The normal visuals you associate with spring is the land blanketed with a wave of fresh green and flowers turning the countryside into a riot of colors. Does this hold true for Iceland, you may wonder. The easiest way to find out is to go on a guided tour of Iceland in spring and it may spring quite a few surprises.
No, the ice has not quite melted away
There is a saying that only madmen and Englishmen venture out in the torrid heat of summer in the equator and something similar could apply for a winter tour of Iceland. Spring in Iceland is brief but a joyous time. The ice is melting but has not quite melted away and some roads may be blocked. Even a routine Golden Circle tour takes on a spicy sense of adventure. That you can enter the ice grottoes where shades of winter are very much alive is an added attraction to visiting this country in springtime. The Blue Ice Caves, for instance, can still be visited. This guide to Iceland tour in spring gives you an idea of what to expect and what not to.
Raging waterfalls
Winter is hardly the time to enjoy waterfalls and by late summer water flow reduces. Ice melts in spring and waterfalls resound with thunderous roar of mountainous walls of water cascading down in raging torrents. It is a good idea to join a private guided tour, perhaps the Grand South Coast and Thorsmork adventure tour by Discover.is, the best guide for Iceland. You can view the Seljalandsfoss waterfall in all its glory. The Thorsmork valley comes alive as you can see when you traverse the innumerable streams and rivers here and admire the greenery springing up all over the place. As you proceed you will come upon Skogass waterfall in all its raging splendour at this time of the year and covering the area with a fine mist spray.
Enjoy longer days
If nights seem interminable in winter, these give way to longer daylight hours with the onset of spring and this means you can have fun in Reykjavik till late. There are more people about and the streets are alive with activity. Days are longer but that does not mean you cannot enjoy the Northern lights, one of the grandest cosmic spectacles on Earth. Another grand spectacle is the sight of the landscape covered with beautiful lupin flowers but that happens after May.
Beaches in the south
The landscape changes from being bleak and inhospitable in winter to rather more inviting during spring, especially at the beach. Reynisdrangar is the perfect place to have some beach time, explore the black sands flecked with snow and enjoy the stunning dyrholaey promontory.
It is best to go prepared with plenty of warm clothing to keep you comfortable when cold winds blow. Spring is when wind storms work up a speed of 75 miles per hour. Nights can be cold, around 35 degree F and below depending on where you are.