Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Spring 2018 | Page 29

Iceland.
The name alone conjures up
images of a land of fiery volcanoes, ice and rugged coastlines
pounded by the relentless North Atlantic. While this is true,
Iceland is also a place with a rich history steeped in the traditions
of the sea, home to a resilient people who have harnessed the
country’s natural resources for their own prosperity.
Over the past decade, the country has witnessed an explosion
in tourism, in part due to a clever marketing campaign by
Icelandair offering stopovers on flights that pass through
Keflavik, the largest Icelandic airport, without extra charges.
The offer is generating traction—in 2016, nearly 1.8 million
people visited Iceland.
There are many ways to see Iceland, but few are better than
a road trip. A vehicle gives you the freedom to see the country
at your own pace, and visit off-the-beaten-path areas that may
not be available to those who opt for guided tours. You’ll be able
to see things long after everyone else has left and, because of
“Every Man’s Right,” you may camp freely in the wilderness,
provided you respect your surroundings.
A vehicle gives you
the freedom to see the
country at your own pace,
and visit off-the-beaten-
path areas...
The highway that encircles the country and connects most of
the inhabited areas, Route 1, opens the door to an epic road trip,
akin to Canada’s Trans-Canada Highway, Route 66 in America
or Germany’s Autobahn. The route passes by countless incredible
natural wonders, through beautiful towns and into the embrace
of the warm hospitality for which Icelanders are famous.
As the road winds along the coast, it’s heavily affected by the
ocean’s climate. Fog often obscures the mountainous, volcanic
landscape and, as you drive along, your surroundings will reveal
themselves and then vanish just as quickly. To me, Iceland
smells like crisp sea air and a cozy woolen sweater. I close my
eyes and I’m transported back to a cacophony of crashing waves,
thundering waterfalls and whirling seabirds. I grew up near the
sea; for me, visiting the coast of Iceland feels like coming home.
Most choose to drive Route 1 in a clockwise direction. This
makes the most sense from a time perspect ive; many of the
country’s most spectacular waterfalls, glaciers and volcanoes
are along the southeast coast. This is where you’ll discover
Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall that you can walk behind, and
Eyjafjallajökull, which erupted in 2010 and disrupted air travel
all over Europe.
You’ll also find Skogafoss, arguably the most famous waterfall
in all of Iceland. Here, you can camp if you choose. If you’re
looking for a world-class day hike, the stairs to the top represent
the starting point for a journey to Thórsmörk, a beautiful
glacial valley marked by wildflowers and forested areas. If you
wish to keep going, the Laugavegur trail, a multi-day trek to
the highlands of Landmannalaugar, extends from this point
onwards. The route takes you past volcanoes, over glaciers, and
through Katla, a UNESCO volcanic geopark. The landscape is
otherworldly in the highlands; the unique vistas have served as
backdrops for some of the best scenery in cinema, like Game of
Thrones, beyond the wall.
PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHN MEISNER
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