Aurora Borealis in Iceland?
Discussion
Two bug things on my bucket list are to visit Icaeland and see the Aurora Borealis.
As it's my 40th next year, we thought about combining the two, with some whale watching and maybe a Super Jeep expedition as well.
Has anyone been on an Aurora trip to Iceland? If so, any recommendations on a tour operator / best time of year to go etc?
As it's my 40th next year, we thought about combining the two, with some whale watching and maybe a Super Jeep expedition as well.
Has anyone been on an Aurora trip to Iceland? If so, any recommendations on a tour operator / best time of year to go etc?
I went through this on here a few months back.
We've booked Iceland for the 3 nights flying out Boxing Day morning. We are staying here http://www.hotelranga.is/ which gets good reviews, so fingers crossed. If it's northern lights you want to see, don't forget that it will be a winter break!
Found my thread from a while back http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
We've booked Iceland for the 3 nights flying out Boxing Day morning. We are staying here http://www.hotelranga.is/ which gets good reviews, so fingers crossed. If it's northern lights you want to see, don't forget that it will be a winter break!
Found my thread from a while back http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Iceland is my favourite place in the world. Just amazing, if you like geological madness and mayhem.
The whale watching was a disappointment. The people getting off the boat as we were waiting to get on were full of it, whales leaping out of the water just a few metres from them. We went out, 4 hours, not a bloody sniff of the buggers. Gggrrrr.
The whale watching was a disappointment. The people getting off the boat as we were waiting to get on were full of it, whales leaping out of the water just a few metres from them. We went out, 4 hours, not a bloody sniff of the buggers. Gggrrrr.
superjeep are very good for all trips in iceland, plus as the name suggests those jeeps are indeed super, great for a PHer trip. Bear in mind with the northern lights that there is literally no telling what you will get. You just have to chance it, and if you don't see much (like we did) then that's just your lot, and you won't get a refund. It's still a cool trip even so.
I've been to Iceland a few times - interesting place, and stunning landscapes.
Make sure you understand that you might not actually see the Northern Lights, and what the camera sees is different to the human eye. Even then, eye colour can impact what you see.
Make sure you have decent warm kit - you can easily be standing out in the small hours in seriously cold weather.
All the tour operators are pretty good out there - not had a bad experience.
Can't recommend Minke whale, but puffin is OK.
Make sure you understand that you might not actually see the Northern Lights, and what the camera sees is different to the human eye. Even then, eye colour can impact what you see.
Make sure you have decent warm kit - you can easily be standing out in the small hours in seriously cold weather.
All the tour operators are pretty good out there - not had a bad experience.
Can't recommend Minke whale, but puffin is OK.
Went a few years ago and we are talking about going again between christmas and the new year.
We have also been to Finaland a couple of times looking for them.
In Iceland we saw very little but a bit of plasma, in Finland we had some great shows but you just can't predict the weather/lights.
We were at the Hilton which is a short walkout of town and very nice. the restaurant there is one of the best on the island, but if you make it for a trip to Pearlan it is worth it i am told.
If you want to know anything PM me.
If you are taking the Mrs a trip to the Blue Lagoon is a must. There is something quite special about it being -10 and snowing on your head as you sit in a lake of water so warm you never want to get out!
We have also been to Finaland a couple of times looking for them.
In Iceland we saw very little but a bit of plasma, in Finland we had some great shows but you just can't predict the weather/lights.
We were at the Hilton which is a short walkout of town and very nice. the restaurant there is one of the best on the island, but if you make it for a trip to Pearlan it is worth it i am told.
If you want to know anything PM me.
If you are taking the Mrs a trip to the Blue Lagoon is a must. There is something quite special about it being -10 and snowing on your head as you sit in a lake of water so warm you never want to get out!
Oh. A quick thought. Depending on your budget you are best to book a personal or 2-4 person trip out to see the lights and make sure you have a red torch.
It will drive you nuts watching all the Japanese running around like LoonyToons flashing their torch lights in your eyes and trying to take pictures using their Nikon compacts with the flash on...
Make sure you have plenty of warm clothes and a snood as well as gloves and hat. Goveswise it is best to have two pairs, one for 'normal' cold you can slip on and off easily and one for serious cold. Unless you are skidooing gloves should be okay but remember that mittens are warmer, even if they remind you or bits of string and pre school...
It will drive you nuts watching all the Japanese running around like LoonyToons flashing their torch lights in your eyes and trying to take pictures using their Nikon compacts with the flash on...
Make sure you have plenty of warm clothes and a snood as well as gloves and hat. Goveswise it is best to have two pairs, one for 'normal' cold you can slip on and off easily and one for serious cold. Unless you are skidooing gloves should be okay but remember that mittens are warmer, even if they remind you or bits of string and pre school...
Rude-boy said:
It will drive you nuts watching all the Japanese running around like LoonyToons flashing their torch lights in your eyes and trying to take pictures using their Nikon compacts with the flash on...
Rude-boy said:
Make sure you have plenty of warm clothes and a snood as well as gloves and hat. Goveswise it is best to have two pairs, one for 'normal' cold you can slip on and off easily and one for serious cold. Unless you are skidooing gloves should be okay but remember that mittens are warmer, even if they remind you or bits of string and pre school...
I bought some "ice climbing gloves" and they were pretty good.I went to Iceland with some friends in February. We originally planned on staying in a hotel in Reykjavik, and then going on trips out via coach, but ended up renting a cabin near Selfoss for a week and also hiring a car to get about. This ended up working quite well and exploring Iceland via hire car was actually very fun and it was a nice way to take in all the scenery. In terms of driving, the roads are pretty much empty and whilst the dirt roads are absolutely riddled with potholes, the paved ones were very good. We had quite bad weather for the week we were there, a lot of rain, but towards the end of the holiday, we saw that there was going to be reduced cloud coverage in the north so decided to take a chance and drive up there. It ended up being 24 hours of driving there and back (shared between me and 1 other), the scenery was breathtaking and after darkness fell and after much driving around, trying to find clear spots, we eventually found ourselves on the top of a mountain and saw some faint green mist in the sky. We all were quite happy at this point, having officially seen the fabled Northern Lights, but they were quite underwhelming, just a faint mist in the sky and the moon was constantly rising, making them even more difficult to see. We then drove along a little bit further down the mountain so the moon would be hidden from view and decided to stop again and shortly after the second stop, we were treated to an absolutely amazing display; surpassed all my expectations! They were surprisingly vivid, and watching the mist twist, contort and completely change shape was quite amazing. I think we stayed in the same position for over an hour, watching the show.
I'd highly recommend the cabin + hire car combo. Hunting for the Northern Lights yourself is a much more personal experience than doing it on a big coach with a load of strangers. Also, the cabin was excellent and on the nights with torrential rain (there were a few) it was really cosy. The hire car was rather expensive though, and you really do need to pay extra for the damage waivers; I'd also recommend a 4X4 over a normal car. We had a Hyundai i30, which performed admirably, but we weren't allowed on certain roads, and even the dirt roads you are allowed on can be a bit sketchy
Typing all that, I now want to go back and do it all again 
I hope you have a great time. I've pasted my set of photos below, if anyone's interested.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7978334@N03/sets/7215...
I'd highly recommend the cabin + hire car combo. Hunting for the Northern Lights yourself is a much more personal experience than doing it on a big coach with a load of strangers. Also, the cabin was excellent and on the nights with torrential rain (there were a few) it was really cosy. The hire car was rather expensive though, and you really do need to pay extra for the damage waivers; I'd also recommend a 4X4 over a normal car. We had a Hyundai i30, which performed admirably, but we weren't allowed on certain roads, and even the dirt roads you are allowed on can be a bit sketchy
Typing all that, I now want to go back and do it all again I hope you have a great time. I've pasted my set of photos below, if anyone's interested. http://www.flickr.com/photos/7978334@N03/sets/7215...
Interesting thread
I started to take an interest in Iceland after the OH told me how much she wants to go and then, even more so, after the TV programme where Julia Bradbury went to look at the volcano. So, we may be going in January for the OH's birthday. Icelandair allow you to create bespoke holidays on their website including flights, transfers, accommodation, excursions, etc. and all at seemingly reasonable prices.
I started to take an interest in Iceland after the OH told me how much she wants to go and then, even more so, after the TV programme where Julia Bradbury went to look at the volcano. So, we may be going in January for the OH's birthday. Icelandair allow you to create bespoke holidays on their website including flights, transfers, accommodation, excursions, etc. and all at seemingly reasonable prices.
Brilliant place to visit.
We booked excursions through the hotel reception, glacier hike/walk was superb, geyser tour incorporating a couple of stops at waterfalls was excellent also.
As someone else mentioned the whale watching trip wasn't up to much.
We actually saw a great northern lights 'show' on the coach between airport & hotel, much better than the night drive specifically to see them that we'd paid for!
Enjoy, the people are friendly & the food is amazing!
We booked excursions through the hotel reception, glacier hike/walk was superb, geyser tour incorporating a couple of stops at waterfalls was excellent also.
As someone else mentioned the whale watching trip wasn't up to much.
We actually saw a great northern lights 'show' on the coach between airport & hotel, much better than the night drive specifically to see them that we'd paid for!
Enjoy, the people are friendly & the food is amazing!
Chris_VRS said:
much better than the night drive specifically to see them that we'd paid for!
OP are you seeing a theme here The coach trip to go 'hunting for the Northern Lights' is a bit of a waste of money unless you like jumping on and off a coach 3-4 times in 2 hours and being surrounded by over excited Japanease people (mainly ladies) taking flash photos of anything that moves. You are unlikely to see that much and (being a bit dappy like) it is actually a bit special.
schmalex said:
Indeed. I am tempted to go down the route of hiring a 4x4 and doing it ourselves. There must be guides on the t'internet that show the most likely places to go to see the lights.
Id definitely recommend the 4x4 route. As far as I'm aware, the further north you go, the more likely you are to see them. Went in January.
Hotel Ranga is the place to stay - perfect for a viewing and the fish is to die for in the restaurant.
Have a look around but when I went it was cheapest to use:
Sleazyjet direct from Luton
Hotel & Car through Discover the World
They get discount Ranga rates so was cheaper than a direct booking (never known that before).
You will need to go Oct-Mar to see the lights. And take care in the hire car!
Hotel Ranga is the place to stay - perfect for a viewing and the fish is to die for in the restaurant.
Have a look around but when I went it was cheapest to use:
Sleazyjet direct from Luton
Hotel & Car through Discover the World
They get discount Ranga rates so was cheaper than a direct booking (never known that before).
You will need to go Oct-Mar to see the lights. And take care in the hire car!
matt3001 said:
Went in January.
Hotel Ranga is the place to stay - perfect for a viewing and the fish is to die for in the restaurant.
Have a look around but when I went it was cheapest to use:
Sleazyjet direct from Luton
Hotel & Car through Discover the World
They get discount Ranga rates so was cheaper than a direct booking (never known that before).
You will need to go Oct-Mar to see the lights. And take care in the hire car!
Sounds like you've done exactly what we will be doing Boxing Day!Hotel Ranga is the place to stay - perfect for a viewing and the fish is to die for in the restaurant.
Have a look around but when I went it was cheapest to use:
Sleazyjet direct from Luton
Hotel & Car through Discover the World
They get discount Ranga rates so was cheaper than a direct booking (never known that before).
You will need to go Oct-Mar to see the lights. And take care in the hire car!
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