Foto: The colorful rocks of Landmannalaugar (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Iceland - Landmannalaugar is an area of vast lava fields and hot springs. Minerals give the rhyolite mountains spectacular colors. Even from the bus, we can see the colorful mountains. The clouds have cleared in the interior, and it’s sunny when we step out of the bus around eleven o’clock. In front of us is a campsite, an information center, and a makeshift shop set up in a few old American school buses painted green. There’s nothing else. People come here purely for the nature. You can take hikes ranging from a few hours to several days. We choose the hike to the top of the 855-meter Brennisteinsalda. It’s a circular route of about three hours via the summit. The first part of the hike runs through a valley. Around us are mountains in the most fantastic colors. How can you ever capture this in a photo? Yellow sulfur patches, green moss, black and blue lava, and red iron-rich rock. Around us, we hear a lot of Dutch being spoken. We’re walking alongside a Djoser group just starting their trip. At the end of the valley, the climb up the Brennisteinsalda begins. The path immediately gets quite steep. We carefully make our way up, making sure our shoe soles have enough grip. We quickly gain elevation, frequently stopping to admire the beautiful surroundings. It’s stunning here—nature at its finest. Reaching the summit is more difficult than expected. Time and again, we think we’re almost at the top, only to see another ridge beyond the false summit. Eventually, after an hour and a half of climbing, we reach the top. The panoramic view in all directions is magnificent.
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Dettifoss and Selfoss
Iceland - Via the northern side of the Tjörnes Peninsula, where Húsavík is located, we drive to the Dettifoss waterfall. At the Mánárbakki campground, we reach the northernmost point of our journey—just 25 km from the Arctic Circle. Iceland’s mainland ...
Gullfoss Waterfall
Iceland - A few minutes later, we drive on to the Gullfoss waterfall, one of Iceland’s most famous. The impressive Gullfoss waterfall drops the water of the Ölfusá River in two stages. From the viewing platform, we see the waterfall nestled in the valley. A ...
Lava formations around Mvatn
Iceland - We first drive past the half-frozen Lake Mývatn to the lava formations of Dimmuborgir. Due to snow and ice, the trail is too treacherous to walk with the entire group, so we can’t visit the lava tunnels. From a viewpoint, we get an explanation about ...
Mount Kirkjufell
Iceland - We had planned to get a drink in Ólafsvík, but we find no cafés or restaurants open. We walk through the town: the modern church, the sports field, and the harbor. There isn’t much more to see. Fewer than 1,000 people live here. Iceland’s population ...
The Blue Lagoon
Iceland - The Blue Lagoon is an artificial lake nestled among moss-covered lava fields. It’s actually a by-product of the Svartsengi geothermal power plant. The water temperature is 39°C and is rich in minerals, silicates, and blue-green algae, which give the ...
The Fjarargljufur Canyon
Iceland - Just past Kirkjubæjarklaustur lies the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, a beautifully carved gorge. Until recently, it was relatively unknown—until Justin Bieber filmed a music video here. Since then, not only Bieber fans but also most travel guides mention ...
The ingvellir parliamentary plain of Iceland
Iceland - Thingvellir, also known as the Parliament Plains, is a fascinating lava field located at the rift between the European and American tectonic plates. This rugged terrain served as a meeting place for chieftains, who gathered here in the year 930 to discuss ...
The Jokulsarlon glacier lake
Iceland - In the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, numerous icebergs float until they melt enough to drift out to sea. Some are larger than a house. It’s hard to believe only a tenth of each iceberg is visible above water. The clear water is ideal for fish, and ...
The Strokkur and Geysir geysers
Iceland - By bus, we head further into Iceland’s Golden Circle—the trio of must-see sights for any tourist: Gullfoss waterfall, Strokkur geyser, and Thingvellir National Park. First, we visit the waterfall. Along the way, we already pass the geysers. Gullfoss ...
Whale watching at Husavik
Iceland - At 8:30 a.m., we walk to the harbor for a whale-watching tour. We board the Náttfari, a former fishing vessel now fitted with benches. Masks are mandatory onboard due to Icelandic law, as social distancing isn’t possible, explains our guide, Laugey. ...