Why visit Iceland?
Well…
Our volcanic landscapes provide a wonderful setting for a natural history holiday. Whether your interest is in wild flowers, birds, whales or simply Iceland's spectacular scenery a visit here is both immensely rewarding and enjoyable.
Remarkable habitats provide many splendid opportunities to encounter wildlife and wild places. Iceland lies in the Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Arctic Circle, and its area is roughly comparable to that of England.
For many visitors the coastline leaves a lasting impression. Millions of seabirds return each spring to breed. Puffins usually provide the highlight of a visit to a seabird colony — cliff-top birdwatching with countless thousands of these birds flying around is a simply unforgettable experience.
Birdwatchers are eager to see Iceland’s special species and often include a visit to Lake Mývatn in their plans. The area is home to thousands of ducks feeding on insect larvae in the lake's shallow waters. Great northern divers (common loons) are found on the larger lakes and their haunting cries are a feature of the Icelandic wilderness.
Iceland’s mountains and moorlands are home to a surprising diversity of wild flowers. In summer the ground is covered with mountain avens, moss campion, thrift and bilberry as well as other less common plants which make a botanical visit so agreeable.
Volcanoes are still creating Iceland's incredible landscapes. The country is one of the world's most active volcanic areas and evidence of this is all around. Lava fields, ash mountains, fissures and other volcanic features present geologists and geographers with the raw material for their special interests, while the rest of us simply marvel at the unique scenery.
With so much volcanic heat close to the surface geothermal phenomena — hot springs, boiling mud pools, geysers and so on — are commonplace and easily visited.
The ice caps and glaciers that give the country its name often dominate the landscape and prove irresistible to photographers.
Iceland is one of the best places in the world to see the aurora borealis. If you visit in winter or early spring you have a good chance of seeing the remarkable northern lights.
Nordic peoples settled Iceland around 1100 years ago and their stories are described in the famous Icelandic sagas. These masterpieces of medieval literature provide a vivid insight to the ways people lived in those days. The farms and settlements described in the sagas are still very much a part of the modern Icelandic landscape.
With so much natural interest within a relatively compact geographical area Iceland offers many opportunities for fieldwork and educational visits.
Travelling in Iceland is straightforward and it's easy to get here from Europe and North America.
We hope you will choose to visit and learn more about our wildlife and landscapes.
