Let’s start our discussion with a fun fact about Iceland. By reading its name, you might think that this island is completely covered with ice. This isn't true. Only 11 percent of the country’s land is covered in ice caps and the rest is just pure beauty.
In fact, most of the Nordic Island is green and surprisingly beautiful. The country is home to some of the most amazing naturally occurring things in the world and this is where things get interesting for people looking to go on cheap Iceland holidays.
If you are going for an Iceland vacation anytime soon, here is your ultimate list of the things to do and places to visit during your Iceland holidays.
Iceland Uncovered: 7 Best Things to Do During Your Vacation
Watch the Northern Lights
Check any list of the best things to do in Iceland and you will find the Northern Lights in the top three spots. Simply put, Iceland is one of the best places in the world to witness the magical phenomenon of the Northern Lights.
Most people go to Reykjavik to witness these lights but often miss out. As this city is one of the most densely populated places in the country, weak Northern Lights might not be properly visible due to pollution in the sky.
To get the best views of the lights, get in your car and take a thirty-minute drive out of the city to witness this phenomenon at its best. The countryside views are much better than the city. Yes, we agree that you might not have too many facilities there but the hotels there are perfect for a true Icelandic experience.
2. Whale Watching Tour
Whales are one of the most amazing creatures to live underwater and luckily for you, Iceland is home to some of their best species. The best place to go for whale watching is Husavik, a beautiful town on the northern side of Iceland.
There are plenty of tour operators that offer boat tours from Skjalfandi Bay that take you up close and personal to the minke and humpback whales with countless birds at the top. If you are traveling during the month of May (Iceland’s spring season), you might get lucky and see the mighty blue whale.
Apart from the spring season, you can also encounter whales from January to March on trips from Reykjavik. The scenic town of Grundarfjordur is located quite close to the ocean and you can spot a couple of whales from your hotel’s window provided you have good eyesight or powerful binoculars.
3. Bathe in a Geothermal Lagoon
Your flight to Iceland will probably land in Keflavik airport and this beautiful town is home to various attractions for tourists. The biggest of them all is the geothermal lagoon, known as Blue Lagoon.
You might think that since it is Iceland, everything is going to be cold there. Well, this is not the case with Blue Lagoon. The water here has a temperature of 35-40°C and removes all the stress and tiredness from your body.
If you missed your chance at Blue lagoon, don't worry; you will come across many of them all over the country, especially along the Golden Circle route. Thinking of something unique? The waterfall in the Highlands of East Iceland is a hidden gem and you are going to love it to bits. Not to mention the amazing views around.
4. Visit the Volcanoes
Volcanoes and Iceland? Again a paradox. Well, there are plenty of them in Iceland.
You will come across volcanoes during your Iceland holidays starting from the point you get into your vehicle from the Keflavik airport until you reach developed towns. You will get a chance to see huge lava fields with geothermal springs.
The best volcanoes in Iceland are found at Geysir, which is also the starting point of the Golden Circle tour. Strokkur is a name that is of great interest to all the visitors. It ejects steamingly hot water up to 20 meters.
Things really get interesting at Thingvellir. The town in Iceland provides a chance for the adventure seekers to take a dive at the Silfra and explore the underwater life.
5. Explore the Countless Glaciers
Iceland’s glaciers are some of the best in the world. To provide tourists with a real and close experience, the tour planners offer various options like a snowmobile. Or you can test your own mettle and opt for crampons to conquer the glaciers.
The most beginner-friendly glacier is Solheimajokull on the South Coast. If this is your first time, we suggest you don't risk it without a guide as things can get out of hand pretty soon.
6. Puffin Spotting
The wildlife in Iceland is one of the best and you will get to see some of these amazingly beautiful birds if you travel between late April and early August. The Westman Islands and Grimsey Island are the perfect spots to witness these stunning birds. You can even get close to birds without bothering them.
7. Golden Circle Adventures
Iceland holidays are incomplete without a Golden Circle adventure. There is no other way to state this fact. If you go to Iceland and don’t embark on a Golden Circle adventure, you have wasted your time and money.
The tour is made up of three beautiful places: Þingvellir National Park, the Strokkur geyser, and Gullfoss. There are plenty of companies that offer trips to these three places. Some even offer you a chance to stay at each place overnight to make your trip more memorable.
Final Words
We have explained some of the best things to do during Iceland holidays. The rest is now up to you. If you are looking for some amazing Iceland holiday packages from the UK, Virikson Holidays is the name you can trust.
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