
A Guide to Hiking in Iceland in June
Hiking in Iceland as the weather heats up in June is glorious and one of the best ways to experience Icelandic nature. Here’s a quick guide to hitting the trails!
June is a great month to visit Iceland. Why you might ask? Well, for many different reasons.
Is June a good time to visit Iceland?
There are so many things to do in Iceland during this month that you can’t get bored. From the Icelandic National Day to the biggest outdoor music festival of the year, everything is here to enjoy the perfect holidays. Between pleasant temperatures, longer days and nice weather, June is definitely a great month to visit Iceland. Don’t hesitate and book your flight ticket for June!
Gullfoss waterfall in Iceland
Lupins field in Iceland
June is the first official summer month followed by July and August. This means that temperatures are beginning to get higher, and sunny days are coming. Indeed, June is one of the warmest months of the year and has the least rain. During this period, Reykjavík has an average temperature of 9°C (48°F). If you are lucky, the temperatures can go up to 15°C (59°F)! In June, Icelanders will dress like it is 30°C (86°F) just because it is officially summer, even if the temperatures are not that high for other people.
Clothing packing for Iceland trip in June
Now you are probably wondering what kind of clothing you should put in your suitcase, am I right? Dressing in layers is always the solution. You can bring shorts if you are not really sensitive to the cold, but don’t forget to bring some pants as the wind can be chilly. I would suggest packing thermal underwear if you are planning on exploring and doing some outdoor activities. A wool sweater and a good jacket are also a must, as well as good hiking shoes. Note that June marks the ultimate switch to a Summer Hiking season! Also, check out the Iceland weather forecast for the whole year.
The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon occurring every year before and after the Summer Solstice. The Icelandic Summer Solstice takes place between the 20th and the 22nd of June depending on the year. This is known to be the longest day of the entire year. The Summer Solstice is celebrated each year under a bright sky at midnight. Icelanders love to celebrate this moment as they waited so long for the days to increase throughout the long winter. As you can guess, Reykjavík’s nightlife is awesome during this time of the year. It is also possible to observe this phenomenon in June and July, with not less than 18 hours of daylight.
Mt Kirkjufell at midnight in June, Iceland
On June 21, the sun is the farthest away from the equator line. This particular phenomenon can be seen if you are North of the Arctic Circle or South of the Antarctic Circle. As Iceland is just a bit South of the Arctic Circle, the midnight sun is still visible from there due to the atmospheric refraction. But if you want the full experience, you should definitely go to the North of the country to have even more daylight.
This period of the year is a great opportunity to explore Iceland without any time limit. This allows you to discover the wonderful landscapes at night with fewer people around. Some day tours are longer for this special occasion.
ATV riding tour in Iceland
As the daylight is omnipresent, it is not possible to see the Northern lights in June. However, the midnight sun is not less spectacular! It is a once-in-a-lifetime event that you should definitely experience.
Searching for what to do in Iceland in June? Here are some of the best summer tours to do in June:
People bathing in hot Laugavegur river, Iceland
There are so many things to do in June in Iceland. The day tours are longer as the sun is always up! For the special occasion of the midnight sun, ATV companies are doing midnight sun excursions! What a great experience to drive those fast and fierce engines and have the incredible lights of the sun at midnight! If experiencing Iceland's high roads aren't enough, then take a look at our Super Jeep tour on Vatnajökull.
For those who prefer more tranquil outdoor activities: trade the ATV for a sweet Icelandic horse. Horse riding is definitely worth it! Ride the friendliest horses on Earth as they will lead you through the picturesque lava fields and along the mountains.
Icelandic horses
In June, many of the Highlands roads open again after the harsh winter (the exact date varies each year). This means that various day tours that take place in remote places will be available again! You can finally access the beautiful region of Landmannalaugar with a Super Jeep. Landmannalaugar is located near the Hekla volcano, the most famous active volcano and its lava field will make you feel like you have landed in another world. There are many hot springs around this place so don’t forget your bathing suit!
If you are in Iceland for many days and you enjoy hiking, then you should join a multi-day hiking tour to Laugavegur. This hiking trail is in the top 20 best hikes in the world according to National Geographic. The 55-kilometer long route between Landmannalaugar and Thorsmork is the most famous trek in Iceland. Its scenic and extremely diverse landscape is going to blow your mind! Find out more about Iceland’s best hiking routes!
Hiking tour at Laugavegur hiking trail in Iceland
The puffins arrived one month ago and now they are ready to show off their younglings! There are many places around Iceland to spot those cute little birds, but if you are staying in Reykjavik, you can join a puffin watching tour from the city’s harbor. Joining a tour is the ideal way to get really close to the colorful “Lundi”, as they call it in Icelandic. The guides will know exactly where to find them. The only time of the year to see puffins is from May to August when the birdlife in Iceland is in full bloom. Puffins tours are also very popular in the Skaftafell area where a tractor will take you out to an island where the cuties stay over summer. The Skaftafell Puffin watching tour is not to be missed.
The peak season to see whales is also during the summer months. Even though they can be spotted all year round, the highest chance of seeing them is from April to September. Iceland is a perfect destination to spot whales in their natural habitat. During summer, there are over 20 different species of whales and dolphins. The most common are Minke, Humpback and Harbor Porpoises! In the North of Iceland, there is a higher success rate to see them while on a whale watching boat tour. However, the chances to spot a whale departing from Reykjavik stay high.
Humpback whale tail spotted in Iceland
Iceland has incredible geothermal energy. There are many natural hot springs around the island. A unique tour to take in June would be the Landmannalaugar Hiking Tour & Hot Spring Hunt. What could be better than relaxing in a natural hot river, surrounded only by nature? There is a short 7-kilometer hike throughout a geothermal area before you enjoy the warm waters.
People bath in Reykjadalur Hot springs river, Iceland
Something incredible that just reopens in June is the kayak tour Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. What an incredible experience to paddle between the huge icebergs! This is a truly magical place. Some icebergs are bright white, others are glacial blue and some have gray stripes, which is ash from old volcanic eruptions. Kayaking on Jökulsárlón, you will certainly encounter some seals on your way. They are sometimes seen playing around the ice chunks or just chilling on them, enjoying the sun. You can also spot seals on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, at Ytri-Tunga beach.
Kayaking tour in Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, South of Iceland
Mount Esja situated in the south-west of Iceland
Sun Voyager sculpture in Reykjavik
Icelandic National Day
A woman wearing Fjallkonan - ‘The Mountain Woman’ traditional costume
To begin this special day, all of the church bells in Reykjavík are rung. Then, the Icelandic Government holds a ceremony outside the Icelandic House of Parliament (Alþingihúsið), in Austuvöllur Square. Afterward, there is a great parade to the cemetery near Suðurgata, where the Chairman of the City Council will place a wreath on Jón Sigurðsson’s grave. During the day, there are playgrounds for kids, many stalls selling cotton candy, hot dogs and ice cream. A puppet show, dance entertainment and a circus will keep children of all ages amused.
This is an important day for Iceland. Each year, an Icelandic woman will play Fjallkonan, ‘The Mountain Woman’. Dressed in the Icelandic National Costume, called Skautbúningurinn, she will recite poetry as part of the ceremony. At the end of the day, there is a concert with some Icelandic artists at Austurvöllur. An accordion ball is also held in the City Hall.
This is not just about a simple festival. There are three unique side events making this festival even more special: The Lava Tunnel, Into The Glacier and the Geothermal Pool Party. Note that they are not included in the ticket price of the festival and that the number of participants is limited. The Lava Tunnel event is a concert taking place in a 5,200-year-old lava tunnel, formed by a former volcanic eruption. The Raufarhólshellir cave is truly breathtaking, the lava walls display many different colors. The event is limited to only 50 guests who will receive a guided tour of the cave and witness one of the most unique concert experiences on the planet. It is strongly recommended to book a ticket well in advance. Into The Glacier is the only existing party and concert performance inside a glacier. Just 120 guests will get a chance to experience this unique and unforgettable event within the majestic Langjökull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier. A new special event has recently appeared in the program: the Geothermal Pool Party. The great British DJ Lee Burridge will perform while 82 party people will dance in a geothermal pool in the countryside.
Guided snorkeling tour at Silfra Fissure, Iceland
Anything else you would like to know? Ever been to Iceland in June? Do you have some more tips on visiting Iceland in June?
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