Northern Lights - most impressive in 50 years

Northern Lights: the most impressive in 50 years

By Annabel | Published: December 19, 2011

Cox & Kings’ Toby Langley tells us why now is such a good time to start planning a trip to Iceland, with the Northern Lights reportedly going to be at their most impressive in the next few months.

The “Northern Lights” are a unique natural phenomena, which will be at their most intense for 50 years this winter season between December 2011 and March 2012. Optimal conditions require no light pollution, a clear sky and preferably no wind, and such are the perfect conditions this year that NASA scientists have predicted the northern lights could even be seen as far south as Rome. Iceland is the place to be for the ultimate show however, as the last time the solar cycle peaked, in 2000, the lights were visible every day in the winter months.

I travelled from Reykjavik to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, a stunning drive along the coast with views of the surrounding mountains and extinct calderas. The settlement museum at Borgarnes is a must see en-route, as it gives an excellent audio tour of Icelandic history and one of the more important Sagas.

From Borgarnes, the scenery becomes ever more impressive as you reach the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, one of the most dramatic and scenic parts of Iceland. The mighty Snaefellsjokull Glacier was the inspiration for Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Centre of the Earth” and dominates the landscape.

Hotel Budir, on the southern side of the peninsula, is an isolated twin gabled boutique property with commanding views out to sea.

Cox & Kings organise a number of luxury tours to Iceland, where visitors can experience the splendour of the Northern Lights.

Northern Lights: the most impressive in 50 years

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