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Solar eclipse, vortex of the universe.
Solar eclipse – A mind-blowing experience

Solar eclipse – A mind-blowing experience

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Nothing can prepare you for what it’s like to see a total solar eclipse in all its mind-blowing glory. It’s one of the most overwhelming natural phenomena I’ve ever witnessed. It leaves you in total awe, wanting to see more. Wanting to see another one. It is as if you’re staring directly into the vortex of the universe. And yes, eclipses are highly addictive too. Read about chasing the fascinating solar eclipse in this article, and find out where & when the next one is!

Row of torches at the Þjóðhátíð Festival on Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland.
Vestmannaeyjar – Þar sem hjartað slær…!

Vestmannaeyjar – Þar sem hjartað slær…!

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This title may look a bit bewildering… It’s Icelandic for ‘Where the heart beats’, the anthemic song of Vestmannaeyjar. I was drawn to the islands of Vestmannaeyjar at first sight. Their mysterious shapes were shimmering on the horizon, beckoning like a fata morgana. Heimaey is a spectacular island of volcanic peaks and jumbled rocks and the landscape is out of this world. Vestmannaeyjar is also home of the Þjóðhátíð festival in August. ‘Þar sem hjartað slær’ is the ultimate Þjóðhátíð song that captures the atmosphere of the Iceland National Festival like no other.

Row of torches at the Þjóðhátíð Festival on Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland.
Vestmannaeyjar – De vurige magie van de Westman Eilanden

Vestmannaeyjar – De vurige magie van de Westman Eilanden

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De Westman Eilanden trokken me aan vanaf het eerste gezicht. Hun mysterieuze silhouetten liggen glinsterend aan de horizon, lonkend als een fata morgana. Heimaey is een spectaculair eiland met steil uit zee oprijzende knoesten, woeste landschappen en vulkanen. Vestmannaeyjar heeft ook het jaarlijkse Þjóðhátíð festival in augustus – in één woord: geWELDIG! ‘Þar sem hjartað slær’ is het ultieme Þjóðhátíð lied dat de sfeer van het Nationale Festival in IJsland als geen ander beschrijft.

Thórsmörk hiking routes, Iceland.
Thórsmörk – The fabled valley

Thórsmörk – The fabled valley

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The fabled valley of Thórsmörk is the stuff of fairytales and epic sagas. Nestled behind Eyjafjallajökull in the land of the gods, it’s so beautiful that it almost seems unreal. Thórsmörk is full of folded valleys and convoluted gorges, glaciers with volcanoes underneath and bizarrely shaped mountains. You have to see it for yourself to believe it’s real. In this article you can find different options and practical information for spectacular hiking adventures in Thórsmörk.

Candles on mountains, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland.
Candles on mountains – An enchanting ritual of fire

Candles on mountains – An enchanting ritual of fire

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People on Vestmannaeyjar like to light candles on mountains. In the darker months of the year, you can often see candles on Heimaklettur, the iconic Home Rock of the island. The first one usually appears at the beginning of August, when the midnight sun is slowly fading. The flickering candles are clearly visible from the town and for people who come in on the evening ferry. I was fascinated by this unique tradition and became one of those candle lighters too. If you are wondering what this is all about, you can read it here.

Heimaey harbour and lava fields, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland.
Vestmannaeyjar walking tracks – The best hikes on Heimaey

Vestmannaeyjar walking tracks – The best hikes on Heimaey

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An overview of the best walking tracks around Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar. With its incredible density of spectacular sights and features, this stunning island just off the south coast is a must-see if you’re visiting Iceland. There are steep and craggy mountain ridges, dramatic sea cliffs, hidden beaches, a couple of volcanoes, mossy lava fields and a magical valley. Vestmannaeyjar is also home to the biggest puffin colony in the world. Find out more in this article.

Hveradalir geothermal valley, Kerlingarfjöll, Iceland.
Kerlingarfjöll – Steaming valleys and surreal landscapes

Kerlingarfjöll – Steaming valleys and surreal landscapes

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The hot spring valley of Hveradalir in the Kerlingarfjöll mountains is something out of this world. Breathtaking views unfold into a steaming geothermal valley padded with snowfields clinging to the slopes, and shapes and colours so magnificient that you wonder if it’s even real. It’s like you’ve stepped into a surrealistic painting. Find out how to get to this otherworldly landscape and hike around the steaming valleys in the Icelandic highlands.

Stórhöfði puffin colony, Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland.
The coastal track to Stórhöfði – Puffin colony and geological beach

The coastal track to Stórhöfði – Puffin colony and geological beach

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Stórhöfði peninsula is the southernmost point of Heimaey, and home to the biggest puffin colony in Iceland. Beneath Stórhöfði there’s also the surreal geological beach of Klauf, formed by volcanic eruptions from several directions. On the coastal track to Stórhöfði you can see incredible views, wild cliff formations and lots of puffins along the way.

Pico del Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
Pico del Teide – A volcanic playground

Pico del Teide – A volcanic playground

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Pico del Teide on Tenerife is the biggest mountain of Spain. Surrounded by a huge caldera, its peak rises up an astonishing 3718 metres into thin air. Its flanks are a volcanic playground, with a multitude of colourful cones and bizarre cathedral-like formations, and winding roads along titled layers of rock. You can go all the way to the top of Pico del Teide by cable car and enjoy amazing views over the Canary Islands.