Iceland, the land of striking contrasts has always intrigued me, but I could never have anticipated the full extent of the otherworldly experiences that awaited. My husband and I are both curious souls and expected stunning landscapes and thrilling adventures, but what I found was a country that spoke to my soul in ways I hadn’t imagined.
THE FAMOUS BLUE LAGOON
We touched down in Reykjavik, Iceland’s charming capital, on a crisp April morning. The air was fresh, with the smell of the sea and a hint of adventure. Fred, our sixty seven year old guide, picked us up from the airport and was to accompany us for the rest of the trip. His incredible energy and captivating stories about Iceland’s history set the perfect tone for what was to come.
Our first stop was Blue Lagoon, on our way from the airport to the hotel and was the best way to absorb the change of environment. As I submerged myself in the milky-blue geothermal waters, surrounded by black lava fields, I felt the stress and fatigue of everyday life melt away. The warm mineral-rich water against the cool spring air grounded us and we felt a profound sense of peace. We checked into our hotel, our base for the next few nights and immediately felt the warmth of Icelandic hospitality. Despite the cool weather, the people were friendly and welcoming, eager to share stories of their home. Reykjavik was vibrant, yet small enough to feel cosy with a charming mix of colourful houses, geometric design and breath taking harbour views.
THE LAVA FIELDS
Over the next few days as Iceland unfolded its wonders, we realised it was not just about relaxation; but about embracing the wild and untamed. We traded our spa robes for helmets and jumped on an ATV to explore the lava fields. Riding over the rugged terrain, with the volcanic rocks crunching under the wheels, was an adrenaline rush. The landscapefelt like a different planet—barren yet beautiful, with the black earth stretching out as far as we could see. This was Iceland in its rawest form—lava, snow and moss coexisting.Riding together, wind in our faces, we felt a sense of freedom and exhilaration. We got a moment to ourselves over a hot cup of cocoa, after our ride and spent some quality time with Freya, a blue eyed Dalmatian and also etched our names on a wall, in a cosily sequestered corner to commemorate our experience.
SNORKELLING IN THE SILFRA FISSURE
One of the most surreal experiences of our trip was snorkelling in the Silfra fissure in Pingvellir National Park a place, where the tectonic plates of Eurasia and North Americadrifted apart. This fissure is the only place in the world where you can swim directly between two continents. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to experience something so wild. As I suited up in my dry-suit which was designed to protect me from the near freezing water (2- 4 degrees celsius). I was both nervous and excited. The moment I dipped into the water, the chill seeped in, despite the dry-suits. I got cold feet, literally and figuratively, but enduring was the best decision of my life. My body gradually got used to the temperature pulling me into a meditative state in this hidden gem, glowing in stunning shades of blue and aquamarine. The water in this fissure is said to be the clearest, purest water in the world, so pure that we could drink it as we snorkelled. It was clear to the extent that I was able to see the intricate details of the submerged ancient rocks and boulders, over a hundred meters deep. It did not feel real, as if I was floating through another dimension, with time slowing down, giving me the space to reflect, not only on where I was but on the vastness of the world and my place in it. I came out of the water feeling humbled and grateful.
GAME OF THRONES IN REAL LIFE
As we ventured outside of Reykjavik towards the South, Iceland revealed its wild heart. From the depths of the earth, we journeyed to the black sands of Reynisfjara Beach. As aGame of Thrones fan, this place was at the top of my list, in fact the title track kept playing in my mind the entire time. The contrast of the jet-black sand against the crashing white waves and the towering basalt columns was simply breath taking. We walked along the monochromatic coastline and the only sound we could hear was the roar of the Atlantic. Fred mentioned that the most interesting part about this beach was that the landscape was ever evolving. Everytime the turbulent waves hit the columns, they broke down in their own unique way and maybe, by the time we returned, this place would look very different.
ONE FIFTY WATERFALLS
From there, our journey continued to Iceland’s waterfalls, each one famous for their own personality. Gullfoss, or the Golden Falls, fascinated me with its sheer magnitude and beauty. I could feel its energy reverberate through me. We were lucky to spot two rainbows there. Over a period of eight hours, we crossed one fifty different waterfalls (yes, we counted) and went back to our hotel to catch the sunset from our hotel roof. For over five hours, the colours shifted from soft pinks to deep oranges and finally, an unpredictable calm dusky blue that lingered and finally settled in the air.
PIZZA AT THE GLACIERS
We set out early the next morning, bundled in layers as we were hiking up to Katla ice cave, which is located on one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes. We strapped on our crampons and helmets and began our hike. As we reached the base of the glacier, our guide informed us that movies like Star Wars, Die Another Day and Game of Thrones were filmed in these very glaciers. We definitely underestimated the difficulty level of the hike without ropes and the snow was slippery but the view at every point just made it difficult to care. We descended into an ice cave, a shimmering frozen tunnel, carved out by nature’s hand. Jagged ice formations, air bubbles trapped in ice over thousands of years and the silence of the glacier made us feel like unique explorers. On our way down we had a rare encounter with an Arctic fox, that seemed to appear out of nowhere, blending perfectly with the snowy landscape. We later learned from the locals that spotting an Arctic fox is considered a good omen and this became one of those magical, serendipitous moments that made our trip even more special. We capped off the adventure with a snowmobile ride on Langjo?kull Glacier, zipping across the endless white expanse, feeling like we were on top of the world. We ended the day at a cosy little pizzeria nestled close to the glacier, eating black crusted pizzas and laughing at the irony of such a mundane meal at the base of a glacier in Iceland, being one of the best meals of the trip.
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Words Sunayana Sahni Malhotra
Photography Arjun Malhotra
Sunayana & Arjun