Come fall, Iceland will welcome its first five-star hotel, resort and spa: Lava Cove & Moss Hotel, our sister publication Luxury Travel Advisor reports. The new resort will be located on one of Iceland's most renowned tourist attractions, The Blue Lagoon; a man-made lagoon and geothermal spa. In addition to the Blue Lagoon, Iceland has an assortment of tourist attractions crafted for outdoor lovers and adventures alike:
Skaftafell Ice Caves
Located inside Skaftafell National Park, the Skaftafell Ice Caves provide a unique opportunity for guests visiting Iceland in the winter. As the Ice Caves are only found during the wintertime when the glacial rivers retract and water freezes, new caves are formed in different locations every year. Needless to say, venturing to the caves is highly dependent on conditions, including temperature and accessibility. Once inside the caves, visitors will have plenty of photo opportunities as the caves are illuminated by the blue light passing through the glacier ice.
The best way to visit the Skaftafell Ice Caves is with a tour group. For example, Glacier Guides offer a variety of tours suitable for groups up to 12 people, ages 10+ with a basic fitness level. The Glacier Guides website suggests two to three layers of warm clothing and good hiking boots or hiking shoes.
Laugauveur Trail
The Laugauveur is a 49-mile trekking route in southwest Iceland; the longest in the country. The trail spans from the hot springs area of Landmannalaugar to the glaical valley or Porsmork, offering a wide variety of landscapes for hikers. Hiking the Laugauver Trail would take the average hiker close to five days - totaling nearly 10 miles per day through somewhat rough terrain. For those who plan to overnight on the trail, there are three options:
- Stay in the huts onsite - costs about $40 USD per person, per night
- Camp outside of the huts in a designated camping area - costs about $10 per person, per night
- Camp in a non-designated area - free
To reach the base of the Laugauveur Trail, travelers can hop on a bus operated by Reykjavik Excursions from the BSI terminal in Reykjavik.
Silfra
Silfra is a fissure between two tectonic plates, separating North America and Europe. The visibility in Silfra exceeds 100m, making it some of the clearest and cleanest water in the world and a popular diving and snorkeling destination - divers and snorkelers can even drink the water during their plunge. There are also places between the fissures where swimmers can touch both North America and Europe at the same time. Be prepared, the water is cold - 35 to 40 degrees year round- as it is glacial water from the nearby Langjokull.
The Silfra fissure consists of four sections: Silfra Big Crack, Silfra Hall, Silfra Cathedral and Silfra Lagoon. Once again, the easiest way to explore all of Silfra is with a certified diving group. Check out Dive.Is for tour opportunities.
Whale Watching
The best time of year to spot whales is May to September, though they are visible all year round. Whale watching trips depart from Reykjavik's old harbor three times a day in the summer and daily at 1 pm in the winter. Whale watching tours also depart from a few small towns in the north of Iceland, especially from Husavik, a fishing village north of Akureyri.
In total, there are 23 different types of whales that can be spotted around Iceland, including Minke and Humpback. Guests might also encounter dolphins, porpoises and sea birds on their trip. The trip costs about $50 USD in the winter and $55 USD in the summer.
The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is a tourist route in Iceland, covering about 300 km from Reykjavik to the south of Iceland and back. The area is routinely marketed as it is home to the most tours and travel-related activities in Iceland, specifically highlighting the Þingvellir National Park, the geothermal area in Haukadalur and the Gullfoss Waterfall. Almost every tour company in Reykjavik offers a Golden Circle tour, from bus to bike to super-jeep.
- Þingvellir National Park
- Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Þingvellir is also protected as a national park due to its unique geology and natural features.
- The waters in and around Þingvellir are popular for fishing and scubadiving.
- Haukadalur
- Home to numerous Geysir hot springs
- Public property - open 24/7
- There's a hotel, Geyser Center and campground all nearby
- Gullfoss Waterfall
- Located on the Hvita River, which is fed by Iceland's second biggest glacier, the Langjokull.
- The water plummets 32 meters in two stages into a canyon
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