Iceland is famous for its remarkable glacier hikes, and summer is the best season for it as you will have more daylight hours to explore! The best glaciers to visit are Sólheimajökull near Reykjavik, Svínafellsjökull in Skaftafell, and the Vatnajökull Glacier Park. Never walk on a glacier trail without an experienced guide!
The Golden Circle is a 140-mile drive, starting and ending in Reykjavik, that loops between three of Iceland’s best landmarks. The perfect campervan day trip, the Golden Circle’s famed stops are the Thingvellir National Park, the exciting Geyser geothermal area and the roaring Gullfoss waterfall. Additional gems along this route include the Kerið Crater, the Langjökull Glacier, and the small villages of Skálholt and Sólheimar.
One of Iceland’s most accessible endemic animals is the friendly Icelandic Horse. This small breed has a unique stride for smoother rides, unlike regular horses. So if you have spare time, spend it astride a purebred steed as you ride through the Icelandic wilderness. Riding Tours can be found around Reykjavik and all along the coastline.
You can’t visit Iceland without spending time in one of nature’s bubble baths. While the Blue Lagoon is the most well-known hot spring, it is artificially heated. Luckily, countless natural springs can be found around the coastline. The best natural hot springs in Iceland are Gamla Laugin, Kerlingarfjöll, Hvammsvik, and the Reykjadalur Steam Valley.
Iceland has three main National Parks worth visiting for the unique geography and plentiful hiking trails they provide. The biggest park, covering a whopping 13% of Iceland, is Vatnajökull. Included within Vatnajökull is the smaller Skaftafell National Reserve. Just over half of Vatnajökull is covered by an immense ice cap, but the remaining half is filled with volcanoes, craters, lakes, mountains, forests, and black sand beaches. Thingvellir is the closest park to Reykjavic and is one of the best spots to see Iceland’s tectonic rift. Snæfellsjökull is an otherworldy park formed of ancient lava fields.
Your best chance to see the Northern Lights is to visit Iceland between September and April. The dazzling display of colour is worth organising your trip around. Head to Northern Iceland or the West Fjords and look at the sky on clear nights between 11 pm and 2 am to see the lights. If you’re staying in the south, you can also find some great views from the friendly town of Vic.
Don’t be afraid to let loose for a night in Iceland’s vibrant capital! Most of Reykjavik’s best bars and clubs are downtown around Laugavegur Street. Enjoy a dish and drink at the brightly-coloured Bravó or sample Icelandic beer at the Skúli Craft Bar. Clubbers will have a night to remember at Reykjavik’s biggest and oldest nightclub Austur, and everyone is welcome at the retro-themed Kíkí Queer Bar!
Alongside the brilliant glacier hikes, Iceland is also known for its mesmerising Ice Caves. These mystical pockets of swirling blue hues are unlike anything you’ve ever seen, so you must see them here! The largest one is the Crystal Ice Cave in Vatnajökull National Park, though you may prefer to visit the fire-and-ice combo of the volcanic Katla Ice Cave. If you’re in Skaftafell National Park, don’t miss out on the stunning Skaftafell Ice Caves!
Iceland is covered in vast glaciers, and the run-off water from these blocks of ice warming up in the summer forms magnificent waterfalls. The most breathtaking falls are Seljalandsfoss,Svartifoss, Gullfoss, and Skogfoss. Don’t worry if you’re travelling to Iceland in the winter. Although you won’t get to see some of the cascades in action, you do have the chance to catch an incredible frozen fall. The best of these is horseshoe-shaped Goðafoss.
Iceland’s warm and cold currents provide the perfect temperature balance for migrating whales. If you go on a whale-watching boat tour from Reykjavik, you have the chance to see mink whales, harbour porpoises and white-beaked dolphins all year round, with humpbacks passing through as the temperature heats up. If you’re hoping to spot a blue whale, take a boat from Husavik in the summer to test your luck. The East Fjords is a popular spot for passing orcas looking for a snack.
Iceland experiences constant underground volcanic activity, leading to countless hot springs and streams scattered around the country. You can visit the many geothermal pools throughout the island, a pastime revered by locals and tourists alike. The most famous Blue Lagoon is known for its baby-blue waters but is popular with attracting large crowds. The Mývatn Nature Baths, located in Northern Iceland, is also known for its baby-blue hue and can be a less crowded and cheaper option.
If you visit Iceland to see the famous Glacier Ice Caves, note that this is only possible during winter. Tours run from mid-October to March. The Northern Lights are also seen most prominently around this time of year from September to March. After a day of sightseeing, travelling by motorhome affords the comforts of settling under the stars to watch this brilliant display. What better way to finish up a day in Iceland?
Ice caves are located all over the country as well. Two ice caves can be visited at any time of the year—the Katla Ice Cave, situated beneath Kotlujokull Glacier and the man-made ice cave tunnel at Langjökull Glacier. You can even walk across time-hardened lava fields and traverse the famous Reynisfjara Black-Sand Beach on the south coast. Iceland is the only place on Earth where you can stand and swim between two continental crusts!
But these are not the only things that make Iceland so unique. The country’s wildlife includes Icelandic horses, bred exclusively on the island for over a millennia, and a year-round stream of migrating whales. It’s also the only place in the world, outside Antarctica, with no mosquitos.
On top of its raw natural beauty, Iceland is also packed with interesting cultures and traditions. You’ll have the chance to sample the famous Icelandic Fish, usually cod or haddock, that’s been left to dry for weeks in the salty sea air. In addition, Iceland’s more unusual museums, like the Sea Monster Museum, the Nonsense Museum, or the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft, are worth visiting.
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