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Sarah_Quatela
Iceland Travel Guide
©
Sarah_Quatela
Admittedly, Myvatn requires more commitment and time on the road than heading for Jokulsarlon. But you can be sure that the discovery will be all the more authentic. This area of the country is actually much better preserved and features landscapes of beautiful diversity: lava formations, geysers, craters, waterfalls, volcanoes, etc.
It's around Lake Myvatn that the Diamond Circle comes into its own, each point more beautiful than the previous. Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, is absolutely remarkable with its fast-flowing waters; Husavik is a charming little fishing port where you can go out to sea for whale watching; and then there's Lake Myvatn itself and its treasures. You'll love the Hverfell crater, marvel at the Krafla caldera, completely immerse yourself in the Höfdi forest, inhale the fresh air in the Hverir solfatara field, and as the day draws to a close, you'll enjoy relaxing in the hot baths of the Myvatn lagoon.
In the north of Iceland, snow falls in large flakes when winter arrives, more heavily than in the rest of the country. Result: tourists, for the most part, avoid this region. What a mistake! The unspoiled scenery of the Diamond Circle is beyond comparison in its beauty at this time of year. And above all, the setting lends itself perfectly to snow activities that will thrill you!
Cross-country skiing and snowshoes are the two methods - soft and gentle - which are the most fun and the best suited for reaching magical locations isolated by the thick layer of powdery snow. A sense of tranquillity then pervades this volcanic terrain, making your arrival a rare and out-of-the-ordinary experience.
We particularly loved crossing the Krafla caldera, 8 kilometres in length, the sound of our footsteps scraping on the frozen surface of Lake Myvatn; and the Dimmuborgir lava formations, allowing you to get right up close...
