Journey

Iceland in Winter – an unforgettable adventure

The landscape is stunning: volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls. Most visitors come in the summer on the island. Who in the Winter to Iceland dares, which is an adventure is guaranteed.

With bare hands and a small shovel digs Ingi Thorbjörnsson his way through the thick blanket of Snow on the shore of a Eisbachs. In front of him piles up a Gletscherarm of the mighty Eyjafjallajökull. Behind him, on the other side of the watercourse, waiting for the tour group. The Icelanders stretches the Arm out and helps one after the other through the crystal-clear stream. Then he leads his group over the self-made stairs in the deep snow, and encourages its guests to Continue: “Come!”

Tourism is the main industry

Who in the Winter for Island travels, should snow and bitter cold, like

Alone, the group would be probably not progressed. But because Thorbjörnsson paved the way, trudging all brave through the untouched snow. The goal always before your eyes, the blue shimmering, silky smooth ice of the glacier. From up here you can gaze into the vastness of Thorsmörk valley and to the snow-capped mountain range to enjoy.

In summer, the valley green, a fairytale landscape, with hikers popular. Now, in the Winter, it appears, because of his loneliness a little bit magical. “Many people don’t know how beautiful Iceland in Winter can be,” says Thorbjörnsson, the tourists have for decades through his home. During between June and August hundreds of thousands on the island of currents, and RVS as hotel rooms are booked quickly, campsites, Hotels and Restaurants in the dark, and is often closed.

The tourist office Promote Iceland wants tourists also in Winter, on the island of curls, because tourism has become the most important economic activity even before the traditional fishing developed. The Icelanders should also, in Winter, benefit from tourism.

Iceland is in the summer, especially popular with tourists

Iceland in the Winter as a “border experience”

But who Island in the Winter want to discover, you need an SUV with all-wheel drive, to the snow-covered scree dunes and Eispfützen can cross. Thorbjörnsson even drives a Superjeep, a specially equipped car over any terrain. With him, he comes fast in the Wilderness. For such a “borderline experiences” it is good to have someone to have, who knows, he says with a wink. “You can never know where danger is lurking.” In deep snow you can often find the paths no more, or overlook the dangerous Eispfützen. Driver, the not enough the terrain check, in the ice, will break and get stuck. “But we have a few people that can slide,” jokes Thorbjörnsson.

Instead of hustle and bustle and tourists, solitude and tranquility

Iceland’s landscapes are vast and lonely and just so breathtakingly beautiful

In the middle of the seemingly endless landscape of Snow suddenly appears a group of small huts. Soft Sofas and warm soup await the visitors of the “Volcano Huts” at the start of the Laugavegur. In the summer it is very busy, tells Ben Rehn, a German, in the cabins as a Volunteer works. For two years, try the operator, the business also in the Winter to boost. So far, however, is not nearly as much going on as in the summer. “On some winter days is even of no one,” says Rehn”

The former Icelandic Fußballnationalspieler Hermann Hreidarsson has set itself the goal of the Hotel infrastructure on the island to advance. In June 2014, he has his Hotel, the “Stracta” in Hella opened directly on the tourist route Golden Circle. The Hotel has 122 rooms, multiple hot tubs and saunas. The 41-Year-old wants three to four more Hotels in the next few years across the country to open. Tourists even in Winter to attract, costs of Overnight stays, approximately 30 percent less. “We try to show the people, like Iceland in the Winter really is – with all its relentless cold, the ice, the Wind and the snow,” said Hreidarsson. “It is an experience.” What an understatement! Probably more of a memorable adventure.