Three cheers for some great news in the travel industry!
Iceland, the North Atlantic country, will be one of the first to open its borders this week since the beginning of the pandemic. They will welcome visitors with open arms who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 without further testing or quarantine. Yahoooo!
Are your ready to explore this magnificent destination? I am!
When you think of Iceland, what comes to mind? How about a landscape of unending snow, sheets of ice and freezing cold? While this is true in the winter months, the summers are quite temperate with temperatures averaging between 55 to 60 degrees.
It’s also a country of real treasures where the people are warm and friendly, and the land is magical in every way! Iceland is ranked as one of the “happiest places on Earth” by the World Happiness Report and is also known as the world’s friendliest country.
Iceland is one of the most incredible adventure destinations in the world and a popular spot for nature lovers. It’s a country of extreme geological contrasts. It is often called the Land of Ice and Fire, a land where volcanoes and geothermal heat have made their mark on the landscape, along with the many glaciers and lagoons, fjords and geysers, a land of pristine and unspoiled nature.
Iceland is the land of light and darkness…long summer days with just about 24 hours of sunshine (Imagine that!!) and short winter days with only a few hours of daylight.
Did you know that Iceland was chosen as the backdrop for Sci-Fi films and Hollywood block buster’s such as the James Bond series, the Star Wars Saga, the Game of Thrones series, Batman Begins and Fast & Furious 8? It was also the inspiration for the Tolkien’s stories.
Iceland is so lunar-like that astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong practiced for moon-landings there. Pretty cool fun fact!
Here’s why everyone is obsessed with Iceland—and why it’s time to book now.
The Blue Lagoon
In the 1970’s, Iceland built a geothermal plant, and accidentally created one of the most visited places in the world…The Blue Lagoon. It is the world’s most amazing pool.
The Blue Lagoon is a Geothermal Spa (with water temperature around 37-40°C or 98-104°F). The geothermal water features three active ingredients: Silica, Algae & Minerals. While it looks blue, the water is actually white. If you pour it into a transparent cup, it will have a milky white color. The sun simply makes it look blue!
The Northern Lights are awe-inspiring!
Seeing the Northern Lights up close has always been a dream of mine. Iceland is a great place to see them because it is close to the Arctic Circle. Although the summer nights are light and bright, the winters are dark. The Aurora Borealis (or Northern Lights) occurs year-round but is only visible in dark and clear skies.
When is the best time to see them? From mid-September to mid-April, when the nights are cold and dark and the weather is still. One of the best places to see them is on the Jokulsarlon Lagoon located in South Iceland. They truly are a majestic natural phenomenon. What makes them so special? Their elusiveness.
There’s no better place to find yourself than sitting by a waterfall and listening to its music. -Roland Kemler
Waterfall Wonderland
I love the quote above. What a great analogy…the sounds of the rushing water is a musical masterpiece! Picture yourself sitting on the grassy hill taking in the site and sounds of Seljalandsfoss the most visited waterfalls in Iceland. Breathtaking, wouldn’t you agree?!
Iceland is a country with no shortage of waterfalls. They are home to the most powerful waterfalls and largest waterfall complex in Europe. This is largely due to their climate – the country’s northern latitude means an abundance of rain and snow, along with a large number of glaciers. Combine these facts with the mountainous landscape, and you have a country that is just epic for waterfalls. I can picture the endless photo opportunities since each waterfall shows it’s own unique style and character!
Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty. – John Ruskin
The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is one of the most beautiful trips you’ll ever take. It’s a circular route that covers about 300 kilometers and loops from Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, into central Iceland and back in a day trip. (It is not to be confused with the Ring Road which takes about a week to explore and complete.) You will meander through some of the most scenic parts of the country, from natural sites to historic buildings. There are so many breathtaking points along the route, including Icelandic horses! This is an incredible way to experience the diversity of Iceland in a relatively short trip.
You’ll have a whale of a time!
Iceland is one of Europe’s premier whale watching destinations. I can’t even imagine what it will feel like when we are out on a boat and a whale jumps out of the water right before our eyes. Incredible!!
The Icelandic waters are home to a variety of krill and fish. It is a bountiful feeding ground for the whales. You’re almost guaranteed to spot at least one of the twenty indigenous species circling the island, including minke and humpback whales. You may even catch one splashing around under the Northern Lights or illuminated by the midnight sun, depending on what time of year you visit.
While out on a whale-watching tour you may come close to the seaside cliffs to observe puffins, the country’s adorable unofficial mascot.
I’m sure you will agree that Iceland is BREATHTAKING!
It’s the unspoiled nature, the majestic Northern lights, the sun in the midnight sky, the geothermal areas where the geysers rule supreme, the massive icebergs on a glacial lagoon, the endless stretches of black sandy beaches, the volcanos, waterfalls and the abundant adventure that make this destination so desirable!
Are you ready to see, to witness or to experience something new, and unique?
I’m ready to pull out my winter gear and head there in the fall so I can see the main attraction – the Northern Lights!
I expect there to be quite a rush on summer and fall bookings because of this news. So, if Iceland is on your radar, give me a call so we can plan quickly.
