Iceland

"We visited Iceland one November for three days for a bucket-list trip hoping to see the Northern Lights. It’s late by the time we land at Reykjavik and get to our hotel, where we grab a bite to eat of delicious waffles.

Up early and on to a coach to see the geysers. Layered up in boots, hooded coat, bobble hat, heattech thermals, scarf, and gloves. The sun finally rises at 10am over a stunning blue view of a frosty church and deep snow. We hear live music playing in the background as we drink the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had. It’s like melted chocolate. It’s so beautiful here, but absolutely freezing standing in this surreal moonscape.

Next stop is the Gulfoss waterfalls, which are frozen. Literally! We enjoy a delicious, warming tomato soup at the cafe and dash back onto the coach.

Alright geezer

At Strokkur, Iceland’s most visited active geyser, the Mighty Geyser erupts, blasting water 20m high with plumes of white steam. Eruptions occur every 5 to 10 minutes here. It’s so cold that my iPhone won’t take photos as the battery is too low, only to show as fully charged once get back on the warm coach. I also took a camera.

This evening we have wine at the hotel. After an early start and having had a liquid breakfast of hot chocolate, and a liquid lunch of soup, the wine goes straight to our heads! We walk down Skólavörðustígur (try saying that after a few) to a recommended restaurant, The Fish Market for dinner.

Clambering onto a coach, we head to the middle of nowhere to glimpse the Northern Lights. Unfortunately, the weather conditions mean we don’t get to see them tonight, but because we had such a superb day out, we don't mind. Plus, maybe it's best not to tick everything off my bucket list, because then what happens?

Getting into hot water

We take a coach to the Blue Lagoon and dash through the mist into the lovely warm water of the geothermal hot baths. It’s beautiful, steamy, and misty as the sun reflects off the heated water…

Ooh, there’s a swim-up bar!

We apply mud face packs, sip a glass of Prosecco, and bob about. A long soak, flushed cheeks, mirrored sunglasses, and a steamed-up camera lens create a misty effect - great for that Instagram shot! Bath time will never be the same again.

In Reykjavik town, breakfast is a tasty cinnamon swirl bun at the Sandholt Bakery and Eatery. A railing has a row of lost gloves impaled on the spikes, like heads at Tower Bridge. A wander around the shops, then lunch at the cool Laundromat café with colour-coded books on the shelves, colourful maps on the walls, and red drum lampshades.

Time to go home - what a cool weekend!"

Written by Crystal McClory

2024 is a great year to see the Northern Lights. Meteorologists and space experts report that the Aurora Borealis’ visibility is greater, meaning the Northern Lights will be more apparent. 2024 will coincide with a solar maximum, marking a period of increased solar activity and storms. The best time to see the Northern Lights is during the winter when the nights are long and the sky is clear.

The Northern Lights are one of the most spectacular natural phenomena on Earth. A natural light display that occurs in high-latitude regions around the Arctic and Antarctic. The lights are caused by collisions between charged particles from the sun and the Earth’s atmosphere. The lights in green, pink, purple, and blue colours dance across the night sky in shimmering curtains and waves. The colours are caused by the different gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, and the intensity of the lights can vary from a faint glow to a vivid display that illuminates the entire sky.

To book contact Abbotts Travel 134 George Lane, South Woodford, E18 1BA

Tel: 020 8989 9445 or email info@abbottstravel.com

Read our client blog about a recent trip to Iceland and our staff blog by Natalie.