![]() It’s worth keeping in mind that the weather is unpredictable in Iceland. ![]() Stand along the ice, bundle up in your warmest clothes, look up and enjoy the show. Icelandic Mountain Guides offers tours that include a Northern Lights hunt at Jokulsarlon. The lagoon isn’t wide but it is up to 250 meters deep, making it the deepest lake in Iceland. The lagoon features huge blocks of ice that are endlessly breaking off the glacier, and large icebergs float along in the water. ![]() Jokulsarlon, the glacier lagoon, is by far the best place to see the lights in the east. The east is home to the actual “ice” of Iceland, as Vatnajokull glacier looms over farms and vast expanses of desolate land. ![]() In fact, it’s more common to encounter sheep than humans. Other good locations for independent travelers include the mighty Dettifoss waterfall and the lush Lake Myvatn.įor anyone seeking isolation, the east is the least populous region of Iceland. The open terrain with a small population and low light pollution makes it an ideal destination to catch a glimpse of the aurora.Įxtreme Iceland offers a two- to three-hour northern lights tour during the winter. The town has a thriving art scene, snow sports, chic shops and good restaurants. The unofficial capital of the north, and Iceland’s second most populous town, Akureyri is at the center of it all. Northern Iceland is home to some of the most dramatic landscapes on the island – including thundering waterfalls and geothermal hot spots. Arctic Adventures offers tours in the west, including a northern lights tour by super jeep.Ĭold temps aren't necessary for the northern lights, but cold nights usually produce the clear skies needed to see them. The lights streak and dance over the sea with minimal light pollution. Lighthouses are favored by photographers as great spots to capture the aurora borealis, and Akranes lighthouse – just 40 minutes from Reykjavik – is one of the best. There are many interesting backdrops for northern lights photos here, including the Snaefellsjokull glacier, black beaches and miles of interesting rock formations. When hunting for northern lights in the west, the Snaefellsnes peninsula and fishing villages like Akranes and Borgarnes are worth seeking out. For good reason – it has everything: glaciers, mountains, lava fields, ice caves. Lonely Planet recently named West Iceland one of its top picks for 2016. Reykjavik Excursions offers northern lights tours – buses depart regularly from downtown Reykjavik. For a short car ride, it’s worth considering Thingvellir National Park, site of Iceland’s first parliament, which is isolated and pitch black at night.įor visitors uncomfortable with traveling alone there are tours available. Other spots that might be dark enough are near the dome-shaped building Perlan (The Pearl), close to Oskjuhlid, or at Hljomskalagardur Park. The northern lights can be seen by taking a walk down to the Grotta lighthouse, where light pollution is at a minimum. Staying in Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital and the only city, with no access to a car? That’s OK. When the forecast is strong, it’s best to drive (or take a tour bus) to a dark area and look up.īelow are some of the best spots on the island to see the northern lights.ġ1 best places to see the northern lights There are forecasts predicting visibility at vedur.is, the national weather website. The best time to see the northern lights in Iceland is from October to March. The phenomenon is caused by solar winds, which push electronic particles to collide with molecules of atmospheric gases that cause an emission of bright light. The cold isn’t a factor, but the sky has to be clear, which it usually is on extremely cold nights. You’ll have the best chance of seeing the night lights when it’s cold and dark outside and the aurora activity is high. In Iceland, the aurora borealis attracts everyone from professional photographers to travelers that have the phenomenon on their list of things to do before they kick it. And watching the ever-shifting lights flicker in the sky above mountains, glaciers and vast lava fields is particularly breathtaking. Seeing the northern lights is a pinnacle life experience.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |