Earthquakes in Iceland

Every now and then our young country reminds us of what dwells just below the surface. A quake and then it's over. You raise your head from the pillow wondering what woke you up and go right back to sleep. In Iceland there is a lot of activity these days. Series of earthquakes measuring from 6.4 (a year ago) to hardly noticeable 2.5. The main areas with unease now are the Reykjanes peninsula, the area around Myrdals glacier (South Coast), and above the great Vatna Glacier close to the Volcano Askja.

We are expecting an eruption in one or more of Iceland's most famous Volcanoes such as Hekla, Askja, Katla and Bardarbunga. Hekla is due and has been for some time as it has a regular eruption every 50 years (only counting major events) and the last big one was in the year 1947. Exciting times and a lot of interest for private tours to an eventual site if things start to warm up.

An eruption always has a series of earthquakes shaking the ground prior to the event and Icelandic scientists are good at predicting such events ahead of time. Most active areas are at safe distances from where people live but Katla could though create a problem. It is in the middle of the Myrdals Glacier and that could cause flooding and disruption in traffic since the bridges over the rivers are normally not dimensioned to cope with so much water.

For anyone not accustomed to the earth moving under their feet or volcanic eruptions this all surely sounds like danger, danger, danger, but it really isn't. Earthquakes in Iceland are almost always small, so small you hardly notice them unless your either lying down or sitting in a chair. Besides. We have people working 24/7 monitoring and on the alert to make life safe.

Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights

It is not uncommon to read how tourist brochures paint out the unsaid guaranty of seeing the Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights. All you have to do is come and they are there, the tourist brochures bluntly claims. It sometimes sounds as if the Northern Lights are a constant, which is far from what reality is like at all. The Northern lights can be seen across the whole northern hemisphere but only if the conditions are right.

The conditions I am talking about are:

• It must be night (dark).
• It must be clear skies.
• It must be cold (preferably minus temperature).
• You must be out side the city lights (or very vaguely lit).
• The Sun must have had eruptions (sun bursts) very recently.
• The particle cloud from the Sun must hit the place on earth you are at.

These facts are just some pointers to what must be in place for people to see the Northern Lights. Although the conditions seem complicated, the fact is that they often are present in Iceland — especially up by the north coast, making the chances to see the Northern Lights reasonably good. Unfortunately, the guaranty to see them can never be given and that makes it even more unfortunate that tourist brochures indicate the opposite.

A tour to Iceland in search of the Northern Lights is still a good choice since Iceland has them and so many other unique sites and surroundings to offer. If the luck turns against you and the weather is cloudy for the whole time here, the chance of having a great time is without doubt.

Check out available day tours offered by Choice Tours Iceland

Day Tours in Iceland

There are many different setups of day tours to be made from Reykjavik. These tours are ones such as the Golden Circle, the Black Beach, the Blue Lagoon/Reykjanes tour and many others. Then again there are many day tours that should not be included in such a setup. The reason is that they take up to 14-16 hours to complete and that, in my opinion, is way to much time to spend driving from one destination to another.

Sample day tours in Iceland in that category are the Snaefellsnes Peninsula day tour and the Glacier Lagoon day tour. Both these day tours take at least 10 hours or more to complete and especially the Glacier Lagoon tour is a long one. It is understandable that people want to see interesting places like these two, but there is also a question whether it is worth the money if you "rush by" or are herded to and from the small but equally interesting places on route to the intended destination. There is therefore all reason to give these questions a thought before you decide which type of tour you want.

To clarify what I mean, let me make a small count of places to see on the way to the Glacier Lagoon. To begin with there is the row of "path guides" up on Hellisheidi, and then there are places like Urrida water fall, Seljalands water fall, Skogar water fall, Black Beach, Vikurdrangar, Kirkjubaear Closter, Laka Craters — not to mention all the glaciers along the way and many other small but interesting sites that in combination to the Glacier Lagoon make a fuller picture of the area.

Take a look at the available day tours in Iceland.

Excursions and Travel in Iceland.

It is difficult to make plans about travel in a country you visit for the first time. Questions like: What does it cost? How distant are the places you want to see from the place you are staying? How do I get there? and many more like that. Iceland is one of those exciting places that tickles the curiosity but it is also a place well known to be horribly expensive to travel!! But ... Is it really so expensive? Since the crash this is a modified reality as in comparison the prices have devaluated by 40% at least against most currencies and that means that finally it is doable to travel in Iceland without losing an arm and a leg.

There are many ways of traveling in Iceland but most people that come here do so by bus. It is surely a convenient, somewhat crowded way but, and in my view, the second best choice. With the new era of crashed economy an option of travel in Iceland is getting a private coach with guidance. It is quite possible now to get affordable prices or even at the same price as the buses. One such agent is e.g., Choice Tours. Choice Tours mostly arrange tours around the South-West region of Iceland and take 1-5 persons at the time.

The most popular places to visit in Iceland are within the South-West region. It is an area of 120.000 km² or so which means most destinations can be driven to in a "day tour" and many of those destinations can even be compiled into a one day tour. Again Choice Tours, I found out, are more than willing to assist in such a compilation saving the traveler both time and money. I am sure there are others too that offer the same.

Take a look at the available day tours in Iceland

Tour to Iceland

Born from eruptions and forged in the fires of lava the island of Iceland should be on your list of tours to go to. There are few places in the world that so boldly and naked show the energy dwelling in the earth. Riddled with volcanoes and hot spots of geothermal energy and scarred by rivers and contrasts of mountains, meadows and wasteland the picturesque scenery is unique.

Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and far away from other civilizations Iceland and its people offer you sharp contrasts to the everyday international norm. Friendly and open care, almost bare, still guides the life and existence in Iceland making a tour to Iceland well worth your while. It is a well known fact that, while traveling, the way we are treated by the local people affects how we feel about the whole tour.

A tour to Iceland is an adventure into times so largely forgotten in modern society framed by a nature and visual confetti.

Take a look at the available day tours in Iceland