Iceland is one of the most breathtaking destinations in the world, with amazing landscapes, opaque lakes, gushing geysers, and rolling meadows. It truly is nothing like you’ve ever seen before. Nowhere else can you bathe in 40 degrees C water, and yet see snow all around you. The landscape is not the only great thing about Iceland; its people are also known as some of the friendliest on the globe. You will want to make the most of your trip and see as much as possible.
Good preparation is always the key to success, and a few key travel packing tips will ensure that your Icelandic holiday is more enjoyable.
If you’re planning a trip to Iceland for the first time, there are just a few things you should know before you go. Here is a list of 10 things that you may find helpful before you start your trip through Iceland.
And above all else, make sure you pack plenty of energy because, with all the thrills and spills that Iceland offers, you’re going to need it!
You have planned your vacation to Iceland and now it’s time to plan what needs to be packed for your trip. It is important to decide on what you will be wearing for your trip. You must have to pack based on the climatic conditions. we all know that the weather in Iceland is unexpected.
When it comes to picking out the best hiking boots for Iceland glacier adventures, we would suggest formal hiking boots. Trail running and regular hiking shoes are not comfortable once you slip on our crampons. Throughout winter in Iceland, we recommend you wear a pair of snow boots for hiking.
A rule of thumb is to convert $200 to ISK when you land at Keflavik. it’s useful for when you’re going out to restaurants, hot dog stands, or other places where you don’t want to spend more than a few seconds paying for things. That said, even in those places, they take cards, pretty much the entire country takes cards.
You’ll need either waterproof over-pants or ski pants. You will need warm ski pants or waterproof trousers to make sure you don’t get wet. Don’t wear jeans in the cold or winter season, they won’t keep you warm and if they get wet, they will ice up in the cold.
You can bring up to 3kg of food into Iceland, but don’t carry raw eggs, raw meat, or milk.
You will be fine in jeans, Just If you wear something underneath them. Make sure to don’t rock up anywhere in Iceland with just jeans, you will be cold.
The result is that Iceland remains one of the world’s safest countries to travel to in 2020. The island reopens for summer on June 15, with COVID-19 tests are available for each traveler.
The best time to visit Iceland is in the summer months. July & August are Iceland’s warmest and have long been the most well-known time to visit. And June, with its 24 hours of daylight, sees just about as many travelers as the peak of summer. But even in this season, bad weather, rain, and intense winds are not uncommon.
Gullfoss Waterfall is the most famous of Iceland’s mythic waterfalls and will be the first Icelandic attraction that any native will usher you towards. The falls cascade a 105-feet into a stunning canyon. Mist rises from the base, and on clear, pleasant days the sun casts beautiful arcs of rainbows across the breadth of the falls.
No visit to Iceland is complete without a day in the capital city of Reykjavik, the nation’s cultural hub. Here you can spend a day exploring the city’s many museums, have dinner at the famous landmark, The Pearl, and spend the evening drinking at one of Reykjavik’s stylish bars or dancing at one of its hopping night clubs.
Thingvellir National Park, located about 40 minutes west of Reykjavik, is Iceland’s oldest national park. It is a protected area of historical significance that has a stunning 52-square mile lake and great hiking trails throughout lava fields.
The Great Geyser (from which the word “geyser” originates) is the world’s largest geyser and is easily accessible by bus in Reykjavik. The Great Geyser was formed in the 1300s; though now it only erupts on special (engineered) occasions, the nearby Strokkur erupts every 30 minutes for those who wish to snap some photos.
The Blue Lagoon, located about 15 minutes from the Keflavík International Airport is a long-time favorite of visitors to Iceland, especially those who wish to test the notion that bathing in algae, silica, and mineral salts is restorative for health. The lagoon is located in the middle of a moss-covered field of lava and draws its seawater from 2,000 meters below the surface. Entire families can bathe together here in the tranquil, peaceful water.
Iceland is the most active part of the Aurora Oval in the southern hemisphere, which means that anytime there is a clear sky, Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, can be seen lighting the sky with its vibrant and brilliant colors and shapes. Iceland is generally well-placed Northern Lights viewings, but bus tours are also offered for those who wish to “chase” these lights and see them in their varying splendor.
In Medieval Europe, Mount Hekla was considered an entrance to hell and was feared by the locals. But now visitors flock eagerly to this volcanic mountain which stands 4,892 feet high and erupted most recently in February 2000. The volcano towers over the lowlands, and its unusual, flat, ridged peak is often shrouded in a bank of clouds, explaining the volcano’s name, “Hekla,” or “hooded one.”
Kverkfjöll Ice Caves, located just north of Vatnajökull, are one of the world’s largest and strangest geothermal areas. Here, you can witness a hot river flowing under glacial ice! The hot water evaporates in the enclosed space and leaves beautiful patterns on the cave walls. Visitors can also hike from the glacier to the hot springs located at the nearby Hveradalur.
Another area of Iceland in which visitors can witness the startling interplay of hot and cold is the Vatnajokull Glacier, which is known for its volcanic activity. Vatnajokull is Europe’s largest glacier and covers about 8% of the country.
Another waterfall that had to make this list is Skogafoss on the Skoga River, which is a favorite amongst locals and visitors because of its classic rectangular shape and its immense height of 60 meters. Skogafoss is easy to access and is usually flooded with visitors, who can hike up a path from the base of the falls to reach the very top.