FAMOUS ICELAND: Glacial Lagoons, Diamond Icebergs & a Black Beach

FAMOUS ICELAND: Glacial Lagoons, Diamond Icebergs & a Black Beach

Where steep cliffs meet the ocean, where volcanoes meet water, where ice breaks apart from glaciers and floats on big lagoons. Visit some of Iceland’s most breathtaking sites with me. Ride to the famous Jokulsarlon and Fjallsarlon glacial lagoons, and have a walk on a beach with black sand. Starting a new day in Iceland always means to look at a weather forecast. And at a last rainy ride, I actually realized that my pants were a complete misconstruction. So now I can show you what went wrong because my old pants, BMW pants that I had on the North Cape journey,

You can still look at that here. That is what my travel partner has on. It was my absolutely favorite pants. And now I just thought I’d get it new again because it was kind of used up. And it turns out when I get into the boot, this one here,

There is no space for these pants to go over the boots. So we have to do something so that the rain can’t come in. How’s this? (camera-person agrees) So we are preparing for really bad weather today. It’s supposed to rain heavily. Just now, we are approaching some of Iceland’s most famous and most breathtaking sites. So fingers crossed that this will not be true because you never know. You can never trust the weather forecast. (soft music) Visiting Iceland

Means also being prepared for the ever-changing weather. Until this point, we had been extremely lucky with decent summer temperatures, but on this day it started to rain only a few minutes after we left the hotel. And you know what they say. If it rains it pours. Never heard something that was more accurate

To describe our situation. It’s too bad it now really rains and it’s actually also kind of foggy and we are going now to one of the places I had always wanted to see. Oh, I’m really a bit sad already. Imagine this all in lovely sunshine,

But you not always get what you wish for. Today we are doing some of the biggest sites here in Iceland as well most famous sites. One of them you can see behind me. Unfortunately, it’s really, really raining. So I guess we will skip some of the waterfalls that I wanted to visit.

Yeah, I don’t know. Could be better. I guess it could be as well worse. But I’m a bit sad that I can’t show you the beauty of these places because I am guessing they look 10 times more pretty in sunshine. The constantly changing Jakulsarlon is a glacial lagoon where blue, white, turquoise and black-streaked, 1,000-year-old iceberg chunks floated underwater. The lagoon opens toward the sea and contains a mixture of salt and fresh water, giving it a unique blue-green color. The mystical lagoon covers an area

Of about 18 square kilometers and has provided the backdrop for many major feature films and programs, including “Batman Begins,” two James Bond movies and “Game of Thrones.” You can book different kind of tours with faster and smaller zodiac boats that bring you closer to the icebergs or the less expensive amphibian boats

That suit more passengers. There are also many tours that combine the boat ride on the glacial lagoon with a hike in an ice cave. We had hoped to catch a tour spontaneously on showing up, but with the bad weather, decided to continue our ride because we both already felt wet enough

Even without getting on the lagoon. Wow, this weather is so bad today and I’m actually a bit sad because the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon actually has been on my bucket list forever and I have seen so many pictures of it and I’m not complaining, because so far, we really had very good weather, but it’s so important

Under which circumstances you get to see things. So for me now, Jokulsarlon was kind of nice to see but had also like very touristic place, and I don’t know, would probably not be the place in Iceland I would recommend to visit before all others. But I’m very sure that can be super magical

With the right weather and maybe not so many people around. So let’s continue. Maybe we will have more luck with the weather at our next destination. (intriguing music) Maybe I was a bit too optimistic. It felt like the rain got even worse instead of less

When we arrived at the second famous glacial lagoon. So I’m walking along now this path here to see the glacier. I’m completely exhausted. I can’t take off my helmet because it’s raining so much. I think if I take off the helmet, my hat is gonna be all wet. (gentle music) Located on the southern end of Vatnajokull Glacier, there’s Fjallsarlon,

Another glacier Lagoon like Jokulsarlon. Fjallsarlon has many hundreds of icebergs that float atop the lagoon surface and is considered to be a good second option to the nearby and more famous Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon. Fjallsarlon is smaller than its neighbor, less known, and a bit less crowded with visitors. But don’t be fooled.

It’s definitely not a place off the beaten track. (uplifting music) Like on Jokulsarlon, you can attend boat tours on Fjallsarlon but our feeling about the tours in rain still had not changed. So instead, I at least tried to indulge in the small little glimpses I got between the rain and fog.

Regarding what I saw, I actually think I liked the views even better due to the outlet glacier, Flaajokull, originating from Vatnajokull being so majestically visible in the background of the lagoon. So here’s this beach where you can see all these ice blocks that are like see-through, clear and sparkling. That’s why the beach is called Diamond Beach. But, oh, no. God, I’m so sorry. You see them here in the back, but I am not gonna get off the bike.

This rain is too terrible. (intriguing music) So there are actually a lot of nice sites here along the way, but our only goal left now is getting to the town, Vik, as fast as possible where our next destination and next recommendation is. It’s freeing cold here in the rain.

I’m actually surprised it’s not snowing and my construction on the boots didn’t work. My feet are completely soaked. It’s like walking in water and my gloves that were supposed to be waterproof are definitely not. Yeah. So let’s go. I guess it was my travel partner’s lucky day. I for once agreed to skip all the sightseeing and detours and to just ride as quick as possible in the pouring rain to reach our destination. ♪ Still raining now ♪ ♪ The trucks keep coming, trucks keep coming ♪

♪ I lay you down ♪ ♪ I can’t stop falling, I can’t stop falling now ♪ – Close to, Vik, which is the Southernmost village in Iceland, we called it a day. And the only sparkling icebergs we saw closely, were the ones in our drinks.

It was a nice to try to keep my boots dry. It didn’t work at all. I think I have to drain them now in the shower. That’s the state of the day, still raining. And we’re gonna try to head over here now to get some snacks and a drink.

Can’t even see me in the camera because it’s so rainy. Good morning, everyone. Even though it’s not raining anymore, it’s actually one of those days I don’t really want to continue riding. And actually, we would have stayed for some more nights or at least one more night if a room would have been available because my boots and gloves and everything

Of course didn’t dry completely at night. It’s all still very wet. So we actually decided to leave our stuff at a hotel for another hour and go to a very interesting place here, close by, just in our normal clothes that are not wet. So sightseeing without motorcycle gear. ♪ We come alive in the night ♪ ♪ So you and I, we come alive ♪ ♪ We come alive ♪ – This is probably one of the most famous beaches on Earth. The black beach of Reynisfjara, close to Vik, consists of black basalt sand and is one of the wettest places in Iceland, stretching on a three-kilometer reef to the west of the small mountain, Reynisfjara. At the beach, you will also encounter one of the most spectacular basalt column formations in Iceland

At the foot of the mountain. Basalt columns are created by the cooling and contracting of lava made of 90% basalt, which causes the ground to crack into long geometric columns. There are several myths and fairy tales about Reynisfjara. According to folklore, the sea stacks are former trolls who tried to drag their boats out to sea, only to be caught by the rising dawn. More contemporary legends tell the story of a husband

Who found his wife taken by the two trolls, frozen at night. She found her fate out among the trolls’ rocks and to sea at Reynisfjara. Believe it or not, but there is no land mass between here and the Antarctic and the Atlantic waves can attack with full force.

So it’s not a place to go for a lovely swim. And I try to be super careful and keep the distance, but even I underestimated the reach of the waves. Yeah. – That’s- – Is it cold? – It’s very cold. (laughing) – [Camera Person] But it was worth it? – That we will see. We are on the road again in our wet clothes, but before we continue our ride, we are going to backtrack a little bit

Because I want to pay the little village of Vik a visit. We actually drove through there yesterday, but it was not a time to explore and get a feeling for the town. So I just want to drive through it quick to see what it looks like. We are in Vik now after a very horrible day of riding in rain yesterday. Today the weather is a little bit better. We haven’t decided yet if we do a little excursion or if we just go to the next place we stay, especially after having been at the black-sand beach in the morning.

It’s already 11 or 12 now, so we will see. It’s not super inviting and I’m a bit sad about it because the area is supposed to be beautiful. And we as well can’t stay here because there are no rooms. So it’s really difficult. (festive music) Vik i Myrdal

Is the southernmost town of the country and one of the most visited because it is the perfect hub to explore the amazing natural wonders that it’s surrounded by. And reaching Vik from Reykjavik takes only about 2 1/2 hours. Vik is the connection gate from the west to the east of Iceland,

And also the perfect place to stock up on goods or just visit a restaurant before heading to your adventures off the beaten track. Vik, that was it, but… That’s like a little rhyme. No, Vic, that was it. But now a little new adventure is waiting that I’m actually looking very forward to,

Even though with wet boots, will be amazing, I think. (upbeat music) ♪ When all is said and done ♪ ♪ When all is said and done ♪ – Guys, I hope you didn’t get cold feet in this episode, and will still join the journey next Thursday. It will take us

To one of my favorite little gravel roads in Iceland, glaciers and big waterfalls. But before we meet again here on the channel, leave a thumbs up and comment to let me know of your worst raining experience on a motorcycle.

From the Black Beach Reynisfjara to the glacial lagoons Jökulsárlón and Fjallsárlón – visit some of Icelands most famous places.

Where steep cliffs meet the ocean, where volcanoes meet water, where ice breaks apart from glaciers and floats on big lagoons. Visit some of Iceland’s most breathtaking sights with me, ride to the famous Jökulsarlon and Fjallsarlon glacial lagoons and have a walk on a beach with black sand.

00:00 Intro to Icelands most famous area
01:00 Preparing for a rainy day
02:04 Driving on a motorcycle to Icelands most famous spots
03:20 The most famous glacial lagoon – Jökulsárlón
06:05 Fjallsárlón – glacial lagoon with jaw dropping views
07:36 Diamond Beach
09:03 Best place to stay in Vik
10:00 The Black Beach of Reynisfjara
13:51 Vik – the southermost town of Iceland and a hub to the surrounding area

// NEW EPISODE OUT EVERY THURSDAY 19.30 CET

// Time of the journey: August 2022

// Support my journey and help me to stay independent!
– BECOME A PATREON (and be always the first to know about my new journeys): https://www.patreon.com/got2go
– BUY ME A TANK OF FUEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/got2go

// My book GOT2GO about my solo motorcycle trip around the world is OUT NOW!
Order the paperback book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095556HPG
Order the ebook for kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092MYKGLF
Or access the book over the Amazon page of your country by searching for “Got2Go” “Lea Rieck”

// Riding a Yamaha Ténéré 700 called Fox. Bought the Fox myself in 2019 in Germany.

Watch the review of my Yamaha Ténéré 700 here:

//Equipment & Gear:
– Klim Artemis Goretex Jacket (self bought)
– BMW Pants Enduroguard (self bought)
– BMW GS Gloves (self bought)
– Raingloves from another brand (can’t remember the name and they were terrible!!!)
– Alpinestar Toucan Boots (self bought)
– Klim Krios Pro Helmet (self bought)
– Leatt Neckbrace (given to me by Leatt as my self-bought neckbrace was still in Africa)

Watch the review for my helmets here:

//Filmed with:
Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Zoom
Camera: Sony Alpha A7 rIII
2 x Go Pro Hero 8
DJI OSMO Pocket
Iphone 14
Tripod: Manfrotto BeFree
Tripod Iphone: Joby GorillaPod
Editing Program: Final Cut Pro X

//Follow me on:
https://www.instagram.com/lea_rieck
https://www.facebook.com/got2go.de/

Home

#blackbeach #jökulsarlon #got2go #learieck