks is a euphoric.
On the beach is also the basalt columns where an aerial shot of the most romantic pair in Bollywood was taken in the song. The contrast of basalt rocks and black beach makes up for a “unimaginably” picturesque sight. It is a rare combination of hues one can see on the beach. It may be time to sit back on the sands and give sound to the voice of soul in this tranquil locale.
On the sands of beach…to the sands of time…
…the septet notes springing from the aquatic navel of my soul…
…the orchestra in my heart…to the oeuvre…
…in resonance with the sounds of music to your touch on my coral lips …
…the remnants you leave is an eternal spell…
…a metamorphosis in me as a song about your love…
Day-4: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
Drive to Jokulsarlon and welcome yourself to the world of water in its wondrous state of ice. Spend the day here. Take a boat tour to reach the deep side of glaciers. The very sail amidst the ice bergs is an experience that can cast a magical spell. The happy tears too would freeze in fondness for the spectacle.
On a bed of ice…cuddled in a duvet of tulips…
…waking up to the meadow in a land of rising sun…
…the starry night’s intoxication still lingering…
…as the blush hued like rainbow cast by your touch…
…the remnants you leave is an eternal spell…
…a metamorphosis in me as a painting of your love…
Day-5: Vestrahorn Mountains
Drive to Vestrahorn mountains to witness the marvel of mirror effect! The vision of reflections of ravishing Vestrahorn Mountains in the song Gerua left us with goosebumps to even wonder –“is this for real? or was it Vfx?” There are moments where reality is far more beautiful than the best of imaginations can be and this is one such place to witness it.
In the empyrean of blue skies…is a perpetual balladry…
…radiating through the calligraphy in the language of heart…
…expressions of romance …to your consecrated semblance…
…a manuscript in me…kindled by your touch…
…the remnants you leave is an eternal spell…
…a metamorphosis in me as a poetry about your love…
Day-6: Drive back to Reykjavik
After a fulfilling yet leaving with a feeling for wanting for more of Gerua song gorgeous locations, take a long drive back to the capital. Stop by the country side, meet the Icelandic horse, take a detour to quaint places along the golden circle and maximize the experience.
Day- 7: Return home with heart painted in Gerua
Return home with your heart painted Gerua , memories carved in gold and a promise to come back. From this moment, everytime you hear the song, the visuals would be of your experience in Idyllic Iceland. Iceland so far has had in its place in our text books and televisions but our endeavor is to get it onto your summer travel plans this year! Let the love and melody of love in Gerua be the inspiration and this DIY guide your action plan.
Acknowledgements: Our heartfelt and sincere thanks to the photographers who have lent their amazing captures during their visit to Iceland. Their photo stories are an inspiration and testimony to delightful experience of traveling to Iceland.
Thank you James M Holst, Joaquin Garcia, RamPrasad Moudgalya, Lek Vantanee, Isabelle Mayor, Fiona Chen, Callum Bushe and Talvi Tupasela.