30 Days of Skyr

October 31, 2013

An Icelandic Road Trip

As we made our way out of Akureyri, we came to a stop and let a few sheep cross the road. I was packed in the backseat like a sardine, and noticed a gate in the distance with an ash-colored horse standing there, just staring at us. We were sure this road would take us where we wanted to go, so we edged forward. The horse turned its head away and started trotting down the dirt road, looking back at us every once in awhile.

At this point, there was no convincing us otherwise– this horse was inviting us into the Highlands.

We stepped out of our rental car long enough to say hello and witness another horse chew off a piece of weather stripping from my door. We said goodbye, I silently wondered how much that bite out of the car was going to cost us, and we were on our way again.

If you’re not careful, 30 days in Iceland can go by awfully fast.

ísland gifting ljósmyndari

Iceland Wedding Photographer - Sculpture of Bárður in Arnarstapi

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Iceland Wedding Photographer - A church somewhere in Snæfellsnes

ísland gifting ljósmyndari

ísland gifting ljósmyndari

ísland gifting ljósmyndari

Iceland Wedding Photographer - Sign reading Beware of Sea Monsters!

Loki the dog, in Heydalur, Iceland

ísland gifting ljósmyndari

ísland gifting ljósmyndari

ísland gifting ljósmyndari

ísland gifting ljósmyndari

Iceland Wedding Photographer - Black and white photo of Spákonufell Mountain in Skagaströnd

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Iceland Wedding Photographer - View of Akureyri from across the fjord

Iceland Wedding Photographer - Clean laundry hanging out to dry in the wind

Iceland Wedding Photographer - Wild horses just outside of Akureyri

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Iceland Wedding Photographer - Driving in the Highlands, toward Möðrudalur

Iceland Wedding Photographer - Cooking dinner while camping near Askja

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Iceland Wedding Photographer - Mark and Chris swimming in Víti

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Iceland Wedding Photographer - An arctic fox in Möðrudalur

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Iceland Wedding Photographer - Reading by a creek next to our campsite in Systragil

Iceland Wedding Photographer - Chris sitting inside the geothermal cave Grjótagjá

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Iceland Wedding Photographer - Mark and Chris soaking in the Mývatn Nature Bath, Jarðböðin

Iceland Wedding Photographer - Route 1, also known as the Ring Road, near Hverir

Iceland Wedding Photographer - Geothermal activity in Hverir

Iceland Wedding Photographer - Geothermal activity in Hverir

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Iceland Wedding Photographer - Rainbow over Dettifoss

Iceland Wedding Photographer - View of Seyðisfjörður from the road

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Iceland Wedding Photographer - Ships at the dock in Höfn

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Iceland Wedding Photographer - Man in a boat herding icebergs in Jökulsárlón

Iceland Wedding Photographer - View of Vatnajökull from the Ring Road

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Iceland Wedding Photographer - Sunset at the Lightouse on Dyrhólaey

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Iceland Wedding Photographer - Full rainbow near Þingvellir



Sleep: Arnarstapi // Ràðagerdi Hostel // Heydalur // Gunner’s Cabin // Adolf’s Cabin // Akureyri Backpackers // Rakel’s House // Dreki // Systragil // Vogahraun // Ásbyrgi // Seyðisfjörður // Höfn Hostelling International // Skógar // Úlfúljótsvatn

Eat: Shalimar // Kaffismiðja // Hlöllabátar // Hamborgarabúllan // Lebowski Bar // Ísbúðin Laugalæk // Sjóræningjahúsið // Kántrýbær // Peng’s // Brynja

Explore: Snaefellsnes // West Fjords // Heydalur // Spákonufell // Spákonuhof // Glaumbær // Trölladyngja // Askja + Víti // Möðrudalur // Hverir // Ásbyrgi // Jökulsárlón // Svartifoss // Dyrhólaey // Þingvellir

Relax: Nauthólsviík // Vesturbæjarlaug // Laugardalslaug // “Secret” Tub in Reykjarfjörður // Grettislaug // Sundlaug Akureyrar // Sundlaug Þelamörk // Víti // Jarðböðin (Mývatn Nature Baths) // Hoffell // Hrunalaug

Shop: Kolaportið Flea Market // Rammagerðin // Fríða Frænka // Eymundsson // Shops in Seyðisfjörður

Grocery Stores: Bónus // Hagkaup // Samkaup

Resources: Map of our entire trip // Iceland Camping Directory

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COMMENTS

[…] in 2013 when I shot a double header and then left the next day to spend a month in Iceland, I thought I’d surely maxed out on crazy. But the clouds came rolling in and I got swooped up […]

[…] Last summer I spent 30 days in Iceland and am just about to wrap up a coffee table book of photos from the trip. My husband, his bandmate and I traveled around the entire Ring Road and wandered into the interior a bit, getting to know the land, the culture, and of course the horses and sheep! It was one of the most incredible trips I’ve ever been on and I shot over 13 packs of Impossible film and 18 rolls of medium format film! You can see a selection of digital photos on my blog to get an idea of what will be in the book. (Link: https://www.kimsmithmiller.com/travels/30-days-skyr-iceland-photographer/) […]

oh wow, i can’t believe you spent an entire month in iceland – i’m so jealous!! gorgeous pictures and thank you for all the very helpful details + links on the bottom of the post. i hope to visit iceland soon.

Sher
http://www.shershegoes.com

Really nice trip. Was there over ten years ago before it was the “it” spot it is today. Really would love to go back. Thanks for the lovely shots!
https://dakotakid.com/adventures/iceland/iceland.html

You just made me incredibly nostalgic and now I want to go back. :(

GORGEOUS pics!

[…] 30 DAYS OF SKYR … I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland … its been on my bucket list of countries to visit for so long … when I saw this blog post it just made me want to go that much more … one day we will get there … […]

These are all amazing but man do I love that photo of the two birds flying over a chunk of ice that looks like a crystal. So pretty! I can’t wait to see all your film photos from this trip. ;-)

What incredible photos of such an amazing journey. I’m so glad you had such a wonderful time.

Oh my god, Kim! Everything looks so magical~*

WOW. Kim, I love these.

I could not be more in love with this set. My heart hurts from all these moments that were so familiar, so full of mystic majesty. That magical places, that wonderous landscape. I’ve looked through these twice, now, and will probably over and over. I want to go back as soon as possible, and this reminds me why. I also feel like I totally need to work on my blog posts and am astonished you fit it all into one. It’s incredible, dude. Incredible. I wish we’d been there at the same time!

Damn, these are just awesome, and so inspiring. Thanks for sharing!

This is so beautiful. I love the way you see things.

So many amazing pictures and breathtaking places!

These are awesome! I want to visit Iceland soooooo bad <3

These are gorgeous Kimmy! I loooooove them!

Woah, where to start? These pictures are so so so breathtaking! <3
Going to Iceland is definitely on my bucketlist!

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