{"id":6557,"date":"2021-02-18T11:02:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-18T10:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/escales.ponant.com\/?p=6557"},"modified":"2026-01-06T14:59:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T13:59:03","slug":"trip-to-iceland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/escales.ponant.com\/en\/trip-to-iceland\/","title":{"rendered":"Iceland, a country of contrasts"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=\u201d1\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||0px||false|false\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d max_width=\u201d900px\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||0px||true|false\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_2_line_height=\u201d1.4em\u201d custom_padding=\u201d40px||40px||true|\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d]<\/p>\n

Discover the wonders of the Island of Vikings<\/h2>\n
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A spectacular land born from the fury of volcanoes,\u00a0<\/span>Iceland\u00a0<\/span>offers visitors an impressive range of\u00a0<\/span>unique landscapes<\/strong>. From fjords and glaciers to lava fields and black sandy beaches, the story of the Earth\u2019s geology is told before your very eyes. And there is also a wealth of\u00a0<\/span>cultural heritage<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>to explore: Icelanders are still strongly attached to their\u00a0<\/span>Viking<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>architecture and legends. Here is a shortlist of our favourite places to visit to\u00a0<\/span>discover a country untouched by time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u201d1_2,1_2\u2033 make_equal=\u201don\u201d admin_label=\u201dcolumn-swap\u201d module_class=\u201dcolumn-swap\u201d _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d width=\u201d100%\u201d max_width=\u201d1000px\u201d module_alignment=\u201dcenter\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||0px||true|false\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d1_2\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_4_line_height=\u201d2em\u201d custom_padding=\u201d25px|30px|80px|50px|false|false\u201d custom_padding_tablet=\u201d||50px||false|false\u201d custom_padding_phone=\u201d|||40px|false|false\u201d custom_padding_last_edited=\u201don|phone\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d]<\/p>\n

Reykjavik, the vibrant capital<\/span><\/h3>\n

With its colourful buildings and fun nightlife, the\u00a0<\/span>Icelandic capital<\/b>\u00a0is a model of Nordic hedonism. Although the\u00a0<\/span>charming lanes of the old town<\/b>\u00a0evoke\u00a0<\/span>Reykjavik\u2019s<\/b>\u00a0not-so-distant past as a fisherman\u2019s village, many of the\u00a0<\/span>modern buildings<\/b>\u00a0reflect the town\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>contemporary vitality<\/b>. The\u00a0<\/span>Harpa<\/b>\u00a0is one such building. This astonishing concert hall features a honeycomb glass facade that is adorned with enchanting colours at dusk.<\/span>
\nEasily accessible from the capital, the\u00a0<\/span>Blue Lagoon<\/b><\/a>\u00a0offers visitors the chance to bathe outdoors in a\u00a0<\/span>natural pool heated to 37 degrees<\/b>. It is quite simply spectacular. And good for the skin too, due to the algae and minerals in the turquoise waters.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Snaefellsj\u00f6kull, a volcano with literary credentials<\/h3>\n

On the tip of a seemingly uninhabited peninsula, the colossal\u00a0<\/span>Snaefellsj\u00f6kull volcano<\/b>\u00a0is surrounded by a vast\u00a0<\/span>wilderness<\/b>\u00a0peppered with lava flows, where lichen vies with ice.\u00a0<\/span>Jules Verne fans<\/b>\u00a0will know this 1,446-metre peak as the\u00a0<\/span>entrance to a passage leading to the Earth\u2019s core<\/b>\u00a0taken by the explorers in\u00a0<\/span>Journey to the Centre of the Earth<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u201d1_2,1_2\u2033 make_equal=\u201don\u201d admin_label=\u201dcolumn-swap\u201d module_class=\u201dcolumn-swap\u201d _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d width=\u201d100%\u201d max_width=\u201d1000px\u201d module_alignment=\u201dcenter\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||0px||true|false\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d1_2\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_4_line_height=\u201d2em\u201d custom_padding=\u201d25px|30px|80px|50px|false|false\u201d custom_padding_tablet=\u201d||50px||false|false\u201d custom_padding_phone=\u201d|||40px|false|false\u201d custom_padding_last_edited=\u201don|phone\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d]<\/p>\n

The seals of the Vatnsnes peninsula<\/h3>\n

Both wild and rural, the\u00a0<\/span>Vatnsnes peninsula<\/b>\u00a0charms visitors with its peaceful atmosphere. Here, dramatic landscapes give way to hills that are populated by delightful little Icelandic horses. Near\u00a0<\/span>Osar<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Borgarvirki<\/b>, visitors can admire a\u00a0<\/span>sizeable seal colony<\/b>\u00a0and fortress-like\u00a0<\/span>basalt rock formations<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The open spaces of the Westfjords<\/h3>\n
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A wild and virtually uninhabited region,\u00a0<\/span>north-west Iceland<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>offers untouched landscapes that chronicle the creation of the world. From the\u00a0<\/span>fjords<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>to the\u00a0<\/span>peninsula<\/b>, the sea and the wind set the pace of life here.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u201d1_2,1_2\u2033 make_equal=\u201don\u201d admin_label=\u201dcolumn-swap\u201d module_class=\u201dcolumn-swap\u201d _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d width=\u201d100%\u201d max_width=\u201d1000px\u201d module_alignment=\u201dcenter\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||0px||true|false\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d1_2\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_4_line_height=\u201d2em\u201d custom_padding=\u201d25px|30px|80px|50px|false|false\u201d custom_padding_tablet=\u201d||50px||false|false\u201d custom_padding_phone=\u201d|||40px|false|false\u201d custom_padding_last_edited=\u201don|phone\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d]<\/p>\n

The Arctic island of Grimsey<\/h3>\n

Off the north coast,\u00a0<\/span>Grimsey island<\/b>\u00a0looks rather austere, with its coast lined with black basalt cliffs. But it is actually quite green, with sheep grazing in one vast meadow. In summer, it is a\u00a0<\/span>popular sanctuary for thousands of seabirds<\/b>\u00a0that you can easily observe through binoculars. And as the island straddles\u00a0<\/span>the Arctic Circle<\/b>, it is the perfect introduction (or reintroduction) to the\u00a0<\/span>Arctic<\/b>\u00a0for many visitors.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Myvatn lake, a black mirror<\/h3>\n

Made up of lush pastures interspersed with volcanic formations,\u00a0<\/span>the region around Myvatn lake<\/b>\u00a0boasts a\u00a0<\/span>striking colour palette<\/b>\u00a0and an infinite number of\u00a0<\/span>geological masterpieces<\/b>. The 37 km\u00b2 lake acts as a mirror for these green and black lands. There are several caves and craters around the lake that can be accessed via\u00a0<\/span>well-marked hiking trails<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u201d1_2,1_2\u2033 make_equal=\u201don\u201d admin_label=\u201dcolumn-swap\u201d module_class=\u201dcolumn-swap\u201d _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d width=\u201d100%\u201d max_width=\u201d1000px\u201d module_alignment=\u201dcenter\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||0px||true|false\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d1_2\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_4_line_height=\u201d2em\u201d custom_padding=\u201d25px|30px|80px|50px|false|false\u201d custom_padding_tablet=\u201d||50px||false|false\u201d custom_padding_phone=\u201d|||40px|false|false\u201d custom_padding_last_edited=\u201don|phone\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d]<\/p>\n

The dreamlike decor of the Eastfjords<\/h3>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>East coast<\/b>\u00a0is carved out by\u00a0<\/span>spectacular fjords\u00a0<\/span><\/b>and is the least populated region of Iceland. At the end of the fjords nestle small villages, where people know how to take their time. The most impressive fjord is probably\u00a0<\/span>Mjoifj\u00f6rdur<\/b>, a long inlet surrounded by dark rocks and fabulous waterfalls that twinkle at dusk.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The lagoons and glaciers of Skaftafell nature reserve<\/h3>\n

At 8,400 km\u00b2,\u00a0<\/span>Vatnaj\u00f6kull<\/b>\u00a0is hands-down the largest glacier in Europe. Sitting atop a column of magma, it is a truly magnificent example of the\u00a0<\/span>marriage of fire and ice<\/b>, which, according to Old Norse legends, shaped Iceland. It is surrounded by the\u00a0<\/span>incredible Skaftafell national park\u00a0<\/span><\/b>and its astonishing basalt formations. This region is also home to the fabulous \u2018Diamond Beach\u2019, where iceberg fragments wash up on a strip of black sand. The decor is worthy of a fairy tale, especially at sunrise and sunset.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cliffs and waves at Dyrholaey<\/h3>\n

On Iceland\u2019s south coast, the\u00a0<\/span>Dyrholaey peninsula<\/b>\u00a0offers a spectacular landscape where cliffs battered by the swell vie with black sandy beaches. As you get closer, the rock breaks into crags, resembling an\u00a0<\/span>astonishing basalt version of the coast of \u00c9tretat in France<\/b>. The area is home to several\u00a0<\/span>large puffin colonies<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Rust-red tephra and ash on the island of Heimaey<\/h3>\n

The only inhabited island in the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Westman Islands\u00a0<\/span><\/b>is the rural and\u00a0<\/span>volcanic<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>Heimaey,<\/b>\u00a0which never fails to surprise visitors. Its history is marked by the spectacular \u2013 and destructive \u2013\u00a0<\/span>eruption of Eldfell<\/b>\u00a0in 1973. There is an excellent museum dedicated to the event, which is best visited after a hike on the slopes of the volcano itself.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t miss out<\/h2>\n

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