We could talk for days about the best trip of our lives so far — the roadtrip we did with Altervan in Iceland. But since a single article wouldn’t be enough, we’ve gathered the things that impressed us most into categories and hand them over to you. So let’s go!
The landscapes and the changing scenery
Whatever you’ve read, however many videos and photos you’ve seen, the landscapes in Iceland are 1,000 times better when you see them with your own eyes. They’re also something not easily described in words. The first thing I want to do is use my hands to help me describe them. How else can I make you understand the endless peat meadows, formed by countless tiny, round little hills, like hunched, stooped little people waiting for a nudge to stand up? Or the small low houses whose roofs have a thick layer of turf, making them blend into the surrounding meadow. Or the vast expanses of black, rocky lava in wild shapes with sharp edges, covered along their whole length with moss and lichen? And all of it in a rapidly changing scene. Every few kilometres something different — one turn and the other side of the mountain not only has no snow but glows golden from the sun falling softly upon it.
The trolls
In Iceland, 80% of the population believes in trolls! Sounds crazy, right? And yet. If you find yourself on the island and see the astonishing landscapes, all straight out of scenes from a wild fairy tale where good reigns and evil always lurks in the dark, you might believe too. In fact, as a local innkeeper told us — whose resemblance to a troll was uncanny — trolls aren’t mythical creatures, but the first people who lived in Iceland before anyone else. Of course, there are some trolls whose names have taken on mythical proportions, like Gryla, who is the mother of the ’13 Yule Lads’, has a big cauldron and makes stew of naughty children!
The sheep
You’ve never seen more beautiful sheep! From May to October, they’re everywhere, on all the expanses to the right and left of the roads, and there are a lot of them. To give you an idea: their population is around 800,000 compared to the 400,000 inhabitants! They’re longer-haired than ours, their breed is one of the purest in the world, and their wool is very thick, warm and soft, so they can withstand Iceland’s arctic temperatures. Beautiful and plump, one of the loveliest images they gave us was grazing carefree on a steep meadow with the black Atlantic crashing below them, oblivious to the beauty unfolding at that moment.
The horses, too, are a very characteristic feature of Iceland, as we came across them every day. They may look more like ponies, but thanks to their strength they became the horses of the Vikings!
The vast expanses and the minimal human footprint
This was truly unbelievable! Imagine being on the road with endless expanses stretching before you, each of a different morphology. And across these endless expanses, the width of the road is the bare minimum. In many cases, some bridges are so narrow that two cars can’t pass at the same time, so one of the two drivers has to wait. We even drove for two or three hours without coming across a trace of a house or ‘civilisation’.
The mountains
There are no two identical mountains in Iceland! They’re all impressive and seemingly created to stand there and fill you with awe. One might have a perfectly round peak, while another is completely pointed. One mountain reminds you more of the Wall from Game of Thrones; some have completely smooth slopes as if sculpted with a huge spatula, while their peaks are utterly wild, like two different pieces. Some have small waterfalls and a very strong wind blowing at their summit, lifting the water high and giving the illusion that they’re ‘steaming’, while there’s even a mountain shaped almost like a perfect pyramid. Keep your eyes open the whole way to collect as many formations as you can!
The waterfalls
Iceland has over 2,500 waterfalls! Want a waterfall that pours in front of a cave so you can walk behind it? It’s got one. Want a waterfall at whose mouth a perfect, bright rainbow forms, so clear that you can stand at its base if you want? It’s got one. Want a huge waterfall, formed by the melting of the largest glacier in Europe and sitting in the middle of an endless lunar landscape? It’s got one! In Iceland we found the most impressive waterfalls, all so different that you never tire of them.
The geysers and the hot springs
Another of nature’s wonders! The earth boiling, hot water gushing and bubbling, intense steam — and the highlight: Geysir, the largest geyser, which erupts roughly every 8 to 10 minutes. Without any warning, suddenly a huge jet of water shoots up to a height of 30 m. The water isn’t just hot, it’s boiling, and the spectacle is impressive to say the least. Geysers, like hot springs, arise from active or dormant volcanoes, and the energy they produce is harnessed by the locals for their daily life.
The black beaches and the Atlantic Ocean
One of the highlights of our trip was the incredible view — often from the road — of the black sand that characterises Iceland’s beaches, combined with the sprawling, lace-edged waves of the Atlantic Ocean. This supreme spectacle moved us, and one day we were lucky enough to spot the fins of whales swimming in the dark waters.
The Northern Lights
The Northern Lights couldn’t be missing from the list of things that impressed us on our trip to Iceland! But since it’s a whole experience in itself, you can read more here.
Of course, there are many more things that impressed us in Iceland — though it would be more accurate to say that everything impressed us and kept us constantly exclaiming. There’s no other place on Earth it can be compared to; it’s as if someone gathered into a very small area as many of nature’s most impressive features as possible. But whatever we say, only when you live it will you truly understand. Are you ready?
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With love for travel, roadtrips and adventure.
The Altervan team
