Between the Fire and Ice, inside West Iceland's best glass lodge

Black mountains, an ocean view and an open sky 🗻

Panorama Glass Lodge - West Iceland - Shot by Heather Carpenter

During the month of June, in Iceland, there are around 22 hours of daylight per day. In the hours where it’s not strictly daylight, it’s a very intense and fiery golden hour. The sun never truly sets and it never gets dark, this is known as midnight sun. Having visited Iceland a few times through different seasons, it’s safe to say that the summertime is a magical experience. When choosing your accommodation for Iceland, I would highly recommend a glass cabin. It’s quite possibly the closest thing to bliss I’ve ever experienced.

Panorama Glass Lodge is located across the bay from the tiny port town of Akranes in Iceland, it stands between the shores of the North Atlantic Ocean and towering black mountains that glow orange and red during sunset. Just 1hr from Reykjavik, this accommodation is worth a visit. If you are exploring Iceland outside the bounds of a main city then you will need a car. Though the cities are wonderful to explore, the rest of Iceland has mind blowing experiences, landscapes and adventures you won’t want to miss. Being able to return to this viking themed haven each day, will have you feeling relaxed and immersed in both Icelandic culture and nature.

The black interiors are striking and intense but bring about a sense of cosiness between the busy and wild outdoors waiting just beyond the bedroom. The inside is minimal, it’s compact and has everything you need. A kitchen, bathroom, dining table and bedroom area. The endless views of the great outdoors bring a sense of infinity which make the space feel much bigger than it is, though it’s certainly not small.

You are greeted with the ocean and views of Akranes right from your bed and if you choose to nap outside on the black netting then you can indulge in the glorious sight of the black mountains behind the lodge which illuminate and reflect the sky at certain times of day. Outdoors, you have your own deck, equip with a hot tub, a net for relaxing and a barbecue. If you’re feeling really brave you could take an extremely cold dip in the ocean and head back to the hot tub for some hot/cold therapy.

Nestled just behind the lodge is a standalone sauna that contrasts the rugged nature around it so perfectly. It continues the glass theme and allows you to further take in the endless views whilst keeping toasty.

If you are visiting this lodge between October and March, there is a chance you’ll get to see the northern lights dancing above you whilst you relax in bed. If you are visiting during the summer then you get to indulge in the most incredible sunset-sunrise-midnight-sun phenomenon.

Nothing is in close proximity in Iceland and you can expect to drive a fair amount during your stay. This is something I actually thoroughly enjoyed about the trip. Just make sure to account for an extra hour or so on your drives as you’ll want to pull over and stop fairly frequently to marvel at the phenomenal landscapes and dramatic waterfalls. From the lodge, you can reach Reykjavik in just under an hour and you can also get to the golden circle, Snæfellsnes, Þingvellir national park and Langjökull Glacier easily.

Panorama Glass Lodge also have locations on the south coast of Iceland which is something to consider depending on the activities and sights you want to see during your time there. This lodge is the perfect place to come back to after a day of exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland, I can’t wait to return.

See the full gallery that I shot for Panorama Glass Lodge here.