Iceland for Thanksgiving 2016: A photo series

My buddy Charlie and I took a cheap flight to Iceland on WOW! Air in late-November 2016 out of Toronto. It was only $230 round trip. We had been curious about exploring the island and after a year of fantasizing about it, decided to take the leap! Here are some photos from our one week adventure:

Us flying over Greenland on WOW! Air

After a great flight, we landed at the airport and rented a car with manual transition. Neither of us knew how to drive it, but we figured we’d learn okay.

Charlie standing by our rental car

We practiced in the parking lot for awhile, got the hang of it, and took the one hour-ish drive to Reykjavik.

A photo of their main street leading to this cathedral, one of the tallest structures in their characteristic skyline.

Reykjavik gifted us with so many beautiful moments. We got to walk all over, try a few restaurants, enjoy some night life, and stayed at a comfortable bed and breakfast.

An elderly woman standing on her balcony above a tourist-filled street. She’s standing in front of an "Ugly Boys" graffiti tag.

A photo of a toddler picking a fight with a goose. The goose isn’t backing down. The child questions his actions immediately.

We eventually left Reykjavik to explore the Golden Circle and southern coast of Iceland. We spend a lot of time on the open road listening to “icey”, the playlist of songs I was able to download via wifi once we landed.

A beautiful land where a large minority of people believe in Fairies.
The ground in Iceland is so soft.
Awesome waterfalls are sighted along the way.

Of course, if we’re going to Iceland, we might as well enjoy one of their many hot springs. On our journey through the Golden Circle. We stopped at Laugarvatn Fontana. It was everything we had hoped for.

Snow capped at Laugarvatn Fontana

We also got to experience the iconic Gullfoss Waterfall.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Me, Sean Yalda, standing beside Gullfoss

On our journey along the southern coast of Iceland, we stayed at a couple more bed and breakfasts while hiking through Iceland’s beautiful natural landscapes. We even got to witness the Northern Lights… twice!

We passed through Vík and spotted this church on top of a hill overlooking the town.

Church on hill.

The colorful palette of a warm winter Iceland.

Some epic photos of us hiking up and around a mountain from sunrise to sunset (only 6–7 hours at this time of the year). :P

Charlie standing in front of the morning sun about 1 mile into our trek towards the mountain, away from the road and where we parked.

Beautiful mountain, ain’t it?

Taking a break in a cavern’s ledge on the side of a Icelandic mountain.

A few hours in and barely halfway up.

Of course, we had to do a pseudo-photoshoot with Charlie modeling these sunglasses. Haha

Charlie modeling

We kept going. Higher and higher.

Charlie sandwiched between the terrain.

Until we got really high.

So high. So windy. Nothing but nature, dawg.

But not high enough…

Me, Sean Yalda, posing in front of a mountain in Iceland.

Needless to say, the trip was amazing and much was experienced. Iceland is a beautiful place. Have any of you been? Do any of you live there? Let’s talk!

Me looking epic

Can’t wait to visit Iceland again!

*Photos taken on a Canon 7D and iPhone 6s+, edited and optimized for my Instagram.