Coolcations are widely tipped by ABTA to be a leading trend for British travellers looking to escape the heat this summer, while EuroNews and Conde Nast Traveller have both forecast nighttime tourism to be one of the hottest trends this year.
Iceland is the perfect destination to embrace both, with temperatures in summer averaging around 13 degrees and daylight lasting 24 hours, making for one of the most unique nighttime experiences in the world!
Iceland leading low-cost airline, PLAY, has curated its top recommendations for Brits to enjoy an unforgettable summer holiday in Iceland this year, hitting both the coolcation and noctourism trends.
Midnight sun half marathon – 19th of June 2025
Accor predicts athletic adventures will be one of the biggest travel trends in 2025. According to its forecasting report, 18% of Brits plan to travel to participate in sports, which coincides with a 50% uptick in searches for “workout holidays” over the past year.
Iceland’s midnight sun half marathon perfectly captures this trend, offering participants the choice of running a 5k, 10k, or half marathon in the middle of the night – when the sun never sets – allowing travellers to make the most of their nighttime experience.
After the race, all participants are invited to a geothermal outdoor swimming pool, Laugardalslaug, with added steam baths and hot tubs for post-run recuperate.
Puffling Season
For a few weeks in August and September, locals in the Westman Islands can be seen launching baby puffins into the air. In fact, the tradition has now become vital to the puffin population’s survival.
Baby puffins nesting on the cliffside rely on the moonlight to guide them when they fledge for the first time, before spending their first few years at sea. However, city lights now confuse these young birds, causing more and more puffins to crash land in towns preventing them from making their way to the sea.
Travellers visiting Iceland in August and September can join locals on Puffling duty, scouring the streets for lost baby puffins in the evenings, before releasing them back to the sea the following morning. This unique and unforgettable experience allows visitors to connect with the local community and play a part in protecting this iconic Icelandic species.
Whale watching
Running from April to October, Iceland’s whale watching season is a perfect addition to the coolcation trend, offering travellers the chance to escape from the summer heat and immerse themselves in the stunning natural beauty of Iceland.
During peak season (June to August), Humpback whales, minke whales, fin whales, blue whales, harbour porpoises, sperm whales, orca and sei whales, can all be spotted in Iceland.
With daily tours departing from Reykjavik harbour, whale watching is a must-do activity because of its unrivalled combination of breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife. The clear, crisp air and serene waters providing the perfect setting to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.
We recommend booking with Elding Whale watching for an unforgettable experience starting at 13,990 ISK (around £80).
To see PLAY’s full list of recommend tours and attractions in Iceland, please visit: https://flyplay.tourdesk.is/Tour
PLAY flies from London Stansted to Reykjavik Iceland, starting from just £43 one way and £87 return.
About PLAY
PLAY is a low-cost airline operating flights between Iceland and Europe, and North America as of 2022. Founded in Reykjavik in 2019 by a management team with significant experience in the aviation industry, the company operates flights on new Airbus A321NEO and A320NEO aircraft, offering streamlined, no-frills service that allows travellers to pay less and “play more.” Safety comes first for PLAY.
On-time performance, simplicity, happiness, and low prices are the airline’s core principles.
The airline seeks to enable passengers to see the world, but not without considering its environmental impact. PLAY is being developed with sustainability initiatives and benchmarks in place to track and reduce fuel consumption, offset carbon emissions, and limit waste. Learn more or book a flight at www.flyplay.com.
Images courtesy of unsplash.com and pexels.com
