Things I learnt in Iceland ♡

It’s been just over a month since I got back from Iceland, and I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone. The days spent in the land of fire and ice almost feel like a dream now. And it was exactly that too – a dreamworld. I thought I’d write a little about it to share my experience, and also to offer any tips for any of you thinking of going there yourself.

Around November time, I became totally obsessed with all things snow and ice. My laptop was always screening some small speck of a person gliding down miles of blanket whiteness, and my top recommendations to watch were always snowboarding this or skiing that. I think it was around this time when Iceland popped up, after seeing Chris Burkard’s inspiring documentary Under an Arctic Sky. (If you haven’t seen it already and you like beautiful scenery and extreme surfing, give it a watch on Netflix!). Chris is an amazing adventure photographer - he always has a meaningful story attached to his beautiful landscapes, and capturing moments of surfing the unsurfable in Iceland was no different.

Up until then, Iceland had always been a "one day" place for me. I’m normally quite a sun-seeker, but for the first time I felt a real shift of wanting to travel somewhere cold and dramatic. Instead of dreaming of bikinis and sand, I was wishing for layers and ice.

From there, it was as if things snowballed one by one at 100mph to manifest a dream into a reality. Fast forward to New Year’s eve a month later, and I was under the arctic sky myself, watching the most incredible fireworks display in Iceland’s magical capital, Reykjavic. The whole trip was everything I could have wanted and 5 of the most memorable days. We met awesome people and spent the whole time in absolute awe of nature. I could write so much, but to keep it sweet, I thought I’d share 5 things I learnt under the arctic sky…

Gullfoss Waterfall

1. Iceland recharges every single element that you’re made up of.

Earth, water, fire, air & space. Iceland has them ALL. Feel grounded by the mountains, fluid underneath waterfalls, heated by volcanic thermal springs, refreshed by powerful winds, and spacious under the vast sky and aurora.

Just as the landscape in Iceland is so diverse, the weather is also totally unpredictable. This means that you could be driving next to mountains one minute before the road weaves and reveals a sparkling waterfall in the distance or a dramatic, black sand beach. Light skies can suddenly burst into dark snow storms with no warning. I spent a fair amount of time wondering if I was still on this planet because it felt as if it must be Mars.

Iceland has a unique and wild beauty I haven’t experienced anywhere else, and I only got to see the South. If you rent a car from Reykjavic, everything you’ve ever wished from nature is a short drive away. My recommendations for southern Iceland are Gulfoss and Skogafoss waterfall (both incredibly powerful), and Pingvellir national park, where you can walk (or scuba dive!) between the two tectonic plates of North America and Asia.

2. The language, people (and horses!) are beautiful

I can imagine even an argument sounds beautiful in Icelandic. They have a way of speaking super softly in English, and the language itself is one of the most lovely I've ever heard. Listening to it spoken will make you melt. As well as the lingo, the people are also WICKED. I’d heard rumours that Icelandic people are some of the happiest & friendliest bunch in the world, and it’s true! Even the security guard, who came after we (accidentally) set off the alarm at our AirB&B was the most relaxed security guard I’ve ever met. The people were so friendly, laid back and funny too. They are also pretty brave – setting fireworks off in their hands and jumping into frozen lakes (it's the Viking gene). Oh AND they REALLY know how to party – so don’t expect to get home before 7am if you’re on a night out with an Icelander. P.s New year’s day was painful.

One of the biggest tourist attractions on the road is also Icelandic horses. If you park in a safe place, you can pet and feed them! They're really friendly, curious and super fluffy.

3. Let the Northern Lights chase Y O U

If you’re lucky enough to spot the Northern Lights, (which is actually much more common than you might think), you will feel like you’ve just seen the real Santa Claus. They're mesmerising, to try and craft it into mere words. Seeing them will leave you feeling humbled that the laws of nature can create something so mystically stunning.

The best time to see them is between November and March, with clear, dark skies giving you the highest possibility to view them. The strength of the lights is measured in “KP”, and you can check this daily on the internet, with KP 9 being the highest strength. However, as we experienced, the KP number can change really quickly. But don’t get discouraged. Just because it’s KP 1 doesn’t mean that you won’t see them – have faith. You can take various tours, but a great way is also taking your own car a short drive away from the city lights and waiting with a flask of hot tea. The lights tend to appear when you least expect it….so let yourself focus on the beautiful scenery and forget all about the lights for a while – let them find YOU instead :) We managed to see them while driving around on New Year’s day towards midnight – only briefly, but it was still magical.

4. See things with your eyes

Iceland has the kind of beauty that will make you want to have your camera ready 24/7. It’s a photographer’s dream, and rightly so! But it made me realise how important it is to also make sure that you witness what’s there too. I remember reading a quote once that read; “you don’t take a photograph, you ask quietly to borrow it”, which I try to remember before getting too snap happy. Before taking a photo, breathe. See. Make sure to marvel at how the moment makes you feel, and how lucky you are to experience it. Photos taken from the heart with no other motive other than to appreciate are always, always beautiful. Sometimes it’s also good just to put down the camera and create memories that only you will ever know about.

The Secret Lagoon

5. Go off the beaten path more

I’m pretty sure that the Blue Lagoon is incredible. But if you would rather a quieter, cheaper and more rural dip in a hot spring (which is one of the best things you can do in Iceland), check out alternative hot springs, such as The Secret Lagoon and the completely free Seljavallalaug (Iceland’s oldest swimming pool, tucked away at the base of the mountains). You can get to either of these easily if you rent a car or tour to Secret Lagoon. Seljavallalaug will require a little bit of off roading and guess work (good fun!). Unfortunately, there was a heavy storm when we got there and it wasn't safe to leave the car. But the scenery is beautifully wild there. Instead, we visited Fontanta springs, which were absolute heaven to enjoy an Icelandic Gul beer in at the end of a busy, windy day. Fontana is set on the side of a lake near the golden circle, which we ended up jumping into with some Icelanders. It was FREEZING, and so. much. fun.

Seljavallalaug

Some of my favourite places in Iceland actually included places in which I had no idea where I was. When driving around the Ring Road, I fell in love with a road between the mountains, where we laid and watched the stars and full moon. I felt a deep sense of peace to be there in the middle of nowhere but equally feeling totally at home.

We often describe places we’ve seen as ‘beautiful’, but what is it that makes somewhere truly memorable? For me, it’s the feeling you get which you can’t quite explain...and Iceland has that magic. If you love nature, I could not recommend putting Iceland on your list highly enough. It only takes a couple of hours there to realise you’re somewhere really special. I just know it won't be long before I have to go back and visit the North too, as well as experience its luscious greenery in summer.

Thank you Iceland, my icy winter dream come true.

Have you been to Iceland? What did you think? What did you learn underneath an Arctic sky?

Adéle x