The idea of winter camping in Iceland is both beautiful and sort of romantic. Landscapes are picturesquely ideal; the solitude allows you to deeply enjoy the surroundings. But leaving that idealistic idea behind, none of this would be possible with some preparation and certain skills.
Winter Camping in Iceland
Winter is dazzling but tough and dangerous too. If you do not prepare properly, you might end up being cold, hungry, uncomfortable. Then all this Winter Camping in Iceland will turn un-fun and probably a nightmare that can ruin a valuable day of your holiday. That is why we decided to write this article, so you find some guide and tips to make the most out of your camping experience.
We highly recommend checking authorized camping areas, even if you are not in a remote area. Camping anywhere in Iceland is no longer permitted. In order to avoid problems, check for official camping sites, it is safer and legal!
There are two ways of camping: with a motorhome or with a tent.
Tent camping
If you happen to rent a vehicle and just decide to bring a tent to spend the nights out in the Icelandic nature, be sure to:
Seek Proper Shelter
It seems pretty obvious but common sense is not always there!
To start off, get a good tent. This is the most important point to be comfortable and safe. There are many tents out there that are 4-season tents or even specially made for the winter season. These tents will for sure have a better insulation and therefore keep the cold away.
Be sure to have a mat between you and the tent floor. This should be completely tucked inside the tent walls. Winter Camping in Iceland can be quite humid, so this will provide a barrier between you and the cold, wet ground.
The tent should be well stuck into the ground. Gusts can be rough and tough in Iceland; we just do not want our tent to blow away…
Keep Warm
Now that your tent is properly set, let’s try to keep warm inside of your brand new tiny house. For this, get a good sleeping bag. They do come with different level of comfort and temperature regulation. Check the weather conditions before traveling to Iceland, get to know the lowest temperatures out there so you can choose your sleeping bag accordingly.
Same applies for jackets and liners. Clothes should also be able to keep the cold and humidity away.
Eat Properly
You will spend hours and hours hiking, doing some sports and making your body work by creating heat. That means calories will be burnt constantly so you do have to keep those calories coming.
Winter Camping in Iceland is not compatible with a low-calorie diet. Taking chocolates and mainly carbohydrates and proteins will help your body through this task. You will feel energized again as this will provide enough fuel for the day!
Do not forget about proper hydration. As the weather can get very cold, be sure to bring a bottle isolating pack. This will prevent your bottled water from getting frozen and therefore you being unable to take a sip.
Camper or Motorhome Camping
Half of hassle is pretty much done. A camper or motorhome provides already a nice shelter place to be. Most vehicles come with heating system that works with a spare battery. This allows you to keep the heating on while the engine is off.
Eating properly still applies in this case. Driving through landscapes is not consider hiking! It is still your body that will work to take you places, feed it properly
Check for the right facilities
Not every camping site have the same facilities. Be sure to head to one where you have waste disposal. Motorhomes needs to get their septic tanks dumped and many campsites offer this lavatory disposal service.