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Iceland 2025

A Travel Diary

Iceland 2025

Waterfalls, glaciers, and the land of fire & ice — May 2025

120Photographs
9Days
6Places
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The Land of Fire & Ice

Nine days driving the Ring Road and beyond — from the steaming Blue Lagoon and the rift valley of Þingvellir to the thundering falls of Gullfoss, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss; the black-sand beaches and sea arches of the south; the icebergs of Jökulsárlón and the glittering ice of Diamond Beach; the black fortress of Vestrahorn and the geothermal fields of Mývatn; and the peninsula of Snæfellsnes with Kirkjufell standing over it all. This is Iceland in late spring, when the days never quite end. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or open the map.

Nine days driving the Ring Road, and Iceland never once ran out of new things to show us. It began at the steaming Blue Lagoon and the rift valley of Þingvellir, then the great falls — Gullfoss, Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss — each one louder than the last.

The south coast brought black-sand beaches and sea arches; then the icebergs of Jökulsárlón and the glittering shards of Diamond Beach, the black fortress of Vestrahorn, and the geothermal fields of Mývatn in the north. We finished on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, with Kirkjufell standing over the water like the whole trip in a single photograph.

This is the land of fire and ice in late spring, when the days never quite end.

This trip ran 9 days, May 28 – June 5, 2025. Along the way we spent time at Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon, The Golden Circle, The South Coast, The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north, and Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature. The gallery below tells it day by day, in 120 photographs.

Planning your own trip? Read Iceland Ring Road: our family itinerary & tips →

Day 1

Wed 28 May

Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon

Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon
Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonThe milky-blue water of the Blue Lagoon, steaming against black lava.
Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon
Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonGeothermal water the color of sky, walled in by moss and rock.
Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon
Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonReykjavík from above — colored roofs running down to the sea.
Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon
Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonThe Sun Voyager on the waterfront, pointing out to the North Atlantic.
Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon
Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonSkólavörðustígur, the rainbow street, climbing toward the church.
Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon
Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonLeif Erikson keeping watch from the steps of Hallgrímskirkja.
Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon
Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonSteam rising off the lagoon where the land makes its own heat.
Reykjavík & the Blue Lagoon
Reykjavík & the Blue LagoonThe milky-blue water of the Blue Lagoon, steaming against black lava.

Day 2

Thu 29 May

The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleGullfoss — the golden falls — thundering down its two great steps.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleThe tectonic rift at Þingvellir, where two continents pull apart.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleAn Icelandic horse, small and tough, grazing by the road.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleKerið, a volcanic crater filled with impossibly blue water.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleÖxarárfoss spilling over the rift wall at Þingvellir.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleGreen moss and black rock as far as the eye could see.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleThe path through the rift, a walk between two worlds.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleGullfoss — the golden falls — thundering down its two great steps.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleThe tectonic rift at Þingvellir, where two continents pull apart.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleAn Icelandic horse, small and tough, grazing by the road.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleKerið, a volcanic crater filled with impossibly blue water.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleÖxarárfoss spilling over the rift wall at Þingvellir.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleGreen moss and black rock as far as the eye could see.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleThe path through the rift, a walk between two worlds.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleGullfoss — the golden falls — thundering down its two great steps.

Day 3

Fri 30 May

The Golden Circle · The South Coast

The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleThe tectonic rift at Þingvellir, where two continents pull apart.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleAn Icelandic horse, small and tough, grazing by the road.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleKerið, a volcanic crater filled with impossibly blue water.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleÖxarárfoss spilling over the rift wall at Þingvellir.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleGreen moss and black rock as far as the eye could see.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleThe path through the rift, a walk between two worlds.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleGullfoss — the golden falls — thundering down its two great steps.
The Golden Circle
The Golden CircleThe tectonic rift at Þingvellir, where two continents pull apart.
The South Coast
The South CoastSkógafoss, a wall of white water sixty metres high.
The South Coast
The South CoastSeljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk behind.
The South Coast
The South CoastThe black-sand beach at Reynisfjara, basalt and roaring surf.
The South Coast
The South CoastThe sea arch at Dyrhólaey, carved by the relentless Atlantic.
The South Coast
The South CoastReynisdrangar — the sea stacks standing off the black shore.
The South Coast
The South CoastSheep grazing the impossible green beneath the mountains.
The South Coast
The South CoastGljúfrabúi, hidden in its mossy canyon.
The South Coast
The South CoastSkógafoss, a wall of white water sixty metres high.
The South Coast
The South CoastSeljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk behind.
The South Coast
The South CoastThe black-sand beach at Reynisfjara, basalt and roaring surf.
The South Coast
The South CoastThe sea arch at Dyrhólaey, carved by the relentless Atlantic.
The South Coast
The South CoastReynisdrangar — the sea stacks standing off the black shore.

Day 4

Sat 31 May

The South Coast · Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon

The South Coast
The South CoastSheep grazing the impossible green beneath the mountains.
The South Coast
The South CoastGljúfrabúi, hidden in its mossy canyon.
The South Coast
The South CoastSkógafoss, a wall of white water sixty metres high.
The South Coast
The South CoastSeljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk behind.
The South Coast
The South CoastThe black-sand beach at Reynisfjara, basalt and roaring surf.
The South Coast
The South CoastThe sea arch at Dyrhólaey, carved by the relentless Atlantic.
The South Coast
The South CoastReynisdrangar — the sea stacks standing off the black shore.
The South Coast
The South CoastSheep grazing the impossible green beneath the mountains.
The South Coast
The South CoastGljúfrabúi, hidden in its mossy canyon.
The South Coast
The South CoastSkógafoss, a wall of white water sixty metres high.
The South Coast
The South CoastSeljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk behind.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonJökulsárlón — icebergs drifting in a glacial lagoon.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonBlue ice calving off the glacier and floating out to sea.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonDiamond Beach, where the ice washes up on black sand and glitters.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe glacier tongue of Skáfafell, cracked and ancient.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonFjaðrárgljúfur, a green canyon two million years in the making.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonStranded ice on the black shore, lit up like cut glass.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe ice lagoon, still and silver under a moving sky.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonJökulsárlón — icebergs drifting in a glacial lagoon.

Day 5

Sun 1 Jun

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon · The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north

Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonBlue ice calving off the glacier and floating out to sea.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonDiamond Beach, where the ice washes up on black sand and glitters.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe glacier tongue of Skáfafell, cracked and ancient.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonFjaðrárgljúfur, a green canyon two million years in the making.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonStranded ice on the black shore, lit up like cut glass.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe ice lagoon, still and silver under a moving sky.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonJökulsárlón — icebergs drifting in a glacial lagoon.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonBlue ice calving off the glacier and floating out to sea.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonDiamond Beach, where the ice washes up on black sand and glitters.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe glacier tongue of Skáfafell, cracked and ancient.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonFjaðrárgljúfur, a green canyon two million years in the making.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonStranded ice on the black shore, lit up like cut glass.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe ice lagoon, still and silver under a moving sky.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonJökulsárlón — icebergs drifting in a glacial lagoon.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonBlue ice calving off the glacier and floating out to sea.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonDiamond Beach, where the ice washes up on black sand and glitters.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonThe glacier tongue of Skáfafell, cracked and ancient.
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoon
Glaciers, canyons & the ice lagoonFjaðrárgljúfur, a green canyon two million years in the making.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northVestrahorn, the black fortress mountain rising over the sands.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northThe Eastfjords, quiet water and cloud caught on the peaks.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northThe steaming, sulphur-yellow earth of the Mývatn geothermal fields.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northGoðafoss — the waterfall of the gods.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northAkureyri's famous red hearts at the traffic lights.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northSnow still clinging to the mountains in the northern spring.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northA fjord road winding between the sea and the cliffs.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northVestrahorn, the black fortress mountain rising over the sands.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northThe Eastfjords, quiet water and cloud caught on the peaks.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northThe steaming, sulphur-yellow earth of the Mývatn geothermal fields.

Day 6

Mon 2 Jun

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northGoðafoss — the waterfall of the gods.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northAkureyri's famous red hearts at the traffic lights.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northSnow still clinging to the mountains in the northern spring.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northA fjord road winding between the sea and the cliffs.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northVestrahorn, the black fortress mountain rising over the sands.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northThe Eastfjords, quiet water and cloud caught on the peaks.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northThe steaming, sulphur-yellow earth of the Mývatn geothermal fields.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northGoðafoss — the waterfall of the gods.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northAkureyri's famous red hearts at the traffic lights.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northSnow still clinging to the mountains in the northern spring.

Day 7

Tue 3 Jun

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north

The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northA fjord road winding between the sea and the cliffs.
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the north
The Eastfjords, Mývatn & the northVestrahorn, the black fortress mountain rising over the sands.

Day 8

Wed 4 Jun

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureKirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureThe stone arch of Gatklettur at Arnarstapi.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureBasalt columns stacked like organ pipes above the grass.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureSnowy Snæfellsjökull presiding over the peninsula.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureSea caves and arches along the wild Snæfellsnes coast.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureMidnight light burning orange over the lava fields.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureThe peninsula they call 'Iceland in miniature.'

Day 9

Thu 5 Jun

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature

Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureKirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureThe stone arch of Gatklettur at Arnarstapi.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureBasalt columns stacked like organ pipes above the grass.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureSnowy Snæfellsjökull presiding over the peninsula.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureSea caves and arches along the wild Snæfellsnes coast.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureMidnight light burning orange over the lava fields.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureThe peninsula they call 'Iceland in miniature.'
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureKirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureThe stone arch of Gatklettur at Arnarstapi.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureBasalt columns stacked like organ pipes above the grass.
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes — Iceland in miniatureSnowy Snæfellsjökull presiding over the peninsula.

Where we wandered