If you’re heading to Iceland in the winter, you’ll be treated to some of the best weather and landscapes of the year. Icelanders refer to this time as white season, and it’s certainly appropriate. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to do winter adventures like snowmobile tours, horseback riding through snowy forests, hiking on ice-capped mountains, and much more. In fact, if you’re planning on visiting Iceland in the wintertime, these are 6 Iceland winter adventures you don’t want to miss.
6 Iceland Winter Adventures You Don’t Want to Miss
1) Ice walking
This is a must do during your visit in winter time. Ice walking takes place on the frozen lakes of Thingvellir National Park, and can be done solo or with a group. It’s a moderate walk out onto the ice, there’s not too much incline, and you can make it as long or short as you like. When people head out they should dress appropriately with good shoes, dress clothes are optional. The tour guide will tell stories about ancient Icelanders that used to travel by horseback over these lakes. After an hour-long adventure you will get back on land and then warm up at a nearby restaurant before heading back home.
2) Ice climbing
Ice climbing is a great way to get outside and enjoy the winter while adding some fun risks and challenges. No ice climbing experience is needed as you will be on marked trails where guides are present at all times. The height of the climb ranges from 15-35 feet, but it can seem taller when you’re on top looking down. A guide accompanies each group with crampons, ice axes, ropes, and helmets. One thing that sets this activity apart from others is that after a while your hands warm up enough to grip your axe without gloves which adds an interesting challenge.
3) Ice biking
Ice biking is a relatively new sport that was created when two Icelandic mountain bike riders discovered the potential for using bikes in wintertime. Biking over snow and ice can be a surprisingly different experience from biking on pavement, but it’s an experience worth trying out at least once. Besides the pure exhilaration of zooming across snowy landscapes, ice biking can also serve as an excellent workout for your legs and cardiovascular system.
4) Snowmobiling
Iceland is the perfect place for a winter adventure and snowmobiling is one of the best ways to enjoy your time there. One of the most popular winter time activities in Iceland is snowmobiling. To rent a snowmobile, head over to Goecco who have different types of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles on offer at affordable prices. A few destinations where you can explore frozen glaciers, the “Blue Blob”, and streams on this machine are: The Skogafoss waterfall, Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Sólheimajökull glacier, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Vatnajökull glacier, and ice cave tour at Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
5) Go skiing
There are five ski areas in Iceland. After enjoying the sunny summer days, why not enjoy snow? Hlidarfjall, on the east coast of the peninsula is a great place for downhill or cross-country skiing. Not far from Reykjavik either. Toftir and Akureyri both have good slopes and trails as well.
6) Go dog-sledding
Dogsledding is a great way to get up close and personal with the landscape. If you’ve never experienced winter in Iceland, dogsledding should be on your bucket list. It’s a fast paced adventure that takes you over uneven terrain, into deep snow drifts, and even across frozen lakes.
