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Lake of Ice – Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon (and Crystal Beach)

If you’re still looking for more icy things to do in Iceland after an Ice Cave Tour in the Vatnajokull Glacier, then you don’t have too far to see more. Just 30 minutes east of the town of Hofn, you can visit the spectacular Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and beautiful Crystal Beach.

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is a lake of icebergs formed by the receding Breioamerkurjokull glacier. As the glacier recedes, huge chunks of ice break off and flow into the lagoon (and eventually into the ocean). It is also the deepest lake in Iceland at over 800 feet deep.

We actually went to the lagoon two times. The first time we got there, it was getting dark, so we didn’t get to spend too much time walking around. It was also pretty foggy, so the visibility was limited to a few yards. Nonetheless, it was still very pretty and had a very ethereal feel. There were very few people around so it was pretty quiet, and you could hear the cracking of icebergs slowly colliding into one another. Yet, the water is also very still but occasionally we would see a few pieces of ice peacefully drift by.

The next day, after we did our ice cave tour, we decided to check out Jokulsarlon again with more daylight and hoped for better weather. This time, luck was on our side! When we arrived, the lagoon was clear of fog and revealed the incredible scale of the lake! IT IS HUGE! There were much much bigger icebergs than what we could see from our first visit.

I knew Iceland weather is very fickle and could change any second, so I quickly set up a drone to get a few passes of the lagoon. Sure enough, 10 minutes later, a heavy fog rolled back into the lagoon and completely obscured the lake, but not before getting some amazingly beautiful footage.

There are plenty of vantage points where you can get a great look of the lagoon. Best of all, it’s free! If you do want to get a look IN the lagoon, there are boat tours available but only in the summer time. The ice, however, will be much smaller compared to what you can see in the winter! Once you are done with the glacier lagoon, you can walk nearby to the next natural spectacle.

Crystal Beach

Crystal Beach, also known as Diamond Beach, is the beach area at the mouth of the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. When the ice fragments from the lagoon flow into the ocean, many of them will be pushed back onto the beach by the waves. These fragments vary in size and very often are incredibly crystal clear, thus retaining its name, and sit in stark contrast with the black sand of the beach. With the waves crashing into the ice fragments, it gives photographers endless opportunities to capture various natural elements.

There are two parts of the beach you can visit. The beach left of the mouth of the lagoon is the main beach people will visit with generally larger fragments, while the beach right of the mouth will have far fewer people but smaller fragments. In fact, when we were there (on the right side), there was no one else on the beach with us and allowed us to enjoy the serenity of waves crashing into the ice to ourselves. Either way, you will be treated to a beach filled with crystals.

The Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Crystal Beach are breathtakingly beautiful sites. They are havens for any photographer and every visitor of Iceland should make a visit!

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Iceland’s Ice Cave Tour in the Vatnajokull Glacier

Iceland is known as the “Land of Ice and Fire” for its extreme landscape and conditions. From massive glaciers up to active volcanoes, you can find something on both extremes. This time, we experienced some of the colder parts of Iceland, where temperatures dipped near 0°C and windchill would feel even more frosty. These are the perfect conditions for one of Iceland’s most stunning natural wonders – crystal ice caves.

Ice Cave Tour in Vatnajokull Glacier

One of the things you can only do in winter is an ice cave tour because the temperatures are cold enough to stabilize ice formations and slow running water. We took a tour with an Icelandic company, Local Guide, at about $189 per person.

The ice cave we were taken to is located in the Vatnajokull Glacier, the largest glacier in Europe and covers 8% of Iceland. It was about a 45-minute drive from the Local Guide HQ, with the last 30 being very, very bumpy with the extreme terrain. From our parking spot, we were given helmets and crampons (metal spikes for shoes) before making the 10-minute walk to the entrance of the cave. On the way, our tour guide showed us different parts of the glacier and remnants of other ice caves.

When we reached the entrance of the ice cave where a few tour groups were already there admiring the natural spectacle. The cave is stunningly beautiful with crystal clear blue and turquoise colors, with air bubbles trapped in the ice and streaks of black that contrasts the other colors. Although the cave is formed by ice, the fluid wavy texture resembles frozen fire, and it is mesmerizing and breathtaking.

We got to spend 45 minutes in the ice cave and eventually the crowd thinned out for us to take some really nice shots. Unfortunately, one individual decided to bring out a flare for one of his photos. PLEASE DO NOT BRING FLARES! The flare was lit for at least 15 seconds before being put out, but the smoke completely limited the visibility of the cave and made it difficult to breathe due to little ventilation to get the smoke out. It took several minutes before most of the smoke dispersed, but some still remained for the incoming group.

Our final stop of the tour was also the remnants of a previous ice cave. All ice caves have lifespans and when one cave closes, a new one will be born. Although this one was no longer a cave, it had its own unique texture and was still beautiful nonetheless.

Visiting the ice caves at Vatnajokull was one of the coolest (pun definitely intended) things I’ve experienced. It’s one reason why you should make a visit to Iceland in the winter time at least once to see these spectacular formations. If this is one of your must-do activities, here are some tips to help plan your visit:

How Can I do this Ice Cave Tour?

Where to go: Vatnajokull Glacier is located near the town Hofn, 5-6 hour straight drive east from Reykjavik. Because of the many scenic stops along the way, it may take several days to get there.

When to go: Ice Cave Season runs from November through March.

Who to go through: There are various tour groups that offer ice cave tours, including the company we used, Local Guide, who are highly experienced and knowledgeable. Glacier hikes are also offered.

What to bring: Warm clothes and camera (best with a tripod). Waterproof shoes/boots may be useful if you need to step in water. Crampons are provided by the companies for your tours. DON’T BRING A FLARE INTO THE CAVE!

Additional Tips: Highly recommended to book in advance. Tour groups are fairly small and space is limited, so tours can be book several weeks out. Basic ice cave tours will be around $190-200 per person.

To see even more ice, check out our post for Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon!

 

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Celebrating Winter Holiday, Christmas in Edinburgh & Paris

The winter holiday season may be over for 2016, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning for your 2017 winter holiday! Here is how Edinburgh and Paris celebrated their holiday season in 2016:

Scotland – “Edinburgh’s Christmas 2016”

Edinburgh started its Christmas celebration on November 18th and is still slated to run through January 7th, 2017. There are various locations where celebrations and activities are held.

At the Scott Monument on East Princes Street, you can find the European Christmas Market for a very festive shopping experience! As the name suggests, the market contains a large number of food, drink, arts, crafts, and cultural stands being represented by numerous countries. You’ll have no trouble chowing down on various delicacies, satisfying your sweet tooth with candies and chocolates, or keeping warm with some hearty hot wine!

The market also has a variety of rides, including the Big Wheel and the fairly intimidating Star Flyer that swings near Scott Monument (this is actually more terrifying than I had expected it to be)! There are also smaller rides, an ice skating rink, and other activities for kids and families.

Throughout other parts of the city, you’ll see brilliantly decorated lights and smaller markets. George Street features “The Street of Light,” a spectacular castle-shaped light display which has a dazzling light show with music.

Edinburgh makes sure that there is plenty to enjoy your holiday season there. How does Paris stack up against the competition?

France – Winter in Paris

Just when I thought I had my fill of Christmas Markets in Scotland and Belgium, Paris made sure I would never be satisfied! Many of the Christmas Markets this year started as early as November 11th and will continue through January 9th, 2017.

In the vast city of Paris are numerous Christmas Markets, with the largest or most prominent ones located on Champs-Élysées, La Défense, and the Eiffel Tower. Between the Christmas Markets at these three locations, there are approximately 600 stalls in total! In comparison, the main markets in Edinburgh and Brussels had 100 and 200 stalls, respectively.

We spent most of our time on the markets lined up on Champs-Élysées. The entire street is covered with Christmas lights and decorations while the sidewalks on each side of the street are set up with a total 200 stalls. Like the other markets, there is plenty to satisfy any craving or shopping need, and the shops remain open until as late as midnight, unlike other markets that usually closed around 9:00 PM. There are also many exhibits and play areas for kids, which includes an ice-skating rink, slides, animated displays.

Spending the holidays in Belgium, Scotland and France was a wonderfully festive experience and I am really looking forward to spending more winter holidays in other parts of Europe. Let us know where are your favorite places to celebrate the winter holidays!

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Winter Wonders and Christmas Markets in Brussels, Belgium

Writer’s Note: Although the holiday season is a time for celebration in many parts of the world, we must also recognize and be aware that circumstances around us made some of these areas potentially dangerous targets. Most recently, the Berlin Christmas Markets was marred by an attack that left people dead and many more injured. We hope everyone stays safe and enjoy the season wherever you may be. 

Ever wonder how some other places celebrate Christmas and the holiday season? Ever wonder if you’ve been missing out on the fun? Mat has told me stories of how glorious the Christmas celebrations are in her home country of the Philippines, and Europe is known to have some of the most elaborate decorations and very high-spirited activities. So it was time to check out how some of these places celebrated the holiday season!

Brussels, Belgium – Winter Wonders and Christmas Markets 2016

Let’s start with Brussels, Belgium because, “MAN! THIS CITY REALLY KNOWS HOW TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS!” For me, it may be an understatement because I’ve never been part of a holiday event of this scale!

Brussels holds its annual holiday celebration at the Grand Place, also known as the Grote Markt, which is the central square of the city. A World Heritage Site named by UNESCO, it is highlighted with structures such as the Hotel de Ville (Town Hall), Maison du roi (King’s House), and elaborate guildhalls.

“But enough with the history, WE WANT TO SEE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AND STUFF!” Yes, well, let’s get onto that.

Brussels kicks off its “Winter Wonders” celebration starting November 25 and runs all the way to January 1. The event is held at the heart of the city with a multitude of attractions. This includes a huge Christmas Market, which has over 200 shops for food, souvenirs, more food, clothing/accessories, and lots more food! Needless to say, I stuffed myself silly with a lot of food and hot chocolate *insert food coma happy face*. And this market is absolutely packed with people wanting to get in on all the action.

Winter Wonders, Brussels, Belgium Winter Wonders, Brussels, Belgium Winter Wonders, Brussels, Belgium

What also makes the Christmas Market beautiful is the multitude of light displays in the streets and on many buildings. There is also a beautiful light show called “Origami Lights”, which is mapped on Saint-Catherine’s Church, depicting and celebrating Japanese culture.

Winter Wonders, Brussels, Belgium

Winter Wonders, Brussels, Belgium

Saint Catherine Church, Winter Wonders, Brussels, Belgium
Saint Catherine Church
Saint Catherine Church, Winter Wonders, Brussels, Belgium
“Origami Lights” Show, Saint Catherine Church
But maybe the best part the Winter Wonder celebration is the electrifying light show that is displayed in the Grand Place. With the use of video mapping and coordinating with various soundtracks, the Grand Place is turned into one of the most dazzling shows you’ll ever see! You’ll have to watch the video below for this one:

Grand Place, Brussels Belgium Grand Place, Brussels Belgium

Although the holiday spirit is very high, Belgium still remains on high alert from the terrorist attacks of 2015 (which subdued the celebration considerably at the end of the year) and 2016, with police and the military constantly patrolling the streets. Despite this, it hasn’t stopped the citizens and tourists for coming out in full force and enjoying the festivities.

belgium-2016_4021-2

Happy Holidays! We will have another upcoming post for the holiday celebrations, including Edinburgh and Paris. Let us know what your favorite places are to celebrate the holidays!

belgium-2016_4116-2

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Aurora Borealis – Searching for the Northern Lights in Iceland

Like most visitors of Iceland, one of the things we wanted to experience was to see the Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights. We were only visiting for three days, so we were going to just visit different locations and just hope that we would find the lights at night.

On our first night in Reykjavik, we did go set out to see if we could find the Northern Lights. Guided by our Aurora forecast, there was supposed to be decent activity and clear skies outside of the city. We did have clear skies, but there was no light activity…at least, to the naked eye. Fortunately, I brought my Sony A7s, a mirrorless camera with incredible low-light capabilities that can literally help you see in the dark. Using the live viewfinder, we could see that there were faint trails of the Northern Lights in the sky. Excited that the lights were there, we found a spot to wait and see if the activity would intensify. But after two hours, it stayed mostly the same and we needed to get some sleep. While it was cool to know that it was there, it wasn’t quite what we’d hoped for.

Northern Lights, Iceland

Northern Lights, IcelandThe following day, we drove around the Golden Circle to visit some of Iceland’s main attractions. After seeing as much as we could during the daytime, we were heading back to Reykjavik and hoped we’d see the Northern Lights on the way. Our Aurora forecaster didn’t predict any strong activity so we weren’t going to expect too much. Still, I had my camera out with the live viewfinder to help us try and detect any light activity.

Northern Lights, Iceland

Sure enough, the camera was able to see some faint Northern Light activity. We pulled over off the road to a nearby field to see if the light would intensify. After about 30 minutes, the lights did start to become more visible and started dancing around.

Northern Lights, Iceland Northern Lights, Iceland

Then, all of a sudden, there was a powerful burst of light activity and lit up the sky! For about 4-5 minutes, we watched an incredibly dazzlingly display of the dancing Northern Lights. It was breathtaking watching it constantly change its shape and movements.

Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights, Iceland

Northern Lights, Iceland Northern Lights, Iceland Northern Lights, IcelandAfter those glorious few minutes, the lights got less intense but they were still visible to watch while I continued to take photos to create the timelapse below. We watched for another hour before heading back. It was a magical night to remember and really capped a memorable trip. And hopefully, it’ll be waiting for us when we go back!

 

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