ARE YOU READY FOR ICELAND?

Experience winter expeditions and treks in Iceland

This is your chance to discover Iceland. The inhospitable land with landscapes that make you understand that people believe in elves. 80% of Icelanders believe in this little people. Now that you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking: how quaint. But once you get there and when you enter the interior, you understand where that comes from.

Enter, for example, the jagged landscape at Myvatn in the North. Coppice and heath have shapes so different from what you are used to. Myvatn is located near Akureiri, which lies to the north. All of the country’s cities lie land the coast and Iceland’s interior is virtually uninhabited. The capital Reykjavik has the most inhabitants in the country, which in total has only about as many inhabitants as the city of Utrecht.

Iceland, elves and tourists

In summer, this country is flooded with tourists. About a million. That’s the reason more highways were built. Until there were accidents and even a death during construction. The Icelanders knew why: they had moved rocks. And boulders are dwelling places of elves. How did they solve this? The new roads now curve around the boulders.

In the freezing cold, take a warm winter bath in a heat source

Icelanders read a lot, because they can’t do anything else, in winter. Yes, of course they can bathe in hot springs. You probably know it by hearsay, but to experience it! In the freezing cold you lower yourself into a warm bath and then you stay underwater against the cold. All around you is only snow and ice and inhospitality. Your bath is carved into the rocks. A unique experience.

See the Northern Lights in Iceland on an expedition

Far above the Arctic Circle, you have the greatest chance of seeing the Northern Lights. The Aurora Borealis. This natural phenomenon is there year-round. But in winter, conditions are ideal for the Northern Lights. How so? It should be dark enough. If there is a lot of light, you can’t see the Northern Lights. Just like with us the stars during the day. Furthermore, it must be cloudless.

What exactly is the Northern Lights? The Northern Lights occur high in the atmosphere, above the clouds. Due to solar activity, electrons come to Earth. At the pole’s magnetic field, these particles are drawn toward the earth. This causes the Northern Lights. A unique light phenomenon that you must have seen once.

So put this one on your bucket list. Come discover the Northern Lights during one of Arctic Adventure’s expeditions.

The animals in Iceland

Animals in Iceland are small. In particular, there are mosquitoes. There are many of these, especially around the lakes, such as at Lake Myvatn. Furthermore, the clean and clear waters in and around Iceland are very rich in fish, such as salmon, trout, flatfish and cod. And the only larger mammal found in Iceland is the arctic fox. If you are lucky, you will see them in the distance moving forward in all their gracefulness.

Whales live in the sea and on the coast you will find seals. Iceland is an important habitat for a variety of birds and bird species. Many species of ducks and geese are found there. There are also seabirds, wading birds and rare raptors such as the snowy owl. The wild swan is common in Reykjavík. Iceland is home to wintering birds as well as birds that use it for resting, breeding or foraging. For example, the puffin is common (60 percent of the world’s population). The guillemot is also common along coasts with cliffs.

Our expeditions in Iceland

You, too, can experience this. You can become one with Iceland’s fairytale and inhospitable nature during one of our expeditions. In Iceland we organize the Blue label expeditions and Red label expeditions. Approachable expeditions for the sports enthusiast with perseverance.

Our expeditions in other arctic countries

We also organize expeditions in other countries. For example:

• the Heroes of Telemark expedition in Norway
• the Crossing of the ice sheet of Greenland.