TRAVEL
TRACY MASON TRAVEL FEATURE
My partner and I would like to
do something really different, we
are not great fans of the normal
package holiday and neither of
us are over fond of sunbathing,
beaches and all inclusive.
Do you have any suggestions
of somewhere interesting to go
without a long haul flight involved?
Only two and a half hours
away and with local flights from
some regional airports you may
like to consider 4 or 5 nights in
Reykjavik, Iceland. With Iceland-
air now operating from London,
Birmingham, Manchester,
Aberdeen and Glasgow there is
no better time to visit the beautiful
country of Iceland, home to
some of the world’s greatest
natural wonders. Iceland has
dramatic landscapes crafted
over thousands of years by
volcanic activity. Travel into the
remote countryside to witness the
incredible northern lights dancing
across the night sky or visit the
numerous rivers carving their
way through the landscape with
spectacular waterfalls.
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The number one tourist destination
is Gullfoss , “Meaning Golden
Falls”, one of Iceland’s most
beautiful and, without a doubt,
Iceland’s most popular waterfall.
Gullfoss is a magnificent 32 metre
high double waterfall on the
White River ( Hvita). The flow of
the river from the regular rains and
the glacial runoff particularly in
the summer months, makes it the
largest volume waterfall in Europe.
There are the powerful geysers to
enjoy at Geysir, the geothermal
area where the Strokkur hot
spring erupts into the air every few
minutes. The Great Geysir located
in the Haukadalur Valley in west
Central Iceland, is one of the most
amazing geysers in the world, and
as one of the first described in
print in the 18 th Century, the word
geyser has been derived from its
name. It is believed to have been
active for about 10,000 years and
can throw hot water up to 70
metres when it erupts.
Explore the Pingvellir National
Park, the most important site in
Iceland in terms of its history, culture
and geology. A UNESCO World
Heritage Site the Park is home to
Iceland’s largest natural lake and
the place where the two tectonic
plates of North America and
Eurasia split and drift apart. The Park
is also the site of Iceland’s oldest
parliament, the Althing founded in
930.
Located 20 minutes south of
Keflavik airport is the Blue Lagoon,
Iceland’s most famous attraction.
A unique natural pool of mineral
rich, geothermal water located in
the middle of a lava filed on the
Reykanes Peninsula, you can relax
and enjoy the healing properties of
the natural spa with its iconic bright
blue water, whilst enjoying a Blue
Lagoon Cocktail!
As well as all the natural geological
wonders of Iceland there is also
all the wildlife to enjoy. You can
set sail from the Old Harbour, in
the capital of Reykjavik, in search
of humpback whales, orcas and
white-beaked dolphins on a winter
whale watching tour, with the large
population of herring and capelin
attracting everything from killer
whales to the harbour porpoise.
Reykjavik lies about 40 minutes
from the airport with regular shuttle
buses taking visitors into the capital
where the majority of the 330,
000 Icelanders live and work. The
creative and cultural heart of the
nation, it is well worth spending time
taking in what Reykjavik has to offer.
Visit the National Centre for
Cultural Heritage to discover some
of the most important medieval
manuscripts in the world, including
many of the oldest Icelandic sagas,
or listen to a traditional recital.
The National Gallery of Iceland
houses a large collection of works
by major Icelandic artists of the
19th and 20th centuries. The Harpa
Concert Hall is the home of the
Iceland Symphony orchestra and
the Icelandic Opera with a very
contemporary design.
The Hallgrimskirkja, is the main
landmark in Reykjavik and the tower
can be seen from anywhere in the
city. Construction of the church
began in 1945 with the iconic
tower, there are panoramic views
of the whole of the city from the
observation platform at the top,
and finished in 1986. The design is
inspired by the shapes and forms
that lava creates when it cools into
basalt rock.