The idea of a summer road trip brings to mind vivid imagery of perfect summertime activities on the road – soaking up the sun on beautiful beaches, picnicking in magnificent weather, admiring some of natures wonders, climbing on icebergs at glacier lagoons… Wait, what?

An Icelandic road trip has all the thrills of road trips in warmer climates, OK maybe a little less sun-baking and skinny dipping, but you do have the added fun of yearly winter if you decide to venture close enough to a glacier. Nothing screams summer like a lagoon full of icebergs, right?

After drinking a little more than recommended at one of my closest friends going-away parties the night before, getting up early didn’t seem like a realistic option. It’s a good thing I live so far North because daylight isn’t really something that you run out of very often… A 10.oo start seemed to suit everyone and after a few wrong turns and a moody petrol cap we were on our way.

No Icelandic road trip is valid unless you stop and befriend some local ponies  horses. The beasts are as friendly as they are cute. It is illegal to import horses to Iceland so all of them are extremely inbred pure. Just don’t call them ponies, they will get offended and tell all of their family members and you will never be able to ride a pony  horse in Iceland again. Horses. Definitely Horses.

Next up we went to admire some water. Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss are two of Iceland’s most magnificent waterfalls (Iceland has a lot of waterfalls). We were in awe of the running water falling from above. Almost as amazing as a kitchen tap – minus the electricity bill and dirty dishes. But honestly, these waterfalls are great. Visit them and take some photos. They are really big so don’t forget to feel insignificant and meaningless for a while.

Our next stop was Vik. That’s a lie. Our next stop was driving past Vik and figuring out how to get back to Vik.

Vik is the southernmost village of Iceland and home to about 400 people. It was once voted as one of the worlds most beautiful beaches (in some insignificant American magazine during the 90’s… But still). The vast black-sand beach features some gorgeous remnants of former trolls… or cliffs. You decide.

We then ambitiously decided we were going to make it all the way east to my favourite spot in Iceland. Jökulsárlón. Iceland’s famous glacier lagoon is a must-see.

Let’s have a quick lesson in cold things for all you warmer climate inhabitants. Glaciers are cold. When it gets warmer bits of the glacier melts and cracks off in the form of eerie blue icebergs. These eerie blue icebergs then float out to sea making a sight perfect for contemplating life and planning your next Instagram photo.You can also admire some aggressive birds and curious seals that call the lagoon home.

After contemplating life and planning our next instagram photos we headed down to the beach at the edge of the glacier river. What’s cooler than ice floating in water? Ice stranded on the beach. Cool right?

After a full days’ driving we were all exhausted, but survived the 5-hour drive home – even though the petrol light was flashing at us for most of the trip and every gas station seemed to be very much closed. Even the one that I desperately banged on the door at begging to use the bathroom.

My Australian friend Jonathan only drove on the wrong side of the road  5 or 6 times and we probably have heard ‘I’m The Man’ enough to last a lifetime due to a seriously repetitive radio station. But I think we all slept soundly that night. Thanks Jonathan, Henrique and Jonno for an awesome summer road trip, I hope nobody got sunburnt…