Iceland 2016 – See the Northern Lights. Check.

Iceland 2016 – Day 1 – See the Northern Lights. Check.

This week our new Education Manager, Lucy, has been lucky enough to swap the busy, bustling Rayburn Tours office for the more dramatic landscape of striking, snow-covered Iceland.

As a first-timer to the country, we asked her to jot down her thoughts, experiences and happenings of the visit. By the sounds of it, the adventure has already got off to an exciting start, catching more than just a glimpse of the infamous Northern Lights!

A Picture-Perfect Arrival

My first glimpse of Iceland from the plane makes me feel as though I’m looking at a photograph – a large expanse of white ice amongst the blue sea, with colours so vivid they don’t look real.

Insider Tips at 30,000 Feet

People on the other side of the aisle are straining to see snatches through the windows, but for us it’s no accident that we’re in the ‘best’ seats. Cath Rule, our Geography Tours Development Manager and Field Studies Tutor, had already given me one of the first Iceland tips before we left the office:

 

“Make sure when you check in you select seat F – you’ll get views of Iceland as we come into land!”

Her expertise coming into play before we even touch down on terra firma…

 

A Breath of Icelandic Air

Walking out of the airport, the first thing that hits us along with the blast of cold is how fresh and pure the air feels. I know Iceland is going to live up to all expectations.

 

A Fantastic First Stop

What little is left of the afternoon is spent travelling to our hotel in Hveragerdi, stopping for a quick photo at Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Station. Along the way, Cath points out the plumes of steam escaping from cracks and holes in the earth which can only hint at what geothermal activity lies beneath the surface.

 

A Midnight Knock

An early night is in order after such a busy day, but just before midnight I’m woken by a knocking on my door. Cath’s telling me to look out of my window.

 

Against All Odds: A Northern Lights Sighting

We had done some research and worked out that our most likely chance of seeing the Northern Lights would be at midnight on our day of arrival, but this was still a slim chance. Cath has been going to Iceland for 11 years before managing to see them.

I pulled back the curtains and couldn’t believe the sight in front of me – the sky was lit up with streaks of green, swirling and dancing across the starry sky. The Northern Lights!

 

A Mesmerising Sky Show

I sat and watched as the lights moved and took on various shapes, sometimes fading and sometimes so vibrant it was hard to believe they were real. Other hotel guests were outside in their snow gear to see the view that we were lucky enough to enjoy from the warmth of our darkened rooms.

It was impossible to tear myself away and I sat in the dark for an hour watching the lights until they disappeared. I had been in Iceland for less than 12 hours and it had already exceeded all expectations. I went back to bed, excited to see what tomorrow would bring…

 

Iceland 2016 – Day 2 – Top Tips For First-Time Visitors

Lucy’s trip to the Land of Fire and Ice continues, and let’s just say she’s been feeling more ice than fire! Keeping us updated on her fun-filled adventure, Lucy’s also been sharing her tips for any first-timers to this unique country.

Day two sees a trip to the ‘shake shack’, hardy Icelandic horses and a dip in the Secret Lagoon… shhh!

A Morning Surprise in Hveragerdi

The morning begins with a trip over to the tourist information office in Hveragerdi where Cath informs us that we’re going for a ‘shake’. Fantastic! I haven’t had a milkshake in years. Turns out it wasn’t the sort of shake I was thinking of…

 

Entering the ‘Shake Shack’

Instead we venture into the ‘shake shack’, a pitch black room which simulates the 6.3 magnitude earthquake similar to the one Iceland suffered in 2008. So pretty much the same thing?

Shaken, Not Stirred

As Sasha and I enter, we aren’t sure what to expect. But what follows is 20 seconds of screaming (from us) as we’re shaken and jolted in the dark, later emerging slightly worse for wear.

 

Seeing the Earthquake’s Real Impact

The small exhibition next to the shake shack also shows CCTV footage of local shops as the earthquake hit, which after having experienced the ‘shack’, makes us appreciate the footage on a whole other level.

 

Onward to Laugarvatn: A Glimpse of Wild Iceland

Once we’ve recovered, we begin our journey to Laugarvatn – this is where we start to see the real Iceland. The road winds through snow-covered, volcanic landscape and we pass Icelandic horses – proper hardy creatures – pure breeds who seem perfectly at home standing amongst the snow and rugged terrain.

Cath fills me in on top tip number two:

 

“If you ever need to know which way the wind is blowing, look at the horses, they always stand with their bottoms to the wind”.

 

Horse Watching with a Windy Theory

For the rest of the day I am obsessed with every pack of horses we pass, looking to see if they are indeed standing with their bottoms to the wind. I have to say so far Cath seems to be right!

 

Into a Snowy Dreamscape

As the snow starts to close in, it feels like we’re in a dream world. The wind blows the swirling flakes of snow around the car and everything is white for as far as you can see. We stop at Efstidalur II, a family-run farm which makes fabulous homemade ice cream.

 

From Cow to Cone

Walking in, we’re surprised to see the huge windows through to the barns where the very cows that produced the milk to make the ice cream are happily grazing away, coupled with a small group of calves snuggled up together, keeping each other warm.

 

Sipping Cocoa with Cows

We sit sipping our hot drinks, enjoying the cows’ company in what is simply the most wonderfully bizarre setting. Only in Iceland!

 

Braving the Chill for the Secret Lagoon

Before it gets too dark and the snow gets too heavy, we take a trip to the Secret Lagoon which is a large thermal pool set amongst volcanic rocks. The temperature is a chilly minus 3 degrees, but we brave it and make a dash from the changing rooms to the lagoon in record time.

 

Cold Winds, Warm Waters

The icy wind hits us instantly and takes my breath away – suddenly the five-second dash seems to last forever and the warm waters seem too far away. Finally we make it, and plunging in I can start to feel my fingers and toes again as the warm geothermal waters work their magic.

It’s so quiet and peaceful that an hour passes by in a blur and, before we know it, it’s time to do the minus three weather dash again. Top tip number three, this time from Sasha and myself:

 

Don’t bring your towel out with you as it will inevitably freeze and become very hard to use!

 

Our second day in Iceland draws to a close when we arrive at the Husid Guesthouse for the evening, where it’s time to get a good night’s sleep as tomorrow we’re meeting the students from Beverley High School for a jam-packed trip.

No Northern Lights tonight, but instead vivid dreams of snow, horses and secret lagoons. Goodnight Iceland, until tomorrow.

 

Day 3 and 4 – Beverley High School Arrive!

Lucy’s action-packed Icelandic venture continues… with the arrival of Beverley High School, a visit to the deep volcanic Kerid Crater and tales of Icelandic elves, she’s certainly been keeping active.

 

A Windy Arrival

As Beverley High School touch down in Iceland, the weather is blowing a gale. The snow on the ground is being picked up and whirled around, before being thrown in the path of unsuspecting tourists exiting the airport.

 

An Icelandic Welcome

It’s safe to say the girls get an immediate taste of how harsh Iceland’s weather can be as we make our way to the warmth of the waiting coach.

 

Soaking in the Blue Lagoon

Tonight’s stop is the famous Blue Lagoon – a geothermal spa located in the lava fields of Grindavik. It’s one of Iceland’s main attractions and has become increasingly busy over the last couple of years (it’s easy to see why).

This leads me on to top tip number four: go to the Blue Lagoon after 6pm in winter and the majority of the crowds have gone, so you can enjoy the pools in relative peace and quiet before it closes at 8pm.

 

A New Day, A New Landscape

The next morning we leave the hotel for Kerid Crater. As the sun begins to rise and beautiful, blue skies appear, it’s clear today that Iceland is showing us another side to its ever-changing weather – the Iceland Beverley high school trip continues…

 

Like a Scene from a Christmas Movie

The sun bounces across the white snow, giving everything a surreal, shimmery glow… I feel like I’ve stepped on to the set of a Christmas movie.

 

Where the Elves Live

As we head towards Gullfoss, we drive past large volcanic rocks with little green and red doors drawn on the sides.

“This is where the elves live,” Cath explains to us.

The Icelandic elves are well-known mischief-makers who can help locals out when they want to or, if they feel threatened, can cause trouble for those who cross their path!

 

Boulders, Earthquakes… and Elves?

We drive past a house set on a steep hillside surrounded by boulders – easily the same size as the sides of the house itself. When the 2008 earthquake struck, the boulders dislodged and fell down the mountainside, stopping short of the house by only a metre or two.

It seems impossible that the house wasn’t flattened by the boulders. Why did they stop just short of the walls of the house?

Apparently it was the elves who saved the family as they’d always lived in harmony with them. It’s very important to respect the elves – in fact, a road built to link the Álftanes peninsula and the Reykjavik suburb of Gardabaer had to be postponed as it would go directly through an elf habitat, including an elf chapel.

A local lady was brought in to mediate with the elves and eventually a compromise was struck and the chapel was relocated.

 

Earth, Water, and Time at Thingvellir

The afternoon is filled with waterfalls, geysirs and an exploration across the rift between the European and North American plates. This is also where the first parliament was established in 930AD, making it historically and geographically one of the most important sites in Iceland.

 

Tripped by Tiny Creatures!

The weather stays kind to us, but those who earlier scoffed at the story of the elves living in the rocks find themselves in constant misfortune!

They can’t seem to stop falling over on the icy paths and end up being showered by the cold spray of the exploding geyser, when those standing right next to them are somehow not.

An image passes through my mind of tiny elf legs sticking out in front on unsuspecting non-believers, tripping them on the path and blowing the spray of the geyser in their direction when they aren’t looking.

Maybe my imagination is running a little wild, but top tip number five would definitely be to respect the Icelandic elves!