Iceland is wildly rugged and incredibly beautiful. After visiting for the first time in the summer of 2014, I knew I just had to return. My husband Matthew and I recently spent 15 days road-tripping around the land of fire and ice. In this post I will share with you our itinerary, along with some epic photography locations and tips for exploring Iceland.
WILD ICELAND – 15 DAY PHOTOGRAPHY ROAD TRIP
Arriving & Picking Up The Rental Car
We departed Seattle on March 1st and flew directly to Reykjavik. My favorite part of the flight was watching the northern lights dance across the sky from 37,000 feet – definitely a once in a lifetime experience! After landing we headed straight to pick up our rental car from Lagoon Car Rental. We chose a Toyota Land Cruiser for added 4×4 safety in winter, the option to go off the beaten path, and so we had room to sleep in the back.
Being March it was still super chilly so we didn’t want to tent camp unless absolutely necessary. Overall, we were really happy with our rental – I miss those heated seats! Tip: definitely get the car WIFI device! That little thing had service nearly everywhere and meant we could use google maps and also stay connected to social media along the way.
You’re probably wondering why we would choose to sleep in our car and not in guest houses/hotels? The answer is simple – to save A LOT of money. Hotels in Iceland cost at least $100 USD per night (and often much more) but you can nearly always find somewhere to camp for free instead. We also chose to cook most of our own meals during this trip as restaurant food in Iceland is very pricey. Matthew and I like to cut costs wherever we can… which is one of the many reasons we can continue to travel and live our current lifestyle.
Itinerary
So onto the trip itinerary! We pretty much drove around the Ring Road (Hwy 1) in a clockwise direction, starting and ending in Reykjavik. We had zero plans and pretty much chased the best weather and photography spots we could find. This type of travel has its pros and cons but I personally love the freedom of not knowing where each day will take us.
Our first destination for day 1 was the Snæfjellsnes Peninsula. We found a gorgeous beachside hot pool along the way and decided to soak after a long day of traveling. You will notice that there are some locations that I will disclose in this blog post and others that I won’t. I’m not doing this to be mean or annoying, I simply want to be mindful of the farm owners and local people who have asked for places not to be geotagged.
We all know how much Iceland travel has blown up over the past couple of years… I’m mean HECK it was at least 10 times busier this time around compared to 2014. I think part of the fun of road trips is finding your own adventure and places off the beaten path. In saying that, I will be sharing the names of most of the popular places we went to in Iceland because unfortunately there aren’t many “secret gems” anymore.
Wherever you visit during your time in Iceland, I urge you to be responsible and respectful as you go about your trip. Don’t litter, follow the rules, do the right thing… be a good human.
After soaking we continued onwards to Grundarfjödur. Picturesque Kirkjufell mountain and its nearby waterfall (Kirkjufellfoss) were our first stop. Unfortunately, there were about 100 people there so we soon moved on in search for a quieter spot to shoot sunset. We came across a gorgeous little house and cove on the other side of the Snæfjellsnes Peninsula.
Sunset was insane that night! We had 360-degree pink fairy floss skies… such a treat for our first night back in Iceland. We were lucky enough to get a glimpse of the northern lights straight after sunset, so we raced back to Kirkjufell to capture the show.
On day 2 we started heading north. We stopped at numerous pull-outs along the way to photograph local churches, farms, horses, rivers and waterfalls. Sometimes it felt like we literally couldn’t drive more than a mile without needing to pull over and admire the view.
We eventually made it to a place called Hvítserkur in the northwest of Iceland. The location boasts a rock formation on a black sand beach – maybe not much to see for the average tourist but interesting for photographers. We slept the night nearby and shot sunrise at the beach the following morning. It was absolutely gorgeous but SO cold. My poor fingers and toes were stinging despite wearing thick winter socks, toe warmers, leather boots and two pairs of gloves… brrrrrrrr.
After shooting sunrise on day 3 we started our drive east along the ring road. By this point we were desperate for a proper meal so decided to grab some food in Akureyri. This cute town is definitely worth stopping at and I would highly recommend the food at “Akureyri Fish and Chips”.
After leaving town, we eventually made our way to Goðafoss (Waterfall of the Gods), located in north-central Iceland. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the sunset or sunrise we were hoping for at Goðafoss but it was still incredible to witness nonetheless. Before heading further east we stopped by another local waterfall for an epic winter adventure. It was turning out to be the day of waterfalls!
Day 4 of our trip involved a morning drive up to the quaint town of Húsavík on the north coast of Iceland. Despite smelling very strongly of fish, this tiny town had the cutest harbor and old wooden church. After exploring Húsavík, we decided to drive onto the Mývatn region, where we spent the day checking out all the craters and geothermal spots. I couldn’t resist ending the day at the Mývatn Nature Baths. It was magical watching the sunset over the snowy mountains through the mist from the ice blue lagoon.
After a much needed sleep-in the following on day 5, we headed out to explore some waterfalls, namely Dettifoss and Selfoss. I was particularly excited to witness Dettifoss – the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Both falls did not disappoint!
To top it all off, that night we had another amazing show of the northern lights during our drive to the East Fjords. We couldn’t resist getting a cheesy couple photo under the lights… because you only live once right?! Check out this post for my tips on snapping amazing couple photos when traveling.
Days 6 was filled with views of majestic fjords, snow-capped mountains, and the wild ocean. Our drive along the East Fjords was spectacular and involved hours of using our drone as we best attempted to capture the beautiful scenery. We stopped in Höfn for a bite to eat at Hafnarbuðin, an affordable diner style restaurant. The lobster roll was delicious!
Our sunset destination that night was Vestrahorn, which is also known as Stokksness. The area is famous for its majestic mountains and black sand dunes. It was crazy to see how commercial it had become since our last visit, but regardless of the crowds, it was still absolutely stunning. We were treated to a gorgeous sunset that night and some more nice light at sunrise the following day.
On day 7, before leaving the area Matthew and I decided to hike across the beach and around the side of the mountains. It was interesting to see the remains of old stone houses and we even bumped into some reindeer. The owners of the land have built a Viking style movie set in front of the mountains, which is also worth a little walk around.
Our next stop was Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon branching off from Vatnajökull Glacier. This place is somewhere you need to see with your own eyes to believe. The blue lagoon is filled with icebergs that drift out to the Atlantic Ocean and lay in chunks on a black sand beach. If you’re lucky enough you can see seals swimming around and coming up onto the ice. The only downside is that the area can get quite busy with tourists. We decided to shoot sunset at the lagoon and sunrise on the black sand beach on day 8.
After shooting sunrise at Jökulsárlón we decided to head west along Hwy 1 towards the town of Vík. We cruised along, stopping at various glaciers and points by the roadside. My favorite was Svínafellsjökull – a gorgeous ice blue glacier with a frozen lake at the base. We took our time exploring the area and capturing aerial footage on our drone. The weather was looking ominous that night so we decided to check into the most affordable hotel we could find in Vík – Hotel Puffin. It’s always heaven having a shower and a cosy night sleep after numerous nights camping…
Days 9-11 were spent exploring the sights nearby Vík, including the Dyrhólaey Lighthouse and cliffs & Reynisfjara black sand beach. We also returned to the ever so beautiful Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls. The south of the island is much more crowded than the north but 100% worth exploring in my opinion. My favorite moment on the south coast was a sunset at the Dyrhólaey cliffs. Matthew and I hiked down just a little away from the crowds. It was just us, hundreds of birds and an epic view (see below).
During our days exploring Vík we also backtracked east to Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon. It was an overcast day which suited the scene perfectly and gave our photos a moody vibe. The Fjaðrá river flowing through the canyon is a beautiful blue color and includes a few waterfalls.
Our last couple of days in Iceland were spent exploring the Thórsmörk area, located north of Seljalandsfoss. Volcano Huts kindly hosted us for the night, which gave us the opportunity to explore the nearby canyons, rivers and mountains.
We had an amazing time and I would love to return in summer when the hikes are a little more accessible. After leaving the Thórsmörk area we decided to stop by some rivers on our way back to Reykjavik. We flew the drone to capture an aerial perspective of the crazy river patterns and colors. I could seriously post an entire blog post on just these river shots… it was so gorgeous.
It was time to head back Reykjavik, rest up for a day and start preparing for our next trip to the Faroe Islands. We were exhausted from our non-stop adventuring but stoked with everything we got to experience. Iceland is one of those countries that I could return again and again to and still be surprised by its beauty. I think my next visit will be in early summer for the midnight sun, and so that I can finally witness the central highlands and get out to the west fjords.
I hope you enjoyed this trip report! Share your favorite location in Iceland in the comments section below!
PIN FOR LATER!
Disclaimer – My husband and I were provided a rental car for this trip from Lagoon Car Rental and the night of accommodation at Volcano Huts was also sponsored. As always, all reviews and opinions are honest and unbiased.
Wow! Absolutely stunning photos :)Thank you for sharing!
Hi Renee! I have absolutely loved reading your blog about your Iceland Trip! Everything has been so helpful in planning, so thank you!
I do have a question about the stone hot pool/spring you have pictured in Day 1 in Snaefellsness. Can you describe the general whereabouts of where this is? It is Gorgeous! It is my favorite spring photo I have yet to see, and would love to visit!
Any info is greatly appreciated! Keep up the awesome work, your pics are amazing!:)
Thanks!
As a citizen of Iceland I am horrified that you would walk on the soft moss for a photo. There is no way you wouldn’t know this is not acceptable. The soft moss of Iceland is endangered exactly because of PEOPLE LIKE YOU! And here you are promoting it on your blog. You don’t deserve to visit my country. If you can’t respect the nature of other nations, stay the hell home.
Loved the post! Any tips on getting sponsors for our travel blog? @travelloveandcatch We’re leaving in 20 days to go back! Exploring the North and East this time!
Hi, I was curious how your experience at Thórsmörk was! How hard is the hike? I’m not a very experienced hiker and am a little nervous about the cliffs, steepness, etc. The view looks amazing so I’m sure its worth it. Also, I read that you took a drone up there to take the photos. Could you capture the rivers on a normal professional camera? And lastly, how was sleeping there? I know you said you stayed with volcano hut.
Thanks!
Enjoyed your post here on Iceland! My husband & I visited back in April 2018 for our honeymoon & we greatly miss it! We hope to revisit during the warmer months to experience more hikes, waterfalls, & puffins! I missed the puffins! I finally have the time to blog about our road trip (in the midst of preparing for our next vacation!)
Thanks for sharing!
What an amazing and fascinating place to visit. I really didn’t know much about this but after reading this post I will surely visit one day. Thanks for sharing such an amazing post.
Hi Renee! Really enjoyed your post and loving your pictures!!! My boyfriend and I are thinking of visiting Iceland in August this year and we are keen on car camping! Could you please share the model of the car that you and your husband drove that allows you to sleep in? Would really appreciate it!
Hi Renee!
I just came across your blog and instagram recently and absolutely enjoyed every bit of it. Thank you. I am also from Melbourne and will be heading to Iceland in October with a few friends and this post was very helpful as I just do not know where to start! 🙂 I wanted to check whether are most of the location accessible in October? I think it would be since you guys were there in Winter? Thanks!
Hey Renee!
First of all, I absolutely love your photos. I’m in love!
Me and my husband visited Iceland last may-june and we loved it soooo much! What a beautiful country! We also slept in the car (we got a camper van rental) and it was epic, everywhere you drive you feel like pulling over to click some pics! Haha!
Seeing your photos now, I want to go back in the winter time!! What a change in landscape! And those northern light photos…WOW!!
Thanks for sharing this!!
Incredible journey, very beautiful
Thanks so much!
Hi Renee!
Great non-stop adventuring!
All of your picture is not beautiful, All of your picture is more than beautiful !???
When i am seeing your pictures i think that time i am in picture frame!
Thanks a lot for sharing dear.
Love your blog and your post !
Thanks so much Sharon!! I really appreciate that 🙂
I just got back from Iceland about a month ago. We spent 11 days there & I’m already trying to figure out when I can go back. I need more of this island! We spent a couple of days in the Westfjords, a few days in Grenivik/Akureyri & south Iceland & Reykjavik. I absolutely loved Grenivik & Akureyri…. I’ll definitely go back there. I didn’t get to spend much time in South Iceland…..which I’m really sad about. I did get to experience Jökulsárlón & Diamond Beach. This island is so magical & I can’t wait to go back!
Thank you for sharing your experience…..I now have some kind of a guide for when I go back…..maybe in a year or so….
That sounds like an amazing trip! I still haven’t been to the Westfjords and hope to go in 2018. The south of Iceland is absolutely beautiful but sadly it does get very very busy. I think you picked some good spots to see on your trip!
Your photos look amazing! My friends and I just booked our flight to Iceland in March, so this blog has been super helpful. One thing we are getting a bit nervous about is weather and packing. We want to pack as light as possible, but don’t want to be underprepared for the cold weather! What would you say are the mandatory clothing items to bring for Iceland in March?
Thanks Carlie! I would say to definitely bring a warm jacket (or two!), thermals to go under your pants/jackets, rain jacket, beanie, gloves, warm & waterproof shoes and just lots of layers in general! It’s important to pack as light as possible but don’t skimp out on the layers – it gets cold!!
Hi Renee! This guide was super helpful as Ill be visiting Iceland in a few weeks. Could you please tell me what shoes you wore? Would really appreciate that, thanks!
Thank you! I wore some Danner Boots, the women’s mountain passes ??
Thank you for this post! I am going to Iceland in October and I can’t wait to explore all those places you mentioned and find my own hidden gems! 🙂 Can I ask where your hiking boots are from? I love them!
Thanks Tanja! They are the Danner Mountain Pass boots ???
I super love following your adventures! I first saw you at Instagram and i fell in love with your photos!!
Aw thanks so much!
Hi Renee, loved your Iceland travel story. Such an adventure! especially in the snow. fantastic photos there and I am going to look for you on IG as most of the comments tell me I must. I am wondering how did Mat & you safely manage to walk to those dangerous snowy edges in the godafoss and the other fall pics.
Thanks Tara! We didn’t get too close to the edges, despite what it might look like in the photos. We never went out on any snow shelves and always made sure the cliff/rock was beneath our feet. We also had sturdy shoes on. Stay safe out there!
How glamorous is Iceland! Your photos are so beautiful and amazing and I hope one day I can be there with my husband.
your photos are amazing!
Thank you so much!
Love this post and your others! I saw your gear post and was wondering what lens you used for most of these photos!
Thanks,
Lindsay
Wow. What a road trip.
I’m pretty sure everyone who reads this post will immediately add this to their bucket list.
Epic.
Thank you Rob!
Hi there! I love following your adventures! I am curious how you slept in the back of an SUV and how you cook your own meals? Do you use an air mattress or just bring sleeping bags with you? And do you rent a stove for cooking? Just curious as I am always trying to save money as well while traveling ?
Hi Magen! We blew up our camping air mattresses each night and deflated them in the morning (we have small backpacking mats like Thermarests). We moved our bags into the front seats at night time so we had more room to sleep. We took a small jetboil with us and purchased a gas canister at a local store so that we could cook meals. Good luck!
Beautiful, beautiful photos!! I never realized how stunning Iceland is!
Thanks so much Steven!
You’re photos are absolutely stunning. I love ymour itinerary too, you managed to fit so much into your time. It must have been amazing to see the northern lights twice, especially after a beautiful sunset.
I can’t even describe how amazing it was! I hope you get to see them yourself!
This trip sounded amazing! Having visited once before for a 3 day layover my husband and I caught a glimpse of the beauty Iceland holds. Your pictures are gorgeous and show so much more than what the typical tourist would see.
Thank you Maegan! It sure was an amazing trip 🙂
such a beautiful feast for my eyes! i want to go to iceland soon not just to take stunning pictures like these but to engrave those beautiful and haunting images in my memory! thanks for this! 🙂
Thanks Stella! I hope you get to go – you wouldn’t regret it!
Wow! Your photos are absolutely gorgeous! I haven’t made it out to Iceland just yet. I’ve been trying to convince my husband to go – I’ll have to show him these photos 🙂
Do that!! I hope you can convince him :p
I’ve read so many posts on Iceland lately but none have intrigued me like this one. You had such a unique trip – I never would have considered sleeping in the car and some of the shots you got were INCREDIBLE. I LOVE the picture of the pony at the beginning <3 and also the photo you used on the pin. (And all the others, really.
Thank you Sky, I really appreciate that 🙂
Looks so romantic! I was actually just talking to a friend about how much he’d like to go back to Iceland, and how I’d like to go for the first time! Might have to make it happen during my winter break in January… Good tip on renting a van instead of doing hotels!
Oh I hope you make it! It’s seriously so amazing 🙂
Your photos are absolutely stunning! I only spent four nights in Iceland, based in Reykjavik and taking day trips from there, but I’d definitely love to return to take a road trip around the island next time 🙂
Thank you Kiara! I would highly recommend it!
Absolutely brilliant photos guys, thanks for sharing. Nature is just phenomenal 🙂
Thank you Lula 🙂
This post is very interesting for many reasons to me. First because I first went to Iceland with my parent I was only 2 1/2 meaning almost 40 years ago, and I still have some very few memories of it. So I guess my dream of going back is here because of that. Second, your way of traveling looks like ours in so many points, except we’ve been traveling with kids for 17 years now… I was really looking forward to reading your post and I am not disappointed. It’s really relevant, clear and precious for travelers, not to mention photos (they are simply stunning). I do want to go to Iceland, but we are so much depending on school break now. I don’t think visiting in the summer would be great. As you say: too many people in a land of wilderness. I guess we are going to wait a little bit more to be able to enjoy during spring time. I am more than happy to see that sleeping in cars is doable. I have many many things to say but I would be too long so to conclude: northern lights!!!!!! Sooooo lucky you!
Thanks so much for reading Gaelle, and I am glad you found the post to be useful 🙂 How lucky to have visited Iceland at such a young age! It would be a treat to be able to return with your own children I am sure. I hope it works out for you!
Thank you so much for sharing! Your trip looks like it was incredible. We leave for Iceland on May 3rd and I cannot wait to go explore with my love! <3
Thanks for reading! Have the best time! You will love it 🙂
Amazing post! Absolutely love your feed on IG.
My husband and I were in Iceland this past month too! It was so much fun following along your photos and stories on IG while we were there. Can’t wait to read about your trip to the Faroe Islands!
@livewanderfly
Thanks Claire! That’s so awesome that we were traveling in Iceland at the same time. I am glad I could help inspire you along the way 🙂 Sorry, I couldn’t check out your IG feed as you have it set to private. Take care!
Your trip to Iceland looks absolutely beautiful and so much fun! I love your style of photography! I live in Michigan, so the wheater gets super cold and found your winter clothes to be helpful! @halsanne
It sure was a great trip! I’m glad you found my winter clothing “stories” to be helpful! Thanks so much for following along. I enjoyed looking through your IG 🙂
Thanks for sharing all these details! Definitely putting Iceland on my bucket list! It looks amazing.
I love your photos on Instagram and find it really inspiring. You can check mine out at @caitlinmahalik
Thanks again for sharing ?
Thank you Caitlin! I think you would love Iceland!
Your IG feed is so lovely, I really liked your Colorado photos. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison shot has me excited to visit in April!
What an amazing trip Renee!!
It sure was! Thanks for reading 🙂
Hi your pictures are absolutely gorgeous and very inspiring I one day hope to travel and take beautiful pictures 🙂 -@jennainglese @jnnamar
Thank you Jenna! You have so many beautiful photos. I love how your feed flows together on @jnnamar – great work!
Awesome post! I’ve been to Iceland for two weeks in 2015 and I wanna go back soon. Also, I’m looking forward to a Faroe Islands post, since I’ve been there myself in February 🙂
IG: @georglobendanz
Thanks Georg! I can’t believe you are only 17 and take such great photos! Very impressive! Stay tuned for that Faroes post, it should be up tomorrow 🙂
Your photos are so stunning! I’m planning to go to Iceland autumn this year. Your blog has inspired me even more! Thank you! <3
Getz – @iml0stdreamer
Thanks Getz! You will love Iceland! Sadly I couldn’t find your IG account, I’m not sure if you spelt it incorrectly…
Hi Renee,
I have been following your Iceland and Faroe island trip on Instagram and have been really really enjoying it. The blog post is also very informative and the pictures, simply stunning!
You can find me at zenandzany on Instagram.
Cheers!
Thanks so much for following along Mohini! It was fun getting to check out your IG feed. I was just in Big Basin Redwoods State Park today – small world 🙂
You pictures are amazing! I get truly inspired by seeing accounts like yours! Check my ig out maybe one day I can get my feed top notch. @connorhauenstein
Thanks so much Connor. You have some great photos & videos on your Instagram feed – love it!
Hi Renee,
This post is totally perfect. I follow you by IG and as always the photos are honestly beautiful and magical. Thank you for conveying us your travels so, it is very inspirational for me.
I want to travel there someday, it seems very peaceful, and of course stunning.
Thanks again for your great work,
Paula- @pulcamera
Thanks a bunch Paula, it means a lot to me. I hope you can make it to Iceland one day! You have quite the eye for photography – keep it up!
Loved this post! You are so inspiring. Thank you for sharing. @gossegoss
Thank you lovely! You have such a gorgeous Instagram feed <3
Renee, those photos are absolutely stunning, as always!!! Hope to get over there next year so thanks for the tips. My IG account is @drew_j_brown. Would be keen for any feed back, bad or good. Cheers 🙂
Thanks Andrew, I hope you can make it to Iceland soon! You have a really great IG feed. My first impressions were that the photos flow together really well, as you use the same tones and editing style throughout. You also have a great eye for nice compositions – awesome work!
Thanks so much!
Wow! Great read and amazing photos!
Thanks so much Lilja!
Simply stunning… wondering when will i get to visit Iceland.. ?
I hope it is soon! 🙂
Really great write-u,p Renee. Iceland is high on the list for my wife and I, so it was great to read your tips. Always love your photos as well. Check mine out on Instagram @or.msby, or my website http://www.orogenyphotography.com.
Thanks for reading Jonathan! You have some really great work on your IG and website. I particularly loved the Alaska photos and they have me excited to go there this August!
Hi Renee,
wanted to say thank you for all the work you do. Your photos are beyond incredible, they are inspirational, calming and we always feel your unique style. I can only imagine how many efforts hidden behind each photo (like waking up in the middle of the night to do a track, so you can get a perfect golden light during sunrise).
Post about must see spots in NZ South Island was really helpful for us when we were planning our trip. And hopefully one day i will add stars to my Iceland google maps based on this post.
Thank you again,
Karina @karin_samsonova
Thank you for those kind words Karin! It makes me happy to know that my NZ post was helpful. I hope you make it to Iceland one day because judging by your IG you would love it!
I’ve been reading your blog for time and truly love the content. I can’t wait to take a trip to Iceland! When my boyfriend and I were watching your videos, I was hoping you’d write about it – not only are your trips inspiring but they’re also incredibly insightful. Thank you for being a genuine person and helping likeminded people take part in your adventures!
Wow that means so much to me Morgan, thank you so much for following my journey. Keep adventuring <3
Hi Renee, amazing post as always. Thanks for including the tips and details. Those are always appreciated if we decide to follow those amazing trails and footsteps <3 *Pink fairy floss* – this description 😀 Love your pics and those subtle tones. Thanks again for sharing.
@escapetoroam – sharing stories of our own. Much work still needed. =)
Thanks so much Faye! I really appreciate your kind words. It was great getting to check out your IG feed. I love the light blue tones you use and how consistent your photos are. My favorite is probably that amazing shot of the Eiffel Tower!
Wow! I follow you on IG and was looking forward to this post mainly because I will be doing a 3 day layover in Iceland next month. I actually have a question since it looks like you went to the north west fjords straight form Rekjavik, how long did that drive take? I land at 10:50 pm and will be well rested can I make the drive that night in your opinion or would it be best to start the drive early the next morning?
You could fly to Ísafjörður from the domestic airport in Reykjavík – it only takes 30-40 minutes. You can look it up airiceland.is 🙂
Hi Daniel! We didn’t drive to the north west fjords from Reykjavik, we drove to the Snæfjellsnes Peninsula. The west fjords are much further, and like Georg says below, you could fly there. The Snæfjellsnes Peninsula is much closer to Reykjavik at just over 2 hours. You could drive there after your flight if you plan to camp but otherwise it might be better to stay the night near the airport or in Reykjavik and make the drive the following day. Good luck!
love this! putting iceland on my bucket list for sure! Thank you for the detailed info gonna bookmark this page. Do visit my ig on instashahmeer
Thank you! I hope you can visit one day. It was fun checking out your IG!
simply stunning Renee, thanks for sharing – jackie and I really want to go to Iceland !!
You would both love it there!
I absolutely loved all your photos, as I always do. Iceland is now my next travel destination on my bucket list!
Thank you for sharing, please keep posting your beautiful pictures.
https://www.instagram.com/sharmainedtan/
Cheers Sharmaine 🙂 You would love Iceland! Thanks for sharing your IG. I particularly loved seeing your Thailand photos – so pretty!
I love your blog and all your pictures! Your pictures are all so cohesive and well edited! I love the tips you have to travel cheaply! I would die to travel like you guys do! Keep up the great work! I’m inspired by you daily!
@myanichol
Thank you Mya! You can totally travel like we do, it just takes some time to save money and the drive to make it happen. Judging by your IG, you definitely have the passion for travel & the photography skills to match! Thanks for following along 🙂
Hey Renee!
I love your work! I’ve been following you for a very long time now! Your work is inspiring to a young photographer like me 🙂 my Instagram in @joe_goldberg would love to shoot one day!
Thank you so much for following my journey Joe! I am so impressed with your photographs, especially given your age. Well done! Keep up the amazing work 🙂
Started following you a few weeks ago. I’m blown away by how awesome and beautiful your photos are. I look forward to seeing what’s to come!! I like the blog too!
-@nolstelz
Thank you Nolan! I really appreciate that. Awesome work on your IG – keep it up!
Currently sitting in my camper under Kirkjufell, reading up on gems around the peninsula. Awesome to see Iceland from your perspective, you’ve captured some of these places absolutely flawlessly!
– @gabriellamorton
Oh that’s so awesome! I hope you are enjoying yourself in beautiful Iceland. You’re IG and website are both gorgeous by the way – thanks for sharing!
I love this post! I’ve been seeing so much about Iceland (like you said it’s becoming really popular) and I really want to go! This is a really nice summary of what you did and gives an Iceland noob like me a good idea of what I could do and when to go. My Insta account is fairly new; check it out if you have the time 🙂 it’s https://www.instagram.com/natsnaps_photography/?hl=en Keep the awesome travel posts coming!
Thanks so much Natacha! Iceland is becoming very popular so it’s probably a good time to visit… before it gets crazy! You have some really nice photos on your IG account – I think you would love Iceland 🙂
Renee this is incredible!!!! Is it family friendly in Iceland? We have a 2 year old but not sure wether we’ll be able to go! My instagram is @charlotteandtheo 🙂 xxx
Thank you Charlotte <3
Yes I think it is family friendly. You would need to either get a camper or stay in guest houses/hotels. I would also suggest going in summer so it wasn't so cold. Sometimes food is a little hard to come by if Theo is a picky eater but you could always have some grocery store snacks for emergencies! Your IG account is so beautiful. I really enjoyed looking through your photos of Theo 🙂
Hi! Always obsesseing over your photos and this post was great. I agree about the increase in travel, definitely a crazy amount of people can make it difficult to enjoy sometimes. I’m based out of Portland, OR and it can be so frustrating sharing the not-so-hidden gems. Hoping to travel to Iceland in the near future, and I really admire your idea to find your own adventure. Definitely hoping to visit Skógafoss.
IG: @lindseyepifano
Thank you Lindsey! Yeah, it can be a challenge to still enjoy places when they are really busy. Skógafoss is sadly one of those spots. If you go early or late though it can be much quieter… like most places. You have a really gorgeous IG feed – I’m sure you would love photographing Iceland!
This was an absoloutly amazing recap, I loved following this jaw dropping journey through Instagram, you two seemed as though you created some beautiful memories along the way! Safe travels xx
It sure was a wonderful trip, thanks for following along! You have a beautiful IG feed by the way… love me some mountains!
Hi Renée! I think your photos are so beautiful! I hope you write a book on your travels!! @mlilyestrom
Thanks so much Margaret. I would love to put a book together one day… never say never right?!
Hi Renee,
I love your pictures, I was going through your Instagram feed before our trip ad was even more excited for it.
We’re just in the middle of the road trip . We are doing almost the same itinerary as you did. Loving all the nature bits and places. The only problem is the wind, it’s sometimes crazy even drive the car on the right side of the road. But we love it in here.
Can’t wait for the glaciers.
Enjoy your travels!
@terikruzelova
Thanks Teri! I’m excited for you guys! Oh man the wind… it can be brutal! Luckily we didn’t get too many extremely windy days during my most recent trip. When I was there in 2014 it was CRAZY. Be safe and enjoy yourselves 🙂 Loving the IG snaps by the way!
Ugh these photos are painfully gorgeous! I haven’t been to Iceland yet but am hoping to go in the next year or two. We were thinking about a December trip, but the limited daylight is brutal! It seems like March(ish) is more of an ideal time. I definitely want to go when there’s still LOTS of snow and ice to be had–it seems like it wouldn’t be the Iceland experience without it!
Also, kudos to you for taking all that time to put in the proper Icelandic characters. 😉
Thanks Suzanne! I think December would definitely be more snowy but also much darker like you mentioned. We saw the northern lights most nights of our trip and I have heard that isn’t uncommon for March. I love your blog by the way, especially the Angel’s landing post as I am just about to head back to Zion!
This is incredible! Truly cannot wait until I have more free time to travel and live life as spontaneously as you two do.
Also, love that you want to keep some of the locations a secret.. keep the mysteries for those willing to go searching for them!
@reneelay
Thanks so much for following along Renee. How cool that we have the same name?! Your IG tells me that you’re quite the adventurous person. I hope you get to make it to Iceland soon!
Hey Renee,
thanks for your travel tips! I’m off for a month there in October with a film crew, was it easy to get around? What was the most impressive thing in your opinion? Is it free to camp anywhere or do you have to stay in camping grounds?
Thanks heaps, stay classy!
Dave.
@travel_in_pixels
Thanks David! You will love it!
Yeah it was super easy to get around. The main HWY takes you to most of the hot spots, with some side roads that are easy to explore. The most impressive… wow that is a tough question. Skogafoss waterfall is probably the most “impressive”, but also busy. I probably prefer some of the smaller/less busier spots, even if they aren’t quite as grand. It is free to camp anywhere as long as it’s off the road and there isn’t a sign that says “no camping”. We didn’t stay in any proper campgrounds. Have fun!!!
Omg these photos are so beautiful !! I can’t believe you found a natural hot tub! Also, thats so brave sleeping in your car when it was so cold- how did you decide where to pull up for the night ? Are there dedicated places or did you just park off the road?
Lovely blog post 🙂
Kimmy (IG: kimmy_wigg) x
Thanks Kimmy! We simply just got to a location and saw what was around. You can camp most places in Iceland as long as its off the road and there isn’t a sign that says you can’t. So often we would sleep in rest stops, parking lots that allowed it, or found a little nook at the corner in a town. It was chilly sleeping in the car but we had pretty good winter sleeping bags etc. to help keep us warm! You have some really beautiful photos on your IG, especially from Canada!
Great shots! I cannot wait to go to Iceland and check out those epic landscapes- that you have captured perfectly. Love your style.
@madeline_ahern
Thanks Maddie. Judging by your IG photos & adventures… you are going to LOVE Iceland!
Absolutely gorgeous pictures, I’ve never seen anything like some of those locations so it’s hard to imagine those magical scenes actually exist on this earth! Thank you for sharing your trip & itinerary! I especially appreciate your sharing how you made this a budget-friendly trip.
Thanks so much Jessica! I am glad you found it helpful 🙂
Love this post. We enjoyed meeting you guys in Iceland!
@abbieakins
@rweakins
It was so great seeing you guys in Iceland! Keep adventuring 🙂
Hi Renee,
Great post and amazing pictures, your Instagram and blog inspires me so often and I’m thankful for that!
Keep up the great work and inspire us more 🙂
My Instagram is @yellowtravelbird
Would love for you to drop by!
Cheers,
Laura
Aw thanks so much Laura! I am happy to hear that I can inspire you 🙂
Your IG feed is absolutely gorgeous! I especially love how you play around with the depth of field in many of your photos.
My friend and I were in Iceland at the same time as you and it was neat to follow your stories on insta! Thanks for blog post + Iceland wardrobe breakdown on instagram!
@marriittza
That’s so awesome! Thanks for following along. I’m glad you liked the clothing recommendations too 🙂 It was fun checking out your Iceland photos on IG – we definitely made it to some of the same spots!
Hey Molly from @Foucusinwithmolly from IG. Loved this blog post. Iceland has been on my list for a while. I loved hearing the background and details. Thanks for sharing your adventure. May just have to copy your itenerey when someday I do go. Probably not so easy solo though. Will see. I’m sure I could get a group together.
Thanks for all your support Molly, I really appreciate it! You would absolutely love Iceland. I think you could totally travel there solo but it might be more fun with friends 🙂
The photos in this blog were beyond amazing. Can’t wait to get myself to Iceland.
You guys will love it!
Oh wow Renee! After reading this i’m even more happy to be back in Island this summer after two years. And unfortunately a bit sad that it became so busy over the last years..
Anyways, thanks for this great inspiration! 🙂
Thanks for reading Marina! It does sadden me that it has gotten busier, but it’s still 100% worth visiting. Make sure to try and get off the beaten path and away from the crowds 🙂
Hey Renee,
I love this blog post! All the waterfalls and that volcano picture are so stunning. Thanks so much for the extra travel tips – always good to know. Can’t wait for your next adventure! 🙂
Cheers, Hannah
insta: beacon_thrills
Thank you Hannah! I really appreciate you following along. Thanks for sharing your IG handle. I love how your photos flow together so beautifully and consistently – great work!
Loved your blog post. I found the stuff about Lagoon car rental very helpful — I definitely took a mental note of that for when I plan my trip to Iceland. I also loved all the locations that you covered — very useful for itinerary planning! All in all, great piece. I love how informative all your posts are and how you’re not afraid to share your travel secrets, so thank you!
@dustinkahia
Thanks so much Dustin! I would definitely recommend Lagoon if you do make it to Iceland, we were really happy with our car rental. I checked out your IG & website – wow! You are a very talented videographer and photographer. Definitely impressed 🙂
Of course, my pleasure! And thank you for taking time to check out my Instagram and website — I really appreciate the sincere feedback and comments! I look forward to your future blog and IG posts. Adventure on ?