Have you ever dreamed of seeing those spectacular lights of the northern lights?
Today we want to tell you a little more about the country that leaves anyone who visits it speechless and offer you the best places, accommodation and activities that will make your trip unforgettable.
If you are a lover of nature and adventure, Iceland is undoubtedly a destination that you should visit. And do not forget to bring your camera because you will not stop taking pictures wherever you go. All the landscapes seem taken from a painting canvas.
Traveling to Iceland is like traveling to another planet. This country is known as the land of ice and fire. It is a country of wonderful contrasts, on the one hand its glaciers, lakes, waterfalls and rivers, and on the other its more than 200 active volcanoes, geysers, hot springs or black sand beaches.
And we do not forget something very characteristic of Iceland: the northern lights. Those skies with a mixture of colors that leave no one indifferent.
When we travel to Iceland we have the feeling of being far away from the rest of the world. And we are actually very close to continental Europe. But it is its huge and powerful landscapes that lead you to think so.
More than 10% of the territory is filled by its magnificent glaciers. We highlight among them the Vatnajökull, the most important in Europe, and the Jökulsárlón Glacier.
In summer the ice melts and ends up transforming into large lakes, waterfalls and fjords that leave incredible landscapes. The truth is that we would not know how to choose this country in winter or summer, since it has magic in any season. That is why we invite you to visit it twice in your life, once in each season.
Although if you want to see the northern lights you should choose a date between September and April. Within these months there will be days when it is appreciated much better, since it depends on the weather and the solar hours that there are. The important thing is that you are in a place where there is no light pollution, or as little as possible. It is true that the closer you are to the Arctic Circle, the more chances you will have to see it. For example in cities like Akureyri, Isafjordur or Húsavík. Still, that doesn’t mean that in cities like Reykjavík it’s impossible to enjoy it, you just have to avoid spaces with more light pollution.
And for this we want to make our first recommendation, a luxurious accommodation located in a spectacular place where you can take a relaxing bath under the northern lights. This accommodation is ION Luxury Adventure Hotel, and it is located in Nesjavellir, less than an hour’s drive from Reykjavík. This place is calm and surrounded by mountainous lava fields. In addition, the location of this accommodation passes through the Golden Circle route -a route that we will now tell you about- and it is close to Thingvellir National Park, which is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
In this accommodation they will take care of you after a long day of adventure. Thanks to its luxury rooms, the exquisite Silfra restaurant, the impressive Lava spa and the incredible views, you will be able to recharge your batteries, rest, enjoy and reflect during your vacation days.
Most people who visit Iceland take the opportunity to take a tour of the island and see as many landscapes as possible, far from the capital of Reykjavík. They do it by car and sleeping in lodgings or campsites or in a motorhome. The most famous route is the Golden Circle or Golden Circle route, which will take us along the mythical Ring Road.
Just over 100km from Reykjavík you can enjoy the three wonders of the Iceland’s Golden Circle route: Gullfoss, Geysir and Thingvellir. And many more landscapes, some lesser known but just as beautiful.
Gullfoss, translated as “golden waterfall”, is the most famous waterfall in Iceland, and also the most striking, because it is a double waterfall 31 meters high. The first waterfall measures approximately 11 meters and the second measures 20 meters. And between the two waterfalls they carry an average of 109 cubic meters of water per second. The landscape of this waterfall is impressive in both winter and summer.
Geysir is the area that stands out for its geysers, which shoot hot water under pressure from the interior of the earth, and which bear the name of the most important geyser. They are located in the Haukadalur Valley where there is one of the most active geothermal areas in Iceland. Still, this geyser has been inactive for some time due to visitors throwing objects into it. And that is why the most visited today is Strokkur, which is about 400 meters from Geysir. Although we cannot compare it because it only has eruptions up to 30 meters high, while Geysir had reached up to 80 meters high.
Thingvellir is a park full of fissures, such as Almannagjá or Silfra, which were produced by the movement of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It is a unique experience to walk through the Almannagjá crack and see those natural walls or snorkel and dive between two continents in the Silfra fissure.
Other places you cannot miss in Iceland are the Secret Lagoon, which is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland; the Kerid crater, a world of contrasts between its turquoise lake and the red volcanic walls; the Skógafoss waterfall, an impressive waterfall 62 meters high and 30 meters wide; the Dynjandi waterfall, a wonder known as “the bridal veil”; or the Blue Lagoon, a huge sky-blue thermal pool.
And that is precisely the last place that we want to recommend so that you end your vacation in Iceland by taking a hot bath in its thermal waters and with healing properties, thanks to the silica particles. You can reserve your ticket at the Retreat Spa of the Blue Lagoon, to enjoy this magnificent experience with privacy and in a space separated from the main lagoon in which there is only entrance for 20 people.
If you have been wanting to live this experience full of calm and nature, contact us and we will plan your trip to Iceland to suit you.
