Discover Iceland (from home)

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Falling 44 metres from the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river, Dettifoss crescendos with a mighty crash into the Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon below, creating one of the most spectacular and dramatic natural sites available to visit in Iceland.
Dettifoss makes up just one part of the Diamond Circle, the northern counterpart of the more famed Golden Circle sightseeing route. Alongside Dettifoss, visitors to the Diamond Circle will also visit attractions such as Húsavík, Ásbyrgi Canyon and Lake Mývatn.

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The Blue Lagoon holds the privilege of being Iceland’s most famous spa, because of its healing silica mud, warm and soothing water, charming surrounding and billowing steam stacks. I visited in February; read my detailed review here.
If the Blue Lagoon is out of your budget, there are always other spas that offer similar experiences, such as the Secret Lagoon near to the Golden Circle and the Mývatn Nature Baths in the north.

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Like Iceland’s far east, the Westfjords is a region less frequented by international visitors.
Known for a rich history steeped in folklore, mysticism and magic, it's as beautiful as it is culturally fascinating. From the towering bird cliffs of Hornstrandir to the tumbling Dynjandi waterfalls, the Westfjords have something for everybody.

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In a country made up of countless awe-inspiring natural attractions, it might seem hard to pick out just one that outmatches the others, and yet Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon takes the crown every time.
It is, after all, a still lake decorated with a silent procession of glittering icebergs, groaning and crunching against one another as they make their way from Breiðamerkurjökull glacier to the Atlantic Ocean.

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There are over twenty species of cetacean that call the Icelandic coastal waters home, ranging from the rather small harbour porpoises to the earth's largest animals, Blue Whales.
Whale watching tours depart from three primary locations: Reykjavík, Akureyri and Husavík, which is considered Iceland’s whale watching capital. This is due to the abundant animal traffic that passes through Husavík’s fjords, a consequence of the fruitful feeding grounds found off Iceland’s northern coasts.

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As its name suggests, Iceland is a land that has come to be defined by its frozen landscapes. Whilst many decry Iceland as not being quite frozen enough to warrant the name, this is, in fact, a country of floating icebergs, sweeping glacier tongues and dazzling blue glacier ice caves.
The ultimate icy experience is, of course, entering one of the countries gorgeous blue ice caves. These are however only accessible in the winter months.

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Half a mile away from the capital city Reykjavik are the islands of Akurey and Lundey which are known for their gorgeous and cuddly puffin colonies. Of the two Akurey is more famous as it has the larger puffin population and you can also see a plethora of other wildlife here including cormorants, ducks, seagulls, and guillemots.
The island is uninhabited but you can take a boat across from the mainland and watch the puffins nesting and tending to their young.

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Iceland is a young country, geologically speaking, meaning much of the landscape is still geothermally active. Guests here have popularised the pursuit of churning mud pools, steaming volcanic vents and erupting hot strings, such as Strokkur, on the Golden Circle sightseeing tour.
Thankfully, not all of this activity is quite so dramatic. One of the incredible by-products of a geothermally active country is the abundance of natural hot pools found dotted around the landscape.

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One of Iceland’s biggest draws is the Northern Lights, otherwise known as the Aurora Borealis, a natural light display that occurs only in the winter and only at the earth’s highest elevations. Dancing in ribbon-like waves of purple, green and gold, this incredible, bucket-list phenomenon must be experienced at least once.
The Northern Lights are infamously elusive, having left many visitors disappointed with their intermittent absences. Conditions must be perfect; limited to no cloud cover, flaring activity in the magnetosphere and no light pollution. The best way is to partake in a tour with a Northern Lights guide. Not only are such guides experienced when it comes to knowing the best and darkest vantage points, but they are also able to provide a wealth of scientific information to add even more colour to the experience.

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The Icelandic Horse is, arguably, the country’s most famous four-legged resident. Instantly recognisable for its diminutive stature, short legs and muscular build, this isolated breed is famed for its reliability, resistance to the harsh natural elements and its five gaits.
By choosing to partake in a horse riding tour, visitors can enjoy a tried-and-tested method of experiencing the Icelandic nature at its best. This has been the case throughout the centuries, during which time the original Norwegian breed has developed into the animal we know today.

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Visitors here will be able to look upon the Skútustaðagígar pseudo-craters, the geothermally active Námaskarð Pass and even Dimmuborgir, or “Dark Fortress”, an area of strange, yet hauntingly beautiful volcanic rock formations.

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The Golden Circle is Iceland’s most popular sightseeing route, comprised of three major attractions: Þingvellir National Park, Haukadalur Geothermal Valley and the majestic Gullfoss Waterfall.
Driving the Golden Circle can be achieved in a few hours, many visitors choose to undertake the drive in the morning and move on to other things for the rest of the day. However, others spread the route out over a whole day, even adding a snorkelling or snowmobiling tour for added excitement.

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