An Icelandic Classic

Reykjavik – Hella

An Icelandic
classic

There are very few places you can go from picnicking on a glacier to designer shopping in the colourful capital city.

Yes, Iceland packs a lot into its compact frame, from other-worldly landscapes dotted with steaming geysers, geothermal pools and thundering waterfalls, to the hip hang-outs of Reykjavik.

Explore the island’s contrasting faces by Super Jeep and snowmobile, visiting Hella’s spellbinding volcanic landscapes, the South Coast’s black sand beaches and unforgettable locations like the therapeutic Blue Lagoon, Thingvellir National Park and the Gullfoss waterfall. Come nightfall, cross your fingers for a glimpse of the ethereal Aurora because the lack of light pollution makes the views even more vivid.

Houses near a river in Thingvellir National Park

A swan floating on water with buildings in the city of Reykjavík behind

A taste of what’s to come An Icelandic classic journal

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

8:30am

I slept like a baby last night, probably due to the Blue Lagoon’s steamy geothermal water we soaked in yesterday – the perfect antidote to any post-flight woes. Today we’re heading into Reykjavik to explore; taking it easy wandering some designer shops, museums and galleries. We’re thinking of going to the harbour for dinner, we’ve been told the fresh seafood is life changing.
6pm

Into the Icelandic wilderness we went for a days guided tour in a monster of a Super Jeep. We explored an area known as the Golden Circle – home to pretty much every archetypal Icelandic landscape. We drove through Thingvellir National Park where you can walk between tectonic plates and on to the sprouting Strokkur geyser, before finishing off at the beautifully formidable Gullfoss waterfall.
3:46pm

We had a choice today, some outdoor pursuits like dog sledding and a glacier tour, or a Super Jeep exploration of the sleepy villages and black sand beaches of the South Coast – littered with wreckage and sea life skeletons. We went for the latter, thundering along on our journey before stopping off at this quaint guesthouse for lunch. We’re about to head back out into the chilly air now, goggles in hand for a snowmobile tour of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

0:00

Extraordinary
experiences

- Soak in the therapeutic thermal waters of the iconic Blue Lagoon.
  
  Frosty blue pools engulfed by black volcanic rock may give off the air of a cold shoulder, but these waters are anything but. Thanks to its mineral-rich composition, the healing properties of the Blue Lagoon have become world-famous, and a day spent soaking in this otherworldly landscape is bound to heal both body and soul.
- Explore the beguiling landscapes in the circumference of the Golden Circle.
  
  The only vehicle tough enough to handle the terrain, a Super Jeep is the hefty mode of transport for a day whizzing around the natural beauty in this part of Iceland. Taking in Thingvellir National Park, the spouting Strokkur geyser and the astonishingly beautiful Gullfoss waterfall along the way.
- Ride, glide and fly over the South Coast’s snow-scapes.
  
  When one mode of transport just won’t do: first meet up with some friendly huskies to fly over the glaciers on the back of a sled. Then, horses are mounted for a slower pace of exploration. For the extreme-enthusiasts, there are sightseeing flights on the cards to get a birds eye view of the glittering white vastness.
- Venture to the coast for a beach experience far from that of a traditional summer holiday.
  
  Climbing aboard a Super Jeep, head to the gargantuan cliffs of the South Coast. Touring unearthly black volcanic sand beaches, titanic waterfalls and lazy coastal villages en-route. Later, zoom over the Mýrdalsjökull glacier on a snowmobile tour.