Winter is coming. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you’ll be familiar with the glacial splendour of Iceland. The otherworldly landscapes include hot springs and ice caves, hissing geysers and silent glaciers, steaming lava craters and multi-hued mud pools. No wonder it’s known as the land of ice and fire.
The lack of light pollution in this wide-open country also makes it one of the greatest places on earth to catch the Northern Lights. An ephemeral phenomenon, the aurora borealis can be elusive — but the chase is half the fun. We know all the secret spots where you’re most likely to catch nature’s most hallucinogenic light show. Scientific explanations hardly take away from the magic of the Northern Lights. Whether you see them as the glistening armour of the Valkyries or the spirits of the departed dancing in the sky, this is one show you’ll never forget.
On the edge of the Arctic Circle, Iceland is a winter wonderland for adventurers of all ages. Go whale-watching, puffin-spotting, or on a reindeer safari. Soak up the precious minerals, so abundant in Iceland, with a dip in the milky waters of the Blue Lagoon, marooned in a vast, black lava landscape. History and geology collide in the Golden Circle, the trail that rings Southern Iceland’s most spectacular natural parks. Geysers hurl boiling water skywards, golden waterfalls plunge into ravines, and Viking myths swirl in the misty air.
Look down and glimpse the edges of the earth as the great rift created by the schism of the Eurasian and American tectonic plates rises above sea-level, right before your eyes. (You can even snorkel in the fissure between the two continents, if you dare.)
The days might be short, but the winter nights are long in Reykjavik, Europe’s northernmost capital. Compact and low-key, this turbo-charged fishing village also has a distinctly modern Nordic outlook. You can get to know most of this seaside city in a day — and by the time you’ve trawled the vintage shops, new-generation fish restaurants and unpretentious bars, you’ll have got to know plenty of locals too. No wonder Iceland consistently polls among in the world’s happiest nations.
