The Game of Thrones - Iceland Beyond the Wall

You'll drive through empty valleys in a heavy Land Cruiser, wrapped warm against the cold. Wild horses stand in the snow, frost in their manes. Your phone won't work here, and that's just fine - the land feels like another planet anyway. The hiking is good - not too hard. There's always a hot spring waiting after.

The ice caves are blue inside, glowing like something from a dream. The black beaches stretch for miles - this is where HBO filmed their dragons. You can see why they picked it. At night, you'll drink beer and swap stories in warm hotels. If you're lucky, the Northern Lights will show up while your guide talks about Game of Thrones filming. Sometimes they tell stories from behind the scenes, about actors and crews battling the real Nordic winter.

Your feet will be cold some days. Your heart won't be. Someone always says "Winter is coming" - it's just what happens here. The guides smile every time, like they're in on the joke.

Bring good boots, bring a camera, maybe watch season two again before you come. But know this - the real thing beats any TV show. Iceland doesn't need special effects.