The Land of Fire & Ice offers extreme choices in both nature and activities. Whether it is challenging the body with a physically demanding sport like ice climbing or refreshing the spirit while soaking in a natural hot spring, you can interact with Iceland’s world of natural wonders in endless ways.
Exploring the Extreme
Thrill seekers in search of a real challenge will not be disappointed in Iceland. Glacial river rafting, ice cave spelunking, wild shore kayaking and deep sea fishing are just the tip of the iceberg Glaciers cover 1/9th of Iceland’s land surface. Snowmobiling is an exhilarating way for almost anyone to experience them. Tours are available where travelers make the ascent by bus and belt driven vehicle and then have time to zip around at leisure on snowmobiles which are surprisingly easy to maneuver.
Go-it-alone types can also test themselves against nature. Cycling around Iceland is a genuine challenge, attracting a growing number of contenders. And really vigorous mountain hiking trails fan out in all directions from the outskirts of almost every community.
Hot Springs Fever
Need a break from the dining & nightlife? Take a dip in one of Iceland’s hundreds of outdoor swimming pools, geothermally heated of course! Soak away the day’s stresses by relaxing in a hot pot while chatting with the locals. Many facilities offer sauna, steam rooms, massage therapy and specialty spa treatments. A visit to the spa promotes harmony between body, mind and spirit and alleviates the stress of modern life.
Outdoor hot springs are hidden throughout the countryside and are the ultimate interaction with Iceland’s raw nature and a highlight of any trip. The most famous outdoor spa is the Blue Lagoon located near Keflavik Airport. The therapeutic, milky blue, mineral-rich waters are ideal for relieving jet lag when arriving or for a last dip before the transatlantic flight home. Lake Myvatn Nature Baths in the north offer bathers a completely natural experience in an area of fragile beauty.
Mother Nature is still hard at work in Iceland, one of the newest places on Earth. The fruits of her labor are easy to spot throughout the country, from the desolate highland interior to the Hveragerdi hot springs area only a half-hour drive from Reykjavik. Glaciers grow, shrink and change every year, while incredible bird life paints the landscape. The wide open spaces, the green valleys and moss-covered lava fields, deep fjords and high cliffs all make Iceland’s nature picture perfect.
Circle of Sights
Of all the spectacular nature that resides in Iceland there are three must-see highlights that are easily experienced in one day on the Golden Circle, a 190 mile circular route which is a popular introduction to Iceland’s natural beauty. Thingvellir National Park (UNESCO) is Iceland’s greatest historical site and a place of tremendous geological interests. It is the site of Iceland’s first parliament and a place where the North American and European tectonic plates are splitting apart in a very breathtaking way. A short ride across fertile farmlands in the south reveal the breathtaking Gullfoss “Golden” Waterfalls where traversing a narrow path provides close-up views of the thundering waterfall below. Only a few minutes away is the Geysir geothermal area where hot springs are in abundance, geysers explode and pools of mud bubble. This area is also the residence of the relable “Strokkur” which spews hot water 100 feet into the air every ten minutes, and of course the great Geysir which is not as active, but gave all other geysers their name.
Where There’s Smoke
There are 15 active volcanoes in Iceland. The heavy volcanic activity during the last few thousand years accounts for Iceland’s extraordinary land formations and geology. In the north of the country, bubbling mud flats, volcanic craters, newborn lava fields, and grassy areas teeming with waterfowl are among the sights of the striking Lake Myvatn region, one of the most geologically active and stunningly beautiful areas in Iceland. Dimmuborgir, on the East side of the lake, is a badlands of lava pillars, many reaching 65 feet in height. Some of the most visually bizarre attractions in the region are the mud pits of Haverarond, which are so hot that they actually boil. Far cooler are the waters of Viti, an explosion crater nearby. Another unforgettable sight near Myvatn is Eldhraun (“fire lava”), a rugged lava field where the Apollo 11 crew came in the late 1960s to train for their impending moonwalks.
Wild Places
Two gems on the southern rim of Iceland’s highlands are among the nation’s most popular summer spots. Thorsmork is a hikers’ paradise with delicate trees and grass nestling among mountains and glaciers. Landmannalaugar is a hotbed of geothermal activity, famed for its hot springs where travelers can bathe, and for the wild colors of its landscape. Another treasure bordering the southern interior is the Lakagigar crater series, which produced the largest lava flow ever witnessed in the world, during the volcanic eruptions of 1783.
Discover Natural Wonders
West Iceland is a showcase of lava formations, geothermal activity and history. On Snaefellsnes peninsula, resides the glittering glacial cap of Snaefellsjokull, which provided Jules Verne with the setting for Journey to the Center of the Earth and was depicted in the 2008 major motion picture of the same name.
The Westfjords are typified by steep mountains rising from the sea and deep fjords dotted with quaint fishing villages. The Hornstrandir nature reserve is not only breathtaking in its rawness but also astonishingly rich in vegetation on the edge of the inhabitable world.
East Iceland accounts for a large chunk of Iceland’s total area with Egilsstadir as the regional center, on the banks of Lagarfljot river where cruises are offered. Nearby Hallormsstadaskogur has an impressive forest, beyond where lies the natural habitat of Iceland’s reindeer population.
The port of Hofn on the southeast corner of Iceland offers exciting trips to the Vatnajoull glacier as well as whale watching cruises. Other must-see sites in the area include the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon, renowned for its iceberg cruises, and Skaftafell National Park, where green woodlands and black mountains touch the sheer white glacier in the shadow of the country’s highest peak, Hvannadalshnukur (6,950 ft).
Outdoor adventure is just a way of life in Iceland. Whether it’s due to the imposing geography or the Viking heritage, Icelanders enjoy being active and outdoors especially attractions with an edge. Iceland is a country where you can see and do things you can’t elsewhere – in winter or summer. Experiencing them is easy with many of the activities taking place in Reykjavik or within a one hour drive from the capital.
Hiking: There are hiking trails throughout the island across lava fields, glaciers, lakes and sand whether you’re chasing the Midnight Sun in summer or hunting for the Northern Lights in winter.
Ice Climbing: This thrilling activity is a great way to get to know the glacier and its magnificent surroundings. Golf: Iceland has over 50 golf courses, with dramatic landscaping you won’t see anywhere else. Enjoy midnight golf in summer!
Horseback Riding: The purebred Viking horse controls five gaits while most other breeds only have three or four. The Tolt gait is a very smooth run that ensures an extremely comfortable ride. Snowmobiling: Available year round, snowmobiling is an exhilarating adventure everyone can enjoy.
River Rafting: The glacial rivers of Iceland cut through stunning scenery so surreal it has to be seen to be believed. Kayaking: Whether on unique lagoons or out on the sea, kayaking is an ideal way to take in Iceland’s extraordinary nature, and a relaxing way to spend the day.
Caving: The unique geology of Iceland has formed an underworld of surprising lava tubes and caves for you to discover.
Sport Fishing: Buy your permits in advance to fish for salmon or trout in Iceland’s clear lakes and waters.
Bird Watching: Iceland is a paradise for birdwatchers across the country, including Latrabjarg in the Westfjords, the largest bird cliff in the world as well as the world’s largest puffin colony located in the Westmann Islands. Whale Watching: Catch a glimpse of these graceful giants in their natural habitat on a whale watching excursion where success rates are greater than 95 percent.
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