This was the best vacation we’ve ever had. There were four things that made this vacation absolutely outstanding:
First: the location- between the Northern lights and the snowy forest and river landscapes, this place is heaven on earth.
Second: the guides- Janne and Lars made this a really special trip. It’s clear that they love their jobs and their location. Lars makes all of the bread fresh daily and his kitchen staff is so talented. All of the food was delicious. Janne is such a great outdoorsman (Janne was our main guide for the trip)- it was so neat hearing of all of the training experiences he’s had. They were both so knowledgable about all of the wildlife in the area.
Third: the activities. The activities were so great! The snowshoeing and cross-country skiing was challenging and fun. I loved them both, and I even had time to improve my new skiing skills over the trip (my husband wants to continue in our winters at home!). Then the dog-sledding, reindeer-sleighing and learning about the Sami culture and visiting with a Sami reindeer herder were once-in-a-lifetime experiences. They were amazing, and I will never forget them.
Finally, the fourth thing that made this trip fabulous was: the group. I wonder if Exodus just calls to people who you really want to spend time with. We loved the entire group, and they made this vacation amazing. They were supportive in all of our falling-down efforts, no one felt they had to outdo anyone else, and our evenings of downtime while we chased the Northern lights were all so much fun! We’ll definitely book with Exodus again!
Iceland Winter Holidays
Top Winter Holidays in Iceland
Top 5 Natural Wonders to See on Iceland Winter Holidays
Skogafoss Waterfall: Iceland is known throughout the world for its impressive waterfalls and while there are many to choose from, Skogafoss is one of the biggest and most beautiful in the country. Plummeting down a 60-metre-tall cliff face into the Skoga River below, the cascade is captivating. You might even be fortunate enough to see a rainbow form across the waters or the Northern Lights dancing in the sky above. To appreciate the full force of the waterfall, get close up and feel the spray on your face and to listen to its tremendous roar.
Myrdalsjokull Glacier: Stretching for approximately 600 square kilometres on top of Katla volcano on the South Coast of Iceland, Myrdalsjokull is a beast of a glacier and one of the biggest in the country. The giant ice cap is made up of smaller glaciers and two glacial tongues called Sólheimajökull and Kötlujökull. The frozen landscape is an incredible sight and the ash clouds created from Katla volcano add to the unearthly and almost dreamlike scenery.
Northern Lights: The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis as they’re otherwise known, are among the most sought-after phenomena in the world owing to their unpredictable behaviour and, of course, their unsurpassable beauty. Often seen frolicking across dark, Artic skies, the dancing waves of neon-coloured lights are spellbinding and are possibly one of the most beautiful sights you’ll ever witness in your lifetime. Sightings of the Northern Lights can never be guaranteed but to optimise your chances it’s best to visit Iceland in the winter months between November and February and head out to somewhere where there is no interference from artificial lights.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: Formed by increasing temperatures since the mid -20th century, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon lies within Vatnajokull National Park and is one of the most extraordinary natural wonders in Iceland, if not the world. Although the lagoon isn’t very wide, it is up to 250 metres deep in some places. As smaller pieces of ice break away from the glacier, the water becomes strewn with icebergs. It’s incredible to hear the loud creaking sounds and watch the different coloured icebergs continually shifting on the water. When the weather allows, you can walk along the perimeter of the lagoon or explore on a Zodiac boat ride where you might spot a seal or two.
Geysir Hot Springs: Found inside Iceland’s famous Golden Circle, the Geysir Hot Spring area is home to many active geysers and bubbling mud pools. The oldest and previously one of the most impressive is Great Geyser, whose eruptions were believed to reach a staggering 170 metres high. Nowadays it is less active and Strokkur has become the new favourite. Although its heights reached are considerably lower at 30 metres, it is the most active in the Geysir Hot Springs area, with eruptions occurring approximately every few minutes.
Jennifer Klein Arctic Circle Aurora Adventure
Mark Bershatsky Finnish Wilderness WeekA whole week’s worth of “things I’ve never done before” experiences! A wide variety of winter-oriented activities, each of them special in their own right. Basecamp provided some great accomodations (both food and lodging) and the guides were first class. Strongly recommend for anyone who is looking for a winter getaway. I have been on six adventure-oriented trips with a travel group and this was my favorite one.
Gail Hopper Finnish Wilderness WeekA fantastic trip, where I became bored with hearing myself use the word magical.
Great setting, fabulous activities, super guides and instruction, wonderful company, good food and accommodation and the Aurora to boot. What was not to like?
The Adventure Begins Here
Get regular inspiration straight to your inbox from Exodus’ experts.