Iceland has a way of blowing you off your feet, both literally, and figuratively. For the second time in two years, I found myself exploring the ring road, known for its gale force winds and epic landscapes.

This time around, the trip fell on my 30th birthday, and despite the option to celebrate with friends in Reykjavik, we drove through the night to catch a sunrise tour in the ice caves near Jökulsárlón.

The roads were calm, clear, and empty for the entirety of our five hour drive out. Sleep came and went in the front seat of our rental in an iced over parking lot. Then a rush to pack our bags, and hop in the fittingly named ’Super Jeep’ that would take us to our destination.

The first light of dawn swept over the landscape when we arrived at the end of the road. A short 20 minutes of hiking later, and we were in another world. Massive ice sculptures, ice caves, and crumbling glaciers surrounded us as light echoed through the glassy structures.