Adventures in the Land of Fire & Ice - Part One
Unsurprisingly, in March this year, I was sat (gin in hand) on an Iceland Air flight as the craggy coastline of Iceland came into view below me.
Our trip was sponsored by one of Travel Counsellors’ favourite partners, the fantastic Obeo Travel, who know Iceland like the back of their hand. And had put together the kind of itinerary that makes your husband go off in a huff when he realises he’s not invited.
On arrival at Reykjavik, and greeted by our hosts, we were whisked straight over to what is surely Iceland’s most famous hotspot; the Blue Lagoon. The ride here afforded us our first views of Iceland proper, a land where spurts of steam randomly erupt from the ground, of quiet roads snaking through almost Tenerife-like scenery, vast desert-like landscapes, and soaring snow-flecked mountains capped by volcanoes.
The Blue Lagoon is unique in Iceland. The country has natural hot springs aplenty, but this place, with its incredibly mineral-rich steamy water is fed by the waste from the nearby geothermal power station. But not in a freaky way. The water is like a gorgeously hot bath, and its unusual make-up means it’s great for your skin. A couple of tips when you’re planning a trip here. One, don’t think you can just turn up and get in. This place is booked up in advance, and so pre-arranging is essential. If you’re short on time, you can visit straight from the airport like we did. And, secondly, while the minerals love your skin, they don’t love your jewellery, or your hair. Make sure you remove your valuables and bring a bobble. You can also slather your hair in the complimentary conditioner, found in the showers, where public nudity seems to be de rigueur.
The Blue Lagoon is a haven for tourists from across the world, and in honesty I think you couldn’t come to Iceland for your first time and not go. However, it can be pricey, and as I’ll mention, there’s other [possibly better, if not as unique] alternatives.
Most short breaks centre around the island’s capital. It’s very safe, quiet, and picturesque, with lovely painted wooden buildings overlooking the old harbour, bobbing with boats, including the ones taking you out Northern Light hunting. On our first night, we set off on a cruise under the night skies and away from the light pollution of the city. Unfortunately, there was no showing for us, and so, to give yourself the best possible chance, I’d recommend heading out on the hunt on your first night, because if you don’t see them, you’ll generally be offered another free tour the following evening.
If the Blue Lagoon is number one, then the Golden Circle is a close second on any Iceland traveller’s bucket list. This trio of natural treats is covered off in a one day tour and includes the Pingvellir National Park (the fascinating site of Iceland’s first parliament) set in a beautiful landscape of glacial lakes and the dramatic rugged scenery of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates rubbing up against each other. Second is the Gullfoss Waterfall where torrents of water thunder spectacularly over a tiered ravine. And third is the Geysir, the king of geysirs the world over who take their name from this spot. Here, in a smoking hole in the ground, water bubbles furiously beneath the surface, being boiled in the giant kettle of Iceland’s active soils, before, every seven minutes, swelling into a huge blue dome and spurting high into the air – absolutely phenomenal, every time.
The reason I compact the Golden Circle is not because it’s not fantastic, it really is, but for me, it paled in comparison to what came next.
Because Iceland was so amazing, I can’t squeeze all this into one blog… so please check out how the cliff-hanger ends in Part Two…