Photo blog: a road trip in Iceland

Posted on 26 October 2015

Our colleague and associate editor at CARmag, Sudhir Matai, has been travelling again, this time to Iceland for a new vehicle launch. He took the opportunity to stay on and spent a few days touring this remote and beautiful island. Here are a few highlights of his trip.

Also read: 11 travel tips from a seasoned traveller

 

Sunset over Reykjavik. Over 60 per cent of the countrys 330000 population lives in the capital city.

Sunset over Reykjavik. Over 60 per cent of the country’s 330000 population lives in the capital city.


This specially built 8x8 truck is the only way you can get onto Langjökull (glacier). It weighs 20 tonnes and can deflate and inflate its tyres on the move.

This specially built 8×8 truck is the only way you can get onto Langjökull (glacier). It weighs 20 tonnes and can deflate and inflate its tyres on the move.


Inside the man-made ice cave at Langjökull, which was opened earlier this year. Soon to be seen on screens across the world as it will feature on the hit TV show Game of Thrones.

Inside the man-made ice cave at Langjökull, which was opened earlier this year. Soon to be seen on screens across the world as it will feature on the hit TV show Game of Thrones.


&Thorn;ingvellir National Park is the meeting point of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates that are tearing Iceland apart at a rate of 2 cm a year.

Þingvellir National Park is the meeting point of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates that are tearing Iceland apart at a rate of 2cm a year.


Falljökull, one of the many fingers of Icelands largest glacier, Vatnajökull creates an intimidating vista on the national road as you approach the Skaftafell National Park.

Falljökull, one of the many fingers of Iceland’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull, creates an intimidating vista on the national road as you approach the Skaftafell region in Vatnajökull National Park.


Face-to-face with an icy giant. Jökulsárlón is a 200 metre deep glacial lake formed by the recession of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. Icebergs calve off the glacier and float towards the narrow mouth of the lagoon until they are small enough to drift out to sea.

Face-to-face with an icy giant. Jökulsárlón is a 200 metre deep glacial lake formed by the recession of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. Icebergs calve off the glacier and float towards the narrow mouth of the lagoon until they are small enough to drift out to sea.


The beach near Jökulsárlón is littered with hundreds of icebergs in various stages of decomposition, a sad sight when you consider why

The beach near Jökulsárlón is littered with hundreds of icebergs in various stages of decomposition, a sad sight when you consider why…


Svartifoss (Black Falls), so named for the dark coloured lava columns that form the back drop for this beautiful waterfall.

Svartifoss (Black Falls), so named for the dark coloured lava columns that form the back drop for this beautiful waterfall.


Long since cooled, lava fields that stretch for several kilometres are covered in spongey moss.

Long since cooled, lava fields that stretch for several kilometres are covered in spongey moss.


Turf houses used to be a common sight in Iceland until fairly recently. Using mud and turf provided occupants with a warm barrier against the elements.

Turf houses used to be a common sight in Iceland until fairly recently. Using mud and turf provided occupants with a warm barrier against the elements.


Humpbacks are just one of the whale species that frequent the seas North of Iceland. Others include Orcas and Minke.

Humpbacks are just one of the whale species that frequent the seas north of Iceland. Others include Orcas and Minke.


Kirkjufell Mountain, meaning 'Church Mountain' might be small (only 463 metres high) but together with the gentle flowing Kirkjufellfoss, it paints a beautiful backdrop to the charming west coast town of Grundarfjörður.

Kirkjufell Mountain, meaning ‘Church Mountain’ might be small (only 463 metres high) but together with the gentle flowing Kirkjufellfoss, it paints a beautiful backdrop to the charming west coast town of Grundarfjörður.


Farming isnt undertaken on the same scale that we are used to in SA. This is a typical Icelandic farmstead.

Farming isn’t undertaken on the same scale that we are used to in SA. This is a typical Icelandic farmstead.




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