Iceland – The island of fire and ice
Glaciers, Volcanoes, and mountains that reach high into the skies – this is Iceland. As Europes most western located country it is covered more than 10% by glaciers. With only 350.000 inhabitants on the island, it is possible to walk for days through nature without meeting another person.
The main feature of the country is its nature. The country has 3 official national parks, Vatnajökull in the southeast, Pingvellir in the southwest, and Snæfellsjökull in the west of the island. If nature is not covered by glaciers, it is mostly covered in lichens and mosses. These will lead to a natural spectacle in June when the violet lupines will blossom on these fields.
Even though the climate is very rough and cold, you can find bananas and even a vineyard in Iceland. The people are using the hot air from the Geysers and hot rivers to heat their greenhouses and farm these rather tropical fruits. The Geysers and hot rivers are flowing throughout the whole country. The best place to visit and experience these is Haukadalur in the southwest of the island. Every 5 to 10 minutes the Strokkur will blow out a 30-meter-high fountain of hot water into the sky.
When the night sets over Iceland it can be magical as well. You can see the northern lights from September until March and the only thing you need is a clear night sky. But be aware that these nights can get pretty cold. Even in summer, the temperatures won’t get much higher than 15ºC by day. The best time to explore the island is from June to August since the days are the longest and the temperatures are not too cold.
If you want to explore the big island on your own, you are best advised to do so with a rental car. It is advised to get a 4-wheel drive and it is very important to have good insurance. A lot of the roads in the countryside are not paved well and if you want to see the rough beauty of the highland, it might be a bit tricky with these kinds of roads. On the other hand, you can find lost places in nature with stunning views from the mountainsides.
The hotels offer a wide price range and you will find everything from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels. Most of the hotels and accommodations are located in the well-inhabited southwest area of the island.
If you are in love with nature and want to experience tranquility in its purest way, you will fall in love with Iceland, no matter if you go there in summer or winter.
