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A Travel Diary

Iceland 2025

Waterfalls, glaciers, and the land of fire & ice — May 2025

120Photographs

9Days

6Places

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The Land of Fire & Ice

Nine days driving the Ring Road and beyond — from the steaming Blue Lagoon and the rift valley of Þingvellir to the thundering falls of Gullfoss, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss; the black-sand beaches and sea arches of the south; the icebergs of Jökulsárlón and the glittering ice of Diamond Beach; the black fortress of Vestrahorn and the geothermal fields of Mývatn; and the peninsula of Snæfellsnes with Kirkjufell standing over it all. This is Iceland in late spring, when the days never quite end. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or open the map.

Day 1

Wed 28 May

Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon

Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon — Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonThe milky-blue water of the Blue Lagoon, steaming against black lava.

Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon — Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonGeothermal water the color of sky, walled in by moss and rock.

Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon — Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonReykjavík from above — colored roofs running down to the sea.

Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon — Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonThe Sun Voyager on the waterfront, pointing out to the North Atlantic.

Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon — Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonSkólavörðustígur, the rainbow street, climbing toward the church.

Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon — Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonLeif Erikson keeping watch from the steps of Hallgrímskirkja.

Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon — Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonSteam rising off the lagoon where the land makes its own heat.

Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon — Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonThe milky-blue water of the Blue Lagoon, steaming against black lava.

Day 2

Thu 29 May

The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleGullfoss — the golden falls — thundering down its two great steps.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleThe tectonic rift at Þingvellir, where two continents pull apart.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleAn Icelandic horse, small and tough, grazing by the road.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleKerið, a volcanic crater filled with impossibly blue water.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleÖxarárfoss spilling over the rift wall at Þingvellir.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleGreen moss and black rock as far as the eye could see.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleThe path through the rift, a walk between two worlds.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleGullfoss — the golden falls — thundering down its two great steps.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleThe tectonic rift at Þingvellir, where two continents pull apart.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleAn Icelandic horse, small and tough, grazing by the road.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleKerið, a volcanic crater filled with impossibly blue water.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleÖxarárfoss spilling over the rift wall at Þingvellir.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleGreen moss and black rock as far as the eye could see.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleThe path through the rift, a walk between two worlds.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleGullfoss — the golden falls — thundering down its two great steps.

Day 3

Fri 30 May

The Golden Circle · The South Coast

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleThe tectonic rift at Þingvellir, where two continents pull apart.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleAn Icelandic horse, small and tough, grazing by the road.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleKerið, a volcanic crater filled with impossibly blue water.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleÖxarárfoss spilling over the rift wall at Þingvellir.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleGreen moss and black rock as far as the eye could see.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleThe path through the rift, a walk between two worlds.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleGullfoss — the golden falls — thundering down its two great steps.

The Golden Circle — The Golden CircleThe tectonic rift at Þingvellir, where two continents pull apart.

The South Coast — The South CoastSkógafoss, a wall of white water sixty metres high.

The South Coast — The South CoastSeljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk behind.

The South Coast — The South CoastThe black-sand beach at Reynisfjara, basalt and roaring surf.

The South Coast — The South CoastThe sea arch at Dyrhólaey, carved by the relentless Atlantic.

The South Coast — The South CoastReynisdrangar — the sea stacks standing off the black shore.

The South Coast — The South CoastSheep grazing the impossible green beneath the mountains.

The South Coast — The South CoastGljúfrabúi, hidden in its mossy canyon.

The South Coast — The South CoastSkógafoss, a wall of white water sixty metres high.

The South Coast — The South CoastSeljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk behind.

The South Coast — The South CoastThe black-sand beach at Reynisfjara, basalt and roaring surf.

The South Coast — The South CoastThe sea arch at Dyrhólaey, carved by the relentless Atlantic.

The South Coast — The South CoastReynisdrangar — the sea stacks standing off the black shore.

Day 4

Sat 31 May

The South Coast · Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon

The South Coast — The South CoastSheep grazing the impossible green beneath the mountains.

The South Coast — The South CoastGljúfrabúi, hidden in its mossy canyon.

The South Coast — The South CoastSkógafoss, a wall of white water sixty metres high.

The South Coast — The South CoastSeljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk behind.

The South Coast — The South CoastThe black-sand beach at Reynisfjara, basalt and roaring surf.

The South Coast — The South CoastThe sea arch at Dyrhólaey, carved by the relentless Atlantic.

The South Coast — The South CoastReynisdrangar — the sea stacks standing off the black shore.

The South Coast — The South CoastSheep grazing the impossible green beneath the mountains.

The South Coast — The South CoastGljúfrabúi, hidden in its mossy canyon.

The South Coast — The South CoastSkógafoss, a wall of white water sixty metres high.

The South Coast — The South CoastSeljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk behind.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonJökulsárlón — icebergs drifting in a glacial lagoon.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonBlue ice calving off the glacier and floating out to sea.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonDiamond Beach, where the ice washes up on black sand and glitters.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe glacier tongue of Skáfafell, cracked and ancient.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonFjaðrárgljúfur, a green canyon two million years in the making.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonStranded ice on the black shore, lit up like cut glass.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe ice lagoon, still and silver under a moving sky.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonJökulsárlón — icebergs drifting in a glacial lagoon.

Day 5

Sun 1 Jun

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon · The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonBlue ice calving off the glacier and floating out to sea.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonDiamond Beach, where the ice washes up on black sand and glitters.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe glacier tongue of Skáfafell, cracked and ancient.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonFjaðrárgljúfur, a green canyon two million years in the making.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonStranded ice on the black shore, lit up like cut glass.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe ice lagoon, still and silver under a moving sky.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonJökulsárlón — icebergs drifting in a glacial lagoon.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonBlue ice calving off the glacier and floating out to sea.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonDiamond Beach, where the ice washes up on black sand and glitters.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe glacier tongue of Skáfafell, cracked and ancient.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonFjaðrárgljúfur, a green canyon two million years in the making.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonStranded ice on the black shore, lit up like cut glass.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe ice lagoon, still and silver under a moving sky.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonJökulsárlón — icebergs drifting in a glacial lagoon.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonBlue ice calving off the glacier and floating out to sea.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonDiamond Beach, where the ice washes up on black sand and glitters.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe glacier tongue of Skáfafell, cracked and ancient.

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon — Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonFjaðrárgljúfur, a green canyon two million years in the making.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northVestrahorn, the black fortress mountain rising over the sands.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northThe Eastfjords, quiet water and cloud caught on the peaks.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northThe steaming, sulphur-yellow earth of the Mývatn geothermal fields.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northGoðafoss — the waterfall of the gods.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northAkureyri's famous red hearts at the traffic lights.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northSnow still clinging to the mountains in the northern spring.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northA fjord road winding between the sea and the cliffs.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northVestrahorn, the black fortress mountain rising over the sands.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northThe Eastfjords, quiet water and cloud caught on the peaks.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northThe steaming, sulphur-yellow earth of the Mývatn geothermal fields.

Day 6

Mon 2 Jun

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northGoðafoss — the waterfall of the gods.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northAkureyri's famous red hearts at the traffic lights.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northSnow still clinging to the mountains in the northern spring.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northA fjord road winding between the sea and the cliffs.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northVestrahorn, the black fortress mountain rising over the sands.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northThe Eastfjords, quiet water and cloud caught on the peaks.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northThe steaming, sulphur-yellow earth of the Mývatn geothermal fields.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northGoðafoss — the waterfall of the gods.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northAkureyri's famous red hearts at the traffic lights.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northSnow still clinging to the mountains in the northern spring.

Day 7

Tue 3 Jun

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northA fjord road winding between the sea and the cliffs.

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north — The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northVestrahorn, the black fortress mountain rising over the sands.

Day 8

Wed 4 Jun

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureKirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureThe stone arch of Gatklettur at Arnarstapi.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureBasalt columns stacked like organ pipes above the grass.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureSnowy Snæfellsjökull presiding over the peninsula.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureSea caves and arches along the wild Snæfellsnes coast.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureMidnight light burning orange over the lava fields.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureThe peninsula they call 'Iceland in miniature.'

Day 9

Thu 5 Jun

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureKirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureThe stone arch of Gatklettur at Arnarstapi.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureBasalt columns stacked like organ pipes above the grass.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureSnowy Snæfellsjökull presiding over the peninsula.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureSea caves and arches along the wild Snæfellsnes coast.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureMidnight light burning orange over the lava fields.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureThe peninsula they call 'Iceland in miniature.'

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureKirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureThe stone arch of Gatklettur at Arnarstapi.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureBasalt columns stacked like organ pipes above the grass.

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature — Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureSnowy Snæfellsjökull presiding over the peninsula.

Where we wandered