Of all of the nations that I’ve visited, Iceland is one which I maintain returning to time and again. There is one thing in regards to the open, rugged panorama that speaks to my soul. Now that I’ve visited Iceland in each summer time and winter, I undoubtedly have some ideas on which I favored higher. And whereas Iceland is a rugged and beautiful place whether or not it’s draped in snow or a shining inexperienced jewel, the experiences had been actually fairly completely different.
The nation solely acknowledges two seasons, summer time and winter — making Iceland’s winter lengthy and notoriously unpredictable. It is vital to be ready, so I’ve put collectively the following tips for visiting Iceland in winter. But first, let’s speak about why it’s best to think about taking a winter journey to Iceland.
Not Sure About Iceland in Winter? 8 Reasons it Rocks
Note: This publish was written in collaboration with Ryan Connolly from Hidden Iceland, my most well-liked Iceland tour accomplice. If you ebook a tour utilizing my promo code, I’ll obtain a small fee for gratis to you.
An Iceland winter journey will provide you with a possibility for actually once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Sure will probably be colder, and darker, however for those who observe these winter packing recommendations, you’ll be ready. Given the unpredictability of the climate and highway circumstances, I extremely suggest reserving excursions if you’re visiting Iceland within the winter, versus planning to self-drive.
My really useful tour accomplice is Hidden Iceland. I’ve traveled with them personally and have additionally gotten nice suggestions from readers who’ve booked by way of them. If you ebook one in every of their scheduled group excursions (not personal excursions) by way of Hidden Iceland, use my accomplice promo code WE3TRAVEL to obtain 10 % off your tour.
1. Discover Blue Ice Caves
Glacier hikes are doable year-round and all the time secure if you’re with the proper information. But in summer time the glaciers are transferring and melting so rapidly that it’s not secure to go ‘into’ the glacier so to talk. It’s solely when the common temperature drops from November to March that any ice caves that had been fashioned from all of the melting, erosion, and motion of the glacier in summer time will briefly freeze in place.
You may be a part of Hidden Iceland’s 2-day Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon & Ice Cave Discovery tour yr after yr and by no means repeat the identical cave tour.
2. Hunt for Northern Lights
Visiting Iceland in winter means you might have an opportunity of seeing the Northern Lights. On any given night time you might have the prospect to see something from a uninteresting grayish-white streak, all the best way as much as a shimmering inexperienced or purple dancing curtain throughout the sky. The latter is much much less frequent, however actually breathtaking once they do happen.
If Northern Lights are your precedence, I’d counsel becoming a member of a multi-day tour that spends the night time in a secluded visitor home or resort with the intention to ‘hunt’ proper out of your window. Or keep at a resort like Hotel Ranga on the south coast, which provides Northern Lights wake-up calls and even has its personal observatory!
3. Hike on Blue Glacier Ice
If you additionally wish to do a glacier hike and get the blood pumping then the glacier ice transforms into a good looking blue glass when not engulfed by snow. This could be very completely different from the crunchy and sometimes soiled summer time crust of the glacier. This phenomenon happens in winter as a result of the solar just isn’t sturdy sufficient to soften and refreeze the floor of the ice permitting it to stay in its strong blue type at floor degree.
It’s somewhat slippier than the summer time model, however with the proper spikes to your toes (crampons) and a passionate information protecting you secure, it’s a spectacular expertise. (Don’t fear, the information offers the crampons and different obligatory gear. Just be sure you put on heat, waterproof boots.)
4. Experience a Winter Wonderland
Snow just isn’t assured in Iceland, however snow-capped mountains and lava fields caked in ice and snow rework the surroundings. The elusive reindeer and Arctic fox typically make appearances right now of yr. If you might be visiting throughout Christmas, it’s also possible to participate in some Icelandic vacation traditions or get pleasure from fireworks in Reykjavik on New Year’s Eve.
5. Enjoy Fewer Crowds
Winter is far quieter than summer time, excluding Christmas week. The solely disadvantage right here is that regardless of there being fewer vacationers, there’s additionally much less time within the day to unfold out the actions so some spots could seem artificially ‘busy’ attributable to time restrictions.
But typically, in all places you go, for those who do it correctly, shall be quieter. Availability of lodges and restaurant reservations additionally turns into much less of an issue right now of yr.
6. Take Photos at Midday Golden Hour
Photographers know the magic of the “golden hour” proper after dawn or proper earlier than sundown. But few locations can supply a noon golden hour. In the darkest days of winter, if the sky is evident, the solar barely rises above ‘pre-sunset’ part within the sky. This is a photographer’s dream with mainly the whole day being crammed with good gentle for getting the perfect shot.
7. Enjoy Winter Warmth (Seriously)
it’s not practically as chilly as individuals assume. Sure, it’s chilly in comparison with summer time and it’s actually going to really feel chilly for those who come from a heat local weather. But would you imagine me if I advised you that the common winter temperature is definitely hotter than New York City?
This is as a result of the Gulf Stream sends up heat water all yr spherical that spirals across the coast of Iceland. The common temperature in January hovers round 32-34 Fahrenheit. Some days you possibly can expertise a balmy 45 with the odd day fluctuating as excessive as 50.
Be warned although, the chilly wind and the sporadic drops in temperature also can provide you with a “real feel” temperature near 0 Farenheit on the odd day, so be ready for all eventualities. Wearing layers with a totally waterproof outer shell is vital to happiness ranges in winter.
8. Take benefit of Winter “Bargains”
Iceland will be costly and for those who actually wish to see financial savings, then going to Iceland exterior of peak season is vital. Some resort costs drop by half and plenty of eating places will flirt with promotional provides to entice vacationers by way of their doorways.
Tips for Visiting Iceland in Winter
Note: This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. If you click on and make a purchase order, I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions are my very own.
Have we satisfied you to go to Iceland within the winter? If so, make sure to learn these Iceland winter suggestions earlier than you go!
1. Plan forward
Winter or summer time, tourism in Iceland remains to be sturdy. And whereas it’s busier in the summertime, for those who don’t plan forward you’ll nonetheless discover it laborious to get a resort room within the winter, not less than throughout the vacation season or in Reykjavik.
2. Be versatile
There are many locations that declare that for those who “don’t like the weather, wait a minute,” however in Iceland, that is significantly true. This brings to thoughts one other favourite quote of mine…” the best-laid plans of mice and males, typically go awry.” With quickly altering climate, it is advisable be versatile along with your itinerary.
When we had been simply there in November, the plan was to go for a helicopter trip sooner or later and snowmobile on a glacier the subsequent. Neither of these occurred. But did it destroy the journey? No. We had been capable of prolong our tremendous jeep tour to a full day with stops at a black sand seashore.
And as an alternative of snowmobiling as a result of the wind was too sturdy, we went for an ATV tour as an alternative. This is when it’s actually useful to work with a neighborhood tour operator that may not solely accommodate such modifications, they will counsel acceptable substitutes. I extremely suggest reserving excursions with Hidden Iceland (obtain 10% off scheduled group excursions with my promo code WE3TRAVEL.)
3. COnsider a Tour vs. Self-Driving within the Winter
If you might be visiting in the summertime and wish to self-drive round Iceland I say go for it. Driving in Iceland is fairly simple for those who persist with the Ring Road. However, driving within the winter is usually a completely different story. Roads shut regularly and it’s not uncommon to expertise white-out circumstances and I didn’t discover any salt or sand vehicles out and about.
Keep in thoughts that the climate is continually altering in Iceland, so chances are you’ll arrive in winter to great climate circumstances, however it is advisable plan for the worst-case state of affairs. Googling native climate for Iceland is just not sufficient.
Changes in wind pace, precipitation, and temperature can come collectively in a crescendo of turbulence relying on the topography and route of the wind. What may seem as a reasonably reasonable day on the forecast might lead to a ‘storm in a teacup’ impact on one facet of a mountain. On the opposite facet, it might be calm and clear.
With Iceland’s volcanic, mountainous panorama this truly occurs way over you assume. Professional guides have native contacts that assist them make an knowledgeable determination each time. An area information will know what spots to keep away from, but in addition what you possibly can go and luxuriate in instead.
To make a winter go to much less traumatic and safer, I might suggest both staying in Reykjavik and taking day excursions or taking a multi-day tour (with a driver) with a gaggle like Hidden Iceland.
4. Know earlier than you go!
Since the climate can range drastically from place to position, you really want to verify for highway closures and circumstances earlier than you permit your lodging. When we had been heading as much as the Golden Circle on our latest go to, we may go to Thingvellir however the highway as much as Gulfoss was closed so we needed to skip it. We additionally needed to take an alternate route from Reykjavik to get there.
Icelanders depend on the highway.is web site for up-to-date data. You also can obtain the 112 Iceland App (112 is the emergency quantity in Iceland) in case you need assistance on the highway. If you might be heading off-road in any respect, make sure to register your plans on safetravel.is.
5. Layer up
While winter just isn’t all the time that chilly in Iceland, it does get very windy. You’ll have to layer up towards that wind. Start with a base layer, add a fleece and a few waterproof/windproof outer layers and you might be good to go. Just don’t overlook a very heat hat and gloves (particularly ones with touchscreen-friendly fingertips so that you don’t freeze your fingers off taking footage.)
Whatever you do, don’t put on denims, these will get moist and also you’ll freeze your tush off. Oh, and chances are you’ll wish to skip the Blue Lagoon on a windy day — it isn’t enjoyable to be in your bathing swimsuit and get pelted with hail.
Don’t miss my Iceland Winter Packing List for extra concepts!
6. Don’t be afraid of the darkish
The benefit of all that darkness is that you could be get to see the Northern Lights. The draw back is that you just don’t get a lot daylight to sightsee. In November the solar rose round 10 am and set by 4 pm. In January, it will get even shorter, with the dawn after 11 am and sundown round 3 pm.
If you will get to see something, you will have to move out in the dead of night. Plan on getting up and having breakfast at 8 am and hitting the highway round 9 am so you possibly can arrive at your vacation spot by first gentle. The excellent news is that you’ll be handled to some superb sunrises and sunsets. If you aren’t comfy driving in the dead of night, that might be one more reason to base out of Reykjavik and take some excursions.
7. Be ready
The chilly can sap the life out of you…and your batteries. It appeared like each time I stepped exterior my telephone went useless, even when I had a fairly good cost. My answer was to carry alongside backup energy packs. Turning on that cost introduced my telephone again to life. If solely it had been really easy to carry life again to my frozen fingers.
And it isn’t simply telephones that go useless rapidly, digital camera batteries get used up rapidly too. Make positive you carry backups with you all through the day and think about a weatherproof digital camera or a very good journey digital camera.
8. Be secure!
In the U.S., we’re so used to having sanitized vacationer experiences. Our waterfalls have good security rails, upkeep crews are diligent about placing salt and sand on slippery ice, and we warn those who peanut butter might comprise peanuts. Not so in Iceland.
First off, if there’s a warning signal, it’s for a very good motive. Likely there was an accident that occurred there so don’t blow it off, take warning. When you might be strolling as much as the waterfalls, the mist from the falls makes it actually icy.
You shall be finest off in case you have heat, waterproof mountaineering boots with spikes or get some clip-on crampons. Lastly, when visiting the seashores, particularly these round Vík, don’t get too near the water’s edge, particularly for those who flip your again to the waves. They are recognized to expertise rogue waves that may sweep you in and tough undercurrents that may pull you out rapidly. And all the time maintain a detailed eye (and/or hand) on any younger youngsters.
9. Think about your actions
It is simple to get enthusiastic about all there may be to do in Iceland, however not every thing is out there year-round. So do your analysis upfront earlier than reserving your journey. You don’t wish to be disillusioned that you may’t go whale watching as a result of it isn’t the proper season.
10. Don’t pin all of your hopes on the Northern Lights
It was my biggest want to see the Northern Lights after we visited in November, however alas, it was not meant to be. While I used to be disillusioned, we nonetheless had some superb experiences and I loved each minute. (Luckily I used to be capable of lastly see them once I visited in September at one other time.)
There are some things you possibly can bear in mind when choosing your dates that will improve your probabilities of seeing the Aurora Borealis. First, September – April is the Northern Lights “season” however you’ll have the best probabilities in late November by way of March.
Since gentle air pollution interferes with seeing the aurora, you’ll have a greater probability of seeing them for those who keep exterior of the town. We cherished our keep at Hotel Ranga, the place not solely have they got their very own observatory and an astronomer that is available in on clear nights, however it’s also possible to elect to have them wake it’s best to the aurora make an look.
Since we visited proper after the Supermoon, we had been disillusioned to study that the aurora borealis normally doesn’t seem on or close to a full moon. If you wish to verify the forecast for predictions, go to the Icelandic Met workplace web site.
If they do seem, it would be best to be ready. Sleep along with your heat garments on the prepared. Keep your digital camera gear at your fingertips. Make positive you carry a wide-angle lens, tripod, a distant/shutter launch (to keep away from shaking your digital camera), and further batteries (due to that chilly.) If you might be renting a cabin, think about leaving the digital camera exterior set on the tripod so you might be able to go and it doesn’t fog up going from heat to chilly.
Whether you go to Iceland in winter or benefit from the longer days of midnight solar in the summertime, I hope you fall in love with Iceland the best way that I’ve.
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