Local guides and law enforcement have raised concern that tours and travelers looking to view the Northern Lights are endangering drivers by parking in the middle of the road at sites popular among Aurora hunters. According to the local radio station Bylgjan popular spots on Reykjanes peninsula have on occasions been packed with tour buses and rental cars.
Read more: Aurora hunters cause traffic jam at Grótta lighthouse in Reykjavík
Too many poeple stop at the exact same spots
In addition to the danger caused by all travelers flocking to the same sites, the crowds at these sites obviously reduce the quality of the experience. A guide who spoke to Bylgjan said that some of the spots on Reykjanes peninsula are simply overwhelmed by the number of visitors. One of these spots is Kálfatjarnarikrja church. The small parking lot by the church is not made to accommodate many tour buses at a time.
Sometimes there are up to 30 or 40 tour buses, all piled onto one spot, and you start to feel like you are in the center of New York. There are two or three tour buses parked on each little hill, five or six cars, jeeps and the rest of the gallery.
He points out that because people turn off all lights in the cars oncoming drivers can find it difficult to see them. You drive in the dark but then all of a sudden you are confronted with ten people standing in the middle of the street. Many foreign visitors fail to realize that these small roads are actually roads, used by locals.
Don't endanger yourself, others
The solution, he pointed out, is to build more designated viewing spots with decent parking lots and more rest stops along Iceland's roads.
We at Iceland Insider would like to point out that another solution is for people to try and avoid the busy spots: If you go out Aurora hunting at night you should always find a safe parking spot, don't leave your car in the road and don't stand in the middle of the road while staring at the sky! Iceland is big, and there is no reason for everyone to crowd onto the same handful of spots.
Below is a map showing a number of great spots around Reykjavík compiled by a local Aurora photographer and friend of Iceland Insider Snorri Þór Tryggvason. You can use the map to help find spots. One approach would be to ignore the spots on this map! Note that Vatnsleysuströnd is marked on the map.
Local guides and law enforcement have raised concern that tours and travelers looking to view the Northern Lights are endangering drivers by parking in the middle of the road at sites popular among Aurora hunters. According to the local radio station Bylgjan popular spots on Reykjanes peninsula have on occasions been packed with tour buses and rental cars.
Read more: Aurora hunters cause traffic jam at Grótta lighthouse in Reykjavík
Too many poeple stop at the exact same spots
In addition to the danger caused by all travelers flocking to the same sites, the crowds at these sites obviously reduce the quality of the experience. A guide who spoke to Bylgjan said that some of the spots on Reykjanes peninsula are simply overwhelmed by the number of visitors. One of these spots is Kálfatjarnarikrja church. The small parking lot by the church is not made to accommodate many tour buses at a time.
Sometimes there are up to 30 or 40 tour buses, all piled onto one spot, and you start to feel like you are in the center of New York. There are two or three tour buses parked on each little hill, five or six cars, jeeps and the rest of the gallery.
He points out that because people turn off all lights in the cars oncoming drivers can find it difficult to see them. You drive in the dark but then all of a sudden you are confronted with ten people standing in the middle of the street. Many foreign visitors fail to realize that these small roads are actually roads, used by locals.
Don't endanger yourself, others
The solution, he pointed out, is to build more designated viewing spots with decent parking lots and more rest stops along Iceland's roads.
We at Iceland Insider would like to point out that another solution is for people to try and avoid the busy spots: If you go out Aurora hunting at night you should always find a safe parking spot, don't leave your car in the road and don't stand in the middle of the road while staring at the sky! Iceland is big, and there is no reason for everyone to crowd onto the same handful of spots.
Below is a map showing a number of great spots around Reykjavík compiled by a local Aurora photographer and friend of Iceland Insider Snorri Þór Tryggvason. You can use the map to help find spots. One approach would be to ignore the spots on this map! Note that Vatnsleysuströnd is marked on the map.
