Springtime In Svalbard: Ice Caves, Dog Sleds And Tinder In The Arctic
The very first written mention of the group of islands known as Svalbard, meaning “cold coast” or “cold edge,” comes from a 12th century Icelandic Saga. “Svalbard fundinn
Living On The Edge: A Trip To Grímsey, Iceland’s Arctic Island
It’s almost 2pm when our tiny propeller plane passes over the glossy white mountains that mark Iceland’s northern coastline. I press my face to the cold glass to see the [&hell
Friendly Ghosts And Langoustine: A Day In Stokkseyri
It’s snowing in Hellisheiði. Powdery drifts sweep over the narrow strip of asphalt that cuts through the snow-laden mountains. Like any trip south along Route 1, our journey
Last Chance For Aurora Borealis?
As the days get longer and the nights get lighter, the chances of seeing the aurora borealis over Iceland recede for the summer. But this weekend, the aurora forecast at […]
PHOTOS: Early Summer Sun At Sólheimajökull
For visitors to Iceland, the majestic peaks of the southern glaciers have a magnetic pull. Eyjafjallajökull comes into view somewhere between Selfoss and Hella on the southern roa
PHOTOS: Springtime For Skiers
Bláfjöll is the largest skiing area in Iceland, located less than a half hour drive outside Reykjavík. Nestled in a large mountain range, it’s clearly visible from the c
A Feast For All The Senses In Stykkishólmur
“Are you kidding?” laughs the grizzled old bus driver. “I’ll never get to Ártun by 8:51. Maybe if this was a Ferrari.” He checks a timetable. “You should take Strætó
A Close Encounter With The Arctic Fox
Skimming briskly along Ísafjarðardjúp, the large bay that cuts between the Westfjords’ northernmost and middle tines, I lose phone service and geographic reference at about th
The Road To Glymur, The Highest Waterfall In Iceland
Glymur is the highest waterfall in Iceland, rising to an elevation of some 198 metres. To get there, it’s about a one hour drive from Reykjavík, followed by 40 minutes [&hel
Akranes: The Great Unknown Across The Bay From Reykjavík
Sitting in the office on a rainy afternoon after several days reeking of the mundane, Hrefna and I take a solemn oath. We will take hold of our heartstrings, seek […]
Take A Moment: There’s More To Borgarnes Than Bónus And N1
Borganes is perhaps best known as the last‐chance gas and Bónus stop before the long drive onward to the remote Westfjords or the north of Iceland. Passing through, this diminut
Over Hill And Underwater: A Day With Icelandic Horses
The Icelandic word for horse is hestur, which translates as “peaceful creature with floating hooves and blow-dried hair as if lifted from the scalp of a 1980s supermodel.” Thes
PHOTOS: Strong Tide And Seals At Jökulsárlón Ice Lagoon
We stopped at Jökulsarlon recently on our way up to the Vatnajökull ice cave. There was a strong wind blowing, preventing many of the icebergs from getting out to sea. Instead,
Artist Documents Seagoing Life Aboard Icelandic Cargo Ship
After a visit to Iceland in 2014, American artist Justin Levesque was surprised one day to see that Iceland had followed him home, when stacks of blue Eimskip containers started [&
The Westman Islands Are Alive (Even In The Wintertime)
Hrefna and I stumble onto Strætó’s 53 bus at precisely 5:43 in the morning. Behind us, the Mjódd bus station looks as if it belongs in a ‘CSI’ murder scene. […]
Photos: Inside Vatnajökull’s Majestic Ice Caves
Our intrepid photographer Art Bicnick recently took a drive around Iceland’s frozen southern coastline, coming back with a treasure trove of images. One of the stops was the
Photos: Winter Roads Of Southern Iceland
Grapevine’s trusty in-house photographer Art Bicnick took a drive around the south coast recently to visit the Vatnajökull ice cave. Along the way, he encountered some extre
PHOTOS: Geysir And Strokkur In Winter Mode
Doing the Golden Circle during winter is preferred by some, because the sights are even more stunning in the snow – if you can withstand the cold. The sight that […]
PHOTOS: Grapevine In Greenland – The Director’s Cut
Last November, we took a one-week trip to Greenland, visiting the cities and towns of Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut. Along the way, we tried to pack in everything we could, [&he
PHOTOS: Snowmobiling On Langjökull
Take a sneak peek at our snowmobiling trip on Langjökull last weekend. Former Intern-Hannah, now known as Freelance-Hannah Jane Cohen has the full story coming soon!
Into The Wild: A Week Of Nature And Culture In Greenland
The descent to Greenland begins suddenly, after four turbulent hours of flying through a constant storm. I squeeze down into the cramped seat, tilting my head horizontally to see o