come along with me to iceland!

 

days 1-2


We arrived in Iceland early Monday morning from a red eye flight and immediately hit the ground running- no time to waste before hotel check in. Our trip included a lot of sights to see and things to do, so we secured our rental cars and headed to the blue lagoon. We enjoyed lunch at the blue lagoon cafe after the lagoon experience, and then made our way to Reykjavik to check in and park the cars. We stayed at a luxury boutique hotel called Sand Hotel (located at the favorited Sandholt bakery), which was a fantastic hotel, although we only spent one night there. We ate dinner at MAR Seafood, just two blocks from the hotel, and it was incredible!


The next day we made our way around the city, tried the famous lamb hotdogs at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur, and did some shopping at Aurum Jewelry and wool shops. We finished day two by checking out and making our way to the Perlan museum. The exhibits were immersive and captivating, and the cafe/observatory on the top floor even more impressive. After the museum we made a scenic 45 minute trip to Hveragerdi, which was where our next and final stay would be the rest of the week.

Hand using a squeegee to clean and wipe down a glass window or surface.

blue lagoon


Relaxing in the Blue Lagoon was enjoyable and challenging, as we were facing jet lag and crowds. However it was

A series of five connected photos showing a person walking down a sunlit urban street with buildings and bare trees.

HallgrimskirkjaCity Center


The sunrise on day 2 illuminated the Hallgrimskirkja church above the rainbow road

White art deco style building facade with 1919 inscription and ornate architectural details in sunlight.

city adventure

There are so many beautiful landmarks in Reykjavik city, a contrast of new and old with cobblestone streets and striking contemporary marvels. We enjoyed pastries, hotdogs, and coffee downtown.


 

Aurora Hunting

 

Stunning green aurora borealis dances across the dark night sky above silhouetted mountains in Iceland.
Dark interior of a vehicle illuminated by red ambient lighting creating a moody atmospheric glow.
Vibrant green northern lights dance across a dark night sky above a silhouetted mountain landscape.

Days 2-3


Day 2 ended with a viking dinner at Ingólfsskáli Viking Restaurant and a surprise of the Aurora! We were not anticipating seeing the northern lights this night, but actually on the night after. We ventured out on the balcony after dinner and were alerted by others in our party that they could see the Aurora. As the hours went on in the night, the Aurora got brighter. I packed my photography gear and started hiking up the mountain behind the hotel. It was incredibly windy and cold, but I stayed there until I was happy with my results. The next day was an adventure to the golden circle, a stretch of road that includes the Geysir and quite a few waterfalls.

Long exposure waterfall cascading over dark rocks creates ethereal blue streams in low light conditions.

Bruarfoss


This was the first stop, and was located about 1/2 mile from the parking lot. There were more waterfalls further away, but for time we only stopped for this one.

Golden prairie grass stretches toward distant mountains under clear blue sky in rural landscape.

Roadtrip Views


Everywhere you look in Iceland there are mountain views like this. We never got tired of the views!

Panoramic sequence of Aldeyjarfoss waterfall in Iceland at sunset with basalt columns and turquoise water flowing below.

Gullfoss


This was the biggest and coldest waterfall stop. Every stop has a large visitors center with cafe, restaurant, and store- so we did some shopping to warm up after.

A panoramic view of frozen waterfalls cascading down a rocky cliff face in winter with blue-tinted ice formations.

Gullfoss Canyon


Turn around 180 degrees from the Gullfoss waterfall and you see the Gullfoss Canyon. The sun set around 4:30 every day, so this was taken toward the end of our day

Day 4

Day 4 could not share a spot with Day 5 simply because of how much we did on this day. We woke up before sunrise and drove 2 hours to the Reynisfjara Beach (black sand beach) for a photoshoot with me as the photographer, of course. We arrived at the perfect time with the suns position and the tide still low, and although there were already people there, it wasn't as busy as it usually is. We packed up after getting pictures and headed 15 minutes down the road to Vik, for some Black Crust Pizza (made with charcoal from the volcano!) and then a super jeep excursion to the Katla Ice Cave.

Two people in sweaters walk together on dark rocky terrain against a bright sky.
A couple holds hands and walks along a scenic beach at sunset with warm golden light illuminating their silhouettes.
Couple in winter coats and knit hats embrace outdoors during golden hour.
A series of headshots showing people wearing winter hats and coats against a bright outdoor background.
Two people in casual attire sit together against a rocky backdrop during an outdoor photoshoot.
A person in a dark winter coat gazes upward while sitting against a rocky backdrop in warm lighting.
Dramatic sunset illuminates rocky sea stacks and coastal cliffs along a rugged beach shoreline.

The trip to the Ice Cave was breathtakingly beautiful! Our tour guide told us about the many movies that were filmed here, which only added to the magic and wonder of this place. The location was incredibly remote, with a solace i've ever experienced. This otherworldly location was worth it just for the ride there and back alone, but the cave was stunning. The ice cave is a living, ever changing being, and so on this occasion it was quite small. Despite this, we were so glad we booked this excursion.

Tourist explores a stunning blue ice cave in Iceland wearing white winter clothing and a green hat.
Panoramic mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks and dramatic sunset sky over rugged alpine terrain.
Climbers explore a stunning ice cave with bright blue glacial walls and illuminated passages in Iceland.
Tourists wearing safety helmets explore inside a bright blue ice cave in a glacier.
A dramatic panoramic view of snow-covered mountain peaks and ridges under a moody cloudy sky.
Person wearing black Columbia jacket and winter hat explores inside an icy blue glacial cave.
A dramatic scene shows a person in a dark icy cave with blue lighting and reflective surfaces.
A panoramic view of snow-covered mountains and frozen lake under cloudy skies in a desolate winter landscape.

Day 5


Day 5 was our last full day and night at the Frost and Fire Hotel. We started the day with a sunrise horse tour at Eldhestar Stables. Our ride began in a foggy cloud, and as the ride went on, turned into the most beautiful, golden glow field ride. My horses name was Selki, and she was definitely the leader of the pack. She wanted to be behind the tour guide at ALL times. All of the horses were well trained, and the tour guides were so knowledgeable.

Silhouetted horses gather at a watering hole during golden sunset with reflections on the calm water surface.
Herd of Icelandic horses grazing on snowy terrain during a golden sunset against a clear winter sky.
Riders mounted on dark horses traverse a misty winter landscape during a group trail ride.
Person in dark winter clothing rides a white horse against a dramatic golden sunset sky in the background.

After the horse ride, we were treated to a traditional viking lunch, cooked by the chef at Hotel Eldhestar. The lunch included smoked lamb, potatoes, and vegetables. It was so delicious! Next we drove about an hour east to see Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi. Seljalandsfoss is a waterfall that you can walk behind (although it was closed for the season) and Gljúfrabúi is a waterfall that is within a cave. Both are guaranteed to make you wet and cold, both of which happened to us with navigating our way into Gljúfrabúi, but it was worth it!

Dramatic waterfall cascades down dark cave walls with ethereal blue light filtering through the cavern opening.
A scuba diver explores a dark underwater cave with blue lighting creating an ethereal atmosphere.
Majestic Seljalandsfoss waterfall cascades down moss-covered cliffs in Iceland during winter with snow-capped peaks.
A series of cascading waterfalls flowing down dark rocky cliffs at sunset with golden light illuminating the mountainside.
A cascading waterfall flows down a rugged cliff face surrounded by green vegetation in a mountainous landscape.
A dramatic waterfall cascades down moss-covered cliffs through a narrow rocky gorge in multiple scenic views.

 

Iceland was an incredible adventure full of amazing food, photography, and family moments that I will never forget.


 

Panoramic view of a tranquil harbor with boats at sunset and snow-capped mountains in the background.

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