Many Northern Lights holidays have organised itineraries or an independent exploration in a hire car. Here are some of Iceland’s ‘drive to’ highlights.
While there are some excellent and well-organised Northern Lights holidays, you may prefer to spend part of your time in Iceland exploring under your own steam. Many people visiting this beautiful island nation do just that, hiring a car an embarking on a drive around some of the highlights of the country – and there are many.
Heading South on Northern Lights Holidays in Iceland
For many, staying in a hotel in Hella (such as the Ranga Hotel), and spending a couple of nights chasing the Aurora Borealis before taking a self-drive day trip is the ideal itinerary. Here is our suggestion of where to go when exploring on your own.
One of the most popular routes for self-drive Northern Lights holidays takes you along the south coast, with the Atlantic Ocean on your right and past sweeping glaciers and the famous volcanoes of Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull on your left. When you arrive at the quaint local town of Vik, you can stop off and visit the Black Beaches and the wonderful rock formations, so famous in this area. The Reynisdrangar Archway is a real treat, and from the top there are some wonderful photographic opportunities. Most people choose to have lunch in the town and then meander back to Hella via some other dramatic sites along the way.
Make sure you take a break at the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which is arguably one of the country's most famous. You can even walk behind the fall of the water and look out across the view that reaches as far as the South Beaches. Skogar Waterfall is another one worth a visit - it is one of the highest in Iceland with a width of 25m and a drop of over 60m. There is a little folk museum close by too, which houses Icelandic artefacts collected over the years since 1949 by the owner.
Another visitor centre that is definitely worth a look if you have time is the Eyjafjallajokull Visitor Centre. Here, you can watch a 20-minute film about a local farmer who shares his experience of the volcano’s eruption. It is quite fascinating and gives an idea of how the local people have coped with the recent volcanic activity.
Of course, there are many other day excursions you can embark on when on Northern Lights holidays in Iceland. How about snowmobiling on top of a glacier? Or a trip to the Blue Lagoon and the famous thermal pools? The Blue Lagoon is actually one of the most visited attractions in the country and is located just 20 minutes from the airport, so it's even something you can do on the way home. With a reputation for healing properties, the silica and sulphur are said to help people suffering from certain skin conditions, such as psoriasis. Whether or not you need its therapeutic help, the Blue Lagoon is a relaxing place to spend a couple of hours.
This fascinating country never fails to inspire and delight and, on a self-drive adventure, you can experience it for yourself.
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