Summon The Whales! In Search Of The Sea Giants
“I understand and acknowledge the risks I’m undertaking by choosing to participate in activities and assume all responsibility for exposing myself to these risks/dangers,” st
Volcano Watch: A Closer Look At Katla
Hvolsvöllur is a sleepy village in south Iceland, between Hella and Seljalandsfoss. It’s a somewhat forgettable, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it settlement of just a few small hangar
Golf In The Westman Islands: Being Angry and Frustrated In A Beautiful Place
“I’m going to tell you something, ok? What shot do you really think you can do? Do you think you’re going to make that long difficult shot? Probably not. You [&he
This Weeks #GVPics Winner
It’s that time of the week when we pick our favourite Iceland Instagrams with the hashtag #GVPics. It often gets heated when we have to decide on which ten to […]
Fjord Serenity Now! A Kayaking Day In Hvalfjörður
Kayaking has always been a favorite sport of mine because its effort-to-awesomeness ratio is incredibly low. Sure, pro kayakers can get up to all kinds of badassery, but if you’r
Have Some Havarí: On Leaving Reykjavík For The Far East
It would be easy to miss Havarí if you weren’t looking out for it. Along the Ring Road between Djúpivogur and Breiðdalvsík, a simple roadside sign points away from the [&hell
Travel News: Northern Lights, Viking Ships, Criminal Rubbish
As the Costa del Iceland’s pretty damn decent summer draws to its conclusion and the nights draw in, there are new seasonal activities on the menu for travellers. First and [&hel
Havarí: Driving The Length Of Iceland To The East-Side Party Barn
After three months on this island, it all came down to a few short final hours and a road trip. Less than two days before my departure from Iceland, I’d […]
Minimalistic Painting For This Week’s #GVPics Instagram Competition
Iceland has a lot going on right now; kids are starting school, some are preparing for winter and painting their houses, while others are enjoying the last days of summer […
Humans of Reykjavík: Three Americans Here By Chance
Every issue, we will interview someone living in Reykjavík or just visiting the city, so as to share with you, dear reader, the trials and tribulations of daily life here [&hellip
On The Road: Sandfell Öræfi
Of all the things Iceland is famous for, trees are not among them. Most Icelandic trees are shivering, skinny things, with branches close to the trunk, as if trying to […]
Kálfstindar: Take Your Pick
Elevation: 824 m Ascent time: 2.5-3.5 hrs Length: 4 km Map: 37 Elevation difference: 600 m The mountain A tuya or stapi mountain is a subglacial volcanic structure on top […
The Legends Of The Outlaws: Afraid Of The Men Of The Mountains
For decades, Icelandic farmers feared the men of the mountains. One of the best known of all Icelandic folk songs is “Á Sprengisandi,” by Grímur Thomsen. Therein, a rider das
There Can Be Only One: Iceland’s Highlands In Thoughts & Pictures
The vast, desolate highlands of Iceland are the largest area of uninhabited and largely undisturbed nature in Europe. They sit in the centre of the country, extending over much of
Surf’s Up In Iceland – VIDEO
As hard as it may be to believe, there is actually a history of surfing in Iceland, albeit a fairly recent one. As Icelandic surfer Steinar explains in this, the […]
Search And Rescue With Tom Cruise
Most Reykvíkingar tend to think that being born outside of the capital is some terrible accident that needs to be corrected as soon as possible, and in fact the last […]
One Does Not Simply Drive Into Mordor: A Trip To Askja
We were sitting in a random parking lot in Egilsstaðir when my travelmate and I realised we had to think of a plan. From the start of our road trip […]
Slumbering Volcanoes In Iceland
“No one can predict where, or with what force, an eruption might commence.” Currently, some of the 30 volcanic systems in Iceland, most of them with a large central volcano, [&
Keilir: The Cone
Elevation: 378 m Ascent time: 1.5-2.5 hrs Length: 3.5 km Map: 27 Elevation difference: 280 m One of the first sights that greets a visitor to Iceland is a cone-shaped […]
Hestskarðshnjúkur: Unique Fjord Scenery
Elevation: 855 m Ascent time: 1.5-2.5 hrs Length: 2-2.5 km Map: 61 Elevation difference: 735 m The mountain The pretty triangle-shaped summit opposite a small fjord from the pictur