ISLANDA | ODYSSEY TRAVEL

ICELAND

white minivan parked on snow during nighttime

Without a doubt, Iceland ranks among the most beautiful trips of my life. A place that feels like another planet, where nature sets the rules and manages to surprise you every single day.

I experienced this adventure travelling by campervan with the right friends, driving through landscapes I had previously seen only in photographs. Vast glaciers, constantly active geysers, spectacular waterfalls and horizons so wide they seemed endless.

And yet, the journey didn’t get off to the best possible start.

Because of extremely strong winds, our plane was grounded for four hours, with no idea when we would finally be able to take off. The wait felt endless, but looking back, I think it made everything even more intense. The anticipation grew minute by minute and, as soon as we landed, the happiness of finally being in Iceland erased every frustration within moments.

If there is one country made to be explored by campervan, it’s Iceland.

The attractions are often far apart, meaning you spend many hours on the road. But that’s exactly where the magic lies. Every kilometre brings something new. Mountains, black-sand beaches, lava fields and constantly changing landscapes pass by the window, turning every drive into an essential part of the journey.

But the truth is, places alone are never enough.

What made this experience truly unforgettable were the people I shared it with. Having friends beside you who get excited about the same things makes every moment more intense. Evening walks in the silence of nature, spontaneous stops in front of a waterfall we happened to come across, hikes across glaciers and waiting for a geyser to erupt are memories I will carry with me forever.

And then there was the Northern Lights.

We travelled in June, a far-from-ideal time to see them. The chances were slim, and none of us genuinely expected to witness them. Yet, against all odds, one night they appeared in the sky.

It wasn’t the most intense or spectacular display ever photographed in Iceland. But at that moment, it didn’t matter. Beneath that vast sky, after days spent chasing natural wonders, it simply felt perfect.

Even today, when I think about Iceland, I don’t remember only its extraordinary landscapes. I remember the feeling of freedom, the laughter inside the campervan, my friends by my side, and that rare feeling that sometimes comes during a journey:

being exactly where you want to be.