The Aurora Zone Blog

Top 5 things to do in Iceland

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Iceland may be known as the land of fire and ice but to us, we will always think of it as the country of natural wonders. From the numerous waterfalls bursting out of the volcanic landscape to the Northern Lights dancing proudly above, Iceland is Mother Nature really showing off.

It seems like every time we visit, we find something else to love about this wonderful country. Our holidays include some of Iceland’s best experiences but it can be hard deciding which itinerary suits you. To make it a little easier, here are our top 5 things to do in Iceland and the trips that feature them:

Northern Lights in Iceland

northern lights

Of course, we wouldn’t feature Iceland unless it had great Northern Lights viewing potential and with a country so spectacular, we don’t want you to just stand and look up at the night sky. That’s why we offer a range of Northern Lights hunts so you take in part in memorable activities while trying to tick the green lights off your bucket list.

During our Reykjavik, Golden Circle and Northern Lights Inn holiday, you’ll search for the lights on a boat journey to the wonderfully peaceful Videy Island. The hunt doesn’t stop there. Over your next two nights, you’ll search via coach and during a night’s stay at the Northern Lights Inn.

Our Natural Wonders and Northern Lights holiday will have you searching via super Jeep and at the famous Hotel Ranga. The remote location of the hotel provides inky black skies above and the staff take Aurora hunting so seriously here, they even step outside every 15 minutes to look for any signs of the ethereal light show.  

Choose our Northern Lights Cruise and Island Highlights holiday or The Northern Lights at New Year and you’ll be Aurora hunting from your unique vantage point at sea.

Golden Circle and Natural Wonders

Golden circle

Three of the most spectacular natural wonders in Iceland come together to make the Golden Circle.

The Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can see the incredible Silfra Fissure. This is an active rift valley where you can see the Northern American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Though you won’t be able to tell, the plates are actually slowly moving apart.

Then there’s the Strokkur Geyser where you’ll see an impressive geothermal display. Every few minutes the geyser ‘erupts’, shooting boiling water into the air.

The last natural wonder of the Golden Circle is the Gullfoss Waterfall. Here, the Hvita River plummets 32 metres below and in the winter, some of the waterfall will freeze which really adds to the dramatic effect.  

Our Reykjavik, Golden Circle and Northern Lights Inn holiday and our Natural Wonders and Northern Lights holidays both include a trip to the Golden Circle.

However, the natural wonders do extend beyond the Golden Circle and we include some of the lesser-known (but still just as fantastic) sights in our itineraries. During our Natural Wonders and Northern Lights holiday, you’ll visit the south shore to see wonders such as the Skogafoss waterfall where you can actually get behind the water. You’ll also see Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano responsible for the big travel disruption in 2010.

Our Northern Lights Cruise and Island Highlights takes you to destinations such as the Westfjords Peninsula and the Dimmuborgir lava formations to appreciate the side of Iceland that tourists rarely see.  

Blue Lagoon

blue lagoon

Perhaps the most famous attraction in Iceland, the Blue Lagoon is a geothermal pool filled with waters containing natural minerals. It’s said that the waters are great for the skin and you can even book a spa treatment to really maximise the potential. Water is constantly streaming into the lagoon which means it is renewed every 48 hours.

You can experience this wonder for yourself during our Reykjavik, Golden Circle and Northern Lights Inn holiday.

Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Though Iceland’s natural wonders are, we think, the main allure for visiting, the capital city of Reykjavik is not to be missed.

As the world’s northernmost capital, Reykjavik has a unique charm you won’t find in any other city. Due to its small size, it’s very easy to walk around to absorb the culture. Admire the colourful buildings, stroll to the harbour to dine in one of the many restaurants and see the large cathedral, Hallgrímskirkja.

All of our holidays to Iceland feature some downtime for you to explore the city at your own pace.

Whale Watching

whale watching

There are many different whale species found in Iceland’s waters. Depending on which part of the island you’re on, you could see orca, humpback and minke whales all while enjoying looking back at Iceland’s phenomenal landscape from the boat.

Our Northern Lights Cruise and Island Highlights holiday and The Northern Lights at New Year holiday both feature whale watching opportunities.

Want to start planning your holiday to Iceland? View all of our itineraries here or get in touch with our Aurora Travel Experts today on 01670 785 012.


Image credits: Iceland Pro Travel & ThorirNK from Vik

Read 2101 times Last modified on Friday, 07 May 2021

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The Aurora Zone was born from a desire to share Mother Nature’s greatest wonder with our clients. We’ve explored the destinations, researched the science, and fallen in love with the Scandinavian way of life. It’s our mission to pass this knowledge on to you, providing you with the very best chance of experiencing the magic for yourself on your Northern Lights holiday.

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