Incredible things to do in Iceland
Iceland is home to the northern lights, endless waterfalls, majestic glaciers and extreme geothermal activity which offers travellers a totally unique experience.
Iceland is the northern piece of land also known as the “Land of Fire and Ice”, because of the combination of its cold climate and volcanic activity. Once you’re there, underneath your feet there’ll be constant geothermal movements, and the heat created gets turned into useful energy. This, together with the 10,000 plus waterfalls present in Iceland covers 100% of the countries electricity.
INCREDIBLE THINGS TO DO IN ICELAND
The quality of life in Iceland is among the best in the world, not only because of its use of renewable energy sources but for the vast amount of untouched landscapes and countless activities available anywhere you are in the country. Iceland is a place in which an ordinary life turns into an extraordinary one. Just a short drive from Reykjavik, its capital, you can find yourself hiking up a glacier after work, diving between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates in Silfra or observing the ground while it explodes in the form of a geyser. A short dip in a local pool can turn into a swim in the famous geothermal Blue Lagoon and a daily boat ride around the coast can lead you to see countless marine life, like whales and puffins, in their natural habitat.
You can travel around the whole country by car on the well- known Ring Road, a 1340 km loop that takes you around the coasts of the island and can be completed in around a week. However, if you plan to stay for a shorter time, the southern part of the country has the biggest touristic sites that are within a short drive from each other. You’ll come across big green-covered hills with waterfalls falling from them, glacier tongues dripping from the biggest ice caps of Europe and lava fields which give you the hint that you’re close to one of the 30 active volcanoes in the country.
High season in Iceland runs from June to August and these are the perfect months to explore the hiking trails and to visit some of the many national parks. However, in winter, from September to May, Iceland’s biggest phenomenon appears: the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights.
An all-year round destination, there are incredible things to do in Iceland in every season. Whether you want to go on a multi-day hike around the most fascinating trails or rent a car to hunt the northern lights, Iceland has an activity for every type of traveller.
HIKING AROUND ICELAND
With more than half the country lying above 400mts (1300 ft), Iceland’s diverse and numerous hiking trails surprise you on every step. Areas with colourful mountains, glacier tongues falling from massive ice caps, lava fields and black sands are only some of the many landscapes you’ll encounter while trekking around the country.
With options for beginners and for the most experienced, you can choose between going on a day hike or turning it into a multi-day adventure. The Laugavegur trail, known as the most extraordinary walking trail in the world, is located in the southern part of Iceland and runs between the areas of Landmannalauger and Þórsmörk. The season for this trail starts in June and, depending on the weather conditions, can extend until September. There are six huts and campsites along the trails that need to be booked with anticipation, and some of the roads can only be crossed with 4×4 vehicles of authorised companies.
Other popular paths in Iceland are the 23km trail named Fimmvorduhals, the Landmannalaugar track, located in Fjallabak Nature Reserve and the Kjolur mountain pass, the 2-3 day hike that connects the north and the south of the country.
GEOTHERMAL POOLS
As a big part of Icelandic tradition; the geothermal energy has been naturally heating up many swimming pools around the country for many years. The water is rich in minerals such as silica and sulfur, and since early settlements of the country, people have been using the thermal pools for health and social purposes. Reykjavik itself has 17 public swimming pools and are used, especially by locals, for an after work swim and social gathering with friends.
Later on, Icelandics took advantage of the properties of the water and created luxury spas around them. The most famous one is called Blue Lagoon and it is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, around 20 minutes away from Reykjavik.
THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
This is the most popular route to take in Iceland, as it covers three of the main attractions that the country has to offer. The first stop is Iceland’s first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site called Thingvellir. In 930 it became the world’s first parliament as a consequence of the settlers wanting to develop an assembly that could create a fairer society. Since then, it is known as an important spot for Iceland’s cultural history. Besides this, the landscape is breathtaking as it is the meeting point of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This is the only place in the world where you can see on land the division of two tectonic plates, which are divided by a valley that gets larger every year.
The second spot is the Geysir geothermal area. The geysers erupt when the water flowing underneath the ground meets a rock heated by magma. The area has many inactive geishers, but the main one erupts every 4-10 minutes and its water can go up as high as 40 mts (131 ft).
The final stop are the Gullfoss waterfalls, which via two drops, the water descends a total of 32 meters (105 ft). During the summer, as the floor is not covered by ice, people can walk to the edge of the falls, where there’s a platform available, and get sprayed.
SILFRA DIVING AND SNORKELLING
Silfra is located in the valley of Thingvellir National Park and is known as one of the fissures between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. In 1789, earthquakes started separating the plates, and they have been drifting apart since then, expanding the valley 2cm per year. Although there are plenty of fissures around the gap, one has cut into the ground, and filled up with glacial meltwater. This place is now called Silfra, and with water temperatures of 1°C -5°C degrees and a visibility of over 100 mts, it’s the main snorkelling and diving spot in Iceland and the only place in the world where a person can swim between two tectonic plates.
WHALE WATCHING
Because of its cold waters, there is abundant marine life in the coasts of Iceland. Dolphins, whales and puffins can be seen in their natural habitat, feeding themselves from the rest of the animals and roaming around the shores of the country. Whale watching can be done widely around the island but the most popular places are the Old Harbour in Reykjavik and Husavik, a fishing town in the north, known as the most popular place to go whale watching in the country.
NORTHERN LIGHTS
From September to April, while the country goes through winter and only experiences around four hours of daylight a day, Iceland’s dark sky treats the locals with a natural display of colours known as the Aurora Borealis or as the Northern Lights.
It’s a natural phenomenon created when solar activity ejects a cloud of gas and interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field. This produces currents of energy that causes the luminous coloured streaks across the polar skies.
The hunting of northern lights is a popular activity during the winter among locals and travellers, and one of the most incredible things to do in Iceland. There is no specific place where you are guaranteed to see them, but the further away you drive from the big cities, the more chances you have to encounter them. However, there are special tours that have experience in knowing, depending on the weather conditions, which locations have the highest probabilities to find them on that day.
GLACIER HIKING AND ICE CLIMBING
Around 11% of Iceland is covered by ice and there are 269 named glaciers in the country. As there is a vast diversity among them, from ice caps and ice streams to mountain glaciers, Iceland offers a large program of glacier-related activities.
Ice climbing and glacier hiking take place all year-round and mainly on the southern glaciers of Sólheimajökull, Svínafellsjökull and Myrdalsjokull. Hiking can also be done in Europe’s
largest National Park called Vatnajökull, that not only includes the largest ice cap, but also the national parks of Skaftafell and Jökulsárgljúfur.
This is one of the most incredible things to do in Iceland, as beneath the glaciers there are active volcanoes, giving the country the reputation of the “Land of Fire and Ice”. Because of this phenomenon, the national park has a diverse landscape with plenty of activities to do. The southern part is known for its majestic mountains, with glaciers falling from them. However, in the north side, Jökulsárgljúfur is the home to an impressive canyon that has been formed by one of Iceland ‘s longest rivers called Jökulsá á Fjöllum. Close to this you can find Dettifoss waterfall, which is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, with 500 cubic meters per second diving over the edge. Around these fascinating untouched nature spots, there are several hiking trails that connect the main parts of the national park for adventurers to walk around them.
WEST FJORDS
If you decide to rent a car and travel around Iceland, the westfjords will catch your attention more than any other part of the country. Each fjord is a world of its own and it’s begging to be discovered by travellers who walk through its tracks.
Látrabjarg fjord is the westernmost point in Europe and where the continent’s most impressive sea breeding cliffs are located. In Arnarfjörður fjord, you’ll find the Dynjandi waterfall, one of the tallest and loudest cascades in the country. Among the westfjords you’ll also find the peninsula of Hornstrandir, that can only be reached by boat or foot and it’s the home to Arctic foxes, seals and birds. In Rauðasandur, you’ll find one of the few golden beaches in the country, while in Vigur Island you can visit the smallest post office in the continent.
These are just some of the many incredible things to do in Iceland, as the country offers hidden gems of untouched nature in every corner. Travelling Whale we’ll help you discover the most amazing spots of this fascinating country, while decreasing your carbon footprint. Get in contact today to start planning your trip or have a look at the Small Group Tour Northern Lights Experience.
by Clara Preve
Freelance writer
