Visit Iceland for an amazing holiday

Holiday in Iceland

“Whale watching, touring on a snowmobile, seeing a geyser erupt.”

In a couple of hours, we are to embark on our honeymoon, the destination is supposed to surprise me. But, in the background, my brand new husband is making not so subtle gestures to his friend:

Cut.It.Out!

He is blabbing about all the sights we are going to see. But, of course, “the geyser”, so typical for Iceland, gives it away. But, it does not really matter. Yes, the surprise is spoiled, but my partner could not have chosen a better place for our honeymoon.

Excursions on holiday in Iceland

White nights in the summer

It is almost midnight when we arrive. The alarm clock in our hotel room shows it is five minutes to twelve. Outside it is still light. The sun is about to kiss the horizon. A white night on the edge of the Arctic Circle is a novelty for me.

The first night, albeit short, is full of promises. This country is romantically isolated, empty and beautiful. Then, we are to embark on a short but epic journey, driving our hire car all the way up to the north of the island and back.

Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland

Our first stop is Reykjavík.

This charming city is relatively small, with only 123,300 inhabitants, which is, by the way, almost half of the island’s population. So, truth be told, there is not that much to see. Nevertheless, it is a great place to start because it is a heaven for foodies. Reykjavík has numerous restaurants that specialise in seafood, which is not entirely unexpected for a country surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean.

It is also a good starting point for excursions like a snowmobile trip or a whale watching tour. And, of course, there is the Blue Lagoon.

Blue Lagoon, Iceland

What the tower of Pisa is to Italy is the Blue Lagoon to Iceland. This enigmatic man-made landmark with its blue water (hence the name) draws the masses. The geothermal spa is rich in minerals; the water temperature of the lagoon is around 38 °C (100 °F). Even though it looks beautiful as we drive by, we leave it to others to enjoy.

There are so many natural sites to admire in this country, like the geysers, which can be found close to the capital.

Geysers in Iceland

Geysir is a periodically spouting hot spring. The word geyser derives from “the Geysir”, which is located in the southwest of the island, the first one to be documented and one of the highest spouting ones.

An eruption of the Geysir is a sight to behold. Still, it can simultaneously be frightening, as this geyser can hurl boiling water up to 70 metres in the air. However, eruptions are infrequent and have in the past stopped altogether for years at a time (source).

Another famous geyser in this area is Strokkur; it is located 100 meters from its brother in a geothermal area beside the Hvítá river. This particular geyser erupts once every ten minutes, with heights up to 40 meters.

In the same area, you will find mighty waterfalls, like Gullfoss.

Waterfalls

The island is dotted with waterfalls, large and small. The smaller ones can be delightful, but in my view, the highlights are the bigger ones:

• Gullfoss is one of the most dramatic waterfalls. The water has an average flow of 140m3 a second, but it can rush up to around 2000m3, per second during glacier floods. The upper drop is 11 m and the lower 21 m (source).
• More remote is Dettifoss, but well worth the drive up to the northeast. It is, after all, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. The impressive sight is preceded by the sound of thundering water caused by a drop of 44 meters, which can be heard from miles away.
• The third one is the horseshoe-shaped Godafoss, which is located in the Myvatn area in the north. Here, the blue water of the Myvatn Lake contrasts sharply with the volcanic landscape. Its surrounding wetlands are home to many birds, especially ducks.

Snæfellsjökull national park

While driving north, we detour to Snæfellsjökull national park, which lies in the westernmost part of the Snaefellsness peninsula. It is the only national park in Iceland that reaches from the seashore to the mountaintops. The glacier stands at 1446 metres, one of the highest mountains in the country. The mountain is an active volcano built up from many lava fields and eruptions over the last 800 thousand years. It is a marvel for those interested in geology.

Fun fact it provided the setting for Jules Verne’s famous ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’.

Whale watching

Up in the north is the perfect spot for whale watching. Nestled on the edge of Shaky Bay, the town of Húsaví­k is globally recognised as one of the best locations in the world for whale watching. Humpbacks, Minke and Blue, are typical whales that can be spotted in the Skjálfandi Bay.

Of course, in the wild, there are no guarantees. The whales might appear or not. We are lucky and see some.

Ice climbing

I only regret that I did not go ice climbing while in Iceland. This must be the ultimate way to get an intimate look at the ancient glaciers’ lunar ice formations and crevasses. The feeling of being alone in a vast, empty world of ice and snow is something I will certainly plan for my next visit to Iceland.

Northern Lights

Actually, I have two regrets. The second one is missing out on the Northern Lights.

This extraordinary natural phenomenon is high on my bucket list, but of course, our timing is wrong. To see the Northern Lights or “Aurora Borealis”, you need a dark, clear night. So winter in the north is generally a good season to view the lights. But, apparently, it also requires solar flares or solar wind.

The Aurora Borealis happens when particles from the sun are attracted by the earth’s magnetic field to the North and South Pole and collide with gas particles to emit light.

Anyway, I have plenty of reasons to go back, if only for a trip down memory lane. Who knows, perhaps my husband will surprise me as there is always some anniversary around the corner.

Practical tips for a holiday to Iceland

• Read these tips for your ultimate road trip.
• Dress for the occasion. Try layered clothing and make sure your extremities: feet, hands and head our kept warm.
• Your flight will probably arrive in Reykjavík. Check for best options.
• Book at least one, (preferably two or more) nights hotel in Reykjavík before arrival.

Photo credits: Iceland Tourism

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