Iceland

Diamond Beach is aptly named, due to the large quantities of ice that have washed up on the Black sand beach.

The beach is at the very South of Iceland, where the Jokulsarlon Glacier feeds into the Atlantic. It's a 5-hour drive from Reykjavik, and early morning is definitely the best time to experience it.

I will say, though this is advertised as the highlight of the region, and is suitably famous, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lake, which feeds the outlet to the beach, blows it out of the water... Excuse the pun! 

Easily one of the highlights of our holiday, the Glacier Lake is incredible. Imagine -

A Picture perfect scene of massive Ice floes, white and turquoise, drifting ever so so slowly down a crystal clear lagoon; perfectly calm water occasionally disturbed by the cheeky appearance of a one of the many seals living in the bay; dominated by the Glacier just hanging around in the channel it's carved itself over aeons through the mountains to the East and West, all under a deep blue sky.

Or just look at my photos! 

Svinafellsjokull glacier is only about 1/2 an hour from Diamond beach, and is one of the few easily accessible glaciers without paying for a guided tour.

While it is not advisable to scale the glacier and explore it without a guide (there have two recorded deaths on this glacier - both bodies are still missing), you can walk right up to it and clamber over its lower reaches without much difficulty.

The glacier itself is awesome - you don't realize the scale of Icelands' glaciers until you see them up close, and you realise how small you are compared to even the smaller edges of them - and how OLD they must be!

The glacier has it's own small lake that you can walk around too.

The Troll Garden is a cute and quaint little walk around the Fossatun Hotel. There are several troll statues dotted along the path, each with a short story / folklore alongside it. 

The views from the garden are also magnificent, especially to the South and the majestic mountains. 

Accessing the garden if you're not a guest costs 500ISK. 

the hotel itself is small, with several glamping pods outside of the larger cabins. there is a cafe too.

Additionally, the trollfoss falls are worth enjoying, running right alongside the cafe and sun lounge.