A record number of foreign tourists are reported to have visited Iceland over the holidays. Among them was a Russian couple who became weather-bound in a rural region in the north and celebrated New Year’s Eve with local farmers.

Vasily Konov and his spouse were planning to drive from Sauðárkrókur to Akureyri along the coast of Tröllaskagi peninsula on Saturday. However, after about an hour’s drive, the weather started to worsen, ruv.is reports.

A farmer in the area noticed the SUV pass his farm in dismal weather conditions and contacted people from the neighboring farms who started looking for the travelers. When they found them they had twice come close to driving off the road.

The tourists were invited to stay at the farm Lambanes-Reykjar in Fljót as they couldn’t continue their journey due to heavy snowfall in the region last weekend.

On New Year’s Eve they were taken by skidoos to the farm Brúnastaðir where they were invited to a dinner and party.

Konov said the three days he and his spouse were weather-bound had been fantastic. They had enjoyed incredible hospitality, eaten, chatted and played cards.

He explained that the blizzard had taken them by surprise as the weather worsened so suddenly. They hadn’t followed the forecast because they don’t understand Icelandic.

In spite of not being able to travel the country as they had planned, the tourists were thrilled about the experience, which they said turned out to be much more interesting than a regular tour.

Click here to read more about the weather.

For weather forecast in English, go to en.vedur.is and click here for information about road conditions. Travelers are also advised to consult safetravel.is.

ESA