The Land of Fire and Ice: Iceland

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from North America and Europe

With unlimited experiences available in Iceland you can relax or have the adventure of a lifetime. From volcanoes and hot springs to glaciers and unforgettable vistas, the sensational landscape sets it apart from other European countries.

Iceland is a travel destination unlike any other and could be your new favorite stopover on the way to and from Europe.

History

Iceland is a Nordic island country northwest of Europe. Norse settlers migrated to Iceland in 874 A.D. making it the last European country to be settled. It was first governed as an independent commonwealth under Althing, the oldest still functioning parliament in the world. In the 13^th century, the island country acceded to Norway. Post-French Revolution, Iceland began its struggle for Independence for years until finally gaining it in 1918 through the Danish-Icelandic Act of Union.

When You Should Go

Warmed by the Gulf Stream, Iceland has a deceptive name. It has a temperate and cool climate with rainy, windy winters and short, cool summers.

During the warm season between June - September the average high is 53°F. The cold season is from November - April, with an average temperature of 40°F. Rainfall peaks between October to February and is lowest from May to June. The southwestern region gets the most precipitation overall.

Most people enjoy coming to Iceland between June and September when visitors will experience long days where the sun never sets. The best hiking months are July and August.

Many travelers do decide to come during the winter months to see the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, illuminate the night sky. During some winter days, there are only 4-5 hours of sunlight and the ground is covered in snow.


Kirkjufell Mountain - West Iceland

Getting to Iceland

Getting there is easy because it is typically one of the cheapest transatlantic flights from major North American International airports. A different option that Icelandair offers for travelers is the stopover. You can stopover, for no additional fee, in Iceland for up to 7 days between originating and final destinations in North America and Europe. You get the chance to visit and explore Iceland and essentially add a whole extra adventure to your trip!

Another airline that has the stopover option is WOW Air. Their budget flights with free stopovers in Iceland can break up your trans-Atlantic flight perfectly.

For transportation in Iceland, getting a car is the typical suggestion for visitors. Driving is on the right-hand side of the road and Route 1 is the major highway you will be using to get around the country. Route 1 is about 830 miles long and is known as Ring Road because it makes a large circle around the mainland of the country.  Also, during the high season (June through August) there are buses between major cities and landmarks.

Things to do

Between the surplus of hot springs peppered all over the country to 130 inactive and active volcanoes the magical lands of Iceland leave you wanting to explore forever. The list is endless but these are a few of the major parts you can visit during your stay.

The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is a loop of major landmarks that can be done in a single day out of Reykjavik. On the route, there are stops at both a beautiful waterfall and active geysers. You can take a tour starting with a natural hot spring located in a small village called Fludir, The Secret Lagoon. The mineral-rich lagoon will relax you as you swim in the toasty 100-degree water. After which you will take the classic Icelandic tour from the Haukadalur Valley in the Geysir region and see the Great Geysir and the Stokkur Geysir.  Next, you'll get the chance along the Golden Circle route to see the Golden Waterfall of Gullfoss, Iceland’s most beautiful waterfall. Then you will explore the Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can visibly see the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pulling apart from one another. It is a great mix between relaxing and exploring for a day.


The Great Geysir

Ring Road

A road trip around Iceland's Ring Road is by far one of the coolest road trips you will take. Route 1 takes you completely around the island for about 800 miles. It takes you through the major cities such as Reykjavik, Vík, Höfn, Egilssadir, Akureyri, and Grundafjordur. Most travelers give themselves about a week to traverse the Ring Road and choose your destinations along the way.

There are a few major places and landmarks we suggest for your road trip. The Sólheimajökull Plane Crash was the 1973 United States Navy DC-3 crashed outside of Vík and is a classic photo-op. Outside of Höfn, lies the Vatnajokull Glacier, the largest glacier in Iceland, and it's ice caves that you can crawl through to explore. Also here you find the Glacier Lagoon full of floating icebergs. There are hundreds of hot springs along the way bubbling up from the ground that you can choose from. Just outside Reykjavik is the Blue Lagoon where locals and visitors hang out in the spring together.

Picking your own route and stops is the best part of the Ring Road. The adventure can be as long as you want!


Ice caving in the Vatnajokull Glacier

Aurora Borealis

The Northern Lights are something that most people want to see on their trip to Northern Europe. Aurora Borealis is a phenomenon that is caused by upper parts of the atmosphere colliding with electrons. It can be seen from September to April in Northern Iceland on a clear night. An absolute guarantee to see these incredible lights is with a seven-day tour of Northern Iceland. You will begin your journey in Akureyri, on the Eyjafjörður Fjord. Then from there, you will travel to Lake Mývatn for a day tour. On the third day of the trip, you will have time to explore the lovely town of Akureyri. At the base of the Eyjafjörður Fjord, this town is the center of education and culture in northern Iceland.

On the fourth day of your tour, you will walk black sand beaches and see small fishing villages as you explore the Eyjafjörður coastline. This area has a vast fishing history and also where the popular Icelandic TV series "Trapped" is filmed. During your fifth and sixth day here you will have the opportunity to choose between three different tours. You could see the Dettifoss Waterfall via Jeep, explore an ice cave and hike, or experience the local food of North Iceland. Every night you will have the opportunity to take the tour and look for the Northern Lights.


Aurora Borealis

Glacier Lagoon

There are over 269 named glaciers in Iceland and 11% of the land space is covered by glaciers of all types. Just outside of Reykjavik you will find Glacier Lagoon Jökulsárlón, one of the largest and deepest lagoons in Iceland. You can experience the Glacier Lagoon on the south coast along with icebergs, glaciers, and waterfalls on this day tour. You will get to see the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajokull, and explore the floating icebergs in the Lagoon. On the way back from the Lagoon you will experience the waterfalls Skgafoss, with a 60-meter drop, and Seljalandsfoss, with a secret path that goes behind the water and to the other side.


Jökulsárlón - Glacier Lagoon

Photography

Do you want that perfect picture to share your friends? Iceland is one of the most picturesque countries in the world. Each step you take here will exhaust your camera's memory card even more. A photography tour is great if you want to hang out with professional photographers for a day or for that perfect Instagram photo. For ten hours you will be traveling with experienced photographers through the best spots on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. This tour takes you to the most photogenic and less-touristy locations that the young tour guides have scouted.


Snæfellsnes Peninsula

The Westfjords

The Westfjords is the less traveled area where the country's landscape takes a turn for the devastatingly beautiful. In this area, you can find the Dynjandi Waterfall, which means 'thunderous,' at the top of a 7-tier waterfall each with their own name. A great way to see the Westfjords is on a day tour from Ísafjörður Town. The Dynjandi Waterfall is the first stop where you get the chance to experience this loud, but magnificent sight and the Arnarfjörður Fjord. After, you will more explore extraordinary fjords, beaches, and small villages.


Dynjandi Waterfall, Westfjords

If you are looking for a vacation unlike any other, then search no further. There's nowhere else you will find adventures as stunning or interesting as these.  So, start planning your trip to Iceland today.