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Iceland’s Secret Solstice Festival Is The Idyllic Escape This Summer

The only festival in the world, where you can party I-N-S-I-D-E a glacier. Pack your bags.

Iceland is not the the ideal place that comes to mind when one imagines a dance music festival that is breaking bounds. What comes to mind are the Game Of Thrones-esque snow capped landscapes and mostly having to roam around in a fur coat. It has the word ice in it for god’s sake!  But the Secret Solstice changes all that.

(Image credits: secretsolstice.is)

The festival takes place around the summer solstice in June during which Iceland faces almost an entire week of constant daylight. Yeah, you read that right. Due to some really cool astronomical trickery, the ‘midnight sun’ stays looming up in the sky almost all day, only temporarily darkening. The festival very cheekily claims that ‘the sun never goes down on this party’. Secret Solstice is truly the coming together of some fantastical landscapes with equally breathtaking music.

The to-die-for lineup

If there is one thing that Iceland knows how to celebrate, it would be music. If mammoth prog act Sigur Rós and multi instrumentalist Björk are any indications, the Icelanders know their music. And not to mention indie bigwigs Of Monsters And Men, who are also headlining at the festival.

Also headlining is (omg!) Radiohead. Though they have never been in Iceland we suppose they have had a taste of the culture there what with touring with Sigur Rós in the early 2000’s. Maybe we might even spot the Icelandic rockers taking Yorke out for a little sight seeing. Also performing at the festival are Deftones, Action Bronson and Skream.

(Image Credits: secretsolstice.is)

The striking midnight sun

But the absolute craziest thing to look forward to at the festival is the the looming midnight sun in the sky that floods the city with constant daylight. The constant sunlight will most definitely screw up your sleeping schedule, but hey who wants to sleep when you can go party in a glacier?

(Credits: secretsolstice.is)

The coolest party in the world (Geddit!)

There is a very high chance that the Secret Solstice is the only festival in the WORLD that lets you party in a glacier. No kidding. The festival gives attendees the unique opportunity to go ahead and let off some heat while dancing to some of the best European underground DJs. Yeah, we’re already packing our bags for next year as well.

(Image Credits: www.theplaidzebra.com)

Geo thermal pools and Norse mythology

Spas are cool, but what is pretty freaking awesome are Geo thermal pools that litter the area around the festival. Geo thermal pods are literally pools of collected water warmed up by  underground volcanoes. Festival goers can take a dip at the Secret Lagoon Party which is one of the highlights. The festival is also themed around the famed Norse mythologies, which is basically where Thor, Odin and Loki come from. The Viking theme adds a very magical and interesting twist to the vibe there.

Insane sights around the venue

Iceland is known for its ethereal beauty and as the festival takes place right in the middle of the city, some of the best places to go for a hike are just a day trip away. Places like Fjaðrárgljúfur , Landmannalaugar, and Thórsmörk are absolutely breathtaking and the beautiful weather is perfect for an elaborate hiking trip.

(Image Credits: livingbroadly.wordpress.com)