Best Trips in Iceland After Freezing Watching The Northern Lights

I had been going on at Mr C to take me to Iceland for years and years! Finally persuading him with a joint Christmas present, I’d found an amazing deal! No sooner had he started nodding we were booked up and going the following month, just after new year! Exciting! He wasn’t so excited at receiving thermals for his present but that’s another story. The main draw for me was to see the Northern Lights in Iceland and to walk around Reykjavik in my new snow boots! But what are the best trips in Iceland after freezing watching the Northern Lights?

It rarely snows in the UK so this was my chance to put them to their proper use. As it was also minus 15 degrees the warm fluffy layer would keep me warm! Iceland is a beautiful country, there are lots of things to see and do. However, please ensure you have ample money with you as I don’t think we have been anywhere so expensive! Here is my story about eventually seeing the Northern Lights and what else there is to see and do.

Northern Lights

This is a hit and miss event, with nothing you can do to make them appear if conditions aren’t right. I know of two ways to attempt to see the lights. First; stay in a remote hotel and have the staff wake you when/if the lights start to appear. This seems very sensible and will help avoid the hypothermia inducing conditions we chose to try and see them in. The second is to go on a Northern Lights trip and hope they appear!

Having booked a package deal, evening number 1 in Reykjavik saw us on a trip to see the lights. So excited, we were wrapped up in our warmest clothing we owned and got on the coach. The weather wasn’t the best to say the least. In hindsight we should have used our brains and worked out it was going to be a no show. Why was this? It was heavily snowing and blowing a gale and it doesn’t take a genius to realise you need clear skies.

It was Also Freezing!

With brains not engaged the coach stopped after and hour at a lighthouse on the coast and we disembarked. Into a blizzard! At this point we were still excited, so we huddled together and looked hopefully in to the sky. Half an hour must have passed before we started to feel a bit numb. We then wandered towards the building which had a museum and more importantly a bar! Warmed by a schnapps we returned to the blizzard to find out that the night was being called off! Luckily we got told we could come back the next night for free to try again! Imagine Mr C’s face at the prospect of another midnight experience staring into the sky!

Northern Lights: Take 2

Obviously we got back on the coach the next night, one of us more willingly than the other! This time the coach took us to a large farmers field, once again we stared into the dark night sky. Bored much quicker than the previous night Mr C declared he was cold & needed more schnapps! Knowing my husband would be far happier once warmer off we went to find the bar. The farmer had obviously been doing well with this second income. He had turned an entire barn in to a lovely hall with food & drink for sale. Plus it was lovely and warm and when it’s minus 15 outside that’s all you care about. A few schnapps later we were ready to go back outside only to hear our coach was moving on! Apparently it wasn’t happening, again!!!

Will We See The Northern Lights In Iceland???

One of us disappointed, one of us getting a bit grumpy we boarded the coach and left the farm. We didn’t go far when the coach pulled in to an old disused petrol station, stopped and the doors opened. Confused but willing to join in we got off and followed the tour operators in to yet another field. There was a really weird yell, kind of creepy actually which told us “the lights are coming”. God knows where the noise came from but we looked up where people were pointing and sure enough there were green glowing shimmers of lights moving around in the sky! I wont lie, it was amazing, I’d never seen anything like it!

We stood and watched them for ages and consequently I don’t remember ever being so cold in my life. My face was numb all over as if a dentist had injected their entire stock in to my mouth! It took hours to warm up again but it is a sight I will never forget.

What else is there to do in Iceland apart from the Northern Lights?

Blue Lagoon

One of the most famous attractions in Iceland are the geothermal heated pool/springs containing a natural mud. Blue Lagoon is just one of many you can visit. This mud can be smothered all over yourself once in the pool and was just lovely! Getting in to the lovely warm pool however was a whole journey itself. Picture this;  it‘s snowing, windy and you are about to put on a bikini to go in to an outdoor pool! It may well be heated once you are in there but you have to get there!. If you have paid a lot of money to hire their dressing gowns and slippers you may be warmish for a few steps.

Then comes the part where you have to take off your warm layer and stand fumbling with the coat hanger in the blizzardy snow! Oh my goodness so cold! Did I mention it was minus 15 when we visited? I think I did, and now I’m in a bikini!! It was lovely bobbing along in the pool though once you got used to the squishy mud beneath your feet. There is also a ‘swimup’ bar in the pool, a café for after your swim, and a luxury restaurant too. All of which is very very pricey just to warn you. Nevertheless, I have ticked the Blue Lagoon off of my list as done!

Find your own spa experience in Iceland here.

Hallgrimskirkja

This beautiful unique looking church stands near the centre of Reykjavik and looks lovely lit up at night. We were lucky enough to stay in the hotel opposite and had a view from our window. The statue outside is of Leifur Eirksson; a famous Icelandic explorer. Make visiting this church one of your must-sees as the inside is just as unique as the outside. If you look upwards inside the main area the ceiling and arches give the feel of being inside a giant whale. Climb the staircase to the top of the church spire, you will be rewarded with 360 views of Reykjavik. I love finding the highest building in a City to get a different view of the area. This church steeple view didn’t disappoint. Looking from the front of the church you can see the whaling port and boats.

For details on available walking tour or the ‘Hop on Hop off’ bus check out this link.

Try The Local Cuisine – Nice & Quirky

I think this picture says it all. I don’t really need to say much more other than another delicacy is grated puffin too! How do you grate a puffin?

We did eat at a lovely restaurant on our first night as unfortunately the restaurant offering this menu was closed. However it was possibly our most expensive meal for still being so hungry afterwards. One fish course each, some lovely complimentary rye bread and a bottle of wine; over £70 English pounds. It wasn’t even fine dining! We had just chosen the most reasonable looking place near our hotel and though the bill was ouchy! The food was delicious don’t get me wrong. Luckily we were only staying a couple of nights as our spending could have got out of hand. What was a very reasonably priced mini break might have broken the bank.

However, I don’t think you can go to Iceland without trying the food so here are a selection of foodie tours your might like.

Golden Circle Tour of National Park/Football

Another highlight for me was being driven around the stunning pristine white landscapes of the National Park. The Northern Lights can probably be seen perfectly out here due to no light pollution. We walked part of the trail, saw crystal clear mini waterfalls and a lot of beautiful landscapes. Not being very interested in the ‘it looks all the same’ landscape my husband was taking advantage of another feature.

The Grey Line coaches have free wifi and Mr C found he could stream live English football games on his phone. Give me strength!!! Love him really, this holiday wasn’t really up his street so I’ll let him off. Lunch was at a lovely restaurant by the main waterfall. I can highly recommend the Icelandic stew which is lamb & veg which you dip bread rolls in . Delicious!

Find your prefect Golden Circle Tour and so much more here.

Tectonic plates

This is the gap between the plates!

In the National Park there is a pathway where you walk between two of the earths tectonic plates! I thought this was amazing! I never though I would ever see something like this let alone walk on/between it!

Gulffoss Waterfall

Within the National Park is an enormous waterfall called Gulffoss. Despite being frozen it still ferociously threw water everywhere when we visited. There are several areas you can safely climb to view this magnificent waterfall from different angles. This is also available in the above trip link. For a warmer waterfall experience you may want to visit Khao Lak in Thailand, you wouldn’t want to paddle in the one in the photo now would you!

Geysers

Another part of our Golden Circle Tour took us to an area with active Geysers. Every few minutes they spout their boiling hot water metres in to the air right in front of you. There are signs in the rivers which flow next to the paths telling you the temperature and not to touch. Clearly there are some stupid people who put their hands in it and then complained. they are burnt! Really enjoyed watching this natural event (safely) and even Mr C enjoyed himself!

Snow Is So Powdery

A little word on the snow as its so different ftom back home. When it snows in the UK it looks nice for approximately five minutes. After this the dirt turns it to brown slush. It’s wet, turns to sheet ice and is mostly very unpleasant, thankfully it doesn’t happen too much. In Iceland I can only describe the snow as dry and powdery. Its impossible to make a snow ball as it just doesn’t stick to itself. On the plus side is it doesn’t stick to your shoes, soak through and make your feet all cold. Feel free to tread in it all day and still have warm dry feet!

The naturally geothermally heated streets in Reykjavik are made of dark laver rocks. This has the affect of melting any snow laying on it so ice doesn’t form and you can walk safely! Another amazing feature of this stunning island.

Try The Famous Hotdogs

After a long day on a coach seeing some amazing sights around the National Park we were hungry! The coach dropped us in the centre of Reykjavik and with only 1 hour to spare something quick was needed. The stall we stumbled upon was just what was in order. Hot dogs Iceland style! Asked what we would like we just said ‘whatever you think’ to the guy in the hut. Our dinner turned out to be delicious, unlike anything hot dog I have ever had! The bun, sausage, I lost count of the number of sauces which all went together somehow. However my favourite part was the crispy onion bits which were sprinkled on top.

There is a photograph display next to the hut showing celebrities eating here looking like they were enjoying themselves! Four/five hot dogs deep each we got back on the coach ready to get cold again, this time fully fuelled! Seek this hut out and have at least one!

The Sun Voyager

My husband had had enough of being constantly frozen outside by our last day In Iceland. So when I declared I would like to walk down to the sea he nearly had an fit! Assuring him it was only 0.5k each way I took him on one last sight seeing tour. The Sun Voyager is beautiful piece of art/structure right on the waters edge. My interpretation is that it’s a cross between a whale ribcage and a Viking ship? Maybe I’m right, maybe I’m wrong? Either way it was worth the very short walk in the freezing cold from our hotel.

Whilst you are down by the harbour why not get yourself on one of the whale spotting trips? I have heard you need to wrap up very warm though! Here are a few choices to wet your appetite!

Where to Stay

Perfect location

As mentioned before we stayed at the Hotel Leifur Eiriksson which is located directly facing the Hallgrimskirkja. The rooms were slightly small but with such an amazing view and being out all day it didn’t matter. The breakfasts were lovely with a wide choice and there are a few areas for you to relax in downstairs. I would highly recommend this hotel and it appears others would too as it seemed to be fully booked. It is also in an amazing location to visit many sights in Reykjavik. Just to be aware, all of the water in bathrooms in Iceland smell of sulphur/egg. It is geothermal heated in springs by sulphur coming from the rocks. There is nothing wrong with the plumbing, its perfectly normal, just not to our noses!