It may be expensive but there are few destinations within 3hrs’ flying time of the UKwhich offer such a fascinating geographical diversity and range of activity options as Iceland.
Whether it be exploring the glaciers and volanoes from the comfort of a coach tour or on horseback, operators have not been slow to pick up on the potential of the destination.
Reykjavik is the base for many of the activities on offer but is also building a name as a spa town in its own right, thanks to its naturally heated swimming pools and thermal baths.
Iceland is also the closest place to home where you can spot killer and blue whales throughout the summer.
Horse trekking
Horse riding is becoming increasingly popular, with over 80 companies in Iceland offering a variety of trips from half-day rides on one of the many bridle paths to 12-day tours.
For example, Reykjavik Excursions offers half-day tours accompanied by an expert rider twice a day from May to October.
It costs £25, including transfers and riding equipment. A full-day riding tour includes optional natural steam bath and costs £60 including equipment, guide, transfers and lunch – also available from May to October.
Arctic Experience offers longer horse riding trips with tours from £269 for one to four-night treks and from £864 for five to nine-night treks. Prices include transfers, equipment, meals and accommodation.
Four-wheel-drive tours
Iceland’s rugged landscape is excellent territory for four-wheel driving. It is an exciting but extremely safe way to see the country’s beautiful scenery.
Most car-rental companies in Iceland offer four-wheel-drive vehicles with a guide. These Icelandic ‘Super Jeeps’ have been specially adapted to allow the vehicles to travel across almost any part of Iceland’s terrain. ‘Super-Jeep’ day trips cost £60 per person from May to September.
Another possibility is to travel across a glacier by snow scooters – a year-round activity. Half-day trips from Reykjavik cost £64 per person and £120 for a whole day.
Spa experience
Reykjavik has seven public swimming pools, heated naturally to about 29C, and has been declared an official spa city.
But the biggest and most popular spa is the Blue Lagoon, located 13 miles from the airport and 25 miles from Reykjavik, which opened in July 1999. Independent travellers can take a local bus from Reykjavik for £10 and pay the £5 entry fee.
However many operators actually offer tours to the site, such as Icelandair, and Thomas Cook Holidays.
The year-round day tour to the Blue Lagoon takes 6hrs and is ideal for those leaving the country on most afternoon departure flights.
Icelandair’s tour costs £34 per person and includes transportation including airport drop-off, entrance fees, trip to the aquarium in Hafnir and a scenic trip around the Reykanes peninsula.
The Blue Lagoon is a pool of mineral-rich seawater situated in a lava field.
The temperature of the aqua marine water stays at a comfortable 36C-39C degrees all year round.
As well as improving the skin’s suppleness, balancing oily skin and aiding the synthesis of elastin and collagen, the minerals in the water are believed to greatly help the skin condition psoriasis.
Due to this belief, a special treatment centre has been established for the treatment of this ailment.
Golf
Iceland has 45 golf courses, six of which are 18-hole courses and have been used for both domestic and international championships.
The Akureyri Golf Club in northern Iceland is the most northern 18-hole golf course in the world and hosts the International Arctic Open every year on the third weekend in June.
The golfing season is mainly between May and September. During June and July it is possible to tee-off at 11pm or midnight. For further information on golf in Iceland contact the Icelandic Golf Club (00 354 5686686 ) or, for tailor-made golf arrangements, contact Urval Utsyn (00 354 5699300).
Shopping
Reykjavik has a wide range of stores from small boutiques to major malls but many products are expensive. Woollen garments are among some of the bargains that are available.
Most shops in Iceland offer tax-free shopping and the airport is a particularly good place to buy cosmetics and CDs. The airport also has an optician’s that will provide designer glasses within 15mins.
Whale-watching
The waters around Iceland boast eight species of whale, including the blue and killer variety, and tour organisers claim a 98% success rate in be able to spot these amazing creatures.
Visitors may also see dolphins, orca whales, minke whales and humpbacks, with some tours visiting a puffin colony as well.
Many tours leave from Husavik, the northern fishing village known as the whale-watching capital of Iceland.
A 3hr trip costs around £32 per adult and £16 for children. Between May and September tours leave three of four times a day.
Those travelling between May and October can pre book a 6hr whale-watching tour through Icelandair departing from Reykjavik at a cost of £56 per adult and half-price for children.
Night life
Reykjavik offers a lively night life with most bars open until 3am and, in the summer months, as late as 6am or 7am.
The place to be seen at the moment is Bar Rex (Main Street Austurstraeti 9), a Conran-designed bar offering cocktails and an international menu.
One of the top night clubs, Astro, is due to reopen at the end of January, after an extensive refurbishment programme. Entrance is about £10. Kaffi Reykjavik is a popular bar/club near the harbour with no entrance fee.
The most famous club is the Broadway in Hotel Island, while Skuggabarinn next to Hotel Borg remains a popular hangout for the locals.
While nightclub entry fees are on a par with UK prices, the cost of an alcoholic drink is very expensive (a beer costs about £5).
Most Icelanders drink at friend’s houses early in the evening, then hit the town at about 11pm.
For tourists it is worthwhile picking up some duty-free from the airport on the way over for a couple of drinks before you venture out.
Four-wheel-drive tours
Iceland’s rugged landscape is excellent territory for four-wheel driving. It is an exciting but extremely safe way to see the country’s beautiful scenery.
Most car-rental companies in Iceland offer four-wheel-drive vehicles with a guide. These Icelandic ‘Super Jeeps’ have been specially adapted to allow the vehicles to travel across almost any part of Iceland’s terrain. ‘Super-Jeep’ day trips cost £60 per person from May to September.
Another possibility is to travel across a glacier by snow scooters – a year-round activity. Half-day trips from Reykjavik cost £64 per person and £120 for a whole day.
Coach tours
Due to Iceland’s territory, the country is an ideal place to take a coach tour.
The landscape of the country is incredibly varied ranging from glacial lagoons to lush green valleys, from ice caps to active volcanoes.
Even though visitor numbers to Iceland are continuing to grow, coach tourists are unlikely to bump into many other groups.
The number of operators offering Iceland continues to grow and include Wallace Arnold, Titan Tours, Shearings Holidays, First Choice, Explore Worldwide and Scantours.
As the interior is largely inaccessible, tours tend to follow a similar route, taking in the attractions around the coast, such as Dettifoss, Europe’s largest waterfall in the north, the northern town of Akuureyri, the hot spring Great Geyser and the Gullfoss waterfall in the south west. The client profile for these tours tends to be retired couples interested in nature.
Accommodation outside of Reykjavik is usually in three-star hotels that are comfortable and serve good food.
Shopping
Reykjavik has a wide range of stores from small boutiques to major malls but many products are expensive. Woollen garments are among some of the bargains that are available.
Most shops in Iceland offer tax-free shopping and the airport is a particularly good place to buy cosmetics and CDs. The airport also has an optician’s that will provide designer glasses within 15mins.
Coach tours
Due to Iceland’s territory, the country is an ideal place to take a coach tour.
The landscape of the country is incredibly varied ranging from glacial lagoons to lush green valleys, from ice caps to active volcanoes.
Even though visitor numbers to Iceland are continuing to grow, coach tourists are unlikely to bump into many other groups.
The number of operators offering Iceland continues to grow and include Wallace Arnold, Titan Tours, Shearings Holidays, First Choice, Explore Worldwide and Scantours.
As the interior is largely inaccessible, tours tend to follow a similar route, taking in the attractions around the coast, such as Dettifoss, Europe’s largest waterfall in the north, the northern town of Akuureyri, the hot spring Great Geyser and the Gullfoss waterfall in the south west. The client profile for these tours tends to be retired couples interested in nature.
Accommodation outside of Reykjavik is usually in three-star hotels that are comfortable and serve good food.