Iceland Iceland is a small island in the Atlantic Ocean situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland is usually known as a land of Fire and Ice. That is very fitting name as Iceland is located on a hot spot (magma reaching directly the Earth´s surface). As a result, there are over 130 active volcanoes in Iceland. Some of them are covered with a glacier what makes them a sleeping threat in the form of lahars (flows of ash mixed with water reaching enormous speed running down the volcano slope). Generally, Iceland is a natural museum and exhibition in nature all around :-)
Where fire meets ice, there is a lot of water. A lush green pastures and mountains are all over. There are hundreds of waterfalls, streams, swamps, as a result of thermal heating hot pools and of course the ocean around. And do not forget the rain. The weather generally changes fast, and you´d better check the situation on the websites. Although we visited Iceland in the top season, we experienced 2 days of very strong wind (the warning to small cars to go on these places) and 2 day of extreme rain, which caused overflow in the rivers in inlands and snowfall in highland which made impossible to do the Langamannalaugar trek ort Fimmvörðuháls hike.
Do you want to know the prices in Iceland? Check out our Iceland budget guide.
Places from the photo journey on the map
Landscape in Iceland is rugged and dramatic. Due to the quick weather changes there usually contrasts in colors that makes your photos fabulous. The black lava field is covered with green lichens, blue water stream runs over black and red stones and there are white snowcaps on the hill tops.
Horses were brought to facilitate the transport across the Iceland, especially to inland. These days they are a tourist attraction and..... food.
First stop on the way around the Golden circle. It is located just by the road and it is the only nature attraction we actually paid a small entrance fee. Natural sights are otherwise for free.
The geothermal area with the Geysir (that is almost inactive) and Strokkur, that bursts and splashes every 10-20 minutes. Apart from the geysers the area is full of other bubbling streams and steam ponds.
The high light of the Golden circle. There are 2 platforms from where you can watch this vast waterfall. Gullfoss is also very interesting in the winter, when part of the waterfall is covered with ice.
One of the less touristic sites. It is a 30-minute drive to get to the parking lot, recommended only for 4W cars. From the parking lot you must walk through bushes and lichens to reach the small valley with water falls and basaltic rock formations.
Iceland has enough fruit and vegetable during the whole year from greenhouses which are heated with geothermal energy. During the winter they illuminate area around them.
The trip was absolutely worth it and the driver was an older Viking in crocs and bare foot. He drove the trail to Landmannalaugar (only for 4W) like it was a regular highway. He had no fear while passing the fords and we had no worries about out rented car chassis.
Wonderful area of the rainbow mountains, full of geothermal and geological phenomena. The weather is unpredictable there – it can be so bad that the trip in Rainbow mountains is not recommended due to fog a heavy rain.
Colors are products of the volcanic activity and there is a steam coming from the side of the mountain.
A waterfall you can walk behind. Tip: take a raincoat.
Sitting on the cliffs. We met these near the black beach Reynisfjara.
A nice long and wide beach, relatively crowdy in the area of the basalt formation and rocks in the sea. You can take a nice walk by the beach, not that many people do that.
A lovely gorge. Unfortunately, this place has already got to the tourist maps. There is no access to the gorge, you can only walk by and see it from viewing platforms.
A basaltic waterfall in NP Skaftefell. After one hour walk you will reach the viewing platform and you can get even closer.
The well-known glacier lake with icebergs. There is a narrow strait with a bridge over it. The icebergs got through this strait to the sea and land on the nearby Diamond Beach.
There are plenty of icebergs on the beach. It was pouring cats and dogs, so we didn't want to spend there too much time and get completely wet, but you can make wonderful pictures here.
Ice-tongue of the Vattnajökull that reaches almost the Ring road. In a 10-minutes' walk you will reach the morraine and see the glacier.
An impressive waterfall from down there. There is a campsite just under the waterfall so you can enjoy the view all day and night (if there is any). Skogafoss is a starting point or end point of the Fimmvörðuháls track.
Our favourite place in Iceland. We made only a day-hike to Fimmvörðuháls hut and back, but we totally loved it. The views were amazing – you can see a lush green gorge with waterfalls and cascades, sea level on one side and a volcano with snow tops on the other side.
A beach where you can watch seals. Be patient and watch carefully, after a while you will see some of them lying on the beach or peaking out of the water.
The icon of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. you can only see this shape from the waterfall.
A glacier that is visible with good weather conditions from Reykjavik.
The second highest waterfall in Iceland (was the first one for a long time). It is a 5-hours hike to the top of the waterfall and back. Count with that you will need to ford the river twice on the hike.
First Icelandic parliament gatherings took place here. On a place between two tectonic plates. There are several parking lots (you have to pay everywhere) and number of trails. Due to its vicinity of the capital is this place full of tourists.
A hot stream neaby the Hveragerði town. The 45-minutes hike takes you to the place equipped with a basic wooden platforms and hangers to change your clothes and store them while you enjoy the hot stream.
Snow covers, otherwise green Iceland, into white and that looks also fabulous.
A small port in the north of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Ferries go to the Western fjords. This place served as a Nuuk in the movie the Secret life of Walter Mitty.
A spectacular show. Visible with a clear sky and far out of light pollution. This one we saw with the KP index 3.
Places from the photo journey on the map
