Exploring North Iceland in December: The Darkest Month of the Year

December in Iceland, what is it really like? Is there 24 hour darkness? Is it even worth traveling here at that time of the year? Join me as I explore winter landscape of Troll Peninsula here in North Iceland and show you how much light we get and also also give you some tips on what should you expect and how to plan your trip if you decide to come here in December.
Northern lights, cold, snow and long blue hours, let's go!
Get up to 9% discount on a rental car in Iceland: janiniceland.com/rent-a-car
Watch my guide to Troll Peninsula here : • North Iceland's Best-K...
Instagram : @janiniceland
Would you like to support the channel? - Visit the links in BIO :)
Chapters:
00:00 Iceland in December
01:42 Dalvík
02:20 12pm
03:27 What is traveling like
04:04 Ólafsfjörður & Travel tips
05:03 Siglufjörður
06:55 Know your stuff
7:30 4pm
#iceland #icelandtravel #icelandphotography

Пікірлер: 56

  • @janiniceland
    @janiniceland5 ай бұрын

    For anyone interested, I just published a map of Troll Peninsula. Grab it here : www.janiniceland.com/trollpeninsula 🗺

  • @michaelmacleod4713
    @michaelmacleod471316 күн бұрын

    The short days of winter produce the most stunning images of the landscape. 🇬🇧👍🏻🇮🇸

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    16 күн бұрын

    100%! My hard drive is filled mostly with footage from the winter 😀

  • @hilaryrayner6433
    @hilaryrayner64337 ай бұрын

    Beautiful scenery. Very peaceful

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    glad you like it :) spending time alone in this landscape is such a meditative experience!

  • @LRT104
    @LRT1047 ай бұрын

    HI Jan, your videos are gorgeous - the music and editing are perfect. I am visiting in March and planning to head North to see the places you show in your videos. Thank you for your time in creating them. Yours is my favorite new channel. :)

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much, this really means a lot! March is a true winter wonderland here, I'm sure you'll love it here. And you can look forward to a looot of snow here 😀

  • @michaelwolff305
    @michaelwolff3057 ай бұрын

    Thank you for the perspective of living in Iceland during December. Visited last month the Southern portion of Iceland and I loved the lighting that the low sun gave for photography.

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Thank you Michael! Probably the best time to visit the south coast as there aren't that many people at this time of the year. Glad to hear you enjoyed it and I agree, the December light is perfect great for photography 👌

  • @renate3650
    @renate36507 ай бұрын

    Just beautiful !!!

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    thank you Renate! :)

  • @Asimakissable
    @Asimakissable6 ай бұрын

    Jan what a great video!!!Thank you.

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    6 ай бұрын

    Glad you like it, thank you! :)

  • @seanneal9406
    @seanneal9406Ай бұрын

    It is like living on another planet.

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    24 күн бұрын

    It feels like it sometimes :)

  • @benburns5995
    @benburns59957 ай бұрын

    Hi Jan, really enjoyed this video of a cold and crisp landscape in the Troll Peninsula. Having only 4 hours of daylight in the month of December can make it challenging to film a video but I think you nailed it in this video. Filming this after a fresh snowfall added a lot the scenic beauty as well. Since you can't drive up your driveway in the snow it makes for a great cardio workout climbing up from your car to your house. At least it is rewarding to enjoy your ski ride back down. The drone footage made this extra special with the view of your home with Icicles hanging from your roof in the morning darkness, the snow covered landscape and the footage of the crashing waves on the shore. This was really enjoyable to watch and thanks for the heads up with the Community post with the beautiful photo.

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Hello Ben, thank you for sharing this and your kind words. Even though it can be challenging to film due to how short the days are, it is definitely rewarding as the blue hours are such an interesting time to film and now they basically blend into one ,,long blue hour'' which is perfect. But I also look forward to days getting longer in January and finally get some vitamin D from the sun! 😃 I'll start posting more in the Community tab, it seems like a great place for BTS and updates :)

  • @simonwilltrack
    @simonwilltrack7 ай бұрын

    We visited Iceland from the 3rd to the 6th of December. Just a quick visit (longest we've ever left the kids) and it was absolutely beautiful. And seeing these videos we definitely want to go back and go to the North of the island. Can't wait to see more and it'll definitely be a winter visit as it's just stunning in the snow and ice. No rush to get up early either!

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing Simon! Winters here are beautiful, but I always say, one needs to be prepared for a weather to be wild. But as long as one enjoys the sceneries and the vibe of the snowy landscape you can always make it work :)

  • @fannyandersson3330
    @fannyandersson33307 ай бұрын

    Sooooo beautiful! 👍

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    thank you so much Fanny 🙏🙂

  • @jancolson7610
    @jancolson76107 ай бұрын

    I lived in Iceland (Siglufjörður) and Svalbard for a few years and I loved the beauty and the mystical atmosphere in the winter months. I hope to experience it again soon. Thanks for sharing this beautiful video

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Sigló is such a beautiful town, I always love spending a time there. I've never visited Svalbard though, but I am hoping to make that trip happen in near future. But perhaps not at this time of the year haha. What would you say is the best month to visit?

  • @jancolson7610

    @jancolson7610

    7 ай бұрын

    I highly recommend it. For you as a photographer I would recommend February/March: still winter and very cold with snow on the ground, so you can easily explore the island by snow mobile. And a lot of indirect light from the sun hovering around the horizon. And still dark enough to get northern lights.

  • @maryt2887
    @maryt28876 ай бұрын

    Hello, Jan. Here in Maryland we have just had a very small amount of snow with more predicted for tonight. Of course, nothing like Iceland! I’m not a fan of cold and snow anymore (getting older), but your amazing videos and description of the beauty you see around you make me want to experience it in Iceland. I especially like the videos of the waves and the ocean up against the snowy mountains. So peaceful! I do have a question about your car. In the colder states in the U.S. some people plug their cars in to block heaters so that the oil and coolant stay thin enough to circulate. Looks like you don’t have a problem with your car starting-that’s good! Take care and enjoy the beautiful environment.

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    6 ай бұрын

    Hello Mary :) I think it is nice to get a little bit of snow. I just came back from two weeks trip in my home country Czech Republic and first there was no snow and in cloudy weather and trees without leaves, everything looked very grey and sad - but then we had a snowfall and everything suddenly had this nice winter vibe. But it of course isn't for everyone and trust me, even I dream of some warmer days sometimes haha. I never used any heaters and so far never had any problem. And when we have very cold days I try to drive it at least every other day or so. Glad you enjoy my videos and sending my best from Tröllaskagi.

  • @Eyesofthebeholder214
    @Eyesofthebeholder2147 ай бұрын

    Wow I like the beauty of the snow. This vid shows what some of us may have imagined it would be. I mean its called Iceland for a reason. Thanks for sharing

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Glad you liked it :) The weather can be very unforgiving sometimes, too but still it is a true winter paradise 🥶

  • @yvonnevandermeer8471
    @yvonnevandermeer84717 ай бұрын

    Very nice to see. Thank you for this video. Greetings from the Netherlands.

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Thank you Yvonne :)

  • @blankiki
    @blankiki6 ай бұрын

    My dream is to see Iceland in winter. We were supposed to combine a 5 days trip iceland and 5 days Tromsø ( chasing the northern lights) , beginning of December. Due to the eruption warnings and a town being completely evacuated, we focused only on Tromsø. We just came back 10 days ago and the northern lights were majestic. Glorious!!! The sky and the colors I see in your video reminds me of the same colors and the sky of the polar nights ai Just saw in Tromsø. And I agree the light is amazing for taking photos.

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    6 ай бұрын

    That sounds amazing! I am still dreaming about visiting northern Norway, I love watching videos from there, it looks like such a paradise! I hope you will get to visit Iceland in the winter some days in the future :)

  • @tiamat_023
    @tiamat_0237 ай бұрын

    I visited Iceland over new years a few years back. It was an unforgettable experience. Thank you for sharing! ❄⛰

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it! It sure is a special time of the year to visit :)

  • @pistenvan4740
    @pistenvan47407 ай бұрын

    Hi Jan, thanks for this great inspiration. I‘ve been in Iceland in March, enjoying pretty much snow , long periods of sunshine and hotpots in the evening - but no polarlights… P.S. After travelling all around Iceland Siglufjördur is still my favorit town.

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Hey a thank you for sharing! March is amazing, I do always enjoy the long days so much , especially after the period of no sun. I think September and October are great for northern lights as it's not crazy cold outside and so it is easier to wait for them longer :) And I agree with you, I think it is the most beautiful town here

  • @stevefoster1511
    @stevefoster15117 ай бұрын

    Very nice. Siglufjordur is one of my very favorite places in Iceland, although I’ve only been in September. My wife and are looking forward to our upcoming visit. We arrive December 30. It is my second visit in winter and my wife’s first, and together, our fifth trip. We so love it there! We won’t venture quite that far north this trip but will be in a rental in Bifrost. Love that low light and it feels like golden hour from sunrise to sunset. Thanks for this video. Really enjoyed it and have subscribed to your channel.

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing this Steve and for subscribing! I think that is amazing that you've visited so many times, I believe that's the best way to get to know the island better and also explore more off the beaten path spots not many tourist get to visit. Enjoy your trip and if you have time, make sure to also visit Snæfellsnes Peninsula, that is a beautiful part of the island :)

  • @jeremy1350
    @jeremy13507 ай бұрын

    Hi Jan. Greetings from Montreal, Canada. It is 11:30 am and (-3c) outside. From where you are, it looks a lot like Svalbard, (Longyearbyen) where Cecilia lives. They are in the Polar Night right now up there, its very beautiful there where you are on the coast with the mountains.

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Hello Jeremy! Yes I've seen some of her videos - and thought to myself how easy we have it here in Iceland with at least those few hours of light - but it looks so beautiful there, it is definitely very high up on my list of places to visit. But perhaps in a different season haha, 24/7 darkness is a lot even for me

  • @zlukaszemprzezswiat
    @zlukaszemprzezswiat6 ай бұрын

    fantastic experience

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    6 ай бұрын

    winter in Iceland definitely isn't for everyone but I think it sure is beautiful :)

  • @katesommerville7217
    @katesommerville72177 ай бұрын

    North Iceland is definitely on my list for my next trip. It just looks stunning. Just maybe not in your northern Winter 😅 I live in South Australia, Friday we had Catastrophic Fire conditions & it’s been raining non stop & been cold over the weekend 🤷‍♀️ Only 5 weeks till I start my journey, cannot wait. Just wish it was for longer.

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Winter here can be difficult but beautiful - the weather usually decides what kind of experience you'll have 😄 how long are you visiting for? It sounds like a lot of extremes in a short period in Australia, has it always been like that?

  • @katesommerville7217

    @katesommerville7217

    7 ай бұрын

    @@janiniceland I was there in June for a week & this visit just for 5 days. We had massive storms this morning 🤷‍♀️ unusual but who knows with climate change ….

  • @HaileyStuder
    @HaileyStuder7 ай бұрын

    nice video

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    thank you Hailey! :)

  • @crandallcrute3918
    @crandallcrute39187 ай бұрын

    Jan - your videos are AMAZING! May I ask what drone and editing software you are using?

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    This means a lot thank you! 🙏 I'm using Davinci Resolve for editing and the drone is Dji Air 2s :)

  • @patriciahansen6032
    @patriciahansen60327 ай бұрын

    So beautiful. I would love to visit there in the winter. Thank you for your videos. I loved Iceland when I visited there in 2019, and I'd like to visit again.

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing Patricia and i'm glad you enjoyed the video. You should, winters here are truly magical- at least when the weather's good 😃 maybe March could be a good month to visit, more balance between length of the day and night.

  • @shanewoodbury669
    @shanewoodbury6697 ай бұрын

    hi mate Shane from austraila we are so different you get -10 to 20 we get 35 - 45 c so hot my dream go to Iceland see ice cave waterfalls may be nth light go late January hope love your vide keep up great work mate from Shane austraila also love my photography to

  • @janiniceland

    @janiniceland

    7 ай бұрын

    Hi Shane and thank you!! That's quite a contrast - for me anything above 30 C mark is honestly way too much haha. Late January is good but you could even wait till February if you can, I think it's just nice to get a little bit longer days (6hrs in late January vs 9-10hrs in late February)

  • @ericag7991
    @ericag79916 ай бұрын

    ✨ "Promo sm"

  • @jahidulislamjahidjoni2803
    @jahidulislamjahidjoni28037 ай бұрын

    Ma'am your youtube videos are very nice but the main reason why your videos are not getting views is because your videos are not S.E.O ed SEO means the perfect title friend description targeted keywords and hashtage that help your video grow organically.

  • @michaelmacleod4713
    @michaelmacleod471316 күн бұрын

    The short days of winter produce the most stunning images of the landscape. 🇬🇧👍🏻🇮🇸