Articles
On this page you can find a handy overview of my main travel stories and articles.
Regular updates and new features
I update my articles on a regular basis, so you’ll often find new information and practical tips. In 2023 I rewrote & re-arranged all of the blog articles on my website with even more features. The date above each article shows the last update. Be sure to check back in, and enjoy reading & exploring! 🙂
All my stories are based on my own experiences and original research.
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Travel stories and articles
Fagradalsfjall – The spectacular Iceland volcano
After a long period of intense rumbling, Reykjanes kicked into action and coughed up a new volcano in a secluded valley below Fagradalsfjall. What followed is a series of breathtaking events so incredible it has blown the minds of many people around the world. Read all about this extraordinary volcano (and how to get there) in this extensive article.
La Palma – Cumbre Vieja Volcano Route
On the same day that Fagradalsfjall in Iceland subsided, the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma cracked open a new crater and roared into life. Now that it has settled down again, the Cumbre Vieja Volcano Route is one of the finest hikes you can do on La Palma.
Candles on mountains – An enchanting ritual of fire
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. It’s an enchanting tradition that has been going for over a decade. I was fascinated and became one of those candle lighters too.
Solar eclipse – A mind-blowing experience
Nothing can prepare you for what it’s like to see a solar eclipse in all its full-blown glory. It leaves you in total awe, and may well turn you into an eclipse chasing umbraphile… Read about the fascinating solar eclipse in this story. And find out when the next one is!
Vestmannaeyjar – Þar sem hjartað slær (Where the heart beats)
I was drawn to the Vestmannaeyjar islands at first sight, when I saw their mysterious shapes shimmering on the horizon. Vestmannaeyjar is a spectacular island group of volcanic peaks and jumbled rocks. And home of the fantastic Þjóðhátíð festival in August!
Ode to the mountains – The magic of Mount Taranaki
Mount Taranaki in New Zealand doesn’t show itself easily. It’s often obscured from view, shrouded by its own low-hanging clouds. But when it’s visible, this mythical mountain draws you in to explore its lofty top and many walking tracks. It was calling me and I had to go.
Northern lights – Energy from out of space pouring in
The magical northern lights are an awe-inspiring natural phenomenon. They will completely overwhelm you, to an extend where you can only utter sounds of sheer admiration. Iceland is right beneath the aurora oval. Find out when you can see the northern lights in Iceland and experience them in all their full-blown glory.
The opal fields of Lightning Ridge – The mesmerizing draw of luminous stone
Opal fever is real. It will draw you in and take hold of you when you venture into the opal fields of Lightning Ridge and The Grawin. The only place in the world where the elusive black opal is found. And it’s difficult not to get enchanted by its beauty.
The Vierdaagse of Nijmegen – Four days of long-distance trials & tribulations
The epic trial & tribulation that is the Vierdaagse of Nijmegen. Four days of walking 40 kilometers per day. Why do people even want to do this? It’s hard to explain, or even understand, if you haven’t experienced it for yourself. The euphoria of the Via Gladiola may well turn into a recurring virus.
Fimmvörðuháls – The fiery pass across Eyjafjallajökull
The Fimmvörðuháls hike between Skógar and Thórsmörk is nothing short of epic. This 25 kilometer walking route takes you over the fiery pass across Eyjafjallajökull and into the fabled valley of Thórsmörk. Find out the easy way, the hard way, and an unexpected grand encore!
Kerlingarfjöll – Steaming valleys and surreal landscapes
The hot spring valley of Hveradalir in the Kerlingarfjöll mountains is something out of this world. It’s like you’ve stepped into a surrealistic painting, so magnificient that you wonder if it’s even real. See how to get to this otherworldly landscape and hike around the steaming valleys in the Icelandic highlands.
Thórsmörk – Útigönguhöfði and Hvannárgil canyon
Útigönguhöfði is that ridiculously steep mountain you see looming everywhere in Thórsmörk. You can also combine this walk with Hvannárgil canyon or the lower part of the Fimmvörðuháls route. Be prepared for some serious crawling up the rocks on either side!
Thórsmörk – Rjúpnafell and the hidden valley
The hike to the top of Mount Rjúpnafell is quite challenging, but you will be rewarded with sweeping views of glaciers and colourful folded mountain ranges all around. There’s also a sweet litte river valley hidden along the track below its slopes.
Island hopping on the Aeolian Islands – A volcanic archipelago
The Aeolian Islands in south Italy are the stuff of legends and a geological paradise. Regular ferries from Naples or Milazzo on Sicily to Stromboli, Lipari and Vulcano make it easy to go island hopping between volcanoes on the Aeolian Islands.
Blown away big time – The overwhelming beauty of Iceland
The overwhelming beauty of Iceland just keeps you coming back for more. I went for a short trip and was blown away by some of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen. What is it with this spell that Iceland does to you?
Other stories & NaturePic series
Blissful remote islands – NaturePic challenge
There are plenty of beautiful islands in the sea to discover. In this NaturePic series I share some of my favourite remote islands. Sprinkled across the oceans and seas, these islands are all very different in character. Discover your island and see how to get there.
Epic mountains & volcanoes – NaturePic challenge
Explore the awe-inspiring beauty and majesty of these epic mountains and volcanoes. Some being both simultaneously. You just never lose your sense of wonder. And there’s nothing quite like having a Wilderness Coffee with a view!
Dalalæða – Spectacular waterfalls of fog
The Icelandic dalalæða is an elusive natural phenomenon of fog waterfalls. I was incredibly lucky to experience this, being at the right place at the right moment when it accidently happened. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was absolutely magical.
Hawaii – Volcanic fields of fire
The enigmatic Big Island of Hawaii, where flows of lava tumble down its rocky shores into the sea. Seeing the creation process of Earth itself is one of the most mindblowing things one could hope to see.
Haleakala – The House of the Rising Sun
Mount Haleakala is the House of the Rising Sun. The sunrise on this volcano on Maui is of an epic magnitude and lights up its caldera in ethereal beauty and otherworldly colours.
The Hazards – Scrambling up to prehistorical views
The hike up to Mount Amos is steep & challenging but very rewarding. Scramble up the boulders of The Hazards and enjoy spectacular views over Wineglass Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula on the east coast of Tasmania.
Hinchinbrook Island – Unspoiled tropical wilderness
Hinchinbrook Island in Australia is pure bliss. It’s full of unspoiled wilderness that can only be explored on foot. The Thorsborne Trail along the east coast of the island is one of the most beautiful hikes in the world.
El Hierro – Volcanic hotspot underneath the sea
El Hierro is the most remote and authentic of the Canary Islands. It’s a spectacular island with huge cliffs, an enormous crescent shaped valley and a volcanic hotspot bubbling underneath the sea.
Pico del Teide – A volcanic playground
Pico del Teide on Tenerife rises up an astonishing 3718 metres into thin air. Surrounded by a huge caldera, its flanks are a volcanic playground, with a multitude of colourful cones and bizarre cathedral-like formations.
Tongariro – The track across Middle Earth
Nhauruhoe featured as the terrifying Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings movies. It’s one of the many cones of the vast Tongariro complex in New Zealand. You can explore this area on the Tongariro Crossing, a 20 kilometre hike along colourful volcanic terrain.
Stromboli – The ancient lighthouse of the Mediterranean
Stromboli is the stuff of legends. The volcano island has been erupting its mesmerizing glow as the ancient lighthouse of the Mediterranean for 2000 years.
Etna – Vigorously steaming from all its craters
Mount Etna is Europe’s most active volcano. It’s in a constant state of excitement, but you can do a summit hike when it’s just quietly steaming away.
Eyjafjallajökull – The one that rules them all
Eyjafjallajökull, the unpronounceable Icelandic volcano. Nobody knew its name, until that day in April 2010, when it literally erupted into world fame. This beautiful volcano is surrounded by hiking tracks in Thórsmörk around the back and Fimmvörðuháls over the top.
Reykjanes – Hidden treasures beyond the barren landscape
Reykjanes Peninsula is smoking hot. It may look desolate on first sight, but there are a lot of hidden treasures in its rugged interior. You will find a myriad of steaming vents, bubbling mudpools, tranquil lakes, faulty fissures and lava flows covered in thick fluffy moss.
Vestmannaeyjar hiking routes
Vestmannaeyjar walking tracks – The best hikes on Heimaey
Mysterious peaks rising out of the sea, just off the south coast of Iceland, this stunning island is a must-see. Vestmannaeyjar has an incredible density of spectacular sights and features. There are steep and craggy mountain ridges, dramatic sea cliffs, hidden beaches, a couple of volcanoes, mossy lava flows and a magical valley. And the biggest puffin colony in the world.
The walking track to Heimaklettur – The Home Rock
Heimaklettur is the iconic Home Rock of Vestmannaeyjar. It may look inacessible at first sight, but there are ladders and chains to help you up the path to the top. In this detailed description you can see what the track is like.
The walking track to Eldfell – The Fiery Mountain
The walk to the top of Eldfell is the one every visitor to Heimaey wants to do. Eldfell erupted out of nowhere in 1973, its lava flow furiously roiling & boiling only a few decades ago. The track is now easily accessible, and the views are absolutely stunning in all directions.
The walking track to Helgafell – The twin volcano
Helfgafell offers sweeping surround views of brooding volcanoes and a heart-shaped crater. For a long time, Helgafell was the ruling volcano on Heimaey, its classic volcano-shaped silhouette dominating the interior.
The walking track to Herjólfsdalur – The Valley of Magic
Herjólfsdalur is intimidatingly beautiful, whichever angle you look at it. It looks like a natural amphitheatre, with giant rocks rising up on all sides. Don’t miss the hike along the top ridge!
The walking track to Blátindur – The dazzling heights of Dalfjall
Blátindur rises up above Herjólfsdalur, beyond the daunting peaks of Dalfjall. It takes a bit of effort to scramble up there, but you’ll be rewarded with some truly jaw-dropping views.
The walking track to Klif – The beacon rock
The scrambling track to Klif, with ropes down the slope and a beacon of light on the top. You can haul yourself up this stunning cliff along ropes and chains attached to the upper parts. At the top there’s also that incredible view of a multitude of jumbled rocks.
The zen of Stafsnes – The hidden beach
The walking track to Stafsnes, a beautiful hidden beach nestled in a cove behind the folded cliffs of Blátindur. It’s almost like Hawaii, but without palm trees. On the way you’ll pass by the little house on the giant plug.
The coastal track to Stórhöfði – Puffin colony and geological beach
Stórhöfði is home to the biggest puffin colony in Iceland. There’s also the surreal geological beach of Klauf. On the coastal track to Stórhöfði you can see incredible views, wild cliff formations and lots of puffins along the way.
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