THE MOMENT WE HAD HOPED FOR
The hotel was still two hours away. For once, I was not particularly interested in getting there. Above the stone arches at Arctic Henge, green northern lights filled the sky, and I had my camera with me.
My friend and I stayed for roughly two hours, taking long-exposure photographs. There was just one other visitor the whole time. After a day with about seven hours of driving in total, this was the moment that made the plan feel worth it.
I would make time for Arctic Henge again. I would also give considerably more thought to where my bed was afterward. Both can be true.
WHY WE WENT
We planned the night. We hoped for the sky.
Arctic Henge was already on our list. We knew it would be our final sightseeing stop that day, and we deliberately planned to arrive at night to photograph the aurora. That left one fairly significant detail outside our control: the sky. Booking a room was easy. Booking clear skies proved less straightforward.
Earlier that day, we had visited Stuðlagil, walked down to the basalt columns, and stopped at Geirsstaðakirkja, a small, old-looking church building that caught our attention. Arctic Henge was the part of the day I had especially wanted to photograph.
We got the conditions we had hoped for. On another night, the same drive could lead to a very different view, so I would leave room to adjust the plan.
WHAT IT REALLY LOOKED LIKE
Yes, we could see the green.
We could clearly see the green with our own eyes. I mention that because it is the question I would ask about a photograph like this. They were much more visible than the first aurora we had seen earlier in the trip, on a partly cloudy evening while driving back to our accommodation.
The long exposure made the colors more saturated than they looked in person. The photo turns up the intensity, but the experience itself was still impressive. I did not need a camera screen to know we had arrived on a good night.
In my photograph, the dark stone arches frame the green light, with a smaller arch farther away. That combination is what makes this image such a strong reminder of the night for me.
TWO HOURS THERE
Enough time to enjoy being there.
My friend and I stayed for about two hours, taking photographs. With just one other person there during that time, the place felt remarkably quiet.
We were lucky with that quiet evening. It gave us space to work on our photographs and take in the sky without feeling hurried.
Looking back, I am glad this was more than a quick photo stop. I had done enough sitting in a car that day. Standing under the northern lights was a very welcome alternative.
THE PART I WOULD CHANGE
The night did not end when we packed the cameras.
Then the cameras were packed, and the two-hour drive to our accommodation was still there. Apparently, a great photograph does not shorten the journey home.
I was comfortable with the driving, but roughly seven hours behind the wheel in one day is a lot. You can look at the aurora photo and understand why I loved this stop. You should also know what it took to fit it into our ten-day trip.
Next time, I would stay closer to the final stop and keep the evening flexible. If I were too tired to drive safely, the plan would need to change. A photograph is not worth pushing past that point.
MY VERDICT
A highlight, with room for a better plan.
Arctic Henge gave me one of my favorite photographs and one of my favorite memories from Iceland. The stone arches, the visible green light, and the quiet made the long detour feel worthwhile.
I would go again if the route and conditions lined up. Same enthusiasm, fewer hours driving, and a bed much closer to the last photograph.
My broader advice for our Iceland route is the same. We did it in ten days because that was the time we had. With more time, I would stretch it to around twelve to fifteen days and enjoy a slower pace.
BEHIND THE STORY
Hi, I’m Kia.
I’m Kia, one half of Kia & Mat. We’re two Persian brothers raised in Mashhad and now based in LA. I love a good hike, taking photographs, and finding a place worth slowing down for.
Here I share the trips I have taken, what I enjoyed, what I paid, and what I would change next time. Sometimes that means an early start up a mountain. Sometimes it means admitting the cabin was a highlight.
Follow our travels at @kiaandmat ↗