Iceland is known the world over as the ‘The Land of Ice and Fire’. With contradicting landscapes and natural phenomena, it offers travellers a place to escape the ordinary.
When most people think of Iceland, the first thing that comes to mind is the Blue Lagoon with its milky-blue geothermally heated waters, renowned for their skin healing properties. While the Blue Lagoon is a must see, Iceland has much more to offer.
With over ten percent of the country covered by glaciers, Iceland allows travellers to explore the many beautiful blue ice caves that form between November until May. Brave travellers can also experience their own ‘Journey to the Center for the Earth’ by descending 120 metres into the dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano’s magma chamber.
The extreme dark of the Icelandic winter offers travellers the opportunity to gaze at the wonder of the Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights. This natural phenomenon occurs when solar wind particles interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, creating a spectacular light show with green and purple streaks across the skies.
The cold waters off the coast of Iceland provide the perfect location for whale watching. Daily tours depart throughout the summer months from Reykjavik and other towns in the west and north of Iceland. The most commonly spotted cetacea include humpback whales, minke whales and orcas. There has also been the odd sighting of the world's largest animal, the blue whale.
Iceland also offers a range of unique and sometimes strange accommodation, including the Galaxy Pod Hostel in Reykjavik, the Panorama Glass Lodge located in Hella and the Ion Adventure Hotel near Thingvellir National Park which is built into the landscape in a minimalist sci-fi style.
Icelanders are extremely proud of their country and want to protect its natural beauty. The country actively asks tourists to sign up to the ‘Icelandic Pledge’ which is an online agreement where tourists promise to respect nature while travelling in Iceland.
There are so many words and pictures to describe Iceland and the adventures that await. Get in touch with our team of Travel Experts who can help you plan your Icelandic adventure.