Photo Credit: Demilked

One of the most magical places on Earth has to be Iceland. Its charm is like no other, with natural wonders in the form of both ice and fire elements from the volcanoes and ice glaciers.

Known for boasting the most beautiful landscapes, Iceland is mystical, alluring and wild. There is no knowing what you will find at every turn, for the place is a vast volcanic site home to endless geysers, ice caves, waterfalls, volcanoes and much more.

Its beauty has intrigued many travellers and explorers over the past decade, which means that the number of visitors has increased significantly. Despite so, Iceland still retains all of its magic till today.

And if you have been thinking of where you should go on your next holiday, here are 7 Reasons Why Iceland Should Be On The Top Of Your Bucket List.

Photo Credit: World For Travel

#1 VIEW MAJESTIC WATERFALLS

Waterfalls are one of Mother Nature’s greatest creations and you will be impressed with the ones in Iceland. There are simply too many majestic waterfalls in Iceland to count.

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The Goðafoss, for example, is a wide waterfall located in the Northern region of Iceland and its name translates to “Waterfall of the Gods”.

Dettifoss is another dominant waterfall that has been crowned as Europe’s most powerful waterfall.

Skogafoss is loved for having a rainbow which is visible on sunny days.

Photo Credit: National Geographic

#2 PAT ICELANDIC HORSES

These pony-sized creatures are the darlings of Icelanders and it is not difficult to see why. They are sturdy animals that are used for farming, racing and recreation.

Photo Credit: Gray Line Iceland

#3 DIP INTO THE BLUE LAGOON

Enough of scrolling through your Instagram feed, feeling all envious of people who have been posting their photos in Blue Lagoon. Time to make a trip there yourself to see the real deal!

And if you have been wondering why many of the people appear to have white faces in their pictures, that’s because you get to put on the Silica Mud Mask at the Silica bar!

Photo Credit: Stewart Smith Photography

#4 CAPTURE IMAGES OF THE ERUPTING GEYSER

The word geyser means “spouting hot springs”. Strokkur is one of the most active spouting spring in Iceland and visitors get to see gurgling pools and geysers erupting—up to 40 meters from the ground.

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Photo Credit: Stuck In Iceland

#5 WALK ALONG BLACK SAND BEACHES

Due to a large number of volcanoes in Iceland, the volcanic ash that settled afterwards form the most amazing black sand beaches.

Reynisfjara shore is a well-known black sand beach in Iceland with a backdrop setting featuring a cliff of regular basalt columns and birds of different breeds such as puffins and fulmars flying in the air.

Photo Credit: arctic adventures

#6 SOAK YOUR FEET IN A GEOTHERMAL POOL

Going for an outdoor soak is a true Icelandic experience, so this is something you have to put on your list!

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Besides the Blue Lagoon, there are plenty of other options to take a dip in. Reykjadalur or “Steam Valley” can be found in the South of Iceland and the hot streams are what you should be looking out for!

The Secret Lagoon built in 1891 is the oldest pool in Iceland—the pool has recently been renovated and reopened to the public once again.

#7 WITNESS THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

This is probably already on every nature lover’s bucket list but we are still listing this down anyway because it is such a phenomenon. Being one of the most unpolluted places on Earth, there is really nowhere better to catch the Northern lights.

The best time to view the Northern Lights in Iceland is from September to mid-April. That is when the sky is at its darkest and you can witness the Aurora Borealis in its full glory!

The aurora is a jaw-dropping natural light phenomenon that has been fascinating human civilisations since medieval times. These stunning displays are not related to the supernatural, but are simply a result of the collision between earth’s gas atoms and charged particles from the sun’s atmosphere.

Auroras take place in high-latitude regions and one can witness these spectacular formations at either of the magnetic poles during specific periods each year.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the auroras are known as ‘Aurora Borealis’, while auroras in Southern Hemisphere are called ‘Aurora Australis’. There are many aurora variations and they could exist in blue, green, pink, red and/or ultraviolet colours. Similarly, the shapes of the Northern and Southern lights could vary from curtain-like arcs to diffused flickering patches.

In this installation, we share more about Aurora Forecast for 2016 and the 5 Best Places to Catch Them.

#1 FINLAND

Aurora Period: November to April

Although Finland’s aurora season might stretch across for almost half a year, there are only an estimated 20 nights out of this period where all stars are aligned for you to catch the aurora. Simply because not all nights are cloudless; it is ultimately all about being timely and lucky. Your chances are increased between 7pm to 2am.

Levi and Saariselkä in Finland are popular ski resorts in Finland for aurora viewing.

Source: Tony Prower

#2 ICELAND

Aurora Period: September to mid April

Icelanders are terribly spoilt when it comes to witnessing the breathtaking auroras. They can catch the Northern Lights almost all year round and even within capital of Iceland’s proximity!

Drive 15 minutes away from Reykjavik city and towards Bessastadir area to catch the dancing lights from afar. Or if you would like a closer view, then take a five-hour one-way car journey to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon for an unrivalled experience.

Source: Frank Andreassen

#3 NORWAY

Aurora Period: Late September to mid March

Located right above the Arctic Circle, Norway is truly befitting of its title “Kingdom of Light”. Head to Northern Norway or the Svalbard Islands for a spellbindingly beautiful light show.

Based on scientific studies, Northern Norway is definitely the best place on earth to view the Northern Lights. This is due to the fact that the aurora belt hits Northern Norway’s Lofoten Islands and the lights continue its trajectory towards North Cape.

Source: Fay Vincent, Dundee & Angus

#4 SCOTLAND

Aurora Period: January

We bet you did not know that the breathtaking auroras can too be admired from United Kingdom! As mentioned previously, extremely clear and dark skies are key conditions to spot auroras with your naked eyes.

The Scottish islands of The Outer Hebrides and Scotland’s archipelago Shetland are prime aurora viewing spots due to their minimal light pollution and low population.

Source: Fredik Broman

#5 SWEDEN

Aurora Period: Late September to end March

Sweden has several spots during wintertime that are excellent for viewing the Northern Lights, namely Abisko National Park’s Torneträsk Lake and Jukkasjärvi Village. Both locations are extremely remote – after all, you can only spot the auroras during winter when the sky is clear and dark.

The village of Jukkasjärvi is home to one of the world’s first ice hotel where staff can arrange guided tours to catch the aurora borealis.

Disclaimer: The above dates are an approximation based on the past few years’ aurora periods and intended to serve as a rough guide to aid those who wish to plan for their trips next year. Nature is essentially unpredictable and it is very hard to pinpoint down to the exact dates even with data.