Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Jökulsárlón (yu-kuls-aur-lon) was formed around 1935 because of its rising temperatures at the start of the twentieth century. Today, the expansion of Jökulsárlón is accelerating, and it is expected that the lagoon will continue to grow until it becomes a vast deep fjord.

Iceland's most famous glacier lagoon is approximately 60 kilometers east of Skaftafell, where giant icebergs float in peace. The beautiful blue glacier lagoon is where seals swim around the countless mountains of ice that regularly break off the Breiðamerkurjökull (brei-the-mersh-ker-yu-kull) glacier ice cap.

When is the best time to go?

The best time to drive to Jökulsárlón, is in winter. Winter driving will give you a chance to experience the atmosphere of Jökulsárlón and why it became one of the most visited destinations in the country. But, you may also go during the summertime. The people in Jökulsárlón made sure to have all kinds of activities for every month of the year so that you may plan your visit to Jökulsárlón anytime.

What can I do in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon?

During summer and winter, a boat tour will take you to the lagoon in a boat where you will see the magnificent glaciers and wildlife within the vast icebergs and will even get the chance to taste the 1000-year-old ice. But in late autumn, boats can no longer sail on the lagoon and depart from Jökulsárlón to a different ice miracle.

What makes it famous?

Jökulsárlón ranked as one of the top lagoons because its lake is filled with the meltwater from an outlet glacier. It stands out since it also overflows with icebergs breaking from the glacier, some of which tower several stories high. This charming location is the highlight of many self-drive tours and guided packages. There are also underground rivers of meltwater in summer that cut through Vatnajökull, the country's largest glacier, where these rivers create a vast underground network of sapphire ice channels.

Skaftafell Nature Reserve

The Skaftafell is a national reserve in the southeast that embodies unusual landscapes beyond compare to anywhere in the world. It covers over 4800 square kilometers that are composed of rivers that cut through a great black desert. It is an oasis of the nation's various landscapes and features. It was once a national park in its own right.

What makes it famous?

Skaftafell Nature Reserve is known for its beautiful hiking trails, often called "hiking paradise." There are easy treks that lead to several sites such as the waterfall Svartifoss, circled by bizarre and beautiful basalt columns and glaciers.

What can you do at Skaftafell Nature Reserve?

With the right guide, you can try either ice climbing or glacier hiking. These activities are two of the most authentically Icelandic experiences you can partake, while you're in the country. If you wish to climb the country's highest peak, the Hvannadalshnúkur, Skaftafell, is also the perfect base camp.

When is the best time to go?

Suppose you want to visit Skaftafell at its warmest time. In that case, the hottest months are June to August, where the warmest is generally in late July at around 56.3 degrees Fahrenheit (13.5 degrees Celsius), with the temperature dropping below 46.1 degrees Fahrenheit (7.8 degrees Celsius) on rare occasions at night.

The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle offers spectacular sights and a glimpse into this country's history and culture. It is the most popular tourist place in the country, where the Haukadalur, Gullfoss, and Thingvellir are the main attractions.

What makes it famous?

The three destinations in the Golden Circle have different specifications on how they became one of the country's historical places. In Haukadalur, an area crowned by the geyser Strokkur, it spouts an enormous amount of hot water up to 20 meters into the air every 10 minutes.

The Gullfoss is the most traveled waterfall in the country as it echoes on theHvítá River, falling into the impressive 70-meter deep Hvítá canyon. On sunny days you would see a rainbow that stretches through the waterfalls and displays peace together with the waterfalls roaring power. Lastly, Thingvellir is a UNESCO's world heritage site, a national park of rich beauty and overflowing with historical and geological significance and the birthplace of Icelandic culture and democracy, the perfect completion of the golden circle tour.

What can you do at the Golden Circle?

Hiking, camping, and Swimming are the top activities to do in these locations. Just make sure to be mindful of your litter to preserve each landscape.

When is the best time to go?

If you plan to go on a road trip in these destinations, the best time would be in the summer. You would see a clear view of the geyser's eruption, the iconic rocky fields of the waterfalls, and the perfect sunrise and sunsets on Thingvellir.

Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Snaefellsnes Peninsula is in the west of the country, and is often referred to as "Iceland in miniature," because of the different varieties of geological phenomena it contains. If you had the chance to have a day tour of the Peninsula, you'd get to see and experience many of this country's most sought-out natural wonders.

What makes it famous?

Within Snaefellsnes, there is a glacier-capped volcano called Snaefellsjökul. It is found at the tip of the Peninsula with an elevation of 1446 meters. Some have claimed that the glacier is a center of tremendous and pure dynamic power and maintains it to be one of the seven most important cosmic energy centers on the planet.

What can you do at the Snaefellsnes Peninsula?

You can take a hiking trail to see the incredible scenery before heading to Ytri Tunga (where the largest seal colonies nest) or Kirkjufell mountain, where trickling streams and whispering rivers surround it. The journey in Snaefellsnes is a fulfillment to anyone who wants to travel here.

When is the best time to go?

If you want to travel to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, the best time would be in the summer. Sites like the Ytri Tunga and Kirkjufell mountain are at its best appearance during summer, and you could even camp during summer.

The Westman Island

Westman Island or Vestmannaeyjar in Icelandic is a group of 15 islands and over 30 massive cliffs, rocks, and skerries that are 70 kilometers off the southern coast.

What makes it famous?

Heimaey, the largest of all islands, has a rough population of 4100 and is the only populated island of the entire archipelago. It is also the home of the puffin's largest colony on the planet. And even though the island's volcano, called Eldfell (Mountain of Fire), erupted on January 23, 1973, after 5000 years of being dormant, the island remains one of the safest and most peaceful areas in the North Atlantic.

What can you do on Westman Island?

You can start your journey on to Eldfell volcanic crater and take in the beautiful scenery before going to Eldheimar. A museum built on top of an excavated house buried in the ash of 1973 and take a boat where you can explore Westman Islands incredible caves and cliffs that inhabits the largest puffin colony in the world.

When is the best time to go?

Traveling to the island in the summer is the best time. You will get a chance to feel the island's archipelago in the summer and even have the opportunity to see all kinds of animals that the island has populated.