What makes Iceland a perfect winter break destination?
If you were to read any Iceland tourist guide, you would soon see why it is every holidaymaker’s dream destination. This Nordic island has stunning, dramatic landscapes that looks otherworldly. The culture and landscape of Iceland is heavily influenced by its isolation, as it is very close to the Arctic but still part of Europe, as it is a mere three-hour flight from London.
It is especially worth visiting Iceland during winter, when its surprisingly mild temperatures welcome visitors. This unique island is the perfect winter break destination. Most holidaymakers think that visiting a country in winter is not such a good idea, and they go where it’s warm and sunny. But they are missing out a lot of fascinating experiences in Iceland. Just make sure you plan your winter chill-out well and obtain a decent single trip travel insurance to have a worry-free trip.
Here are 5 good reasons why you should visit:
- The short daytime hours
This may seem like a mad statement, but it is true. It is more than 12 hours of darkness, but the shortest days of the year turns into a beautiful light display, never seen anywhere else in the world. The brief appearance of the sun creates a magical, warm glow. Instead of just a few minutes, the gorgeous sunsets and sunrises last for almost two hours. It’s so picture perfect, a photographer’s dream indeed.
- The Northern Lights
The aurora borealis is one of the main events in Iceland. This breath-taking natural wonder is only visible during the winter months. Since it is quite unpredictable and can only be seen in total darkness, getting a glimpse of them is not guaranteed. However, if you stay for at least a week and watch out for them every single night, there might be a good possibility of seeing them. There are tour packages and self-drive tours to see the Northern Lights.
- Glacier Hikes
Each winter magnificent ice caves form in Europe’s biggest glacier, the Vatnajökull. There are also equally beautiful blue-hued ice caves in Langjökull, in south west Iceland. Each cave that forms are totally unique, which makes it really special. The ice cave tour usually includes a visit to a crystal ice cave, the ice tunnel, and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.
- Alpine Winter Sports
For the more adventurous, there are popular spots in Iceland for Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding. The most popular ski area is the Bláfjöll area. For even more extreme adventures, ice climbing is the way to go. Iceland is popular for its ice climbing locations such as the South Tour, the Sólheimajökull Ice Climbing and the Svínafellsjökull Ice Climbing.
- Hot Springs
The hot springs in Iceland are especially thrilling to try during winter time. There are many hot springs to choose from, but the most popular is the Blue Lagoon, which is not far from Reykjavík. In Northern Iceland, the Mývatn Nature Baths are also worth visiting. While there, you can also visit the Námaskarđ geothermal area. There is also the Secret Lagoon located within the town of Flúđir.
To say that you will fall in love with Iceland is a massive understatement. The otherworldly vistas will leave you with an indescribable ache because of its sheer beauty, and you will surely have that desire to come back to this fantastic winter wonderland. Remember to do some brief research of the place you plan visiting and make sure you are reliably insured before you go.
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