I needed an amazing location for my birthday, something on my bucket list. I thought and thought and researched and read and finally decided on Iceland in winter! Lots of people thought I was crazy to go in winter but somehow I found 7 of my favorite people to go with me.

Traveling to Iceland in winter increases your chances of seeing the Northern Lights but also limits you to just the south side of the island and sometimes some adverse weather conditions. I decided it would be worth it to me and man was it! The south coast of Iceland is just stunning. We decided to do a self-drive tour so we could just stay with our group, have flexibility, and see the things WE wanted to see. We had two great 4x4 vehicles, a map, a huge to-see list, and we set off.

Waterfalls! Oh my they are stunning in the winter although some of them are a little tricky to get to with the ice, rivers, and snow. Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui, Skogafoss, Hestavaðsfoss, Nauthúsagil, Urriðafoss, Mögáfoss, and Gulfoss were some of the waterfalls we saw and trekked to. Put those spikes on your shoes and go for it! Prepare to get a little wet. 

Caves! Don't miss the ice caves or the lava caves. The eastern most part of our journey was in Jökulsárlón (where you MUST go to glacier lagoon and see the icebergs which are also adjacent to Diamond Beach). From there we went to Vatnajökull Ice Cave. Such a crazy and surreal experience! We walked up a glacier with 60 mph winds to get to the entrance. We felt like we were on Everest! Once in the cave, the beauty is indescribable as you walk through layers of beautiful bubbly and blue ice that is 1000's of years old. The lava caves were a completely different experience but are a must see in the winter as that is the only time to see the ice stalagmites. The red rock, alien bacteria (ask your guide) and deeply carved lava tunnels are stunning. It is so amazing what nature can do!

The Golden Circle! Þingvellir National Park was super interesting with the rift where the Eurasian/North American tectonic plates meet. Some of the brave in our group snorkeled in the rift! Beautiful iced over lakes, geysers, waterfalls, hiking trails. This is a place I would love to explore more in the summer!

Hot Springs! So many hot springs and geothermal pools to choose from, commercial and otherwise. We chose Sky Lagoon. Admittance is capped so it isn't loaded with people and we loved the 7-step ritual including the cold pool, sauna, salt scrub, and steam room. So relaxing and peaceful.

Aurora Borealis! In our 8 days there, there was only one night when the northern lights were visible and they were bright and stunning! We were so lucky. We literally drove 3 minutes out of Selfoss, pulled off on a side road, took out the tripods and cameras and were treated to a SHOW.

Reykjavik! Last, but not least, is the beautiful capital city. Bright colors, winding streets, AMAZING food (make sure and have lamb, hot dogs, and fish and chips somewhere along the way), friendly people, so clean, so captivating. It is a city not to miss.

If Iceland isn't on your bucket list, put it there! So many things to see and do and experience.

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