Why you should visit Iceland
Iceland is turning up the heat. From just under one million visitors in 2012, numbers doubled in the past four years and that trend looks set to continue.
As travellers continue to seek new and exciting places to visit, this tiny but spectacular North Atlantic country has plenty to offer.
With its relatively remote sub-Arctic location, pristine environment and the allure of the Northern Lights, this cool weather nation and land of the midnight sun has become a bucket list hotspot.
Revel in Reykjavik
Reykjavik, Iceland’s colourful capital, is home to just 123,000 residents and best enjoyed on foot.
City and waterfront views can be enjoyed from the 30-plus kilometres of hiking and biking trails that surround the city. Take a stroll to Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach, the volcanic landscape and woods of Heidmork Nature Reserve or along the scenic riverfront and seaside parks.
Along the way, you’ll discover brilliantly coloured houses, innovative architecture and public sculptures, cool cafes and many places of historical interest.
More info: click here.
Snaefellsjokull National Park
Around two hours’ drive north of Reykjavik lies the stunning Snaefellsjokull National Park where you’ll discover some of the most dramatic scenery on the planet. At times, the landscape looks other-worldly, with its deserted coastline and pock-marked volcano cliffs and icy Snaefellsjokull Glacier.
While there are no campgrounds there, visitors are allowed to pitch a tent for a night. If roughing it isn’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of accommodation options around the seaside peninsula. Day trips from Reykjavik are also popular as they include visits to local fishing villages, lighthouses and rocky coastal outcrops found throughout the National Park.
More info: click here.
Geothermal attractions
With all its earthly energy in abundance, Iceland has a mystical quality about it. The geothermal activity bubbling to the surface creates one of the country’s most appealing features – natural spa pools.
Known for their rejuvenating qualities, these hot baths are popular with tourists and locals alike. One of the best is The Blue Lagoon, is an upscale retreat where you can enjoy everything from in-water massages and mud masks to saunas and natural steam rooms.
Just 10km from Reykjavik, the lava landscape surrounds of the Blue Lagoon and its fine dining and accommodation make it a destination unto itself.
More info: click here.
Trip the light fantastic
The shimmering atmosphere of the Aurora Borealis makes for a dazzling light show in the northern sky. Best seen between September and March, the bewitching natural phenomenon is yet another out-of-this-world experience in Iceland. The ghostly green light is caused by electrically charged particles colliding as they enter the earth’s atmosphere at the poles where the magnetic field is weakest.
Guided tours for Northern Lights viewing are plentiful, and although seeing them in action isn’t guaranteed, at the very least, tours make for an unforgettable outing in the Icelandic wilderness.
Information on tours of Iceland: click here.
Published under license from Well Travelled.
