Mystique of the Winter Solstice

Winter vacation in Iceland 
For many years Iceland has been a typical summer destination. Look at travel magazines, photo books and journals – Iceland is usually presented in its beautiful summer dress. Hiking, horseback riding, travelling through the highland – all are great and classic activities apparently destined for summer-only holidays. Yet for the last few years we have seen an increase in winter or „off season“ travel interest in Iceland. Some of it is most likely attributed to the wish to see the beautiful northern lights but at the same time travellers are pleasantly discovering that „off season“ Iceland has surprisingly much to offer – besides the Aurora Borealis dancing across the arctic sky! 

Golden Light of autumn ​
One of the things that comes immediately to my mind if I think of travelling through Iceland in autumn is this incredible and almost indescribable golden light that is so typical for late September and all through October. Beautiful colorful sunsets and sunrises are almost like paintings – no filter needed! Crispy cold air, clear skies, sunny days and the glaciers shining in the radiant white of new snow add to the Indian summer colors of the red golden leaves of the poplar and birch trees and the purple of vast mountain heather fields. Iceland on a sunny day in October goes truly mad on the color scheme!  And although we need to dress a bit warmer, add a sweater or two and some gloves and a woolen hat we can still do so much of outdoor activities. Go hiking, kayaking, horseback riding and a day on a glacier gives you the delight of walking on newly fallen and crystal sparkling white snow! 

A personal date with the natural wonders 
The popular tourist sites of the favored Golden Circle are less frequented and give you a more personal date with the Golden Waterfall Gullfoss and its bouncy neighbor, the geyser Strokkur. 
And many of us locals agree on the simple fact that National Park Þingvellir is at its most beautiful in its autumn colors anyway! 

Mystifying Advent - Winter in Iceland 
As soon as we get closer to the Advent, the four weeks prior to Christmas, a lot of cultural events can be added! The small towns and villages are beautifully decorated, fluffy snow and the winter twilight are mystifying the atmosphere in urban and rural areas alike. Christmas markets and bookshops are frequented by Locals and foreign visitors looking through newly published books, while sipping a hot chocolate in the cozy book Café and secretly „beaming“ away into a secret life or adventure taking shape in between the pages. Concerts in churches, out of doors and in magnificent Harpa Opera Hall, art exhibitions, traditional Scandinavian style Christmas Buffets  and lovely Food Walks through Reykjavík are the icing on the delicious Iceland Winter Holiday cake!  

We highly recommend to book a tailor made private tour in Iceland with a local guide to give you the true and traditional winter experience you can only achieve with a guided tour  - experiencing the best of town and countryside winter pleasures in Iceland. 

Have a cozy autumn holiday! 

Text:  Meike  
Photos:  Steinunn and Jórunn