Why Iceland never lets you forget where you are

Even after several days on the trail, the environment keeps reminding you of its presence. This isn’t because Iceland is dramatic at every moment. It’s because it removes the layers that usually insulate hikers from their surroundings. When those layers are gone, the land stays close, and you never forget where you are.

There is no buffer between you and the landscape

In many hiking destinations, forests, villages, or infrastructure act as buffers. They mediate the relationship between walker and terrain.