Though your first mental image of Iceland may be of a country crusted in ice, this isn’t actually the case. However, you can get your fill of some pretty amazing wintery weather when visiting, including a trip to see Vatnajökull, which is the largest glacier in the country.  This glacier may very well be where the image of Iceland covered in ice may come from, since it happens to cover more than eight percent of the country.  Just remember, as much as the southeast as this icy river may cover, there is still plenty of Iceland left uncovered.

Some Impressive Stats

The entire area of the Vatnajökull glacier covers more than eight thousand square kilometers, making it the largest ice cap in the whole of Europe in volume, and the second largest in area.  At its thickest point, the ice is one thousand meters thick, though it averages about four hundred meters thick for the whole of the glacier.

As you might imagine, something this impressive gets lots of visitors every year. In addition to a healthy tourist trade, Vatnajökull has also been featured in music videos and movies because of its sheer beauty.  You can also be a visitor and make your own photo and video memories of Vatnajökull when you visit Iceland.

Other Places to See

Of course, you can’t expect that Vatnajökull is the only exciting sight in Iceland. In fact, this country is widely regarded as having one of the most beautiful, unspoiled landscapes in the world.  While the beauty of Vatnajökull is certainly something you should see, you can also take the time to visit some of the famous volcanoes, geysers, and other geothermal phenomena in the area.  In fact, there are even volcanoes located underneath Vatnajökull, though you may not see them unless they’re erupting.

While you’re in the area of Vatnajökull, you can see Hvannadalshnúkur, which is Iceland’s highest peak.  It’s located on the southern side of Vatnajökull, very close to the Skaftafell National Park.  As you might imagine, the Skaftafell National Park is another must-see when you’re visiting the area.

Where to Stay

Some of these places of interest are located pretty far from city life. That doesn’t mean you have to choose a hotel far away and travel hours to the sights you want to see.  Instead, you may want to consider renting a private cottage or cabin in the Iceland countryside.  These cabins and cottages will allow you and your family to stay out in the wide-open spaces, and that means you won’t be dealing with thousands of other visitors to the country all in the same hotel.

You can get many of the same amenities in your private cottage or cabin, too.  Simply choose the area in which you’d like to stay, and you’ll see a list of the cabins and cottages that are available.  At that point, you can specify the luxuries you’d like to enjoy during your stay, and you’ll be given a list of cabins from which to choose.  You’ll be able to thoroughly enjoy your Iceland visit without restraints!

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