I started my trip by walking around Reykjavik, the capital, and exploring the cultural yet peaceful city life. The streets were lined with boutiques selling fur-lined outerwear to cope with the sub-zero temperatures, and hot food stands. After a relaxing stroll, we headed to Hallgrímskirkja, the largest church in Iceland. The church was idyllic, with the sunset in the background creating a picturesque scene.
Photo credit: Indya Malhan
However, it was the second night of my stay that turned into the most memorable night of my life, the night I saw the Northern Lights. We booked a tour bus that picked us up at 6pm and drove to a secluded field just outside of Reykjavik, beyond the city lights. After waiting for around half an hour and feeling the coldest I have ever felt, a slight green aura appeared in the sky. Over the next ten minutes, that aura got stronger and brighter and eventually the entire sky was illuminated in green! I had always seen pictures of the Northern Lights on social media, never thinking I would be stood under them on a random night in January. It was truly an amazing night that I will remember for the rest of my life.
The next day, we had booked an eight-hour tour which drove us further east into the country. The first stop was Thingvellir National Park, where we walked between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates at sunrise. This experience was surreal, watching the cliffs and the mountains change colour to an Arizona red as the sun first hit them in the morning.
I would highly recommend going this year, as the Northern Lights will be the strongest expected display until approximately 2035!
Next, we saw the Gullfoss waterfall, covered in ice and surrounded by the strongest wind I have ever felt! The bright white sky blended into the ice-covered stream, making the whole landscape feel out of this world.
We then drove to the Kerið Crater, which we hiked down to the bottom. After a rocky journey in the freezing cold, we had finally arrived at the vivid blue crater lake at the bottom, surrounded by red volcanic rock. Despite the strong winds above, the bottom of the crater was silent and echoey, with a two-person bench neatly placed for people to admire the view.
Those were just a few highlights of my favourite trip to date, but words and pictures don’t do the beauty of Iceland justice. I would highly recommend going this year, as the Northern Lights will be the strongest expected display until approximately 2035!