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ICELAND : EUROPE ’ S ULTIMATE WINTER WONDERLAND
As winter draws close , the best of Iceland opens for business By Tom Woods
Tucked into the northwesternmost corner of Europe is an island called Iceland .
“ The Land of Fire and Ice ” is a marketing slogan often used by its tourist board , but it only so much as scratches the surface when it comes to describing the landscape of this Nordic country .
Like many places across the globe , you could describe Iceland as the cliché “ year-round destination ,” with jam-packed itineraries available no matter your month of travel .
If springtime tickles your fancy , you can catch the first peek of the country ’ s flora . Summer has the midnight sun - where for 24 hours daylight prevails . Or enjoy Iceland tinted with warm autumn colours during the fall season .
But there is one time of year that is , arguably , head and shoulders above the rest – winter .
Whilst plummeting temperatures , shorter days and lots of snow may sound like reasons to avoid going somewhere , Iceland is actually enhanced by its colder months , paving the way for travellers to have unforgettable and unique experiences on every day of their trip .
Icicle-cloaked waterfalls , magnetospheric phenomena and geothermal pools are just some of the features of Europe ’ s ultimate winter wonderland . So , let ’ s take a deeper dive and explore Iceland ’ s must-dos in the wintertime .
The Northern Lights One of the globe ’ s best places to see the Northern Lights , people flock in their thousands to hunt down the green and blue spectacle as its dances through Icelandic skies .
Also known as aurora borealis , this natural phenomenon is the visible result of major disturbances caused by the solar wind and only occurs around the Earth ’ s magnetic poles – making Iceland perfectly placed to experience it all .
However , the winter season – including the months from October through to March – give you the best opportunity to see the Northern Lights because the longer nights lend well to the general rule that the darker it is , the better it is for seeing the vibrant colours of the aurora . Many companies offer Northern Lights tours – some of which are an additional excursion – and due to the aurora ’ s dependence on the right weather conditions , most of them also have policies in place so that you can rebook free of charge in the event of poor visibility , or that you don ’ t see them at all .
If you ’ re thinking of going to Iceland , make sure you book this one early so that you can reschedule should the need arise . The Icelandic Meteorological Office ( vedur . is ) also provides up-to-date weather information and aurora forecasting , helping you to better plan your adventure .
Golden Circle The ultimate Icelandic day trip , the Golden Circle is the taster menu of all things scenic , serving up three of the country ’ s best attractions . A 300km route , accessible from Reykjavik , the Golden Circle gives you the opportunity to experience it all - thermal waters blasted 30m into the air , the meeting place of tectonic plates and the almighty power of a double-cascading waterfall .
First up on the menu is Thingvellir National Park , a UNESCO World Heritage Site that brings together history and geography . It is the place where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet , with faults and fissures evidence of the rifting of the Earth ’ s crust , yet is also the site where Viking settlers established the world ’ s first democratic parliament in 930 CE .
Then there ’ s Gullfoss , where up to 140 cubic metres of water surges into the canyon of the Hvítá river every second . Visitors can get up close and personal , feeling the force of the falls , by taking the tarmac path leading from the main car park up to a grand lookout over the falls .
And last , but certainly not least , is Geysir . The original hot-water spout is what all other geysers are named after . The Great Geysir ,
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