Menu

Iceland

Dramatic landscapes and beautiful glaciers

30462742_xl
Iceland-petrified-rock-north-sea
Iceland-Northern-lights

A huge island with a tiny population, Iceland is a shifting mass still being shaped by nature — literally. Its numerous volcanoes rumble away, spewing lava and mud while its ice-white glaciers cut through the awe-inspiring scenery. During summer, the pink hues of the midnight sun illuminate Iceland, while the majesty of the Northern Lights is never far away.

This abundance of natural beauty makes Iceland the perfect destination for outdoor activities, whether hiking, ski-touring, camping or simply lounging in a thermal pool warmed by a volcano. But don't forget about the people — Iceland may be home to only 300,000 souls, but their warmth, humour and ability to turn their beautiful but harsh environment into such a welcoming one should not be underestimated.

Hidden gems in Iceland

Laugavegur Trail
Europe

Laugavegur Trail

Peter Elia
Peter Elia

Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice, and nowhere is this more accurate than the Laugavegur Trail. This otherworldly hike begins in Landmannalaugar, a geothermal haven globally known for its bubbling hot springs and colourful rhyolite mountains. Continuing en route brings you an array of natural wonders, from impressive glaciers to vast lava fields, and the 55km journey ends in Thorsmork, a mesmerising valley named after the Norse deity of thunder, Thor. Need to know Personally, when walking I love to see a tree or two – something Iceland is famously short of. What it does have is an austere, ethereal, often stark and otherworldly beauty epitomised on this short but dramatic trek. The trail is accessible from June to early September. Conveniently, there are daily bus services from Reykjavik (which takes around four hours) to the trailhead locations of Landmannalaugar and Thorsmork. The huts offer sleeping accommodation, kitchens and showers but must be booked beforehand. Laugavegur is one of Europe's most popular hikes, attracting around 10,000 visitors in its short season. I’d recommend avoiding the peak summer holiday period if you can, it’ll certainly make the trip more enjoyable.

Read more
View all 1 Iceland experiences

Iceland travel guides

Guide

Where to see the Northern Lights in Reykjavik

Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, may be a small city by international standards, but it has a lot going for it. Like any European capital, the city is packed with great restaurants, lively bars and a good range of hotels for all budgets.
Guide

Where to see the Northern Lights in the Reykjanes Peninsula

The Reykjanes Peninsula is a dramatic and wild region of Iceland located on the southwestern tip of the island. This UNESCO-listed geopark is a place of outstanding natural beauty.
Guide

Where to see the Northern Lights in West Iceland

West Iceland is remote and stunningly beautiful. With its endless lakes, towering mountains and dramatic lava fields, it’s a wonderful region to explore -- ideally on horseback.
Guide

Where to see the Northern Lights in Westfjords

The Westfjords region is a large peninsula jutting out towards Greenland from Iceland’s extreme northwest corner. The region is dominated by sheer cliffs that plunge dramatically into the sea and a countless number of fjords, some small, some large, which are carved into the coastline.
Guide

Where to see the Northern Lights in North Iceland

With its tumbling waterfalls, seemingly endless lakes and rivers, abundant wildlife and historic monuments, it’s not surprising that North Iceland was voted Lonely Planet’s number one destination to visit in 2015. This remote region is centred on Akureyri, the unofficial capital of North Iceland and second ‘city’ (more a town).
Guide

Where to see the Northern Lights in East Iceland

The east can be a winter wonderland with endless ice fields, where towns are few and far between, and the northern lights are bright. Wild reindeer roam the land and wildlife such as Arctic char and trout swim in the lakes and wild horses walk the mountains.
Guide

Where to see the Northern Lights in the Highlands

Whoever coined the phrase “the middle of nowhere” could have had Iceland’s highlands in mind. It’s a vast, unspoilt and unpopulated wilderness -- 40,000 square kilometres of endless deserts, mossy fields, and snow-covered mountains at the centre of the island.
Guide

Where to see the Northern Lights in South Iceland

South Iceland made the news for all the wrong reasons after the 2010 eruption of volcano Eyjafjallajökull which caused air traffic disruption across the Atlantic. When it’s not causing global travel chaos, this region happens to be one of the best places in Iceland to see the country’s eponymous glaciers, the vast slow-flowing ice fields which cover 10 per cent of the island.
Guide

Where to see the Northern Lights in Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands)

Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands) is an archipelago located off the mainland’s south coast. Heimaey, the main island, is home to around 4,100 people and can be reached by a short flight from Reykjavik, or a ferry.
The beauty of the Northern Lights
Article

The beauty of the Northern Lights

I first saw the Northern Lights on my second trip to Iceland, nearly 10 years ago. They’re impressive enough in photographs, but witnessing them yourself for the first time is a truly life-defining moment.
Where To See The Northern Lights In Iceland
Guide

Where To See The Northern Lights In Iceland

Timing a trip to Iceland means weighing several factors: there are the usual seasons to contend with, but also some major fluctuations in daylight hours along with, of course, the seasonal aurora cycle. The weather is most pleasant during the summer months, but the stupendously long days mean your chances of seeing the northern lights are almost non-existent.

Iceland travel companies

Europe, Africa, Asia

Peak Mountaineering

Mountain training and outdoor adventures
Learn more
Find more travel companies

Loading...