Where better to experience the feeling of an endless summer than in a place where the sun shines for 21 hours a day? Iceland’s midnight sun is one of summertime’s most spectacular sights – a thing you’ll be delighted to enjoy from the comfort of your glass cabin beside a fjord. Panorama Glass Lodge offers a completely secluded stay (about 40 minutes from Reykjavik) with vistas that include snow-capped mountains, rolling fields and open sea. If you’ve got a summer birthday and you’re up for an incredible adventure to tick off the bucket list this year, Iceland may just be the place to go.
Photography: Panorama Glass Lodge
Glass Cabin Hideaway
Panorama Glass Lodge is a steel and glass structure that feels like a tiny home built just for two. There’s a glass rooftop over the bed area and all the walls are made of glass. For privacy and darkness, there are blackout shades on the walls. There are only a handful of homes on the waterfront, so you're completely in your own pocket of landscape. In the summer, the cabin warms up with the long days of sunshine and you can open the balcony doors to let in a breeze. The cabin has a small kitchen that makes home-cooked meals an easy part of your stay. Out on the balcony sits a hot pool – a gorgeous spot to soak up the last of the day’s sun while sipping a glass of your favorite birthday wine.
Photography: Panorama Glass Lodge
Summer in Iceland
Not only is this time of year great for hiking and exploring the varied and rugged landscapes of Iceland, but summer is also puffin season! Dunno about you, but hanging out with puffins is at the top of my list of lifetime goals. Festival season is also in full swing in the summer months, with gatherings that range from celebrations of lobster to pride and culture. The lighthouses and waterfalls near the lodge are must-sees, especially the Glymer waterfall that can be visited within an hour and a half hike. Lastly, Iceland’s countryside is rich with geothermal features and natural hot springs. You can easily plan a road trip around these hot spots alone, which could be an epic way to spend a birthday.
Photography: Koushik Chowdavarapu | Luke Stackpoole | Calvin Chou
Animal Lovers Rejoice
If you're an animal lover and want to spend your Icelandic summer birthday cuddling up to the local farm babies, we've got great news. Farm holidays here are a popular way to get to know local farmers and their families, including their pets. You can spend as little as a day riding Icelandic horses and enjoying the company of farm animals. Or, if this is a big ticket item on your birthday bucket list, you can spend up to two weeks road tripping to different farms and connecting with local farmers, helping to care for their fur babies.
Photography: Vladimir Riabinin | Fabian Burghardt | Nicholas Kampouris
