In contrast to the country's name, Iceland is not an especially cold country and neither is it particularly mountainous. However, there are still a number of good resorts offering ski and snowboard action between the months of November and March. Aside from skiing, there is a plethora of other outdoor activities to enjoy in Iceland including kayaking, river rafting, ice-climbing, horseback riding and snowmobiling.
Located a short distance from Reykjavík is Blafjoll, Iceland’s largest ski resort.
Here you'll find slopes to suit all abilities; many are illuminated for night skiing. Blafjoll offers a range of groomed pistes, the majority of which are aimed at novices and intermediates, with the remainder suitable for advanced skiers. Reykjavik is close and provides a wealth of après-ski and evening entertainment options.
Meanwhile, Hlidarfjall is one of Iceland’s premier ski resorts and can be found just four miles outside of Akureyri. The resort offers great cross country and off-piste action as well as seven miles of pistes aimed at beginner to upper-intermediate skiers. For snowboarders there's a terrain park providing a variety of obstacles, while floodlights illuminate a number of pistes for those fond of night-time skiing.
The town at Akureyri has a good range of facilities including accommodation, shops and entertainment options.
Air travel to Iceland is limited to the country's two airlines, both of which service flights to Reykjavik. Icelandair has flights from a range of international destinations, while Iceland Express has flights from London and Copenhagen. The Smyril Line ferry company operates services to Seyðisfjörður in western Iceland from a range of neighbouring destinations including Shetland and Bergen, the Faroe Islands, Denmark, Hanstholm and Norway.
Winter holidays present travellers with a number of risks to health and personal property. Snow sports in particular can result in injury and expensive hospital bills. For peace of mind on your holiday, we strongly advise that you take out travel insurance for you and your family.
