Eight Things Not to Do when You Visit Iceland

It may look beautiful and serene, but each year Iceland proves to be a death trap for many unprepared tourists. It's easy to get lost in a landscape that looks deceptively similar in this huge glacial wilderness.

Here's what Not to do to stay safe:

1. Don't come in the winter. Temperatures can range from minus 15 to minus 40 Celsius in the higher terrain. Just the amount of snow alone can be an obstacle to safely navigating your way around this huge nation that is mostly uninhabited.

2. Don't rely on how the weather looks out the window to determine what to wear. Iceland's weather can change every hour--one time clear, the next minute raining, then snowing. You may also encounter a sandstorm (with black sand) from one of Iceland's deserts. So always bring extra warm socks, sweaters, parkas, hats and mittens with you wherever you go. Always listen to professional meteorology forecasts before venturing out.

3. Don't try to pet or feed the wild swans in Iceland, especially when they are nesting. Swans can be brutal when protecting their young. This elegant bird has been known to break an adult man's arms by beating its wings against his arms and chest while hooking on with its beak.

4. Don't assume it will be smooth sailing over Iceland's roads if you rent a car. There is a lot of untamed territory in Iceland and many roads of gravel. Don't drive anywhere without knowing something about the condition of the roads.

5. Don't buy an Icelandic dictionary or expression booklet before your trip. Icelandic is a very difficult language to understand and speak. Plan on using English as your primary means of communication in Iceland.

6. Don't go looking at the infamous volcano. It's freezing at the top and no one can vouch for its safety.

7. Even if you're good at reading maps, don't go only by the maps to find your way around. Ask the locals for directions.

8. Never leave for any destination without a charged and working mobile and the number of the nearest rescue squad. Make sure you tell someone where you're going and when to expect you back.

9. Don't do any hunting on your own without the proper licenses and knowledge about seasonal regulations.

Resources:

Orn Bjorsson and Dadi Petersson, EFL students from Iceland at NSTS Language School in Gzira, Malta.

Ilene Springer lives and teaches EFL in Malta and is author of An-American-in Malta.com.