To celebrate the spirit of the 2016 Mercedes GLE Coupe, our friends at Esquire asked some of their favorite creative innovators to tell us about their ultimate road trip. Their itineraries are collected here in “A Cut Above.”
The Traveler: Justin Chung
Justin Chung is a photographer specializing in men’s fashion, travel, and portraiture. He recently published his first book, Faculty Department, focusing on the living spaces and stories of noteworthy people. You can see his work on justinchungstudio.com or on Instagram @justinchung.
I’m fortunate to get to see many new places each year, but after traveling to Iceland for the first time last summer, I felt an immediate connection. From the stark vista points of rolling hills and untouched, lunar-like landscapes to the lush, green fields filled with horses and sheep, the country has such a breathtaking scope of natural beauty. And since Route 1 (known as the “Ring Road”) circles the island, Iceland is an ideal country to explore by driving.
For me, there is something special about jumping into a car and exploring a new place: the open road in the distance, the spontaneity and the accessibility of being able to pull over at any time to experience all that is around you. Here are some of my favorite spots to stop along the way.
THE RING ROAD
Iceland has one main road, Route 1, that circles the entire island. With a distance of 830 miles and a number of stops along the way, by far the best way to explore the country is by car. The drive is full of scenic views and pit stops, from the waterfalls to the picturesque farms. One of my favorite parts of the drive is seeing how the stark views contrast with the peaceful and serene atmosphere. I love driving early in the morning and watching the light break through over the mountains.
SELJAVALLALAUG SWIMMING POOL
One of my favorite stops is the Seljavallalaug swimming pool. There’s no signage or road markings showing you how to find this hidden destination; you pull off the Ring Road on a side lane and take a fifteen-minute hike to get here. If you get too hot, just hop into the lake that runs by the pool!
THE ION HOTEL
Located about an hour from Iceland’s Capital, Reykjavik, Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel is a modern design hotel that sits at the foot of a massive volcano. Surrounded around some incredible views, I love how the hotel compliments its location with its panoramic windows and its cozy and Nordic furnishings.
THE IDEAL CAR FOR THE TRIP
2016 Mercedes Benz GLE Coupe
For the 800-plus mile drive around the Ring Road, the GLE Coupe perfectly combines SUV versatility with racetrack-inspired performance, all wrapped in the sleek lines of a coupe. Advanced safety technologies like Intelligent Drive, plus AMG performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive make it an ideal vehicle for Iceland’s windy and winding roads.
VIK BEACH
Vik Beach is one of my favorite seaside locations. Explore the black sand beach and its paths and walkways in the evening if you visit during the summer months—the sun just continues to linger around the horizon until late into the night.
DYRHOLAEY CLIFFS
One of my favorite vista points on the Ring Road is at the Dyrhólaey Cliffs. It’s a scenic drive up to the top of this mountain overlooking the southern coast of Iceland. The winds are pretty strong, but once you find your ground, the views are unlike anything else.
SOUTH ICELAND GLACIERS
There are incredible glaciers to discover all throughout the island, especially the southern part. I hiked and explored a few of them, and you can also schedule tours that bring you to the top of the glaciers.
SKOGAFOSS WATERFALL
As one of the largest waterfalls in the world (at 60 meters high), Skogafoss is definitely one of the stops you’ll want to make along the drive. If the lighting conditions permit, sometimes you can make out a rainbow. You can climb up to the top of the waterfall—but I actually think the view is better from the bottom.
Car and Driver has partnered with Mercedes-Benz to bring you “A Cut Above,” a travel series inspired by the all-new GLE Coupe exploring great drives, high-end gear, and must-visit destinations.
This story originally appeared on esquire.com.
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