Maxime and Ornella explored the land of fire and ice and watched the Northern Lights, braving the extreme weather
Going to Iceland has been on our wish list for years. We were attracted by the otherworldly landscapes, the rich cultural output and the Northern Lights. At our arrival, the sky was cloudy. Anyway, we were happy to finally make a dream come true. So, we started a 6-day road trip along the south coast before heading to the North. Firstly, we went to Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s biggest and most beautiful waterfalls. The next stop was quite unusual. In 1973 a U.S. airplane crash landed on the beach.
From the parking, it’s a long and windy 40-minute walk through the sand to the plane. It’s pretty cool and a bit eerie. Unfortunately, dark storm clouds had moved in above us; it was pouring with rain and getting dark. The blustery wind was extremely strong and noisy at Vik. We spent an entire long sleepless night. Icelandic winds can get quite extreme. Everybody told us, “You never know with the Icelandic weather.” That day, everybody stopped their car on the highway to wait them out. We made it to Jökulsárlón — one of our favorite spots in Iceland. Here, enormous icebergs meets the black sand and gives them a crazy contrast on the beach.
The next day, we started the ride from Reykjavik to Akureyri. We stayed and immersed ourselves in the Icelandic culture for three weeks, thanks to a lovely family who hosted us. We found our paradise here: Waking up every morning with a breathtaking view over the mountains and watching a herd of Icelandic horses. The thing about travelling in Iceland is that it’s good to have plans, but it’s even better if you’re flexible, especially if seeing the Northern Lights is your priority. The last night before taking the flight back home, we had the chance to experience this magical moment.
About the author:Maxime, a 26-year-old photographer is based in France. Her passion for photography and storytelling stems from a profound love for outdoor exploration, endlessly trying to experience all that nature has to offer. She is travelling with her partner Ornella and shares with our readers some moments from the road and how important it is to get outside and enjoy the beautiful world we live in.
