Nicknamed the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’, Iceland basks in the natural splendour of its menacing volcanoes, striking glaciers and turquoise lagoons. The otherworldly geographical foundations of the island means that over 80% of the land is uninhabited, making it possible to admire some dramatic, unspoiled and wildlife-rich landscapes in total peace and quiet. When it comes to tourist attractions in Iceland, there really is something for everyone - cinephiles can visit iconic Hollywood filming locations, thrill-seekers can whizz across volcanoes on an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) and wildlife-lovers can admire killer whales hunting herring through deep fjords.
The Blue Lagoon
With cloudy turquoise waters, plumes of milky steam and a backdrop of black lava hills, it comes as no surprise that the Blue Lagoon is one of the most photogenic - and photographed - spots in Iceland. But beyond its otherworldly beauty, the site also attracts visitors keen to pamper themselves. The balmy waters are rich in healing minerals (like silica and sulphur) which can work wonders on your skin, silica mud is available from the sides of the pool for you to lather on a face mask and you can even enjoy a cocktail from the swim-up bar. The water temperature remains at a toasty 39°C all year round, making it possible to enjoy blood-red sunsets and, if you’re lucky, the elusive Northern Lights. For a different view of the lagoon, we can arrange for you to enjoy an ATV (all-Terrain Vehicle) tour around the surrounding Reykjanes Geopark volcano garden, which ends with breathtaking vistas across both the lagoon and the wider peninsula. And the best part? The lagoon is located just a 30-minute drive from the capital, making it not just one of the best, but one of the most accessible tourist attractions in Iceland.
Whale Watching
The Baltic waters off the coast of Iceland are a haven for whales thanks to the rich variety of food options on offer, like krill, fish and plankton. The north coast of Iceland has become one of the best places in Europe to spot large marine animals. We can arrange for you to enjoy a boat ride through the Eyjafjordur fjord, which is home to mink whales, sei whales, fin whales, humpback whales, and blue whales. The Westman Islands, just off the south coast, is also a hot-spot for the killer whales, which can be spotted in July. Other marine animals that can be even from the capital spotted include basking sharks, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises.
Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to race across a glacial lagoon in a sports car as James Bond did in Die Another Day? Well if you’re in Iceland, you can more than just imagine it, you can actually cruise through the exact same lagoon, albeit in a Zodiac inflatable boat instead of an Aston Martin. Jökulsárlón is, however, a much more peaceful destination than James Bond might have you think. There isn’t much noise besides the gentle collapsing of glaciers into the icy blue waters and the splashing of seals playing among the ice, and that’s exactly what makes it so surreal, so mesmerising and so worth visiting. If you’re keen to get on dry-ish land, we can have one of our top glacier guides lead you into Skaftafell National Park for a once-in-a-lifetime hike around Svínafellsjökull and Skaftafell glacier. But for any James Bond super-fans, we have to break it to you: there are no ice palaces, no car chases and no dastardly villains.
Reynisfjara Beach
Another Icelandic tourist attraction, another Hollywood filming location - this time leading us into the fantastical world of Game of Thrones. It’s easy to see why this spot was chosen to be the base of a queen and her dragons: Reynisfjara Beach is a cinematographer's dream thanks to the huge waves crashing against jet-black sand, the basalt columnar stepping stones winding up the cliff face and the fiery sky at sunrise and sunset. There are also the legendary rocks standing high above the water just of the shoreline, which, according to folklore, are ancient trolls who were turned to stone by the husband of a woman kidnapped and murdered by the trolls. But do be warned: the beach is as dangerous as it is mystical. Huge waves - known as sneaker waves - can come out of nowhere (even on the stillest of days) and knock people off their feet. And with strong current and no lifeguards around, accidents can be fatal. That said, it is easy to stay safe at the beach by following some simple measures: stay far back from the waves and carefully follow the beach’s traffic light system - if the warning light is yellow, do not enter the yellow zone; if it is red, do not enter the red zone.
The Northern Lights
We thought we’d go out with a bang with one of the top tourist attractions in Iceland: the Northern Lights. Admiring the world’s greatest light show - which occurs naturally when solar wind particles interact with the Earth's magnetic field - is something that should feature on every globetrotters bucket list. And it’s not hard to see why - seeing sheets of glowing green and violet dancing across an ethereal backdrop of volcanoes and glaciers is one of Planet Earth greatest phenomena. The Icelandic Northern Lights can be spotted all across the island, even in the capital of Reykjavík despite light pollution. But to be in for the best chance of spotting them in their full glory, we can arrange for you to stay in a beautiful wooden house with a lake terrace perfect for catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights prancing over the Snaefellsnes Peninsula on the west coast of Iceland. September through March are the best months to arrange a trip to Iceland to see the aurora borealis, thanks to the long, dark nights.
