A journey to Iceland offers an incredible experience, and witnessing the Northern Lights is undoubtedly a remarkable highlight!
Further details will be elaborated upon later in this article…
Prior to my arrival in Iceland, I was particularly excited about visiting Hotel Laki.
This anticipation stemmed from multiple factors, one being the promise of witnessing the Northern Lights directly from the comfort of my room, but perhaps the most significant was the five-course Icelandic dinner planned, featuring locally sourced ingredients.
If dining is involved, I am always interested, and this experience was particularly special.
It provided an opportunity to partake in authentic Icelandic cuisine, and following our visit to Dyrhólaey, we proceeded directly to Hotel Laki.
However, we could not resist taking a few roadside selfies before we continued our journey…
It seems I am gradually improving in capturing “roadside-jumping-photos”!
Eventually, we resumed our travels towards Hotel Laki.
Hotel Laki is situated in a remote area, providing ample space and visibility for miles around.
This absence of light pollution renders it an ideal location for observing the Northern Lights.
Moreover, there is a rooftop area that provides a vantage point for viewing the Northern Lights, alongside amenities such as a tea, coffee, and hot chocolate station to keep guests warm while eagerly awaiting the natural spectacle.
Additionally, the hotel is family-run, allowing visitors to learn about its origin and meet the proprietors.
Upon our arrival, we took the time to explore the hotel grounds…
A perfect example of the expansive visibility available.
Visitors were quick to capture the breathtaking scenery with their cameras!
After which, we proceeded to our rooms to deposit our belongings.
The view from the rooms was equally impressive.
There was nothing but picturesque countryside, mountains, and distant glaciers.
Next, we proceeded to the hotel restaurant for dinner.
However, dinner was not the five-course meal initially mentioned (that would occur later), yet it was still exceptional.
We began with a warming soup!
In all honesty, the hotel provided a comfortable and warm atmosphere, thus the soup offered nourishment rather than necessity.
Next, we enjoyed authentic Icelandic lamb as our main course.
It was exquisite!
My experiences with lamb in Iceland have consistently been outstanding, making it my preferred choice for meals.
Dessert, naturally, was creme brûlée—a unanimous favorite among our group.
Subsequently, we ascended to the rooftop to prepare our cameras in hopes of capturing the Northern Lights.
We had attempted to view them for the previous two nights without success due to cloud cover, but that evening, the forecast predicted a favorable opportunity, aided by Hotel Laki’s advantageous location.
Utilizing the University of Alaska Northern Lights forecast coupled with the official Icelandic Met Office Aurora forecast provided insight on anticipated cloud coverage and intensity of the Northern Lights.
Based on my estimations, the optimal viewing period was approximately 4 to 5 am.
Equipped with a bottle of prosecco to maintain our alertness, we soon recognized that a brief nap around midnight followed by an alert at 4 am might be necessary.
I drifted off easily but awoke later in the night (around 2:30 am) needing to use the restroom.
I acknowledge that this may be excessive information, but during early travels, I find that hydrating before bed encourages me to wake up.
Attempting to return to sleep proved challenging as I frequently glanced out the window.
Fortunately, from the warmth of my room, I could observe the sky, monitoring the likelihood of the Northern Lights, and on my third attempt—there they appeared! The skies had cleared, and the aurora borealis was vibrant!
It was absolutely breathtaking!
As expected, I became quite enthusiastic and captured numerous photos to share!
In addition, I discovered later that the hotel had proactively contacted our room to ensure we were awakened for the Northern Lights viewings, a thoughtful service that alleviates the concern of missing such an extraordinary sight.
This personal touch was both commendable and reflective of their attention to guest experience.
We remained outdoors for hours, captivated by the Northern Lights.
They undoubtedly showcased a magnificent display, compensating for the earlier disappointments of previous evenings.
Even as we retired for the night, the displays continued (the sun was beginning to rise), yet the experience was invaluable.
We thoroughly enjoyed the experience—it was an incredibly memorable evening.
