Iceland - The Land of Fire and Ice

A story of how I jumped head first into new experiences

“Sorry, this trip will cost me how much?”

“You’re asking me to wake up at 7 am every day, on a holiday?”

“We’re going to drive over 2000km in 10 days?”

Whether you’ve been to Iceland or not, these are the questions you’ll ask yourself when your travel-crazy friend approaches you with their next holiday idea. Without any additional information, you’d be crazy to accept such an invitation.

But then you launch Google, you start researching this isolated rock formed by magma and shifting tectonic plates and your head begins to turn. Suddenly, that $3,000 dollar price tag doesn’t seem that bad, you decide you love driving and that sleep is overrated.

For me, this change in viewpoint took no more than a few minutes, no more than a few clicks on Google and no more than a few videos on YouTube. I was all in, and I’ll tell you now, I don’t regret going one bit. Don’t believe me, KL Simmons has written an excellent article on her time in Iceland. I encourage you to read her article “If You’ve Dreamed of Exploring Iceland Here’s Proof Why You Should” as further evidence on why you must visit this amazing country.

So what makes Iceland so incredible? Put simply, it’s the variety. Or better yet, the extreme variety. In the morning you might be looking at one of Iceland’s beautiful waterfalls, before finding yourself speechless and in awe while climbing one of the country's volcanos.

The Icelandic Falls

“So you went all that way to look at some waterfalls?”

“Don’t you get bored of looking at waterfalls?”

Are just some of the common questions I get when I tell people that I’ve been to Iceland. And from the outside looking in, you could argue that they are valid. But what people fail to understand is that no two waterfalls are the same. Each and every waterfall is unique, they all make you feel a different way.

Whether it’s the beauty of catching Seljalandsfoss during a sunset or hearing Dettifoss (Europe's most powerful waterfall) before actually seeing it, each waterfall takes your breath away for different reasons.

Catching Seljalandsfoss waterfall was a particular magical experience. I had just spent the entire day travelling over 400km in the car, depleted and low on energy, I was struggling to find the energy to make it to my hotel for the evening.

Having spotted several cars parked up by the falls, I figured it would be a suitable spot to take a break before continuing the drive. Looking back it still amazes me how much of an incredible decision this was.

It left me dumbfounded. I had spent months organizing every last aspect of this trip. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to see but, it was a late evening decision, one made from tiredness that left the biggest mark on me. Catching the sunset behind the falls was an incredible experience and arguably one of the highlights of the trip. I got back in the car, feeling like I could drive for hours to come, I was beyond energized by the experience.

Maybe it’s the feeling of accomplishment Glymur waterfall provides, knowing that only those willing to hike the 5km trek get to see and catch a glimpse of one of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls.

Maybe you’re looking to gain an appreciation of your size in the world. Maybe you just can’t help but stand in awe, standing at the base, up close and personal with Skógafoss waterfall. This was something I found in common with Bebe Nicholson who wrote about her experience in Iceland in her article “From Volcanoes to Waterfalls, Iceland Stirs the Spirit and the Soul”.

Iceland's Eruptive Past, Present and Future

I’m not taking anything away from the waterfalls, they left me dumbfounded. But let’s be real, you can find waterfalls all over the world. What really sets Iceland apart is its volcanos. And I’ll tell you now, they do not disappoint.

I was lucky to catch their fluorescent glow when I visited, having just arrived only a few days after an eruption. They really help cement your size in this universe when you see their destructive power. Whether that’s seeing the glow of a lava field, or seeing the newly forged shapes left by previous rivers made up of magma.

A regret I had from my visit was the fact I never got to see the volcano eruption up close. Whilst it was on my list of things to do, I simply did not have enough time to complete the 20km hike to the eruption site.

Optimistic that maybe I could catch a glimpse from a distance I began the hike regardless. Whilst bad weather and poor visibility meant I never actually saw the volcano, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to walk alongside and near eruption sites of the past. Pictured below you can see the aftermath of an eruption that occurred only 10 years prior.

Having spent a large portion of my time at university studying fluid dynamics it was incredibly interesting seeing hardened rock behaving like a liquid. The black solid squeezed through the path of least resistance as it made its way down the valley.

Iceland — it’s in the name

Let’s not forget where Iceland gets its name from. All year round, the country offers magnificent icy landscapes. Whether you venture up a slowly receding glacier or venture into an ice cave, Iceland’s icy frontier provides a stark reminder of the impact we have on our climate.

Iceland is an absolute must for anyone who hasn’t been. Whether you’re planning on staying only for a few days, I’ve written about some personal recommendations