The Thrill of the Chase: Chasing Northern Lights in Iceland
I've always been fascinated by the Northern Lights, so when I had the opportunity to travel to Iceland in the winter, I made it my mission to see them. I downloaded multiple aurora borealis forecast apps in preparation of the adventure and to hopefully give our Women Who Explore travel group the best chance to observe this natural phenomenon.
I arrived in Iceland in February, and I was immediately struck by the beauty of the country. The snow-capped mountains, waterfalls, and glistening glaciers were jaw-dropping. I spent the next few days exploring Iceland with our Women Who Explore group. We had epic days that were full of exploring ice caves, glacial hikes, and snowmobiling, but I must admit I was still most excited about the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights.
Everyday our group would check our collective apps to see aurora borealis activity prediction. If any activity was predicted, we would hold on to any hope for seeing the northern lights. At night, we would gather around to determine if we should go brave the cold to be on the lookout for the lights. One evening, while we were eating dinner, our waiter came over and mentioned that “the green lights are out!”. We all immediately dropped everything and ran outside.
I watched in amazement as the lights grew brighter and brighter. Soon, it was dancing across the sky in different shades of green. Mother nature was really outdoing herself -it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. We all stood in amazement trying to believe what we were seeing with our own eyes!
I could have stood there for hours, just watching the Northern Lights. I felt a sense of peace and awe that I had never felt before. It was truly an unforgettable experience. As quickly as they appeared they disappeared, and the magic was over. However, the thrill of waiting for the Northern Lights is something that I will never forget. It was a feeling of anticipation and excitement, mixed with a sense of wonder and awe.
If you're ever lucky enough to see the Northern Lights, I encourage you to take the time to appreciate the thrill of the chase. It's an experience that you'll never forget. Being able to share this experience with a group of like-minded ladies made it even better. I whole-heartedly recommend a trip to Iceland in the winter with Women Who Explore!
Author: Alana Bartolai is one of our Illinois Ambassadors
