It took less than 24-hours in Iceland for me to become convinced that it’s a utopia. Since returning home from my trip with Icelandair, I’ve become the country’s unofficial ambassador, singing its praises to anyone who’ll listen. Why? Let me count (some of) the reasons: The scenery is breath-taking, which is probably why everything from Game of Thrones to James Bond has been filmed there. The erratic weather meant that during my 3-day trip I saw Iceland in bright sunlight, snow and thrashing rain (don’t panic, because the climate is so changeable, there’s an Icelandic saying which means ‘if you don’t like the weather, wait half an hour’) – and it looked beautiful in all three.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that everyone I met was good-looking, welcoming and knowledgeable; during my taxi ride from the airport I had a lesson in Icelandic history that would put London tour buses to shame. That’s without getting me started on the politics – Iceland was the first country to elect a lesbian prime minister (who promptly made strip clubs illegal), and is the only NATO member to have no armed forces. For a small and sparsely populated country, it feels surprisingly metropolitan. It’s also ahead of the curve in terms of eco-friendliness, with much of the power generated from natural underground heat sources. Oh, and it’s the birthplace of Bjork. Mustn’t forget that one.
While Iceland has long been a bucket list destination – even Beyonce and Jay Z holidayed there last year – now, thanks to Icelandair, there is an added incentive to visit. The airline offer a Stopover experience, allowing passengers to Europe and North America the chance to stay in Iceland for up to seven nights at no extra airfare. Additionally, from 1st September to 1st November, visitors can experience an 'Incredible Stopover' experience. This includes a night in the Dyrhólaey lighthouse, a never before stayed in functioning lighthouse which has been transformed into a private boutique hotel – as well as the option of adding a range of other activities, including helicopter tours, waterfall walks and spa days.
During my trip, I spent the first night in the Icelandair Marina Hotel in Reykajavik. Complete with stunning views of the harbour, the Marina Hotel offers a quirky line in Icelandic casual luxury, with a Bang & Olufsen speaker system sharing space with more traditional touches like rustic benches and antique chairs (the bar downstairs also does a mean cocktail, FYI). After exploring Reykajavik town, I checked out the tasting menu at Kopar restaurant, a stone’s throw away. Seven unforgettable courses later - including Icelandic scallops with salmon roe, delicious confit duck thigh and a trio of deserts - I left convinced that Iceland’s foodie credentials were more than a match for it’s awe-inspiring vistas.
After an early start the next morning, it was time for a helicopter tour of Reykjavik. Wearing the prerequisite Britney earphones and head mic, I enjoyed a bird’s eye view of the volcanic landscape, taking in snow covered mountain ranges and lava fields. Midway through, our pilot treated us to a pit-stop, where we explored the geothermal hot springs by foot and saw the tracks of arctic foxes, before heading back to the helepad. And the day’s adventures weren’t to end there. My brilliant guide Gudni was on hand to offer a tour by road to Dyrhólaey lighthouse, stopping along the way at Gljúfrabúi waterfall. The 60 metre high waterfall is the only known one of its kind, with a ledge allowing visitors to walk behind it. Cue lots of singing of TLC’s Waterfalls and a couple of misjudged poses caught on camera. Before arriving at our lighthouse destination, on the central south coast of Iceland, we had time to drop in at horse farm Skálakot. After an hour of riding my Icelandic horse over the highlands, I felt like a certified action man (how I looked is probably another matter).
Finally, we arrived at the over-a-century-old active lighthouse, fulfilling a lifelong fantasy that anyone who ever watched Round The Twist will be familiar with. Inside, the interiors combine understated luxury with clean design (most of the furniture wouldn’t look out of place in a Hay store, and is complemented by homely touches like locally made Icelandic wool blankets). Outside, the lighthouse offers breath-taking views in all directions along the coastline, where puffins can be seen nestling in the rock face. The iconic Reynisfjara black pebble beach lies a short drive away, and is the dramatic setting for music videos by the likes of Hurts and Bon Iver. A walk along the shore, taking in the pyramid rock formations jutting out of the sea, confirms why the almost mystical setting was an inspired choice.
The next day, after a relaxing soak in a natural spa (The Blue Lagoon and Fontana Spa are popular options), my Icelandic odyssey was complete. After just three days in Iceland, I felt as if I’d been there at least a week – a testament to how much you can pack into a short stopover in the country. Now that I’m home, I can’t wait to go back.
*The Incredible Stopover will be available for Icelandair transatlantic passengers to enjoy from 1st September to 1st November 2015. Booking, bespoke packages and further details on the Incredible Stopover are available from Icelandair.co.uk/Stopover