Luxury destinations for many are usually reserved for tropical islands, but for true outdoor explorers, Iceland is a marvellous island for your next adventure.
This upper region of the world starkly contrasts the Caribbean, but its wintery conditions are what blossom Iceland into a wondrous beauty with crystal blue waters, volcanic black sand beaches, and desolate lands of vast proportions.
The southernmost village of Vík í Mýrdal resides in one of the most beautiful areas of Iceland, directly beneath the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which itself is on top of the Katla volcano. It’s where travel photographers enjoy visiting to improve their panoramic photo portfolios.
In 1991, the US journal Islands Magazine counted the beaches of Vík í Mýrdal as one of the ten most beautiful beaches on Earth. You will be lucky to visit this area on a dry day though because it is one of the wettest places in Iceland.
Rain or shine, the cliffside coastline, with drop offs to black sand and the crystal icy blue juncture of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, is a magnificent sight.
Dark cliffs bear down to the sea as waves crash against the inky basalt sand. When this region is a wild and stormy swirl of extreme winter conditions, that is when these grim lands call for breathtaking panoramic photo ops.
Under the Reynisfjall Mountain, near Vík í Mýrdal, are basalt sea stacks known as Renisdrangar. Legend says that the stacks originated when two trolls unsuccessfully dragged a three-masted ship to land. When daylight broke, they became needles of rock.
On a beautiful day, the fusion of a warm colored sunset and icy blue waters around Reynisdrangar illustrate a deep wondrous sense of inspiration. It’s a picture perfect setting for an artist to sit in front of with nothing but a canvas and paintbrush to illustrate the scenery in the form of a painting. It’s that beautiful here.
Contrary to its name, Iceland is a very green island; full of life.
Like Monument Valley on the Arizona-Utah state line, this area of Iceland is also filled with many plateau flat-topped cliffs. Unlike the vivid red color in Monument Valley that comes from iron oxide exposed in the weathered siltstone; here you find more deposits of basalt from volcanic activity that originally formed the island of Iceland.
This country is a unique destination that offers pristine nature, breathtaking landscapes, spectacular scenery, and vibrant culture. It’s a luxury experience that is best discovered in person, add it to your bucket list of travel destinations if you haven’t already done so.
