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8天7夜自驾｜冰岛环岛＋黄金圈
4月下旬至10月上旬，可以在冰岛环岛自驾游。如果不想太赶路又没有太多时间，这个8天7夜的环岛行程是这个季节最经典的基础环岛线路。沿着著名的冰岛一号环岛公路，尽享沿途美景。
蓝湖温泉、黄金圈、野性南岸的黑沙滩、瓦特那冰川国家公园、杰古沙龙冰河湖、北部米湖、阿克雷里，这些你耳熟能详的冰岛最著名的目的地都被囊括在这个环岛行程中。如果你希望在观光接触上有更多特色体验，还可以在预定时选择增加一些额外项目，比如在黄金圈增加刺激的雪地摩托、在南岸的索尔黑马冰川增加冰川徒步(Sólheimajökull)、在杰古沙龙冰河湖湖中船游，如果你喜欢动物，还可以增加骑马、观鲸。
这个环岛自驾的行程只在4月底至10月初开放，是因为冰岛的东部、北部地区多山路弯路，冬季来的早，且风雪更大，在冬季有不小的危险性，加上冰岛冬季日照短，自驾的优势远不如夏季明显。所以出于安全考虑，我们必须对大家的安全负责，推荐大家在冬季不要环岛。
您可以选择舒适或高端级别的酒店，均含早餐、安排私人卫浴，车型则有二驱、普通四驱、高端四驱三种级别供您选择。
冰岛人口少，旅游行业乃至各行各业资源紧俏。您预定这个套餐，将不用烦恼策划、预定需投入的大量时间和精力，让Guide to Iceland的旅行专家帮您选择最适合的冰岛旅行资源，并提供给您详细的行程单。我们会为您安排好全程的住宿和租车，根据您的航班时间把蓝湖温泉和附加项目合理的安排在行程中，根据您对附加项目的需求进行行程微调。
如果你想来冰岛环岛自驾游，就赶紧预定这个8天7夜的经典线路，轻松出行，畅享在冰岛自驾的乐趣吧！
行程速览
- 运营日期 5月. - 10月.
- 长度 8 天
- 项目 冰川徒步, 浮潜, 岩洞, 雪地摩托, 骑马, 观鲸, 观光, 船游, 温泉, 文化, 观鸟, 冰洞探险, 自驾
- 难度 容易
- 解说语言 English
- 亮点 蓝湖温泉,
冰岛蓝湖温泉(Blue Lagoon)位于冰岛西南部的雷克雅内斯半岛(Reykjanes)上，是冰岛最著名的旅游景点与地热温泉之一。
蓝湖温泉距离冰岛凯夫拉维克国际机场约15～20分钟车程；距离冰岛首都雷克雅未克约50分钟车程。温泉居于机场和首都之间，许多游客会将蓝湖温泉行程安排在抵达或离开冰岛当日，以节省旅行时间，优化旅行路线，舒缓长途飞行之后的疲劳身心。
历史
1976年时，蓝湖只不过是一汪从Svartsengi地热发电厂排出的废水。1981年，发电厂员工Valur Margeirsson成为了第一个进入蓝湖泡温泉的人。Valur提出要进入蓝湖时，遭到了不少人的反对，只因当时的人都认为这里只是一滩“蓝色泥潭”，而非温泉。但不久大家就都发现，这汪蓝宝石色的湖水具有改善肌肤、舒缓肌肉的神奇效果。
蓝湖温泉对牛皮癣等皮肤病症有显著的疗效，有助患者减轻病情。温泉的奇效也随之在冰岛传开，1987年，蓝湖温泉设施对外开放，成为正式温泉。
此后蓝湖温泉逐步发展，从简陋的户外泳池慢慢成为了今天的奢华温泉SPA。
今日蓝湖
科学研究表明，蓝湖温泉含有二氧化硅、硫等丰富的矿物质，有助于改善皮肤状况，现在蓝湖也专门为皮肤病患者设立了研究所和疗养中心。蓝湖温泉也会为普通游客免费提供硅泥面膜，让游人体验蓝湖温泉的天然魅力。
蓝湖温泉的水温全年保持在37～39°C，无论冬夏游人都可以在温暖舒适的泉水中度过愉快的温泉时光。温泉内还有桑拿房、蒸汽房和人工瀑布等设施，供游客舒缓疲劳。
蓝湖温泉范围内另设有LAVA餐厅、咖啡厅以及SPA。在造访蓝湖期间，您也可以选择去餐厅用餐，品尝美味的鸡尾酒，或者预约SPA按摩服务，以多样的方式感受蓝湖温泉的多元乐趣。
蓝湖温泉也是冰岛最浪漫的旅游目的地之一。火山熔岩地貌与湛蓝的泉水相映成趣，让蓝湖温泉更添梦幻色彩。
蓝湖温泉旅游贴士
蓝湖温泉是冰岛少数全年无休的旅游景点，一年四季都有来自世界各地的游客造访。为了控制入场人数、确保温泉内的游客有足够的活动空间，蓝湖每天每个时段的入场人数都非常有限。想要造访蓝湖，必须提早在蓝湖官网预定门票，确保入场位置。蓝湖不设临时购票柜台，如果没有预先购买门票，即使抵达了现场也无法入场。
在换泳衣进入温泉之前，游客需要先在更衣室裸体洗澡，达到温泉规定的卫生标准。在游泳前先洗澡也是冰岛特有的规定，大家早已习以为常；如果不想与他人赤裸相对，也可以使用蓝湖更衣室内的洗澡隔间。
相比其他温泉，蓝湖温泉价格较高。如果希望在冰岛体验价格更加便宜、但品质同样有所保障的天然地热温泉，可以选择黄金圈沿途的Fontana地热温泉、秘密温泉(Secret Lagoon)、北部的米湖天然温泉(Mývatn)或者西部的Krauma温泉。
黄金圈,绵延300公里的黄金圈是冰岛最热门的旅游路线，盖歇尔间歇泉地热区(Geysir)、黄金瀑布(Gullfoss)与辛格维利尔国家公园(Þingvellir)三大景点都是冰岛旅行的必游景点。
黄金圈景区交通便利，从首都雷克雅未克出发一日之内即可往返；租车自驾和参加旅行团都是绝佳的旅行选择，一些旅行团还将黄金圈自然观光与浮潜、雪地摩托、直升机、午夜阳光等特色旅行项目结合，升级黄金圈旅行体验。
黄金圈是冰岛最经典的旅行路线，三大自然景点尽显冰岛地质的神奇瑰丽与冰岛文化的恢弘迷人。
盖歇尔间歇泉地热区
盖歇尔间歇泉地热区位于Haukadalur山谷内。间歇泉这一地热奇观的英文学名“geyser”就源自这一地区的盖歇尔(Geysir)。
如今盖歇尔已几乎不再喷发，取而代之的是活跃的史托克间歇泉(Strokkur)；每隔5～10分钟，史托克便喷发出40余米的沸腾水柱，地心深处的澎湃力量也由此涌出地表。
地热区还遍布着蒸汽孔、沸泥潭、地热喷泉等地热奇观，除了盖歇尔与史托克外，这里还分布有Smiður与Litli-Strokkur两座小型间歇泉。盖歇尔景区设施齐全，设有酒店、餐厅、咖啡厅与旅行纪念品商店。
黄金瀑布
黄金瀑布是冰岛最壮丽的瀑布之一，也是冰岛最大的断层瀑布。瀑布高达32米，分为两层汇入峡谷；发源自Hvítá“白河”的黄金瀑布水流极为丰沛，Hvítá也是冰岛最受欢迎的漂流地点之一。黄金瀑布距离盖歇尔间歇泉地热区仅有10分钟车程，也是黄金圈三大景点中距离首都雷克雅未克最远的一处。
20世纪初时，英国投资者预备在黄金瀑布筑坝，利用瀑布的强大水能发电。虽然已拿到一纸租约，但瀑布土地所有者的女儿Sigríður Tómasdóttir始终与其抗争，竭尽全力保护这片生养自己的美丽国土。Sigríður曾数度步行200公里，往返于雷克雅未克与黄金瀑布之间，与律师商讨对策，最终终使投资商放弃了修建水电站的计划。
Sigríður终于成功，冰岛也从此禁止外国投资商染指瀑布；Sigríður被誉为冰岛第一位环境主义者，也位列冰岛历史上最重要的人物之一。
辛格维利尔国家公园
辛格维利尔国家公园是黄金圈景区的最后一处景点。公元930年，冰岛议会于辛格维利尔成立，直至1798年才搬迁至雷克雅未克。冰岛议会也是世界上运行时间最长的民主议会。
辛格维利尔国家公园被联合国教科文组织认证为世界文化遗产，也是冰岛最具历史文化价值的人文景点之一。与此同时，辛格维利尔恢弘的地理地质与维京历史亦相映成趣。北美与亚欧两大地质板块于此交界，大西洋中脊横贯其间，板块分界的大裂谷与火山地貌无比震撼。
丝浮拉大裂缝(Silfra)即形成于板块地质运动，裂缝中注满了纯净剔透的冰川融水，水下能见度可达100米以上，五光十色的水下世界仿如梦幻，因此丝浮拉大裂缝也成为了举世闻名的浮潜与潜水地点。丝浮拉水温常年维持在2°C，因此多数游客会选择参加干衣浮潜，收获在两大板块之间潜水畅游的非凡体验。
在Almannagjá峡谷，游客可以触摸北美板块的粗糙边缘；在冰岛最大湖泊议会湖(Þingvallavatn)，游客则可以领略粗犷火山地貌的静美一面。
黄金圈景区小众景点
黄金圈景区位于冰岛西南部，与许多小众景点相距不远。Flúðir小镇的秘密温泉与Laugarvatn地区的Fontana温泉都是体验冰岛地热温泉的完美去处；经由朗格冰川(Langjökull)的人造冰川隧道，游客可以深入探秘冰川内部构造；在索尔黑马生态村(Sólheimar)，游客可以体验别样的生活艺术；Kerið火山口湖的迷人景色也同样不容错过。
推荐阅读《冰岛百科｜著名景区黄金圈－9种小众玩法》攻略，解锁更多黄金圈自驾与参团玩法。
东部冰岛,冰岛东部地域广阔，以极致的自然美景与迷人的历史文化著称。鲜少有人造访的东部峡湾即属冰岛东部大区，各具魅力的峡湾小镇与丰富的野生生态是东部峡湾的最大特色。
冰岛东部的小镇与基础设施
冰岛东部的城镇并不多，其中基础设施最完备的是东部地区的最大城镇：埃伊尔斯塔济(Egilsstaðir)。
埃伊尔斯塔济镇上设有餐厅、商店、加油站以及适合不同旅行预算的住宿选择，也有博物馆等文化设施。埃伊尔斯塔济也设有机场，游客可以选乘冰岛国内航班，从雷克雅未克飞抵埃伊尔斯塔济，参加从当地出发的冰岛东部旅行团。
塞济斯菲厄泽(Seyðisfjörður)是冰岛东部另一个著名小镇，《白日梦想家》电影就曾在此取景；除了一般的旅游服务外，游客还可以选择从这里搭乘轮船，前往斯堪的纳维亚地区的其他国家。“神山小镇”Djúpivogur也同样是冰岛东部的重要城镇之一。
冰岛东部也是Kárahnjúkar水力发电站的所在地，电站为许多城镇提供能源。大坝的建造曾引发对冰岛生态环境的热烈争论。
冰岛东部的自然与生态
冰岛东部以群山环围的峡湾景色而闻名，幽深的峡湾内也坐落着许多可爱的渔村小镇。
东部的内陆地区则有着肥沃的农业耕作区，同时也是冰岛最大森林Hallormsstaðaskógur的所在地，森林也是冰岛桦树分布面积最大的区域。距离森林不远处拉加尔湖(Lagarfljót)则是东部地区的另一大自然景点，传说湖中栖居着一只蛇形水怪！
许多河流贯穿冰岛东部，在这些河流的河口通常都能找到海豹的聚居地。资源丰富的水域中富含海洋生物，也为鲸鱼和海豚提供了充足的食物，东部地区的自然生态因此无比活跃。
冰岛最高的独立山峰Snӕfell是冰岛东部的地标性景点，高原绿洲Eyjabakkar则是世界上最大的粉脚雁栖息地之一。
冰岛野生驯鹿也聚居在冰岛的东部。驯鹿最早被挪威商人带到冰岛，但由于缺乏系统饲养的农场，这些驯鹿现在均成为了无人养殖的野生动物。许多鸟类夏季时也会来到冰岛东部栖息，其中就包括可爱的海鹦。
欧洲最大冰川——瓦特纳冰原(Vatnajökull)一路从冰岛南岸延展至冰岛东部，常常会在视线中出现。
冰岛东部的文学文化
冰岛东部文化、历史的中心是Fljótsdalshérað地区的Skriðuklaustur。这里曾是冰岛中世纪的修道院，也是东部地区的宗教中心；20世纪时，冰岛著名作家贡纳尔·贡纳尔松(Gunnar Gunnarsson)也曾经居住于此潜心创作。
贡纳尔曾经创作出众多大师级文学作品，例如《降临节》(Aðventa)、《黑鸟》(Svartfugl)、《博尔加家族萨迦》(Saga borgarættarinnar)、自传体小说《山上教堂》(Fjallkirkjan)等。
冰岛东部的现代文化依然活跃，主要以各类特色节日的形式体现。每年在塞济斯菲厄泽(Seyðisfjörður)举行的LungA音乐节、在Neskaupstaður举行的Eistnaflug重金属音乐节和Neistaflug音乐节都吸引了来自冰岛全国乃至世界各地的无数游客额。
北部冰岛,冰岛北部是一个充满自然魅力的地区，也是不少冰岛著名景点的所在地。
冰岛北部的热门景区包括：米湖地区(Mývatn)；有“冰岛北部之都”称号的阿克雷里(Akureyri)；观鲸小镇胡萨维克(Húsavík)；瓦特纳冰川国家公园(Vatnajökull)北部等。
冰岛北部多峡湾、山川的地理风光也无比壮丽。
埃亚峡湾(Eyjafjordur，也称岛屿峡湾)
埃亚峡湾是冰岛北部的主要峡湾之一，阿克雷里就坐落于该峡湾内。阿克雷里人口共约17,000，是除了冰岛首都大雷克雅未克地区之外人口最多的城市。
阿克雷里与冰岛一号环岛公路相接，陆路交通便利。阿克雷里也有供邮轮和货船停泊的港口，因此也会有人乘船前往阿克雷里。
阿克雷里的老城区是市区内最值得一游的区域。历史悠久的建筑能让有人充分体验冰岛北部的文化风情。阿克雷里还有着有趣的博物馆、艺术馆以及地处世界最北端的植物园，这些都让其成为冰岛北部的必游城市之一。
对于喜欢滑雪的人来说，位于阿克雷里附近的Hlidarfjall滑雪场也是冰岛冬季旅行必到的目的地之一。
锡格吕菲厄泽峡湾(Siglufjörður)
锡格吕菲厄泽峡湾位于埃亚峡湾与斯卡加峡湾(Skagafjörður)的交界，峡湾内有一个迷人的同名小镇锡格吕菲厄泽。
锡格吕菲厄泽小镇位于深幽的峡湾内，具有传统峡湾小镇的特色。小镇被延绵的山脉环绕，颇具避世风情，镇上也有不少冰岛特色博物馆，是游客深入了解冰岛历史文化的绝佳去处。
锡格吕菲厄泽小镇内最著名的博物馆是民谣音乐博物馆以及鲱鱼时代博物馆。鲱鱼时代博物馆是冰岛唯一一个赢得过国际奖项的博物馆；馆内展示了冰岛人依靠海洋为生的千年历史。
瓦斯半岛(Vatnsnes)
瓦斯半岛闻名的原因有二。其一在于，瓦斯半岛是冰岛观看野生海豹的最佳地点，一年四季都有机会在半岛的海滩上找到慵懒可爱的海豹们。在华姆斯唐吉镇(Hvammstangi)还专门设有海豹中心，游人可以在中心内了解到很多有关冰岛海豹的知识。
其二在于，冰岛著名的奇石犀牛石(Hvítserkur, 亦称象形石)就位于半岛之上。根据冰岛的传说，犀牛石原本是一只可怕的巨怪，但由于躲避不及阳光的照射，才被永远变成了岩石，矗立于海中。
Thingeyjarsysla
Þingeyjarsýsla县区聚集了冰岛热门旅游景点，其中最经典的就是米湖。米湖以丰富的地热资源闻名，有着奇诡的火山熔岩地貌和伪火山坑，还有许多鸟类在此栖息。
米湖地区周围也有很多经典的景色，其中包括《权力的游戏》取景地之一黑暗城堡熔岩群(Dimmuborgir)以及美丽的众神瀑布(Goðafoss)。
“观鲸小镇”胡萨维克也位于Thingeyjarsysla县地区，由于观鲸成功率非常高，也常被誉为“欧洲观鲸之都”。每年夏季的冰岛观鲸旺季，都会有许多赏鲸船从这里出发，载着游人到附近的海湾寻觅鲸鱼的身影。
Jökulsárgljúfur峡谷地区则集聚了冰岛北部地区几处最受欢迎的自然景点：欧洲水力最大的瀑布黛提瀑布(Dettifoss)、菲约德勒姆冰河(Jökulsá á Fjöllum)、马蹄峡谷(Ásbyrgi，亦称阿斯匹吉峡谷)等。
格里姆赛岛(Grimsey)
冰岛北部的格里姆赛岛，是冰岛唯一一处位于北极圈内的领土。岛上人口只有约100人，以渔业、丰富的植被和鸟类闻名，也是夏季观察冰岛非官方“国鸟”海鹦的最佳地点之一。
西部冰岛,从地理位置来说，冰岛首都雷克雅未克同属冰岛西部。此外冰岛西部还有三大主要景区：斯奈山半岛(Snӕfellsnes)、博尔加峡湾(Borgarfjörður)和布雷扎峡湾(Breiðafjörður)。冰岛西部集聚着欧洲流速最快的温泉、冰岛最大的熔岩洞穴、迷人的冰川、美丽的瀑布、历史悠久的文化遗迹等景点。
虽然西峡湾地区和雷克雅内斯半岛(Reykjanes)也都位于冰岛西部，但人们常将其视为两个独立的区域，将其作为特殊地区单独介绍。
冰岛首都地区
冰岛的首都是雷克雅未克(Reykjavík)，城市人口约为120,000，整个大雷克雅未克地区的人口则超过200,000。雷克雅未克的历史要追溯至公元870年：第一位定居冰岛的维京人英格尔夫·阿纳尔松(Ingólfur Arnarson)将此处作为定居地。
雷克雅未克也是冰岛历史最悠久的聚落，也是冰岛文化艺术的心脏。Sónar音乐节、冰岛电波音乐节(Iceland Airwaves)、秘密夏至音乐节(Secret Solstice)都在每年如期举行；同志大游行、冰岛文化之夜等盛大的文化节日也都以雷克雅未克为主阵。城市的博物馆、艺术馆各具特色，街头艺术、雕塑作品随处可见，还有许多听现场音乐、看艺术表演的场地与美味地道的酒吧与餐厅。雷克雅未克是一座充满活力的北欧都市。
哈尔格林姆斯大教堂(Hallgrímskirkja)、Harpa音乐会议厅、太阳航海者雕塑(Sólfar)等雷克雅未克的著名地标也都是赫赫有名的必游景点。
雷克雅未克是许多游客的自由行基地，也是很多冰岛旅行团出发的地点。您可以在雷克雅未克攻略页面找到更多由冰岛本地人撰写的实用旅行信息。
博尔加峡湾
博尔加峡湾位于雷克雅未克以北，不少著名的历史和自然景点就坐落于此。例如雷克霍特(Reykholt)就是冰岛中世纪文豪斯诺里·斯图鲁松(Snorri Sturluson)的故居，他曾在这里创作出了《散文埃达》、《挪威列王传》等北欧经典文学作品。
博尔加峡湾地区的最大城市是博尔加内斯(Borgarnes)，这也是冰岛最早有人定居的地区之一。参观当地的冰岛定居中心展览(Settlement Centre)，您将更加深入地了解冰岛历史。
博尔加峡湾也不乏自然胜景。冰岛第二高的瀑布——格里穆尔瀑布(Glymur)以及熔岩瀑布(Hraunfossar)、儿童瀑布(Barnafoss)都跻身冰岛最美瀑布之列；冰岛最长的熔岩洞穴Viðgelmir、欧洲流速最快的温泉德尔达图赫菲(Deildartunguhver)、冰岛第二大冰川——朗格冰川(Langjökull)也都位于这个迷人的峡湾之内。
斯奈山半岛
有“冰岛缩影”之称的斯奈山半岛也同属冰岛西部。磅礴的斯奈菲尔冰川火山(Snӕfellsjokull)与以冰川为中心的斯奈菲尔国家公园就坐落在这座狭长半岛之上。
斯奈山半岛因地貌丰富多样、极具冰岛特色而被誉为冰岛缩影，您将在半岛上发现火山、冰川、瀑布、山脉、熔岩原等奇妙的地理构造。半岛上最热门的景点是教会山(Kirkjufell，也称草帽山)、Gerðuberg玄武岩壁以及有“怪物海岸”之称的Lóndrangar海蚀柱。
布雷扎峡湾
布雷扎峡湾分割了西峡湾与斯奈山半岛，海湾内散落着无数小岛，成千上万的鸟类都以此为家，其中就包括冰岛非官方“国鸟”海鹦。
古老的Eiriksstadir农场就位于布雷扎峡湾地区，也是维京人红发艾瑞克(Eric the Red)的故居。红发艾瑞克是第一个踏上格陵兰岛的欧洲人(于公元984年)，其子莱夫·艾瑞克森(Leifr Eiríksson)则先于哥伦布500年发现了北美洲(约于公元1000年)。
雷克雅未克,雷克雅未克是冰岛的首都，亦是世界上位置最北的首都。
比起其他北欧都市，冰岛首都雷克雅未克更多了几分静谧、几分安详(市区人口约为12万，大雷克雅未克地区人口也仅为20万)，但这座城市充满了活力与惊喜，每年都吸引无数游客来此体验世界尽头的另一种生活。雷克雅未克是冰岛的政治、经济与文化中心，也是世界上最干净、最安全的城市。
雷克雅未克的地理位置
雷克雅未克位于冰岛西南部，临法赫萨湾(Faxaflói)而建。冰川、地震与火山喷发运动共同塑造了这一地区的地理地貌，这一地区也富含地热能，要知道“雷克雅未克”的意思就是“冒烟的海湾”。
雷克雅未克的大部分地区在大冰期时被掩埋于一座延伸至奥尔塔内斯半岛(Álftanes)的广袤冰川之下，其余部分则被海洋淹没。大冰期末期，陆块上升，冰川脱落，这片土地才得以浮出地表。
雷克雅未克的海岸线曲折而绵长，点缀着众多半岛、海湾、海峡以及维迪岛(Viðey)等众多岛屿，海湾中还有多种海鸟与鲸鱼栖居。一座起伏有致的山峰点缀着雷克雅未克海岸，在不同季节变幻出不同的美，这就是著名的埃斯亚山(Esjan)。
埃斯亚山是雷克雅未克地区的最高山峰，颇受徒步与登山爱好者的钟爱。从雷克雅未克海湾远眺，Akrafjall与Skarðsheiði也将映入视线。晴朗天气中，甚至连斯奈山半岛(Snæfellsnes)上的斯奈菲尔冰川也会在天边浮现。
Elliðaárdalur山谷中的Elliðaá河是雷克雅未克的最大河流，也是冰岛钓三文鱼的最佳地点之一。
雷克雅未克的交通
冰岛没有火车与地铁，最常见的交通工具是汽车与公交车。雷克雅未克还有两处港口：位于市中心的旧港与位于城市东部的Sundahöfn港。
雷克雅未克市区内有一座国内机场，位于Vatnsmýrin，与市中心以及珍珠楼Perlan所在的Öskjuhlíð山相距不远。冰岛的国际机场是位于雷克雅内斯半岛(Reykjanes)上的凯夫拉维克国际机场(Keflavík)，距离首都约有50公里。
游客可以选择租自行车、汽车或吉普车在雷克雅未克旅行，或直接参加从首都出发的旅行团。如果只是参观市中心地区的城市地标景点，可以选择直接步行或乘坐公交车。
雷克雅未克旅行活动
雷克雅未克是著名的北欧文学艺术之都，全年都会举办各种特色活动与节日。无论哪个月份来雷克雅未克旅行，都有机会邂逅来自世界各地的名人、艺术家、音乐家、歌手、作家、诗人等——例如比约克、胜利玫瑰Sigur Rós等冰岛知名音乐人；以及《宇宙天使》的作者埃纳尔·茂尔·古德蒙德松(Einar Már Guðmundsson)、曾与比约克合作作词且如今蜚声国际文坛的诗人松(Sjón)等。
冰岛电波音乐节、Sónar音乐节、秘密夏至音乐节、雷克雅未克同志骄傲游行(Gay Pride)、雷克雅未克国际电影节RIFF、雷克雅未克文学节、文化之夜、雷克雅未克艺术节、美食欢乐节(Food & Fun)、雷克雅未克时尚周等大大小小的节日每年都会如期而至。
想要更加深入地领略酷炫的冰岛文化历史，可以参观城市中的博物馆、艺术馆与摄影展览，在咖啡厅、酒吧或Harpa音乐厅听音乐现场演出，到城市旧港与Grótta灯塔观日落、等极光，在Laugavegur购物主街上购买旅行纪念品，或者去逛逛惊喜无限的跳蚤市场。游客还可以出海参加观鸟、观鲸旅行团，或者登上维迪岛，参观岛上的历史遗迹与艺术装置。阅读这篇《玩转雷克雅未克：十大必做之事》深度攻略，像冰岛本地人一样体验世界最北首都生活。
冰岛议会大厦Alþingi前的Austurvöllur广场上伫立着冰岛独立“国父”Jón Sigurðsson的雕像，一街之隔便是雷克雅未克的主教座堂(Dómkirkjan)。广场周围环绕着多家餐厅、酒吧与咖啡厅。Austurvöllur是冰岛有名的抗议集会地点，2008年冰岛金融危机时愤怒的市民就曾齐聚广场抗议示威。
沿Lækjargata街漫步，游客将到达托宁湖(Tjörnin)与市政厅。天鹅、鸭子、海鸥等水鸟常年在湖泊中栖息，托宁湖喂鸭子也是在雷克雅未克旅行的必做之事之一。湖滨公园是休憩、散步、遛狗的好去处，夏季时湖边还会不时举办露天音乐会。
冰岛大学、北欧之屋(Nordic House)、Vatnsmýrin湿地与托宁湖仅一街之隔。各种与北欧有关的音乐、文学、艺术活动时常在北欧之屋上演，而其旁的Vatnsmýrin自然保护区则是许多鸟类的重要栖息地。
沿海的雷克雅未克虽没有地中海式的阳光海滩，但天气良好时，由地热加热的Nauthólsvík海滩也是个游泳、晒太阳的好去处。城市中还有多家地热温泉泳池，其中最大一座位于Laugardalur，与Ásmundarsafn雕塑展览馆、雷克雅未克动物园、植物园都相距不远。
另一座海滩Ægissíða位于雷克雅未克的西城区(Vesturbær)，开阔的海景与石滩景色令人心旷神怡，在海滩上可以远眺到冰岛总统府Bessastaðir。
Skólavörðuholt山丘上的哈尔格林姆斯大教堂(Hallgrímskirkja)是雷克雅未克的另一座必游城市地标；购票登上教堂尖塔，游客可以一览雷克雅未克城市全景，将可爱的北欧彩色房顶尽收眼底。
建于Öskjuhlíð山上的珍珠楼是鸟瞰雷克雅未克城市全景的另一个好去处，珍珠楼内也设有咖啡厅与冰岛自然展览。176000棵树木环绕着珍珠楼，营造了葱茏而静谧的环境。游客可以一边在林中骑车、漫步，一边呼吸清新的森林空气。
雷克雅未克是许多游客游览冰岛的大本营。许多旅行团都从首都接团出发，黄金圈、蓝湖温泉等景点也与首都相距不远，自驾距离适中。首都范围内的Heiðmörk自然保护区以及城市外围的蓝山(Bláfjöll)也是颇受欢迎的自然景点。
最详尽、最专业的雷克雅未克行程指南，尽在雷克雅未克攻略页面。
阿克雷里,Akureyri, ‘The Capital of the North’ is a town in the fjord Eyjafjörður in North Iceland. It lies just 100 kilometres (62 miles) away from the Arctic Circle. It is Iceland’s second-largest urban area with a population of about 17,800.
Economy
Akureyri is an important fishing centre and port, but in the last few years, tourism, industry, higher education and services have become the fastest growing sectors of the economy.
An airport is located about three kilometres (two miles) from the centre and a large number of cruise ships lay anchor in its busy harbour.
Traditionally Akureyri has survived on fisheries and some of Iceland’s largest fishing companies such as Samherji, have their headquarters there. Other large companies are also based here, such as Vifilfell hf, the largest brewery in Iceland, which produces the famous Kaldi beer.
FSA/Akureyri Hospital is a significant employer in the area and is one of two major hospitals in Iceland.
Akureyri has excellent facilities for travellers and is located a short drive from many of Iceland’s top natural, cultural and historical attractions. Additionally, one of Iceland's best skiing sites is found by Akureyri, at Hlíðarfjall and it is the location for Ak Extreme, an annual skiing and snowboarding festival.
Nature & Landscape
Akureyri is surrounded by mountains, the highest one being Kerling at 1,538 metres (5,064 feet). The area around it has rich agriculture and a beautiful mountain ring.
The island of Hrísey sits in the middle of Eyjafjörður and Grímsey Island, which straddles the Arctic Circle; both islands belong to the municipality of Akureyri. Hrísey is often called 'The Pearl of Eyjafjörður’ and Grímsey 'The Pearl of the Arctic', and these beautiful and peaceful islands are highly popular with travellers.
Both are also home to many puffins.
Furthermore, Akureyri is a very popular place to stay due to its proximity to the Lake Mývatn. This is one of the country’s most popular destinations, due to its incredible natural beauty, intense geothermal activity, a wealth of birdlife and many surrounding sites, including Dettifoss waterfall, the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
It is also close to the seal-watching capital of Iceland, Hvammstangi, on the Vatnsnes Peninsula. This peninsula is also home to the captivating ‘elephant rock’ formation, called Hvítserkur.
The convenience of Akureyri is added to by its position on the Icelandic Ring Road, a route that encircles the country, passing almost every major destination. This means that reaching it from Reykjavík is little trouble, even in winter and the journey takes just under five hours.
History & Culture
During World War II, Akureyri was an essential site for the Allies and the town grew considerably after the war, as people increasingly moved to urban areas.
Akureyri has an active cultural scene, with several bars and renowned restaurants as well as frequent concerts and shows. During the summer there are several notable festivals in Akureyri and its surroundings such as the Vaka Folk festival.
Sites of interest in Akureyri include the brand-new Hof concert hall, many museums and the Christmas house which is open all year round.
The city boasts the world's northernmost botanical gardens which are located close to the swimming pool which is worth a visit.
Akureyrarkirkja church sits in a prized position halfway up the hill upon which most of the city is built. It was completed in 1940 and was designed by one of Iceland's most famous architects, Guðjón Samúelsson, who also was also responsible for arguably Iceland's most famous church, Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík.
杰古沙龙冰河湖,冰岛南岸的杰古沙龙冰河湖(Jökulsárlón)是冰岛最著名的冰泻湖，位于冰岛一号环岛公路沿途，处于斯卡夫塔山自然保护区(Skaftafell)和霍芬镇(Höfn)之间，是冰岛旅行最热门的必游自然景点之一。
地理
杰古沙龙冰河湖由Breiðamerkurjökull冰舌的冰川融水滋养，而这条冰舌则发源自欧洲最大冰川——瓦特纳冰原(Vatnajökull)。
一年四季无分昼夜，冰湖内始终漂浮着许多巨型冰块，其中的一些甚至与楼房等高。
浮冰的巨型体积引人瞩目，而纯白与冰蓝混合的冰块颜色、掺杂火山灰的冰块纹理。也都令造访冰河湖的游人颇感震撼。
浮冰跟随水流渐渐漂流入海，进入广袤的大西洋，而有些冰块则会被冲刷到Breiðamerkursandur黑沙滩上；这片聚集了无数如钻石般闪耀的碎冰的沙滩，也因此被冠上了“钻石冰沙滩”的名号。
虽然杰古沙龙冰河湖只是近代才出现的自然景观，如今却已经成为冰岛最深的湖泊。目前杰古沙龙冰河湖深约248米，面积约为18平方公里。随着冰川不断消融退却，在不久的将来，杰古沙龙冰河湖也会逐步演变成冰岛最大的湖泊。
历史
杰古沙龙冰河湖并非自移民定居时代就一直存在的自然景观，而是在1935年才开始慢慢形成的。自20世纪以来，冰岛的平均气温逐年升高。1920年，Breiðamerkurjökull冰舌开始迅速融化退却，其融水也逐步填满了冰川脚下的大片空地，形成了一片冰河湖。
杰古沙龙冰河湖的面积仍在持续扩张，现在的面积已经比1975年扩大了两倍以上。随着扩张持续，杰古沙龙冰河湖最终会变为峡湾。
冰岛冰川的消融一直都是严峻的自然灾难，但无意中形成的冰河湖也称得上是一个短暂的“美丽错误”。
世界各地的电影导演早已发现了杰古沙龙冰河湖的绝世之美。詹姆士·邦德系列电影《007之雷霆杀机》(1985年)、《择日而亡》(2002年)、《蝙蝠侠：侠影之谜》(2005年)等电影大片都曾在此取景拍摄，将冰河湖之美搬上了大荧幕。
2017年，杰古沙龙冰河湖正式被纳入冰岛瓦特纳冰川国家公园，成为受冰岛法律保护的自然景点。
野生生态
潮汐为杰古沙龙冰河湖带来了众多的鲱鱼和毛鳞鱼，也因此吸引了许多野生动物来此安家，聚居觅食。
夏季时，许多北极燕鸥会在此筑巢繁衍。北极燕鸥是攻击力极强的鸟类，它们会奋不顾身地攻击接近其鸟蛋的生物。如果在夏天到访冰河湖，一定不要走近北极燕鸥的巢穴，以防被攻击。此外贼鸥也会在此筑巢孵蛋、繁衍后代。
野生海豹则一年四季都以冰河湖为家。无论任何季节到访杰古沙龙冰河湖，游人都有机会看到海豹们在巨型浮冰之间戏水嬉闹、慵懒躺卧的可爱景象。杰古沙龙冰河湖不但为海豹们提供了丰富的食物，也成为了它们避开冰岛东南部海域的虎鲸的避风港。
瓦特那冰川,Vatnajökull glacier is the largest glacier in Europe, covering 8% of Iceland’s landmass.
It is the central feature of the Vatnajökull National park, found in the south west of Iceland, a popular spot for activities like glacier hiking from Skaftafell, boat tours in the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and ice caving tours between November and March.
Facts about Vatnajokull
Vatnajökull has a surface area of approximately 8,100 square kilometres (3127 square miles); though it is rapidly shrinking due to climate change, its recession is not quite as advanced as at other glaciers, such as Langjökull and Mýrdalsjökull. In parts, it is a kilometre deep (over three thousand feet), and its average thickness is around half of that.
Vatnajökull also holds the tallest peak in Iceland beneath its ice; Hvannadalshnjúkur is 2,200 metres tall (7,218 feet). It also conceals some of the most active volcanoes in the country, the most notable being Grímsvötn, Öræfajökull and Bárðarbunga.
Volcanic activity in the region has occurred on and off throughout the centuries, and many geologists believe that several eruptions are overdue. If their calculations are correct, it would mean significant volcanic activity for Vatnajökull over the scope of the next half-century.
Depending on winds, this could result in worldwide consequences in terms of air-travel, agriculture and the general climate.
The glacier boasts over 30 outlet glaciers, which are channels of ice that flow out of ice caps but remain constrained on the sides of the valley. The major outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull include Dyngjujökull in the north, Breiðamerkurjökull, and Skeiðarárjökull to the south. To the west, one can find the outlet glaciers Síðujökull, Skaftárjökull and Tungnaárjökull.
Numerous rivers run out of Vatnajökull, making up some of the greatest glacial rivers in Iceland. The most notable are:
Tungnaá (west)
Köldukvísl (west)
Þjórsá (west)
Jökulsá á Fjöllum (north)
Skjálfandafljót (north)
Jökulsá á Brú (northeast)
Jökulsá í Fljótsdal (northeast)
Jökulsá í Lóni (south)
Hornafjarðarfljót (south)
Jökulsá á Breiðamerkursandi (south)
Skeiðará (south)
Núpsvötn (south)
Hverfisfljót (south)
Skaftá (south)
Vatnajokull National Park
Vatnajökull National Park was established in June 2008 and has slowly grown to include more and more areas. The park now covers an area of 14,141 square kilometres (5,460 square miles), 14% of the country. It is the second largest national park in Europe.
Rivers divide the highland plateau to the north of the park. The volcanic table mountain Herðubreið towers over this particular region, along with volcanoes Askja, Snæfell and Kverkfjöll.
The canyon Jökulsárgljúfur was carved out by glacial floods centuries ago. At the upper end of the canyon, you'll find Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Further north, the horseshoe-shaped canyon Ásbyrgi is believed to have formed when Óðinn's eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, stepped his foot down from the heavens.
East around Snæfell, one can find wetlands and ranges, home to roaming herds of wild reindeer and abundant birdlife. Steep mountain ridges make up the south side of Vatnajökull, where outlet glaciers crawl onto the lowlands. The sandy plains of Skeiðarársandur also lie to the south, and the glacial river Skeiðará runs through this vast desert.
One of Iceland's most visited landmarks in the National Park is the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which sits at the base of the outlet glacier Breiðamerkurjökull. Here, large icebergs that have broken off the glacier float across a vast lake before ending up in the Atlantic Ocean, or washed ashore on the nearby Diamond Beach.
This is one of the best seal-watching spots in the country.
The Future of Vatnajokull
The volume of Vatnajökull reached its peak around 1930 but has since been in a steady process of decline. Because of rising levels of global temperature, Vatnajökull has on average lost about a metre (three feet) of its thickness annually over the past 15 years.
If temperature levels continue to rise, the glacier could be all but gone nearing the end of the next century, leaving only small ice caps on top of the highest mountain summits.
Efforts are being made to prevent what some say is the inevitable, with reforestation projects going on all around the glacier, a proven method of cooling the area. Time will tell how successful they are.
Vatnajokull and Jokulsarlon in Popular Culture
The beauty of Vatnajökull National Park has not gone unnoticed by those in film or television. Many famous scenes have been shot here, starting with James Bond: A View to Kill in 1985. Other notable films with scenes here include Batman Begins, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and James Bond: Die Another Day.
Most famously, however, many places in Vatnajökull have been used in the HBO Series Game of Thrones, north of the Wall. The Wall itself is constructed with CGI using shots of the glacier.
米湖,Mývatn is a beautiful lake with many small islands in the north of Iceland, the fourth largest lake in the country. Due to its serenity, birdlife and volcanism, the lake, including its surrounding area, is one of the most amazing natural attractions in the country.
Mývatn is, in fact, so beautiful that is was used as a site in the Game of Thrones franchise. In mid-winter it was used to represent the lands North of the Wall, namely Mance Raider’s Wildling camp.
Geology
Mývatn sits about an incredibly active geothermal area, giving it a unique and beautiful geology. After all, it is close to sites such as Krafla caldera, which contains the notorious Víti volcano, the name of which translates to ‘hell’.
Many of the islands here are thus pseudocraters, formed by steam explosions as magma rose beneath pockets of water, and many are bizarre basalt columns, rising vertically from the surface, formed by rapid cooling after an eruption.
The high amount of geothermal activity beneath Mývatn, of course, presents the opportunity for bathing in naturally heated waters. This is best done at the Mývatn Nature Baths, a beautiful establishment with serene waters, incredible views, and a reasonable entry fee.
Wildlife
Mývatn has some of the best bird-watching available in Iceland, although those seeking puffins will need to be at coastal cliffs such as those at Látrabjarg and Dyrhólaey, between May and September.
In fact, Mývatn has more species of duck than anywhere else in the world, with thirteen nesting species and many more visitors. Most popular (and common) amongst these is the harlequin duck sometimes referred to as the white-eyed diver after their unique white markings.
Mývatn’s surrounding vegetation and plentiful food make it a happy home for voles, mice and rats that have spread all over Iceland, providing tasty treats for Iceland’s only native land mammal, the Arctic Fox. Visitors, however, will have to keep a close eye out for these, as they are experts in camouflage.
In terms of flora, the most interesting plant life at Mývatn actually exists just beneath the surface of the water. Marimo are ‘moss balls’, bizarre spheres of fluffy green algae that are found in very few other places around the world, namely Japan (where they got their name), Scotland, Estonia and Australia.
Surrounding sites
Visitors to Mývatn often wish to spend more than just a single day exploring its many surrounding locations. Primary amongst these is Dimmuborgir, a lava field which truly reflects the dramatic consequences of a volcanism in Iceland. This area is steeped in folklore and is home to the thirteen ‘Santas’ of Iceland, the Yule Lads.
It was also here that many of the Game of Thrones scenes were shot such as Mance Rayder's wildling camp at Dimmuborgir and Grjótagjá cave, where Jon and Ygritte shared an evening together. Though this site can be admired from the shore, the water temperature is not monitored and can heat up very quickly, so visitors are asked not to take a dip.
Those with an interest in Iceland’s strange geothermal and geological sites should also check out the Skútustadagígar pseudo-craters and the aforementioned Víti crater and its surrounding lava field. There are also several geothermal hot spots around Krafla and the Námaskarð Pass which is a fascinating and primordial place.
Lake Mývatn is located on the Ring Road that fully encircles the country, making further sites easily reachable. To the west is the ‘Capital of the North’, Akureyri, a charming town with the highest population outside of the capital area.
To the east, you can find the largest waterfall in Iceland, Dettifoss which also happens to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and the incredible horseshoe-shaped canyon, Ásbyrgi. This feature was said to have formed by the stomping of one of the feet of Oðinn’s eight-legged horse as it leapt through the sky.
黑暗城堡(Dimmuborgir),Dimmuborgir, or the Black Fortress, is a dramatic expanse of lava in the Lake Mývatn area. Steeped with folklore, it is one of the most popular destinations for travellers to north Iceland.
Geology of Dimmuborgir
Dimmuborgir was formed in an eruption that occurred in the area 2,300 years ago; the Lake Mývatn area is highly volcanic, as can be further seen in nearby locations such as the geothermal Námaskarð Pass, the hot spring cave Grjótagjá, and the dramatic Krafla fissure.
As lava flowed across the area, it passed over a lake, causing it to boil. This both quickened the cooling of the lava and caused pillars of steam to shatter parts of it. After it solidified, Dimmuborgir area became defined by large stacks of rock and many caves and caverns, caused by bubbles of intense steam.
As such, many have compared Dimmuborgir to a medieval castle, with its many hidden chambers and its rising towers.
Folklore of Dimmuborgir
In Icelandic culture, lava caves are allegedly the homes of the nation’s brutal and vile trolls. The most famous of these were the half-troll, half-ogre Grýla and her submissive husband Leppalúði. Grýla was renowned for her insatiable appetite for children, and her gigantic pet cat, that would eat children over the Christmas period for not getting any clothes (encouraging kids to finish their weaving, knitting and sewing chores before the season set in).
Grýla and Leppalúði had thirteen sons who lived in Dimmuborgir and are now known as the ‘Icelandic Santa Clauses’ or Yule Lads. On the thirteen nights before Christmas, these trolls come one by one to terrorise Icelanders, each with their own strategy after which they were named.
Sheep-Colt Clod, for example, would harass livestock; Skyr-Gobbler would steal and lick the house's supplies of yoghurt-like skyr; and Window-Peeper would stare into houses, looking for things to burgle.
Like most frightening Icelandic stories, the Yule Lads were most likely created to keep children from going out into the cold Icelandic winter nights, where many disappeared without a trace for centuries. As the nation modernised, they became mischievous tricksters rather than devilish monsters. Now, they have been ‘Americanised’; rather than traditional Icelandic garb, they wear Santa costumes, and although they still steal skyr, they now also bring gifts.
Due to Iceland’s remoteness and fondness for storytelling, the nation developed many unusual Christmas traditions.
During the Christianisation of Iceland, Dimmuborgir developed a new set of tales. Many began to believe, due to its starkness, that it was where Satan landed when cast from heaven, and where he created the catacombs to hell.
Dimmuborgir in pop culture
Dimmuborgir recently saw a surge in popularity, as it was featured on HBO’s Game of Thrones. In the series, it is where Mance Raider held his wildling army. It was shot here in winter.
The popular Norwegian black metal band Dimmu Borgir is also named after the area.
胡萨维克,Húsavík, by Skjálfandi Bay in North Iceland, is a town of just over two thousand people. It is considered to be one of the best places in Europe for whale watching in the summer.
Whale Watching in Husavik
Húsavík is often nicknamed the whale watching capital of Europe, due to the fact that throughout the vast majority of summers, tour operators have 100% sighting rates.
Humpback Whales are the most common species in Skjálfandi Bay. These gentle giants are renowned for being possibly the most entertaining of the great whales to observe, due to the fact they always show their tail before a dive, and exhibit many other behaviours at the surface, such as breaching and fin slapping.
Other animals that reside within the bay include White Beaked Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises. It is not at all unheard of, however, for Fin and Blue Whales to be seen, nor Orcas or Belugas.
Many whale watching tours also include a puffin-watching component.
Other Activities in Husavik
Húsavík is home to the Húsavíkurkirkja church, a beautiful wooden structure built in 1907 and the civic museum for culture and biology, which amongst other things features a stuffed polar bear and ancient boats, bearing witness to the history of seafaring in Iceland.
There is also an Exploration Museum on the spirit of discovery, from early explorations to space missions.
Near to Húsavík is the Lake Mývatn area, a place of diverse, natural beauty, with a wealth of geological features. It is also close to the capital of the North, Akureyri.
In Húsavík you'll also find cute cafés and restaurants offering tasty treats, and you'll have a gorgeous view over the Skjálfandi Bay. There is a wealth of accommodation options available, from nice hotels to cabins and hostels.
History of Husavik
Húsavík means ‘the Bay of Houses’, as according to legend, it was settled before the official ‘settlement date’ of 874 AD.
Garðar Svavarsson was a Swede who wintered in Iceland in 870 AD. According to legend and Sagas, he left a man called Náttfari and two slaves to tend a farm here. It is said that the town was named after their houses.
众神瀑布(神之瀑布),冰岛北部的众神瀑布(Goðafoss)高12米、宽30米，坐落于冰岛第四大河流Skjálfandafljót之上，是最受游客欢迎的冰岛瀑布之一。
众神瀑布的历史
众神瀑布的冰岛语是Goðafoss，既可作“众神瀑布”解，也可作“goði瀑布”解(goði是冰岛古代的官名，意为“首领”)。其得名的原因与冰岛历史有着紧密的关联。
在移民定居年代(9世纪、10世纪)期间，绝大多数冰岛定居者(不包括奴隶在内)都来自挪威，信奉索尔(Thor)、奥丁(Odin)、洛基(Loki)、弗雷亚(Freya)等北欧神明。公元930年，冰岛建立议会、组建自由邦或称共和国后，信仰“异教”的冰岛与信仰基督教的欧洲大陆之间便产生了矛盾。
公元1000年，冰岛仍信仰北欧异教，挪威向冰岛施压。在辛格维利尔(Þingvellir)举行的议会上，冰岛首领们共商此事，将决定权委任给信仰异教(Ásatrú)的法律演讲人Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði。
相传他在桦树下坐了一天一夜，默默地向北欧的众神祈祷，让神明带领他做出正确的决定。最后，他表示为了人民的利益，冰岛将奉基督教为国教，但虔敬旧神的异教徒也可以私下保留信仰。
为宣布冰岛皈依基督教，Þorgeir回到冰岛北部的故乡，将北欧神像掷入一座美丽的瀑布，这座瀑布也因此得名“众神瀑布”。
如何前往众神瀑布
众神瀑布位于一号环岛公路沿线，是冰岛北部的热门旅游路线钻石圈中的一个景点。钻石圈还包括了米湖地区(Mývatn)、黛提瀑布(Dettifoss)、阿斯匹吉峡谷(Ásbyrgi)以及著名的观鲸小镇胡萨维克(Húsavík)。
米湖是一座美丽的湖泊，无数鸟类在此聚居。该地区以月球般的火山地质地貌与活跃的地热活动而闻名。黛提瀑布则是冰岛北部的另一座著名瀑布，比众神瀑布流速更快，也是整个欧洲最汹涌的瀑布。
阿斯匹吉峡谷同样和北欧神话颇有渊源。这座马蹄形的峡谷传说由众神之首奥丁的八足神驹踩踏而成。胡萨维克被誉为“欧洲观鲸之都”，是冰岛最佳观鲸地点之一，成功率高达99%。
众神瀑布与冰岛“北部首都”阿克雷里(Akureyri)之间约有45分钟车程。阿克雷里是冰岛首都大雷克雅未克地区之外人口最多的城市，也是自驾环岛游客的必经之地。城市内除了完备的超市、酒店、餐厅等基本设施外，还蕴藏了冰岛北部的独特文化，游客可以参观许多主题各异的博物馆与美术馆，以及世界上最靠近北极圈的植物园。不少冰岛北部旅行团也从阿克雷里出发。
众神瀑布一年四季都可以自驾造访，但在冬季期间，如果没有足够的雪地自驾经验，最好报名旅行团前往；即便对自驾技术与经验自信，也最好租用四驱车出游。
黛提瀑布,Dettifoss is a waterfall found in North Iceland, said to be the most powerful in Europe. It is regularly visited on Diamond Circle tours and should not be missed by any visiting the region.
Geography
Dettifoss is fed by the powerful glacier river Jökulsá á Fjöllum which flows from the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. The thunderous falls has an average waterflow of 193 metres cubed per second (6,186 cubic feet). It is 100 metres (330 feet) wide and plummets 45 metres (150 feet) down into Jökulsárgljúfur canyon.
This canyon is in the northern part of the greater Vatnajökull National Park, the largest national park in the country, thus Dettifoss is well protected.
Also within this canyon, fed by the river of Jökulsá á Fjöllum, are two more impressive waterfalls, Selfoss (not to be mistaken with the southern town of the same name) and Hafragilsfoss.
Surrounding Sites
Dettifoss is located north of the Ring Road that encircles Iceland, bypassing only the Westfjords and Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the west. There are two routes that connect the Ring Road to Dettifoss. However, traversing those in the winter can be difficult, even with a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The most significant settlement near Dettifoss is the town of Akureyri, or ‘the Capital of the North’. With over ten thousand people, it is the largest town outside of the Greater Reykjavík Area. It is an excellent place to stop and rest for those visiting the North or encircling Iceland.
Another town of significance in the area is Húsavík, a coastal town that claims the title of the best whale watching town in all of Europe. In summer, operators usually have 100% success rates in terms of sightings. The most common species are humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises, although blue, fin, sei, beaked, pilot, beluga and killer whales are seen on rare occasions.
Between Akureyri and Dettifoss is the Lake Mývatn area. This beautiful expanse is renowned for its wealth of flora and fauna, particularly its birdlife; dozens of species can be found here, particularly ducks.
It is also renowned for its spectacular geology, with its pseudocraters, basalt pillars, and the lava field of Dimmuborgir which is said to be the home of Iceland’s thirteen ‘Santas’, who are traditionally vindictive trolls more than they are jolly gift-givers.
Dimmuborgir and Mývatn were both used as a set in the Game of Thrones franchise, for many scenes North of the Wall. Dettifoss, meanwhile, was used in the opening scene of the 2012 film Prometheus, where the black rocks and dramatic scenery allowed it to represent an alien landscape.
Another waterfall sits on the Ring Road between Akureyri and Mývatn: Goðafoss. Though not as great as Dettifoss, its history is deeper; it was there in 1000 AD that Iceland’s lawspeaker symbolised the country’s shift from believing in the Old Norse Gods to believing in Christianity by throwing idols into the waterfall.
North of Dettifoss, one can find the incredible canyon of Ásbyrgi. This canyon is shaped like a giant horseshoe and filled with verdant greenery. It is so perfectly formed and dramatic that it was originally believed to have been created by the stomping of one of the hoofs of the eight-legged horse of the Old Norse God Odin.
斯科加瀑布,位于冰岛南岸的斯科加瀑布(Skógafoss)宽约25米，高约60米，是冰岛境内规模最大、最负盛名的瀑布之一。丰沛的瀑流激起无数水花，在阳光照射下常有彩虹高悬于瀑布之上，故也有“彩虹瀑布”的美誉。
发源自Skógá河的斯科加瀑布造型经典恢弘，在一号环岛公路上即可眺望到瀑布的壮丽景致，聆听到瀑布的隆隆水声。斯科加瀑流汇聚成溪，溪流中生活着大量北极红点鲑与三文鱼，夏季时常有人来此垂钓。
斯科加瀑布下的陆地十分平坦，游客可以直接行走到瀑布的宽阔水幕边，感受水花击面的快意；但游客需准备防水衣物，以防被瀑流打湿。游客也可以沿阶梯攀登至瀑布顶端，在开阔的观景平台上俯视冰岛南岸全景；阶梯陡峭，请游客量力而行。
斯科加瀑布周边景点
斯科加瀑布位于斯科加小镇(Skógar)旁，艾雅法拉冰川火山以南。游客可以在此游览几座小众博物馆。在斯科加民俗博物馆(Skógasafn)，游客可以参观古老的木屋与草顶房建筑，欣赏冰岛的传统手工艺作品。
斯科加博物馆还设有以“交通”为主题的展览馆，展示冰岛交通、通讯与科技的历史变迁；数百年间，从骑马到驾车，从书信到电子设备，冰岛以令人惊异的速度实现了现代化。
斯科加博物馆另设有咖啡厅与纪念品商店，斯科加小镇上则开设有酒店与餐厅。
冰岛著名的菲姆沃罗豪尔斯(Fimmvörðuháls)徒步路线就位于斯科加瀑布以东，这条22公里的徒步线路将带领游客沿斯科加河而行，穿梭于米尔达斯(Mýrdalsjökull)、艾雅法拉(Eyjafjallajökull)两座冰川之间，进入绝美的索斯莫克峡谷(Þórsmörk)。
斯科加瀑布的民间传说
斯科加博物馆中展出了一只金环。据民间传说记载，该地区最早的维京定居者之一Þrasi Þórólfsson曾拥有一只宝箱，金环原本就嵌于宝箱之上。公元900年，Þrasi预感大限将至，就将装满黄金的宝箱藏入斯科加瀑布后的洞穴中。
许多人都曾试图取出宝箱，而当人们抓住宝箱一侧的手环时，手环突然脱落，宝物便也永久地消失了。这只金环后被赠予当地教堂，成为教堂的门环。如今金环安静陈列在博物馆中，默默无语地诉说着千年以来的传说与历史。
塞里雅兰瀑布,塞里雅兰瀑布(Seljalandsfoss)位于冰岛南岸，坐落于冰岛一号环岛公路旁，高约60米，造型似“水帘洞”，可穿行至瀑布后方。
便利的交通与旖旎的风光使其成为了冰岛最著名、最多游客到访的瀑布之一。塞里雅兰瀑布也是摄影师镜头下的宠儿，在许多风景大片之中都可以找到它的身影。
地理位置与周边景点
塞里雅兰瀑布由冰川融水滋养，与塞里雅兰河(Seljalandsá)均发源于埃亚菲亚德拉冰盖(Eyjafjallajökull)；冰盖下掩埋的火山曾在2010年大爆发，造成了当时欧洲航空交通瘫痪。
塞里雅兰瀑布的水帘狭长，从高耸的古老海崖上飞流直下，而这处悬崖在古时曾是冰岛海岸线的所在地，随着时间推移与地质变迁，逐步演变成如今的形貌。
塞里雅兰瀑布最显著的特色就是水幕后面有一条可以步行的通道。在夏天，游人可以沿着这条步道走到瀑布的后方，隔着水幕欣赏冰岛南岸葱郁的夏色。冬季时，由于水幕后的洞穴上方经常悬挂着冰柱，岩石也全被冰雪覆盖。出于安全考虑，这条小径通常不会开放。
如果想穿越瀑布，游人要有被水气沾湿的心理准备。瀑布后方的岩石与小径也会因水气而变得湿滑，游览时请务必小心足下。
2001年，塞里雅兰瀑布的两侧安装了灯照，让游人在没有午夜阳光照耀的冬季也可以欣赏到瀑布的胜景。
在游览塞里雅兰瀑布过后，不要忘记也去旁边的秘密瀑布(Gljúfrabúi)一游。秘密瀑布隐藏在一面巨大的岩壁后，是独具冰岛特色的惊喜小众景点。
冰岛南岸的另一大瀑布斯科加瀑布(Skógafoss)也位于塞里雅兰瀑布不远处，也是游人们造访南岸必到的旅游景点。斯科加瀑布与塞里雅兰瀑布同高，虽不能像塞里雅兰瀑布一样绕行，瀑流却更宽阔，水力更磅礴，呈现出迥然不同的瀑布胜景。
设立游客中心的小风波
2017年，政府宣布准备在瀑布旁建设游客中心。根据设计，游客中心预计高7米，面积2000平方米，但这个想法遭到了这一地区土地所有人的极力反对，主要原因是游客中心的兴建会破坏瀑布的自然之美，也会对当地环境造成影响。
目前这个建筑项目仍被搁置，当地政府正在考虑减小建筑的规模，或者把建筑地点移到附近的Brekkuhorn农场。
塞里雅兰瀑布与流行文化
塞里雅兰瀑布曾出现在贾斯汀·比伯《I’ll Show You》的MV之中，但贾斯汀在音乐录影带中演示了许多破坏冰岛环境以及让自身陷入危险的不良行为，例如肆意践踏珍贵的苔藓、赤身走入杰古沙龙冰河湖等，大家到冰岛旅行时千万不要效仿。
塞里雅兰瀑布也曾被美国电视台真人秀《极速前进》(The Amazing Race)第六季设为挑战的第一站。
盖歇尔间歇泉,盖歇尔地热区(Geysir)是举世闻名的间歇泉喷发区，坐落于冰岛西南岸的Haukadalur山谷中。
辛格维利尔国家公园(Þingvellir)、黄金瀑布(Gullfoss)与盖歇尔地热区共同组成了冰岛最热门的黄金圈景区。
盖歇尔间歇泉地理特征
盖歇尔间歇泉的喷发强度曾为所有间歇泉之首，如今却鲜少喷发，而Haukadalur山谷中还分布着多座间歇泉，其中就包括最为活跃的史托克间歇泉(Strokkur)，以及规模更小的Smiður与Litli-Strokkur。
史托克间歇泉是世界最活跃的间歇泉之一，每隔5～10分钟就喷发一道沸腾的水柱，高达20～40米，场面颇为壮观。许多游客都会准备好相机，拍下史托克陡然喷发的壮丽一瞬。
盖歇尔间歇泉规模更大，但如今的喷发频率极低，间隔数年方能喷发一次；而盖歇尔常常是不喷则已，一喷惊人，水柱高度可达70余米。
盖歇尔间歇泉以北分布着许多蒸汽孔，散发的滚滚蒸汽在凉爽的冰岛空气中徐徐飘动，别是一番外星般的奇妙风光。蒸汽孔周围的土地则被硫磺等矿物漆染，大地呈现出斑斓的地热色彩交织。
山谷南部的Þykkuhverir沸泥潭则仿佛是童话故事中巫婆的大锅，如锅炉般一刻不停地冒泡。沸泥潭实际上也是蒸汽孔的一种，泥浆干涸后便成为普通蒸汽孔。
盖歇尔间歇泉周边小众景点
Kúalaug天然温泉与盖歇尔间歇泉相距2公里，温泉最多可容纳3～5人，水温在39～43°C之间。在体验温泉时，要格外注意保护该地的脆弱生态。温泉底部为土壤，因此水中混有些许泥浆；温泉底部生长有湿滑的水藻，游客需注意安全，以防跌倒。
Haukadalur山谷虽为地热区，但经过不断的植树造林，这里也生长起一片颇为茂盛的森林。Haukadalsskógur是冰岛南岸的最大森林之一，游客可以经由林中小径漫步，参观林中植被，以及为纪念林务员Gunnar Freysteinsson而修建的树木博物馆。
盖歇尔地热区的文化历史
自冰岛有人定居开始，Haukadalur山谷就一直有人居住，人们还曾在此修建教堂。冰岛11世纪的著名历史学家Ari Þorgilsson就成长于此；冰岛第一所牧师学校就建立于此。Haukadalskirkja教堂为木质教堂，其建筑风格可追溯至1842年，展现着冰岛工业化进程开始前的建筑风情。
Hotel Gullfoss酒店距盖歇尔地区约7公里；Hotel Geysir酒店则与景区仅一路之隔，景区设施齐全，设有咖啡厅以及纪念品商店。
黄金瀑布(居德瀑布),黄金瀑布又译为居德瀑布、古佛斯瀑布，发源自冰岛西南部的Hvítá白河，是冰岛最壮丽、最著名的瀑布之一。
Hvítá白河发源自朗格冰川(Langjökull)；河流跌落32米，历经两级阶梯，最终汇入峡谷，塑造了黄金瀑布这座壮观的双层瀑布。黄金瀑布与辛格维利尔国家公园、盖歇尔间歇泉地热区共同组成了冰岛最受欢迎的旅行景区——黄金圈。
黄金瀑布分为两层，我们也可将其视为两座瀑布。第一层也即较短的一层瀑布高约11米，第二层瀑布高约21米。瀑布两侧的峡谷岩壁耸拔70余米，一线倾斜后又与开阔的Gullfossgljúfur峡谷相接。据地质学家推算，峡谷的形成历史可追溯至末次冰期的冰川洪流。
黄金瀑布夏季每秒钟的水量可达140立方米，冬季时的水量约为109立方米/秒。丰沛而湍急的水流使得瀑布气势磅礴，令每一位身临其境的游客颇感震撼。
黄金瀑布是冰岛黄金圈景区的三大景点之一，许多旅行团也从黄金瀑布集合出发，其中最受欢迎的要属在朗格冰川进行的雪地摩托与冰川隧道旅行团。
黄金瀑布的历史
正因蕴含了丰富的水能，黄金瀑布的磅礴风光才如此引人入胜。黄金瀑布的能量却也引起了外国投资者的兴趣。1907年，一位名为Howell的英国商人就曾设想在黄金瀑布建立水电站。Howell出价购买黄金瀑布，而当时黄金瀑布地段的所有者Tómas Tómasson严辞拒绝，说出了“我不会出卖我的朋友！”这句名言。于是Howell转而选择租用这片土地，以实现修建水电站的计划。
保卫瀑布的重任落在了Tómas的女儿Sigríður Tómasdóttir身上，她雇用了一位律师，努力以法律的方式捍卫瀑布的自然生态。Sigríður数次往返于官员所在的雷克雅未克与家乡黄金瀑布之间，几度徒步走过100公里的路程，与各方斡旋。为了阻止人们破坏瀑布，Sigríður甚至威胁跳入瀑布，以其生命誓死抵抗。
Sigríður的抗争终获成功。1929年，Howell撤回其租约，放弃了修建水电站的计划，黄金瀑布也得以保持其原始却美丽的自然生态。Sigríður也常被赞誉为冰岛第一位环境保护主义者，被载入冰岛史册。黄金瀑布旁的石碑上就记载了她的光辉事迹。Sigríður的律师Sveinn Björnsson也是冰岛历史中的重要人物：1944年冰岛建国后的首位总统。
黄金瀑布景区的餐饮
在黄金瀑布咖啡厅(Gullfoss Cafe)中，游客可以品尝冰岛特色美食；在黄金瀑布景区的商店中，游客也可以将冰岛特色旅行纪念品带回家。
埃亚菲亚德拉冰盖(艾雅法拉火山),埃亚菲亚德拉冰盖(Eyjafjallajökull)，也译作艾雅法拉冰川，是一座举世闻名的冰岛火山，2010年的火山大爆发曾一度阻断欧洲的航空交通。艾雅法拉冰川海拔1651米，是冰岛南岸的主要景点之一。
地理概况
艾雅法拉冰川的面积约为100平方公里，是冰岛的第六大冰川。冰岛第四大冰川米尔达斯冰川(Mýrdalsjökull)与其毗邻。与艾雅法拉冰盖一样，米尔达斯冰川下也掩藏了一座活跃的火山，名为卡特拉(Katla)。艾雅法拉火山的爆发震慑了世人，其实卡特拉火山内蕴藏的能量要远远超过艾雅法拉。
两座火山的岩浆房实则彼此连通，艾雅法拉火山的爆发也意味着，卡特拉火山亦将在本世纪内大规模爆发。
Gígjökull等多条分支冰川从艾雅法拉注出，许多河流也得到冰川融水的滋养，冰岛南岸塞里雅兰瀑布的水源就来自于艾雅法拉冰川。
艾雅法拉火山爆发
冰岛是一个火山之国。1783～1784年的拉基火山大爆发(Laki)在冰岛与世界历史上都记下了浓墨重彩的一笔，巨量火山灰从冰岛飘至欧洲大陆，甚至间接导致了法国大革命的爆发。2010年3月20日、4月15日，历史再次重演，艾雅法拉火山两度喷发，滚滚浓烟从火山口源源不断地涌出。
最危险的还不是火山岩浆，而是随之而来的能够摧毁一切的强劲冰川洪流。800人从该地区撤离，动物被挪至室内，有呼吸系统问题的居民也必须留在室内。
欧洲的航空交通因火山爆发而全面阻滞，截止4月15日晚，火山灰已抵达英国、斯堪的纳维亚与德国部分地区。欧洲旅客们的行程也被滞留了8天之久，在苏格兰与爱尔兰地区，部分航班甚至被推迟了一月之久。
火山爆发中并无人员伤亡，但冰岛南部居民的呼吸系统却受到了不同程度的影响，许多农场也被火山灰与冰川洪流摧毁。
自公元874年冰岛有人定居以来，艾雅法拉火山曾爆发了4次，分别在公元920年、1612年、1821～1823年以及2010年。19世纪的火山爆发中逸出了大量氟化物，深刻影响了当时的冰岛人与冰岛动物的骨骼构造。
今朝的艾雅法拉火山
如今冰岛南岸已经重归平静，艾雅法拉也成为了颇受欢迎的安全旅游景点。在Hvolsvöllur小镇，游客可以参观火山展览，了解Þorvaldseyri农场在火山爆发后的重建与新生。
冰岛的火山都被严密监控着，游客无需担心会在冰岛旅行时遭遇火山爆发的危险。近期内，艾雅法拉火山没有爆发的可能，但卡特拉冰川已在“蠢蠢欲动”。
迪霍拉里岬角,迪霍拉里(Dyrhólaey)位于冰岛南岸，是一座120米的狭长半岛，也是一座拱门形状的海蚀岬角。半岛上伫立着一座古老的灯塔，而每逢夏季海鹦等海鸟回归的日子，这里也会成为冰岛的观鸟胜地。
迪霍拉里意为“门山之岛”，是火山运动的产物；在与冰岛主岛连接起来之前，曾是一座离岸的独岛。古时航海的水手常把它称作“波特兰角”(Cape Portland)。
迪霍拉里标志着冰岛主陆的最南端，紧邻一号环岛公路，与冰岛最南城镇维克镇(Vík)也相距不远。
从冰岛首都雷克雅未克出发，沿冰岛南岸一路前往迪霍拉里，游客将经过几处闻名遐迩的冰岛自然景点：塞里雅兰瀑布(Seljalandsfoss)、斯科加瀑布(Skógafoss)以及埃亚菲亚德拉冰盖(Eyjafjallajökull)。
迪霍拉里拱门
迪霍拉里半岛也是一座历经海浪侵蚀的石拱，远远望去犹似拱门，因此也有“岛屿之门”的称号；站在半岛之上，游人可以俯瞰冰岛南岸的秀丽风光，将延绵无垠的黑沙滩尽收眼底。
石拱空间广阔，普通船只可以轻易穿越其空隙；1993年，一位胆大的飞行员甚至成功驾驶飞机，从石拱中穿行而过。
迪霍拉里野生生态
迪霍拉里是许多鸟类的聚居地，最常见的品种是绒鸭。著名的北极海鹦(“帕芬鸟”)也是这里的常住居民，每年夏季5月到9月之间就会来此筑巢栖居。
除迪霍拉里外，冰岛还有不少观赏海鹦的完美地点。从首都雷克雅未克市中心的旧港乘船出海，进入法赫萨湾(Faxaflói)，即可到达观赏海鹦的著名小岛。
海鹦并不害怕人类，游人可以近距离观察它们。但海鹦不喜欢被触碰，如果一只海鹦被吓跑，附近的海鹦全都会跟着离开。因此在冰岛观测海鹦时，请与其保持一定距离。
迪霍拉里周边景点
攀上迪霍拉里之顶，整片黝黑沙滩的胜景以及周围延绵起伏的山峦都将映入眼帘，大西洋的滔滔白浪不断翻滚又退却，开阔的南岸全景令人陶醉。
雷尼斯黑沙滩(Reynisfjara)与雷尼斯石柱群(Reynisdrangar)就位于迪霍拉里近旁，孤傲的火山岩石与大西洋海浪相互角力的画面无比震撼，请务必小心猛然翻起的巨浪，远离海边，以免发生危险。
米尔达斯冰川(Mýrdalsjökull)位于迪霍拉里以北，冰盖下隐藏的卡特拉火山(Katla)是冰岛最活跃的火山之一。不少专家预计火山将在近期爆发，想要游览火山的游客请务必关注火山动态，或者报名冰岛本地旅行团，以最安全保险的方式造访。
迪霍拉里的最顶端伫立着古老的迪霍拉里灯塔(Dyrhólaeyjarviti)。灯塔有着白色的塔身与红色的塔顶，从1919年开始修建，1927年竣工。每隔大约10秒钟，游人就可以看到灯塔中闪出一缕白光，照向无垠的大海。
辛格维利尔,辛格维利尔国家公园，又译辛格韦德利国家公园，是冰岛大陆上唯一被联合国教科文组织认证为世界文化遗产的地点。它和盖歇尔间歇泉、黄金瀑布，组成了著名的黄金圈旅游线路。公园南侧是冰岛最大的湖泊－辛格瓦德拉湖（Þingvallavatn）。
地理
辛格维利尔的地理地质特性在世界上独一无二。欧亚大陆板块与美洲大陆板块在此相会，且暴露在海平面之上。全世界只能在冰岛看到两大地质板块在海平面之上相会的地质奇观。
游览时，建议从美洲大陆板块一侧开始观光，在这里的信息牌上可以阅读到这个地区的更多有趣信息和历史，之后可以再走入其下的山谷。
历史
辛格维利尔在冰岛语中的意思为“议会土地”，从它的名字就不难猜出它的历史。在这里，世界上的第一个民主议会诞生－公园930年，维京人选址在此，创立了冰岛的议会。
民主议会也许和维京人喜欢战争掠杀的名声背道而驰，但当时的30多个氏族急需在恶劣的新环境中求得生存与繁荣。第一次集会的空前成功，让议会得以保留。每年，人们聚集在此，解决争端、审判罪犯、制定让所有人都能受益的法律。
冰岛联邦就此诞生，让冰岛人在成为挪威王国的选民前就获得了独立与自由。冰岛在辛格维利尔的年度议会一直延续到了1798年。
丹麦王国取消了冰岛的议会，直至1845年，冰岛的议会在雷克雅未克重生。
辛格维利尔在冰岛历史上的另一个重要角色与信仰有关，公园1000年，挪威入侵冰岛，冰岛人在辛格维利尔舍弃异教信仰、北欧众神，转而投信基督教。
冰岛的法律演讲人、议长Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði是冰岛的这场信仰危机中起到了决定性的作用，他考虑了一天一夜，才回到这里宣布了他的决定。
为了见证冰岛信仰的转变，Þorgeir将北欧众神的神像抛入北部的众神瀑布－Goðafoss，瀑布正得名于此。
丝浮拉裂缝
辛格维利尔是冰岛最受欢迎的自然景点之一，而除了上述的自然、历史原因，它还有另一大独特的景观－丝浮拉裂缝（Silfra，又译史费拉裂缝）。丝浮拉裂缝流淌着冰川水，是世界上排名前十的浮潜、潜水地。
丝浮拉在冰岛语中意为“银”，是公园内的一个水下峡谷，能见度高达100余米，温度常年保持在零上。世界各地的人们在这里穿上潜水衣，去水下享受完美的失重感，以及遨游在两大地质板块间的难得体验。
赫伦瀑布群(熔岩瀑布),Hraunfossar ('Lava Falls' in English) in Borgarfjörður district is a series of beautiful waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming out of the Hallmundarhraun lava field. It is located in West Iceland near another waterfall called Barnafoss.
Geography and Surroundings of Hraunfossar
The lava field that Hraunfossar trickles through flowed from an eruption of one of the volcanoes lying under the nearby glacier of Langjökull, the second largest ice-cap in Iceland. The waterfalls pour into the Hvítá river from ledges of less porous rock in the lava.
The Hvítá river is one of the most popular rivers amongst visitors for two reasons. Firstly, it is the most easily accessible rafting river from Reykjavík, with rapids that are manageable even for total novices. Secondly, it is the river that hosts the mighty waterfall Gullfoss, one of the three sites of the popular the Golden Circle route.
Because the area around Hraunfossar used to be the site of constant eruptions, the lava fields are known for their hidden caves. The country's longest cave, Víðgelmir, can be found near the waterfall. This amazing feature is 1,595 metres long (5,200 feet), up to 15.8 metres high (52 feet) and 16.5 metres wide (54 feet).
Its geological history may be fascinating, being just a thousand years old, though its human history stirs just as much intrigue as the lava field was once home to bandits and, according to folklore it is the home of trolls.
Another major site near Hraunfossar is an incredibly short walk away, and though also a waterfall, could not be more different. Barnafoss surges down a narrow, rocky valley with ferocious power, foaming and churning quite spectacularly. According to legend, however, the force of these rapids led to tragedy.
It was said that an old stone bridge once went over the falls, and two boys at a nearby farm, bored at home, attempted to cross it to catch up with their parents at church. However, they felt dizzy due to its height, fell, and drowned.
The legend ends in two different ways, with the least interesting saying the mother in grief simply ordered the bridge destroyed. Other tales say that she cursed the bridge using an Icelandic rune so that any who crossed would meet the same fate as her sons.
In this version, the bridge and curse were later broken by an earthquake.
The story led the waterfall its name; it translates to ‘Children’s Falls’.
Settlements near Hraunfossar
The nearest settlement of significance to Hraunfossar is Reykholt.
This tiny village has a huge history, being home to the legendary writer, chieftain, lawspeaker and poet Snorri Sturluson. Without Snorri, huge amounts of Icelandic, Nordic and even British history would be unknown.
He alone at the time catalogued a history of Norwegian kings and their relations with other monarchs through the work Heimskringla, as well as the Norse mythological beliefs through Prose Edda. It is also believed that Snorri first wrote many of the sagas still read today.
Reykholt has a centre dedicated to Snorri called Snorrastofa, which discusses his fascinating life as much as his works. Working during the times of Iceland’s tumultuous civil war as a chieftain, lawspeaker and spokesman of the Norwegian king, who had ambitions to take the country, it is a story with as much politics, betrayal, blood and sexual impropriety as Game of Thrones.
Hraunfossar is also reasonably close to Borganes, another town with a long history. Here, visitors can see the Settlement Centre with its two exhibitions on Iceland’s past, one is on the first people to reach this island over a thousand years ago, and the other is on Iceland’s most famous saga, Egil’s Saga.
德尔达图赫菲,Deildartunguhver is a hot spring located in Reykholtsdalur, a district of west Iceland. Deildartunguhver is the highest flowing hot spring in Europe and is widely known for its rapid flow rate of 180 litres (380 pints) per second.
Geothermal activity at Deildartunguhver
Reykholtsdalur is one of Iceland’s most popular places to see hot springs, along with the Geysir Geothermal Area, the Highlands, the Reykjanes Peninsula, Reykjadalur Valley and Námaskarð Pass. While each of these areas have their appeal, at no other does the water rise with such ferocity.
The water at Deildartunguhver hot spring emerges at a constant 97 degrees Celsius (207 degrees Fahrenheit), making it incredibly dangerous for those who venture too close. Thankfully, there are a number of wooden walkways and observation points that lead you around the hot springs without putting you at any risk.
Due to the sheer energy bubbling under Deildartunguhver, much of the water is used for heating Icelandic homes. One pipe travels 34 kilometres (21 miles) to Borgarnes, whilst another travels 64 kilometres (40 miles) to Akranes.
This means that if you’ve taken a shower or bath within a 64-kilometre radius of Deildartunguhver, you will have touched the water from the hot spring.
All Icelandic hot water comes from hot springs such as this, except in some parts of the Westfjords which are now geologically much older than the rest of the country, and thus less active.
This is a fantastic example of how Icelanders efficiently use the geothermal energy provided and is one of the major reasons as to why Iceland has such an excellent reputation for green energy.
Points of Interest at Deildartunguhver
Whilst in the area, many visitors choose to make a stop at Krauma Geothermal Bath & Spa, a fantastic and relaxing complex that makes for a cheaper, more isolated alternative to the Blue Lagoon.
Visitors to Kraua will experience the hot water of Deildartunguhver blended perfectly with glacial water from Iceland’s smallest ice cap, Ok (which rhymes with ‘talk’), creating the perfect bathing temperature.
Krauma has a total of six pools, a relaxation room and two steam baths.
Visitors to Deildartunguhver with an interest in botany will also be able to check out the Blechnum Spicant, aka; “deer fern”, a type of plant that grows nowhere else in Iceland.
Surroundings of Deildartunguhver
Deildartunguhver is located in west Iceland. The two most notable points of interest nearby are two waterfalls, Hraunfossar and Barnafoss.
Hraunfossar, or the ‘Lava Falls’, is, in fact, a series of tiny cascades that trickle through an old lava field. Barnafoss, or ‘the Children’s Falls’, is a more powerful rapid, steeped in a dark legend.
Deildartunghver is also near Víðgelmir, the longest lava cave in the country, trailing for 1,595 metres (5,200 feet) beneath the surface of the earth.
The most significant settlement near Deildartunghver is Reykholt, a beautiful village with a fascinating history. This settlement was once home to Snorri Sturluson, a historian, writer, chieftain and poet without whom we would know very little of the Nordic mythology, folklore and history at the time.
His works, and life--full of politics, betrayal, affairs and war--can be learnt about in the town at the Snorrastofa Centre.
史托克间歇泉,Strokkur is Iceland’s most visited active geyser. One of the three major attractions on the world-famous Golden Circle sightseeing route, it is usually visited alongside Gullfoss Waterfall and Þingvellir National Park.
Strokkur is found in the Geysir Geothermal Area, titled after the Great Geysir, which lent its name to all others across the world. It is the greatest active geyser on site; Geysir itself is in a period of inactivity. Strokkur erupts more regularly than Geysir ever did, blasting water to heights of around fifteen to twenty metres every five to ten minutes, although it is known to reach up to forty metres.
Strokkur and Haukadalur Valley
Strokkur is the primary feature of the Haukadalur valley and the main reason why it is one of the most visited sites in the country. While Geysir will very occasionally still erupt to enormous heights, it is nowhere near reliable enough to justify the area’s popularity.
Haukadalur valley, however, has many other features that make it worth a visit. The natural beauty of the area is shaped by the forces of the earth; fumaroles, hot-springs, mud-pits and other little geysers are littered around, and the ground itself is dyed vividly by elements such as sulfur (yellow), copper (green) and iron (red).
Opposite the main geothermal area in Haukadalur Valley is a restaurant, cafe, hotel and luxury gift shop.
Science behind Strokkur
Active geysers like Strokkur are rare around the world, due to the fact that many conditions must be met for them to form. They are thus only found in certain parts of highly geothermal areas.
The first condition that is necessary is an intense heat source; magma must be close enough to the surface of the earth for the rocks to be hot enough to boil water. Considering that Iceland is located on top of the rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, this condition is met throughout most of the county.
Secondly, you will need a source of flowing underground water. In the case of Strokkur, this comes from the second largest glacier in the country, Langjökull. Meltwater from the glacier sinks into the surrounding porous lava rock, and travels underground in all directions.
Evidence of this flowing water can be found in Þingvellir National Park, where there are many freshwater springs flowing straight from the earth.
Finally, you need a complex plumbing system that allows a geyser to erupt, rather than just steam from the ground like a fumarole. Above the intense heat source, there must be space for the flowing water to gather like a reservoir. From this basin, there must be a vent to the surface. This vent must be lined with silica so that the boiling, rising water cannot escape before the eruption.
Environmental Issues with Strokkur
One of the main reasons that Geysir entered a period of inactivity was due to the fact soap used to be pumped into the vents to make the eruptions more dramatic; it damaged the structure of the vent and prevented water building up. Strokkur, therefore, is guarded against all interference, with chains keeping visitors a good distance away.
Unfortunately, however, there have been incidents where people have meddled with its natural state. For example, an artist called Marco Evaristti once poured food colouring into it to make the eruption pink. He defended himself by claiming that nature was open to artists to utiltise and the fact the colouring was all-natural, but he became a pariah amongst many Icelanders, and was arrested and fined (though never paid it).
Almannagjá,Almannagjá is a gorge within Þingvellir National Park, which marks the edge of the North American tectonic plate. It is possible to hike through and has a beautiful waterfall within it.
Geology of Almannagjá
Almannagjá marks the boundary of the Mid-Atlantic Rift, which runs through Iceland. This rift is the space between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Nowhere in the country is this remarkable feature more distinct than in Þingvellir National Park. At different points within it, it is possible to see both cliffs that mark the ends of the continents, and when driving through it, you descend one of them and ascend the other.
The movements of the tectonic plates as they slowly pull away from each other give the park many distinctive features. It is littered with ravines, many of which are filled with crystal clear spring water (the most famous of these being the snorkelling and diving site Silfra) and it is coated in lava rock.
The movement of the plates also created Almannagjá. As the North American plate pulled west, it could no longer sustain its weight, causing what used to be the edge to break free of the continent in an earthquake. This left the Almannagjá gorge between the two segment.
The gorge varies in width, but at several points can be walked through. A waterfall tumbles in one part of it, called Öxaráfoss, which can easily be reached on foot.
History of Almannagjá
Almannagjá gorge has witnessed a great deal of Icelandic history. This is because Þingvellir itself was the original site of the world’s longest-running, ongoing parliament, the Alþing.
The lawspeakers of the Alþing would stand on a rock above Almannagjá gorge to read out the laws of the day to thousands of people, who would come annually to settle debates, exchange news, represent their families and clans (in the earliest days), and battle for dominance.
Skagafjörður,Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo Credit: Steinib68Skagafjörður is a fjord in North Iceland. Sauðárkrókur is its largest village. Skagafjörður district is an agricultural hub and has a rich history.
Islands & Cape
There are three islands in the fjord, Drangey, Malmey and Lundey. Drangey island is the most impressive of these, steep-cliffed, shaped like a fort, and rich with birdlife. For 19 years it was the refuge for the outlaw Grettir Ásmundarsson of Grettis Saga fame.
Þórðarhöfði may resemble a traditional island when seen from afar but is actually a cape, the remnants of an old volcano. The cape has beautiful rows of columnar basalt, best seen from the sea.
Like many fjords of the north, Skagafjörður has a wealth of animals outside its birdlife. It also has resident seals, and whales and dolphins are often spotted from the shore.
History, Culture & activities
An old renovated turf farm house is to be seen at Glaumbaer museum, giving a good sense of the rural life of 18th and 19th century Iceland.
North Iceland was a bishop’s district of its own and the bishop’s seat was at Hólar in Hjaltadalur valley in the east of Skagafjörður. Hólar today features an agricultural university, and is the seat for an ordaining bishop, who is a woman.
Skagafjörður district has some of the best rafting rivers in the country, so rafting there is highly popular, as well as horseback riding.
Five of the largest battles in Icelandic history were fought on Skagafjörður in the 13th century civil war. This war was fought between dominant family clans, who could not sort out their issues at the parliament at Þingvellir.
The war was greatly exacerbated by the King of Norway at the time. He sought to include Iceland in his kingdom, and sent many vassals to stir up the chieftains and bring many into his fold.
The civil war ended when he finally got his way, ending the Icelandic Commonwealth and beginning the first of nearly seven centuries of colonial rule.
雷克雅内斯半岛,雷克雅内斯半岛(Reykjanes，雷恰内斯半岛)位于冰岛西南岸，以熔岩原、火山地貌与活跃的地热活动而闻名。
火山地热活动
大西洋中脊横贯雷克雅内斯半岛，亚欧与北美两大地质板块亦于此交界，半岛上的火山地质运动也因此无比活跃，火山喷发与地震时常发生。熔岩原是这座半岛最具标志性的地貌。
中世纪时，雷克雅内斯半岛频发火山爆发，但近500年来却颇为平静，不过短暂休眠的火山随时都有再次活跃的可能。
地震在半岛地区仍然十分普遍。2001年，克莱瓦湖(Kleifarvatn)发生地震，湖底裂开后，湖泊面积也随之缩减了20%。克莱瓦湖下也有地热温泉在汩汩喷涌。
Gunnuhver、Krýsuvik与Svartsengi是雷克雅内斯半岛上的主要地热活动区，Gunnuhver地区以蒸汽迷离的沸泥潭与蒸汽孔而闻名，Krýsuvik地区则分布有奇妙的地热喷泉，沸泥潭中的矿物也将土壤染成斑斓的颜色。Svartsengi地区坐落着一座地热电站，地热泉水的温度高达90°C，每秒流量达475升，从中能够产生76.5兆瓦的强大电力。
颜色泛绿的火山口湖Grænavatn也是半岛上值得一游的小众景点。富含硫、硅等矿物质的蓝湖温泉也位于半岛之上。
自然与生态
雷克雅内斯半岛有着粗犷的地质地貌与淳朴的生态环境。悬崖岩壁上栖息着许多鸟类，著名的Krýsuvikurbjarg鸟崖上就生活着近8万只鸟儿。虽然没有海鹦栖居，人们仍能在这里寻觅到鸬鹚、暴风鹱等鸟类的踪影。
克莱瓦湖位于Krýsuvíkurbjarg以北。克莱瓦湖也是雷克雅内斯半岛上最大、最深的湖泊。半岛中央的Djúpavatn湖则是一处垂钓的好去处。
雷克雅内斯半岛上还是观赏到大西洋震撼海浪的完美地点。在距离Krýsuvík不远的Selvogur湾，汹涌的波涛不断凶猛地击向石礁；而在半岛西南部的Reykjanestá岬角，海洋甚至可以掀起30余米高的滔天巨浪。冰岛自然的野性风光与骇人力量有着崇高的壮美。
半岛上的主要城镇有凯夫拉维克(Keflavík)、桑德盖尔济(Sandgerði)、加尔泽(Garður)、沃加尔(Vogar)、格林达维克(Grindavík)等。凯夫拉维克、尼亚兹维克(Njarðvík)、哈布尼尔(Hafnir)、Ásbrú共同组成了雷恰内斯拜尔(Reykjanesbær)市镇，人口达16000，是冰岛第五大市镇。
凯夫拉维克国际机场
位于Miðnesheiði平原上的凯夫拉维克是冰岛国际机场Leifsstöð的所在地，或称凯夫拉维克国际机场，这是冰岛唯一一座国际机场，也是冰岛旅行的门户。
蓝湖温泉
举世闻名的蓝湖温泉位于雷克雅内斯半岛南端，是冰岛最受欢迎的旅行景点之一。许多游客会选择在到达冰岛后立即前往蓝湖温泉，在富含矿物质的蔚蓝泉水中放松身心。
Mýrdalsjökull,Mýrdalsjökull is a glacier in the south of the Icelandic highlands. It is the country's fourth largest ice cap, covering nearly 600 square kilometres (232 square miles), and its highest peak is almost 1500 meters tall. It is most well-known for sitting atop the notorious and explosive volcano, Katla.
Mýrdalsjökull is visible from Route 1 on the South Coast, sitting to the north of the village of Vík. It is visited on some snowmobiling, ice caving and helicopter tours, and one of its glacial outlets, Sólheimajökull, is the most popular place in the country for ice-climbing and glacier hiking.
Eruptions beneath Myrdalsjokull
Since 2010, the world has known of the volcano beneath Eyjafjallajökull; after all, it halted European air travel for over a week and stumped news readers everywhere. Few, however, are aware of the much larger volcano right beside it.
Mýrdalsjökull conceals Katla, one of the country’s most active volcanoes, having erupted, on average, once every fifty years since 930 AD. Because of the glacier above it, these eruptions tend to cause enormous ash clouds. It is these ash clouds that lead to flights being grounded, crops and livestock poisoned, and have the potential to change the world’s climate.
The last major eruption beneath Katla was in 1918, in which such huge lahar floods occurred that the southern coastline was extended five kilometres outwards. This area is also very susceptible to glacial floods, or 'jökulhlaup', during eruptions, even when the lava does not break through the surface of the ice. These are as dangerous as the lava itself, having wiped out whole Icelandic villages before.
Historically, the area was little settled for this reason.
Katla is connected to the same volcanic system as Eyjafjallajökull and usually erupts violently a few years after Eyjafjallajökull does. As the ex-president, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson said in 2010:
‘The time for Katla to erupt is coming close… it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over Europe and the world to start planning for the eventual Katla eruption’So it is currently several years overdue. Katla is monitored heavily, and roads around it closed when seismic activity increases. All road closures around Iceland can be found on Road and Coastal Administration's website.
Tours on Myrdalsjokull
While there are no eruptions immediately imminent, tours continue to run onMýrdalsjökull, allowing visitors to enjoy the glacier. It is, for example, possible to snowmobile across its surface throughout the year and take ice caving tours beneath it from October to April, with departures from both Reykjavík and Vík.
Considering the ice caves under Vatnajökull glacier are usually only accessible from November to March, this provides a wider window of opportunity for travellers to Iceland outside of the depths of winter. It should be noted that the caves in Mýrdalsjökull do not have the same blue ice, however.
Tours around Myrdalsjokull
Mýrdalsjökull can be seen on all South Coast tours that reach Vík and beyond in clear weather. It can also be seen from above on helicopter tours that depart from Reykjavík.
The best perspectives of the glacier, however, can be found on the popular Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail, which goes between Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. Part of this hike can be done in a day, or you can take the complete route from Þórsmörk to Skógar on a three-day trek
斯卡夫塔山,斯卡夫塔山是冰岛Öræfasveit地区的一个自然保护区，它曾经是一个国家公园，2008年，和杰古沙格鲁夫尔(Jökulsárgljúfur)国家公园合并为如今的瓦特那冰川国家公园(Vatnajökull National Park)。
斯卡夫塔山地区的植被非常有特色，它们生长在沙地与冰川形成的特色地貌上，给整个地区带来盎然生机和独特的自然风光。从斯卡夫塔山游客中心可以沿徒步路径通向斯瓦蒂瀑布(Svartifoss，意为黑瀑布，又译为魔鬼瀑布)、Hundafoss瀑布，以及斯卡夫塔山冰川，远处是Kristinartindar山和Morsardalur山谷。
对于户外爱好者，斯卡夫塔山是前往冰岛最高峰－华纳达尔斯赫努克火山(Hvannadalshnjúkur)的最佳营地选择。
斯卡夫塔山游客中心(Skaftafell Visitor Center)
在斯卡夫塔山的游客中心，您可以找到此地区最完备的信息，以及它的历史、地理知识。您可以了解以此为出发地的各个徒步线路、观光建议、住宿选择等。
Sólheimasandur,Sólheimasandur is a vast area of sand and gravel along the South Coast of Iceland, between the cliffs of the interior and the modern shoreline. It was built up by immense glacier bursts sweeping from the mountains to the shore.
Geography of Sólheimasandur
Sólheimasandur is a glacial outwash plain, meaning when that when eruptions happen under the nearby glacier, Mýrdalsjökull, the floodwater rushes across this land for the sea.
A glacial flood, otherwise called Jökulhlaup (one of two words taken from Icelandic in the English language, the other being geyser) is perhaps the most dangerous immediate element of an Icelandic eruption. While individuals have been killed by lava flows and bombs, many more have lost their lives to the water.
For this reason, Sólheimasandur has no significant settlements, all the way from the village of Vík í Mýrdal to Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The whole area is vulnerable to glacial floods, which are still notoriously unpredictable to modern science.
This is especially the case considering that the volcano beneath Mýrdalsjökull, Katla, is Iceland’s most active volcano, which carries a reputation for violently erupting, seemingly at random.
Even if these eruptions do not break the surface of the ice, they can still cause devastating floods. In fact, these can even be more dangerous, as these eruptions are often not detected..
If Katla is showing signs of waking, then the Ring Road going south across Sólheimasandur is often closed.
In spite of its dark reputation, Sólheimasandur is a place of ethereal and haunting beauty. Entirely flat, composed of black sands, it is often compared to a lunar landscape, or else some kind fantastical desert. The views of Mýrdalsjökull, Vatnajökull, the Highlands and the South Coast are also magnificent in clear weather.
Sólheimasandur is easy to reach, laying on the Ring Road that encircles the country.
The DC-3 Plane Wreckage
Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo Credit: SekeriOne of the most impressive sights on Sólheimasandur is the DC-3 plane wreckage. Lying abandoned in the sand, a deteriorating skeleton, with nothing but endless black sand surrounding it, it makes an eerie destination even more ominous.
It is a US Navy plane, that was flying across the area in 1973; until recently the US had a NATO base at Keflavík, as Iceland has no armed forces of its own. It seemed to run out of fuel - although it was later discovered that the pilot had, in fact, switched to the wrong fuel tank - and had to make an emergency landing.
Thankfully, no one was killed or injured, although the plane was far too damaged to be repaired.
Because there were no deaths or injuries, there is nothing tasteless about taking photos with the plane. In fact, it a popular addition to many South Coast tours. Because the wreckage is not expected to remain there for long - considering the regular glacial floods that rush through the area - it is fine to touch it. It is not recommended that you climb on it, however, for safety reasons.
To reach the plane requires a short walk across Sólheimasandur.
Hveragerði小镇,Hveragerði is a town and municipality in the southwest of Iceland. It is often nicknamed ‘the Earthquake Town’ or ‘the Hot Spring Town’, due to the active geological and geothermal forces that define it.
Hveragerdi town and services
Hveragerði is around 45 kilometres (28 miles) from the capital Reykjavík and takes half an hour to drive to along the Ring Road travelling south. Around 2,300 people live in Hveragerði, most employed in tourism, horticulture or agriculture.
There is a service centre in the town with shops, including an alcohol shop, a supermarket, a gas station, an information point, and a cafe. There are several restaurants as well, and just outside it is a popular horse farm.
Surrounding the town are nice botanical areas and many recreational activities are available. There are excellent hiking trails as well as nice hotels and a camping ground which is open in the summer months.
In terms of culture, a number of museums can be found in Hveragerði, such as the Árnesingar art museum and Hveragerði Stone and Mineral Museum. The town even hosts an annual culture and family festival in August.
Geography of Hveragerdi
Hveragerði sits on a highly geothermal area. Boiling water runs just beneath the surface of the ground, leading to many hot springs in the nearby hills. This is both a blessing for the town and a curse.
In terms of a blessing, it allows greenhouses to flourish, as they can be provided with heat throughout the year. Hveragerði is thus the world’s northernmost producer of bananas, which are grown alongside a host of other fruits and vegetables.
Many flowers and herbs are also grown here, and it is considered the centre of botany in Iceland.
The boiling water also allows food to be cooked simply by burying it for a few hours, providing the restaurants in the area with unique menus. It also brings the area a wealth of tourism.
The curse of this geothermal water is the effect it has on the residents. Stories of hot springs opening overnight in people’s kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms are very common.
Also, due to the Mid-Atlantic rift running through Iceland, many earthquakes hit Hveragerði. Fortunately, the houses are built here to withstand tremors, due to how common they are, but there is a lingering knowledge that a powerful earthquake or eruption could cause serious, perhaps irreparable damage to the settlement.
The river Varmá runs from the valley of Reykjadalur through the town. This region, which translates to the 'Steam Valley', is an incredibly popular place for hot spring bathing and hiking.
A gravel road that leads from Hveragerði takes you to the base of the hiking trail, which winds up, down and around beautiful, scenic hills dotted with fumaroles and mud pits.
It ends by a river that is fed by hot springs, meaning it is heated from the top, allowing visitors to choose the perfect place to bathe. There are no indoor changing areas, but screens to undress behind.
Þingvallavatn,Þingvallavatn (anglicised to Thingvallavatn, ‘the Lake of the Fields of Parliament’) is a rift valley lake located roughly forty-minutes drive from Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavík.
Features of Thingvallavatn
Þingvallavatn is partially within the boundaries of Þingvellir National Park, Iceland’s oldest National Park and only one with UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Covering an area of 84 square kilometres (32 square miles), Þingvallavatn is the largest natural lake in Iceland with its greatest depth measuring at 114 metres (374 feet). Þingvallavatn is situated on the Mid-Atlantic Rift, on a part of the ridge known as the Reykjanes Ridge.
The lake has only one outflow, the river Sog.
Of particular note to biologists and fishermen are the four morphs of Arctic Char that inhabit the lake. The lake’s char are an excellent example of species evolving to fit and adapt to a secluded environment; over ten thousand years, one species of Char has transformed into four different-sub branches. Other fish in the lake include the the Brown Trout and the Three-Spine Stickleback.
History and Geology
Þingvallavatn takes its name from the historical founding of the Alþingi, which occurred in 930 AD at what is now known as Þingvellir National Park. Þingvellir literally translates to ‘Fields of Parliament’.
The Alþingi was the first democratically elected representative parliament in world history (examples such as Ancient Athens were direct, not representative, democracies); Icelanders used to travel by foot or horseback simply to congregate at Þingvellir where they would hear the latest laws and judgements of the island.
Þingvellir National Park is also notable for its geology. Given its position on the Mid Atlantic Ridge, the park is one of the only places on the planet where visitors can see both the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates standing exposed from the earth.
Footpaths allow you to get up close and personal to the plates, standing right where the ancient settlers once did. In between the tectonic plates lies fields of dried volcanic rock, blanketed with a thick, yet fragile layer of Icelandic moss.
Scuba Diving in Thingvallavatn
Scuba diving around Þingvallavatn revolves around two sites, Silfra Fissure and Davíðsgjá (David’s Crack), the former being one of the most popular spots on the planet for snorkelling and underwater exploration.
Silfra Fissure is situated between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates and is filled with crystal-clear glacial water originating from the Langjökull ice cap. The water measures at between two degrees Celsius all year round, with a slight current preventing the fissure from ever freezing over.
Davíðsgjá is found within Þingvallavatn and is often considered the darker and more dramatic cousin of Silfra Fissure, resembling the gorge formation so prevalent across the Mid Atlantic Rift.
Only certain tour operators provide tours into Davíðsgjá, so make sure to do some research beforehand if you are looking to access this dive site during your time in Iceland.
Þríhnúkagígur,Photo from Thrihnukagigar Volcano TourÞríhnúkagígur is a dormant volcano in west Iceland, famous for its enormous magma chamber. It is the only magma chamber in the world that can be entered, and has a depth of 213 metres (699 feet).
Formation of Þríhnúkagígur
Þríhnúkagígur was a normal volcano in Iceland’s Blue Mountain range, also call Bláfjöll. However, its last eruption, almost 2,000 years ago, had some very unusual consequences.
After an eruption, the magma chamber of a volcano, now free of pressure, usually remains full of lava that cools into solid rock until the next eruption. If the magma chamber is fully emptied, the volcano will usually collapse in on itself.
To the bewilderment of scientists, however, neither of these things happened to Þríhnúkagígur.
It seems that a rift beneath the chamber drained it of all remaining lava, leaving behind an enormous chamber, that covered an area of 3,270 square metres (35,200 square feet). To give some idea of the scale of this, the Statue of Liberty could stretch her limbs within it, and it could comfortably fit Hallgrímskirkja church.
Unusually, the volcano did not collapse, and it has remained unchanged since.
Discovery and Exploration of Þríhnúkagígur
The vast magma chamber under Þríhnúkagígur would not be discovered until 1974, by an Icelandic cave explorer. Its discovery made world news, as volcanologists had not seen anything like it before, and were fighting to try to explain its existence.
In 2012, it was opened for tourism. A lift, akin to those used in mining, was installed, and visitors were now allowed to join tours plumbing its depths.
Its popularity comes not only from the uniqueness of the tour and the scale of the chamber, but the incredible colouration within it. Mineral deposits dye the walls vivid shades of red, yellow, green and blue, making the incredible space that much more ethereal.
Reaching Þríhnúkagígur requires a short but uphill hike, which can be done by any steady on their feet with a reasonable level of fitness. Tours only operate in summer.
霍芬镇(赫本镇),Höfn is an Icelandic fishing town of just over two thousand people in southeast Iceland. It is the most significant settlement on Route 1 between the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur in the south and Egilsstaðir in the east.
Geography of Höfn
Höfn means ‘harbour,’ as the town is located in one of the few natural harbours of Iceland’s South Coast; unlike the rest of the country, this stretch is beachy and flat, and thus there are hardly any small coastal villages when compared to places such as the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
The town is right at the tip of its own peninsula, which is easy to reach throughout the year. It sits at the base of Route 99, which detours off from Route 1. It is surrounded on three sides by the ocean, which has been known to freeze over in extreme conditions.
The town can also be reached by plane in good weather, as it is one of the few locations in the country with a domestic airport.
The largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull, which sits in a National Park of the same name, is within clear view of Höfn.
Nearby Locations to Höfn
Höfn is most often visited by those driving the full Ring Road of Iceland, as a place to stay just before or after visiting the South Coast or East Fjords.
It is also visited independently, however, by those seeking to spend enough time near the sites of southeast Iceland, most notably Vatnajökull National Park, the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, the Diamond Beach and Vestrahorn Mountain.
All of these sites are incredible. Vatnajökull, for example, is incredibly diverse, boasting a huge array of different sites to marvel over. In its southwestern corner, for example, it is home to the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, an oasis of unbelievable scenery, whereas to its west sits the mighty mountain Snæfell, renowned for its wildlife such as pink-footed geese and reindeer.
The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon has recently been enveloped into the National Park, but warrants its own discussion. Out of all the sites listed, it is here where most visitors to Höfn want to spend the bulk of their time. This lagoon is, in fact, Iceland’s deepest lake, and renowned for being full of great icebergs throughout the year.
These bergs snap off of a tongue of Vatnajökull glacier, before slowly cruising through the waters towards the ocean. As they travel, they often become resting spots for some of the many seals who live in and around the lagoon.
The site is marvellous to behold, with a particular appeal for landscape photographers. Visitors, however, should not spend all their time in the lagoon. By following the channel from Jökulsárlón to the ocean, you will come onto the Diamond Beach, where these icebergs wash up on the shore and glisten against the black sands.
A final site in southeast Iceland, closer to Höfn than those previously listed, is Mount Vestrahorn. This jagged peak is ominous and dramatic, with two sharp peaks that have created the nickname ‘the Batman Mountain.’ Another favourite amongst photographers, it’s distinct silhouette and colouration make it the perfect subject regardless of the weather.
Culture at Höfn
Like many of Iceland’s small, coastal towns, Höfn has a surprising amount of culture. Its cuisine is particularly notable, with the celebration of it coming to a head at the annual Lobster Festival, held every July. This comes as little surprise, considering the town’s long history as an important fishing port.
Höfn also has several art museums where visitors can admire local handicrafts, although it should be noted, in spite of conflicting evidence on the internet, that the Höfn Glacier Museum is now closed.
雷尼斯黑沙滩,举世闻名的雷尼斯黑沙滩(Reynisfjara)坐落于冰岛南岸，与冰岛最南城镇维克镇(Vík)毗邻。
玄武岩黑沙滩的异世之美为冰岛特有，一望无垠的雷尼斯黑沙滩绝对是其中最美丽的一座。大西洋的滚滚白浪与黝黑火山砂石形成了梦幻般的色彩对比，于波涛中屹立的巨型玄武岩柱与神秘的黑沙滩相映成趣。早在1991年，《国家地理》就将雷尼斯黑沙滩列为世界十大最值得游览的非热带沙滩之一。
距冰岛首都雷克雅未克约180公里的雷尼斯黑沙滩，也是冰岛南岸景区最热门的景点之一。
黑沙滩位于一号环岛公路沿线，路况良好、驾驶容易，距首都约有2.5小时车程，半日之内即可往返参观，也可与南岸其他景点组合。
黑沙滩的民间传说
游览雷尼斯黑沙滩时，耸拔于大西洋惊涛之中的雷尼斯岩柱(Reynisdrangar/雷尼斯德兰格)也同样夺人目光。
根据民间传说记载，这些巨型玄武岩柱是冰岛巨魔的遗骸；黎明破晓时，欲将帆船拖入海中的巨魔遭遇阳光，化为巨石。
另一则传说却道，一个男人的妻子被两只巨魔掳掠杀害，男人追至雷尼斯黑沙滩，封印住巨魔，为这段悲剧画下结尾。
雷尼斯黑沙滩与雷尼斯岩柱还曾在现代传奇中现身：《权力的游戏(冰与火之歌)》第七季就曾在此取景，以求展现绝境长城以北的凛冽风光。
雷尼斯岩柱如今是海鸟们的栖息家园，北极海鹦、暴风鹱、海鸽等鸟类每年都会来此筑巢，喜爱观鸟的游客一定要到访黑沙滩。
黑沙滩周边景点
雷尼斯黑沙滩位于冰岛南岸中段，与维克镇毗邻；如果游客沿一号环岛公路自驾南岸，黑沙滩一定是旅程中不容错过的必游自然景点。经过黑沙滩，游客可以继续东行，前往杰古沙龙冰河湖(Jökulsárlón)，或继续环岛旅行。
迪霍拉里海岬(Dyrhólaey)是另一处与雷尼斯黑沙滩紧邻的冰岛自然景点。迪霍拉里是冰岛观鸟的最佳地点之一，海鸟的数目与种类都让黑沙滩地区难以望其项背。每年5～8月，迪霍拉里也是冰岛观海鹦的最佳地点。
从首都雷克雅未克前往雷尼斯黑沙滩，游客将途径塞里雅兰瀑布(Seljalandsfoss)、斯科加瀑布(Skógafoss)、艾雅法拉冰川火山(Eyjafjallajökull)、米尔达斯冰川(Mýrdalsjökull)等自然景点；从黑沙滩继续前行，游客将进入瓦特纳冰川国家公园(Vatnajökull)，到访斯卡夫塔山自然保护区(Skaftafell)、冰河湖、钻石冰沙滩等闻名遐迩的自然胜景。
游览黑沙滩的潜在危险与注意事项
游览雷尼斯黑沙滩时，游客需务必注意自身安全，以防发生意外与危险。大西洋的波涛凶悍强劲，浪高且急，极易将靠近海浪的游客卷入寒冷的海中。
雷尼斯黑沙滩与南极洲一线贯通，中间没有任何陆块，海浪得以积聚数千公里的能量；无论天气是平和还是狂暴，黑沙滩海域时刻都会产生这种突如其来的大浪，将一切沙滩上的人与物恣意卷入海洋。
游客必须远离海浪，与海洋至少保持30公里的距离。
Reykholt,Reykholt is a tiny village in west Iceland, which was once home to one of the world’s greatest medieval writers. Packed with history and culture, this little settlement should not be overlooked
Reykholt: Home of Snorri Sturluson
Reyholt’s fame comes from the fact that it was the home of the legendary writer, historian, chieftain and lawspeaker Snorri Sturluson. Though his name is not well-known outside of the Nordic world, without him we would know much less about medieval northern European history than we do today.
His two most famous works are Prose Edda and Heimskringla. The former is an account of the Old Norse Mythology, which was otherwise kept alive only by oral tradition.
It tells about how the pagans thought the world was created and how it would end, and the deities that sparked fear and awe in them, most famously Odin, Thor and Loki. Considered an epic poem akin to Homer’s Odyssey to many, it has inspired the fantasy genre perhaps more than any other work in the world.
Heimskringla is an account of Norwegian kings, told as sagas. It depicts what most historians consider to be an accurate depiction of relations across northern Europe from the 9th Century to the end of the 12th.
It is through this work, therefore, that we can learn about how the Vikings related to the kings of places such as the not-yet United Kingdom, how the jarls and clans disputed, and how they formed governments that have lasted to this day.
Though Snorri is best remembered for his works, his life was also a fascinating tale somewhat similar to that of a Game of Thrones character.
Aside from being a beloved poet and writer, he was a chieftain and later lawspeaker for Icelandic parliament, as well as a spokesperson, agent and, to some, lackey of the Norwegian king.
His influence and actions propelled Iceland’s civil war into chaos, and he met betrayal from every side, resulting in his eventual assassination. The taboo of this execution, however, meant that Snorri was remembered as a hero, rather than the divisive figure he often was.
To add to the Game of Thrones flavour, he was also notorious for infidelity, and fathering children up and down the country.
In honour of Snorri’s life and works, Reykholt is home to Snorrastofa, a centre on his contribution to medieval studies.
Reykholt and Surroundings
Even if you have little interest in Snorri, Reykholt is a beautiful town, well worth a visit. It has a wealth of geothermal activity, and one of the country's oldest structures, Snorralaug geothermal pool, can be found here.
Reykholt is also the closest settlement to the popular waterfalls of Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. The former of these, the ‘Lava Falls’, are serene and unique, while the latter, the ‘Children’s Falls’, is rapid and dramatic.
It is also close to Deildartunghver, the highest flowing hot spring in Europe.
If you're looking to stay more than a day in Reykholt or nearby, there are several hotels in the vicinity, among them the the beautifully built boarding school that functions as an Edda-hotel in the summer. There are also a wealth of cabins and bungalows to be rented here.
博尔加内斯,Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by ChensiyuanBorgarnes is a town of fewer than 2000 people, located on a peninsula at the shore of Borgarfjörður. It is a historical settlement, a cultural hub and an essential commerce centre for a large part of western Iceland.
Getting to Borgarnes
Borgarnes is located to the north of Reykjavík, reached by travelling Route 1, otherwise known as the Ring Road which encircles the country. This journey takes you through a six-kilometre tunnel beneath the fjord of Hvalfjörður, and over the second longest bridge in Iceland.
If you would prefer to take the scenic route instead of the tunnel, you can make a turn on Route 47 to enjoy the beautiful Hvalfjörður fjord. This route is encouraged if you plan on hiking to the second tallest waterfall in Iceland, Glymur, which is nestled in the fjord.
Please note that taking the long route will double the time of the otherwise hour long trip.
If driving to the Westfjords, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, or the north, Borgarnes serves as a great place to stop for fuel, food, drinks and a place to explore.
History and Culture at Borgarnes
Photo from Flickr by Funky TeeBorgarnes was settled in Iceland’s earliest days, over a millennium ago, and has long been occupied by fishermen; the village was not to substantially grow, however, until the 20th Century when Iceland’s infrastructure boomed, and it became an essential gateway to the country’s north and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
The town is now home to two museums, the Settlement Centre and, curiously, the Centre for Puppet Arts.
The Settlement Centre is the largest and most famous. It houses two exhibitions, one on the Settlement Era and another on the Saga of Egil.
The former talks about how Iceland’s settlement began in the late 9th Century, as Norwegian jarls began to unite under a king, and chiefs sought a new land where they could maintain control. En route, they took slaves, mainly women from Ireland, and the Icelandic population was formed.
They settled across the country in approximately thirty clans, before uniting in 930 to form what would later become the world’s longest running representative parliament, thus beginning the Commonwealth Era.
The exhibition is interactive and great for children and adults alike. Icelandic history is often overlooked by visitors in lieu of Iceland's incredible nature, yet is a surprisingly well-recorded story of hardship, unity, folklore and endurance against all the odds.
The exhibition on Egil’s Saga is fascinating even to those unfamiliar with Icelandic texts. Icelanders have always been storytellers, and their greatest heroes are often poets and writers rather than kings and warriors.
The sagas are amongst the first records of these stories and are still read in school today, much like Shakespeare in England. Interestingly, however, Icelandic is one of the world’s oldest languages, and the texts read similarly to modern-day works of writing.
The saga perfectly captures what life in Norway and Iceland were like from 850 to 1000 AD, over several generations, and like many Icelandic pieces of writing, shows the many contradictions of the Icelandic character, spirit and family in a way that is both stark and sympathetic.
If travelling with children, the Bjössaróló environmental playground is a great place to spend an hour or two. It was built by Björn Hjörtur Guðmundsson who spent years developing the park using salvaged materials for all the equipment.
Here you'll find slides built into the surrounding hillocks, many swings, a jungle gym, spinning top and several lookout points. There's also a castle, an old boat, seesaws and a climbing dome. It's renowned as the best playground in the country, and additionally provides an excellent view of the sea.
儿童瀑布群,Barnafoss is a rapid waterfall in West Iceland, just a short walk away from the serene Hraunfossar falls. It is best known for its dark history in folklore, and for how much it contrasts with its neighbour.
Folklore of Barnafoss
Barnafoss translates to ‘the Children’s Falls’ because of a legend long told about it. Back in Iceland’s early days, it was said that a family with two boys lived at the nearby farm of Hraunsás. The parents left home for church one morning, ordering the young ones to remain at home, but with nothing to entertain them, the children soon decided to follow.
They knew a shortcut to the church: a stone bridge, arching over the nearby rapid waterfall, that back then would have had a different name. They started to cross it, but found the heights and surging water below dizzying. In a tragic turn of events, neither boy made it across the bridge, and both fell to their deaths.
Though both parents were grief-stricken, the mother veered towards insanity. Some versions of the tale end with her demanding the bridge be torn down. Others say she turned to witchcraft, placing a rune on the bridge that made any who crossed it plummet to their deaths just like her beloved sons.
If the latter version is true, her spell was broken when an earthquake shattered the passage.
While Iceland’s tales of magic were, of course, exaggerated as they were passed down in oral tradition, it is very possible that this story is true; Barnafoss would kill whoever fell into it in all likelihood, and many Icelanders scratched runes to spread curses to their neighbours and rivals.
It is, of course, equally possible that like many Icelandic tales, it was simply created as a way to ensure that young children respected their parents, and feared the country’s unpredictable nature.
Surroundings of Barnafoss
Barnafoss is a magical site in and of itself, twisting, turning, foaming and churning as it races down a narrow valley, from which you can view it from above. It is even more fantastical, however, due to its contrast with Hraunfossar.
Rather than being a narrow rapids, Hraunfossar is a wide series of trickling waterfalls, flowing from a plateau of lava rock. Seeing the drama of one, followed by the peace of the other, is an excellent example of how Iceland’s scenery is ever-changing, and completely different spectacles can exist within mere metres of each other.
Other sites of the west near Barnafoss include the highest-flowing hot spring in Europe, Deildartunguhver, which is fascinating to admire but impossible to bathe in due to its extreme heat.
There are also the settlements of Reykholt and Borgarnes, both of which should be visited by those passionate about Icelandic history and culture. Reykholt hosts the Snorrastofa Exhibition, where you can learn about the village’s most famous resident, Snorri Sturluson. Snorri wrote many of the Icelandic texts that reveal huge amounts about Nordic kings, Norse mythology, and Icelandic folklore.
Borgarnes, meanwhile, has the Settlement Centre, where guests can learn about the brave first arrivals to this stark new home, and one of the country’s most famous sagas, Egil’s Saga.
朗格冰川, The mighty Langjökull, the ‘Long Glacier’, is the second-largest glacier in Iceland, at 935 square kilometres (361 square miles). For jeep and snowmobile trips, Langjökull is the most popular glacier in Iceland, and skiing and hiking here is possible as well. Highland tracks
Langjökull is located in the Highlands, and two main highland tracks, connecting the north and the south of Iceland, lie alongside it.
The Kaldidalur road stretches from Þingvellir National Park northwards to Húsafell. The Kjalvegur road, meanwhile lies east of Langjökull and west of Hofsjökull glacier, starting near the famous Gullfoss waterfall to the south, and passing through the beautiful Hveravellir geothermal area to the north.
The landscape of Langjokull
Langjökull is about 50 kilometres (31 miles) long and up to 20 kilometres (12 miles) wide, and the ice is around 580 metres (1,903 feet) deep at its thickest. The glacier reaches its highest point in its northernmost part, which is called Baldjökull, rising around 1,450 metres (4,757 feet) above sea level.
The glacier lies over a massif of hyaloclastite mountains. The tops of these mountains can be seen in certain places on the glacier. It also conceals at least two active volcanic systems, the calderas of which are visible from the air.
The best known of these systems fuels the geothermal area of Hveravellir, east of Baldjökull. Also in the east lies the Kjalhraun lava field, which formed about 7800 years ago.
To the northwest of the glacier is another system that produced the vast Hallmundarhraun lava field, through which the Hvítá river runs in the direction of Gullfoss waterfall. Also in the area is Iceland‘s longest lava cave, the fascinating Surtshellir.
Southwest of Langjökull is the Presthnúkur lava field, fissures of which creep under the ice. South of the glacier is the Lambahraun lava field and even further south lies the Skjaldbreiðarhraun lava field and the Skjaldbreiður shield volcano.
Compared to other regions in Iceland, the area is considered relatively calm, with only 32 eruptions in the last 10,000 years.
Into the glacier
Near the highest peaks of Langjökull exists a man-made ice tunnel, a true spectacle for any visitor passing by the glacier. Designed and constructed by geophysicist and presidential candidate Ari Trausti Guðmundsson, the tunnel exists to allow visitors to explore the inside of a glacier without having to come to Iceland in mid-winter for a chance to see the less-than-reliable ice caves.
Guests traverse beneath Langjökull's thick ice sheet, experiencing the vivid blue colouration within, and gaining an insight into the glacier's beauty, formation and processes. It is the only place in the world where this is possible. ‘Into the Glacier’ tours are often combined with adventure activities such as snowmobiling.
Nearby glaciers
The glaciers located nearest to Langjökull are Eiríksjökull, which conceals the highest mountain in west Iceland, and Þórisjökull. Hrútfellsjökull also lies on the east side of Langjökull.
Between Þórisjökull and Geitlandsjökull is a valley called Þórisdalur. Along with stunning views, it features prominently in Icelandic folk tales; the outlaw Grettir the Strong of Grettis Saga, for example, is reported to have resided here for one winter.
Langjokull and the Golden Circle
Iceland’s most popular sightseeing route, the Golden Circle, would not be possible if not for Langjökull glacier; none of its three iconic features would exist in their current state without the melting ice.
Gullfoss waterfall is the most obvious example of this. The river that feeds into it, the Hvítá, is a glacier river flowing straight from Langjökull; the scale of the ice cap is hinted at by the sheer volume of water that cascades here every second.
The hot springs at Geysir, meanwhile, are supplied with water underground. Meltwater from Langjökull feeds into the surrounding lava fields, which have very porous rock, and flows in a subterranean river to the geothermal area, where it comes bursting out of the naturally forms vents.
While Þingvellir would still have its National Park and World Heritage status without Langjökull, which it received for being the original site of what is now the longest-running representative parliament in the world, it would be notably less beautiful.
Many springs exist throughout the park, also formed by the underground meltwater of the glacier. Due to its long filtration process, the water emerges as some of the clearest naturally occurring water in the world.
Silfra fissure, therefore, is the best snorkelling and diving location in the country and consistently ranked as one of the top ten places for such activities in the world.
Global warming
Langjökull is shrinking fast and concerns have been raised about the glacier due to the effect of global warming. Some researchers fear that if climate change continues at its current rate the glacier may be gone in 150 years. Less optimistic scientists have said it could be gone in as few as 50.
哈尔格林姆斯大教堂,Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran church, located on top of the Skólavörðuhæð hill in the centre of Reykjavík. At 74.5 metres (245 feet) tall, it is the largest church in Iceland, and its tower offers a spectacular panoramic view over the city.
History and Design
The church was designed by one of Iceland’s most renowned architects, Guðjón Samúelsson, who is said to have sought inspiration for his expressionistic design from elements of Icelandic nature.
These include glaciers, mountains and lava formations, particularly the hexagonal basalt columns that surround the waterfall Svartifoss in Skaftafell Nature Reserve, in Vatnajökull National Park. These have influenced the architecture of many structures in Iceland, as well as a whole host of other artistic projects.
It is also designed to resemble Thor’s hammer, with the handle facing up, as a nod to Iceland’s religious history.
The church took 41 years to build, with construction starting in 1945 and finishing in 1986. The leaders of the Church of Iceland wanted a building that would tower over the Catholic Church of Landakotskirkja, also designed by Samúelsson.
The large pipe organ inside Hallgrímskirkja, consisting of over 5000 pipes, was built by German Johannes Klais of Bonn and its construction was completed in December 1992.
Outside the church stands one of the most famous statues of one of Iceland’s most legendary children, Leifur Eiríksson, by American sculptor Alexander Stirling Calder; Eiríksson was a Norse explorer from Iceland who discovered the continent of North America in the year 1000, more than half a century before Christopher Columbus.
The statue was a gift from the United States in 1930, on the millennial anniversary of Iceland’s legislative body, the Alþingi, founded in Þingvellir in 930 AD. This was the world’s first democratically elected parliament and is now located in Reykjavík.
Culture
The church’s namesake is the Icelandic priest Hallgrímur Pétursson, a 17th-century poet and author of the Passion Hymns (Passíusálmar). These hymns are a vital part of Icelandic religious tradition and a staple of local literature, having been reprinted over 75 times since their original publishing in 1666.
The tower of the church is each day visited by hundreds of spectators who seek to enjoy its sweeping view of the capital. The observation tower can be accessed via a lift. There is a small fee to ascend above the clock, which goes towards the maintenance and running of the church.
Hallgrímskirkja counts as the most iconic landmark of the city of Reykjavík and is visible throughout most of the capital, challenged only by the concert hall and conference centre Harpa. It is a useful tool for navigating as visitors wander the streets.
It also serves as a focal meeting point for several cultural events, such as the annual gathering for watching the fireworks on New Year’s Eve. On this night, thousands of people set off dozens of fireworks in an ad-hoc, somewhat chaotic, yet unbelievably dazzling show.
In the lead-up to the night many shops sell protective goggles that are recommended for all observers, particularly children, due to a few incidents of debris falling from poorly aimed fireworks.
Skútustaðagígar,Photo from Lofthellir Cave Excursion from Lake MyvatnSkútustaðagígar is the name of a row of pseudo-craters in north Iceland.
Geology of Skútustaðagígar
The Skútustaðagígar Craters are found in the Lake Mývatn area, which is very volcanic, being near to the Krafla volcano system. The nature of the lake itself and the volcanism of the region both led to the creation of these unusual formations.
During an eruptions, lava ran across the area of Skútustaðagígar, which at the time was swampy wetlands. The heat caused steam eruptions, which resulted in their crater-like shape.
As they were not the sources of lava, or volcanoes in themselves, they are not considered true craters.
Location of Skútustaðagígar
The Skútustaðagígar craters are surrounded by the remaining wetlands of the Lake Mývatn area. This region is a hotbed for birdwatching, with many species of duck found in the waters throughout the year.
The Lake Mývatn area has many other attractions, such as the Dimmuborgir lava fortress, the Grjótagjá hot spring cave, and the luxurious Mývatn Nature Baths.
Grjótagjá,Photo by Andrés Nieto PorrasGrjótagjá is a small lava cave located near lake Mývatn in north Iceland, famous for featuring a beautiful geothermal hot spring in its depths.
History of Grjótagjá
Grjótagjá’s known history begins in the early 18th Century, where it was known to be the home of outlaw Jón Markússon. Throughout Iceland’s history, their icy, jagged rocks, total darkness and reputation for trolls meant law-abiding folk avoided Iceland’s lava caves, making them the perfect spots for bandits who had been ostracised from Icelandic society by the parliament.
Little is known about Jón, but after his death, fears of his cave gave way to excitement at its potential. It was used by locals as a hot spring in the decades that followed until the 1970s, when Iceland’s unpredictable geothermal forces prevented them from doing so.
From 1975 to 1984, the Krafla volcanic system erupted nine times, resulting in (to say nothing of new expanses of lava, the creation of new caves and magma chambers and the release of toxic gases) the water’s caves to boil and make it unusable.
After 1984, the temperature has slowly cooled, but has been known to rapidly heat again; in the surrounding area, liquid rock is just two kilometres (just over a mile) under the surface of the earth, meaning it can be very unpredictable.
As such, bathing is no longer allowed in Grjótagjá. You are welcome, however, to at least feel the water and dip your feet in to relax.
The lava cave and hot spring, however, have such an ethereal, otherworldly beauty that they attract many visitors a year. This unique, fantastical appeal, did not go unnoticed by producers; HBO’s Game of Thrones even shot one of the season’s most iconic scenes here.
If you don’t want spoilers, please skip ahead to ‘Getting to Grjótagjá’.
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Petr BrožIn Season Three, Episode Four, Grjótagjá is used as the setting for the much anticipated love scene between Jon Snow and the wildling woman Ygritte, where Jon Snow ‘proves’ his abandonment of the Night’s Watch by consummating their relationship.
In the televised version of the cave, there is a waterfall added with CGI, but otherwise, Grjótagjá is as it appears in reality.
Grjótagjá is far from the only place in Iceland used to build up the world of Westeros; in fact, it is not even the only one in the local area. Also in the Lake Mývatn area is the lava fortress of Dimmuborgir; in midwinter, this dramatic area was used to reflect the wildling camp of Mance Raider throughout Seasons Two and Three.
Also in the series are Mount Kirkjufell and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the penultimate episode of Season Seven, Vatnajökull glacier, on which ‘the Wall’ is built with CGI effects, and much of the landscape around Þingvellir National Park throughout. Icelandic mountain ranges can also be seen cut behind scenes filmed in countries such as Ireland and Croatia.
Getting to Grjótagjá
Grjótagjá is located conveniently in the Mývatn area, which is part of the most popular sightseeing route of north Iceland, the Diamond Circle, and on the Ring Road that encircles the country.
Reaching it and getting to the hot spring, however, requires a reasonable level of fitness and a little sense of adventure. There is a slightly rocky path that takes you from Dimmuborgir to the cave itself, which you will need to be careful descending into; lava caves are very jagged, and the ground is uneven.
There are car parking spaces beside Grjótagjá if you do not want to take the short hike.
Krafla,Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo Credit: Earthquakes KraflaKrafla is a caldera, part of a greater volcanic system of the same name, located north of Lake Mývatn in North Iceland. It is one of the country’s most explosive volcanoes, having gone off approximately 29 times since the country was first settled.
Proportions of Krafla
The crater of Krafla’s caldera is about ten kilometres (seven miles) wide, although its fissure zone extends for 90 kilometres (56 miles). The Víti crater is located in this fissure zone, famed for the green lake within it.
At its tallest, the peak of Krafla is 818 metres (2684 feet) high.
Major Eruptions at Krafla
With 29 eruptions under its belt since settlement, Krafla has long had a reputation as an unpredictable and dangerous feature. Two, however, were more significant then the rest.
The Mývatn Fires were the first of these. Continuing for five years from 1724 to 1729, the fissure erupted across much of its length, and sent lava fountains so high in the air that they could be seen all the way across the Highlands, on the South Coast.
No one was killed directly by this eruption, although considering the ash and toxic fumes, it is difficult to be certain of how many indirectly died. It did, however, destroy three farms.
The second major eruptive episode at Krafla occurred between 1975 and 1984. Nine separate eruptions occurred, limiting services, industry and tourism in the area, and dramatically changing it.
For example, the hot spring of Grjótagjá was accessible prior to the eruption, but the temperature is now incredibly volatile.
Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo Credit: Christian WirthUtilisation of Krafla’s Energy
Since 1977, surprisingly established during an eruptive episode, a power station has existed at Krafla, helping the north with its green energy needs. Since then, there have been further attempts to harness its incredible power potential.
The most notable of these was a survey taken in 2006 that revealed a vast amount of lava just below the surface of the earth. This led to the creation of the Icelandic Deep Drilling Project’s first well, which discovered liquid rock a mere two kilometres (just over a mile) beneath the earth’s surface.
Surroundings of Krafla
Krafla is blessed with an incredible location, meaning visits to it can be accompanied by lots of different sites. This is because it sits in the Lake Mývatn area of the north, which is renowned for its diversity.
The lake itself, or, more correctly, the lakes themselves, are beautiful and serene, with dozens of species of nesting bird, fascinating flora and a wealth of geological sites. Amongst these, the Dimmuborgir lava fortress is the most impressive.
Krafla is also relatively close to the most powerful waterfall in Europe, Dettifoss, and an incredibly verdant horseshoe-shaped canyon, Ásbyrgi.
Reykjahlið is the closest settlement to Krafla, though small and with few services. The towns of Akureyri and Husavík, however, are still relatively close, and perfect for refreshment and rest.
The former is the largest settlement outside of the Reykjavík area, whereas the latter is often called the whale-watching capital of Europe.
维克镇,维克镇(Vík)，全名为Vík í Mýdral，是冰岛主岛上最南端的小镇，距离首都雷克雅未克约186公里。
维克镇是冰岛一号环岛公路南岸沿线的著名旅游景点，无论是租车自驾还是参加冰岛本地旅行团。虽然小镇人口仅为300余人，维克镇的基础设施却十分完备，因此也是冰岛旅行中的重要旅途中转站，是休息、用餐或者住宿的绝佳去处。
维克镇附近特色
从首都雷克雅未克抵达维克镇大约需要两个半小时，沿途您将经过不少冰岛南岸的知名景点，其中包括斯科加瀑布(Skógafoss)和塞里雅兰瀑布(Seljalandsfoss)两大经典瀑布。
天气晴朗的时候，附近的埃亚菲亚德拉冰盖(Eyjafjallajökull)以及米尔达斯冰川(Mýrdalsjökull)也清晰可见。两座冰川下都掩藏了活跃的火山，埃亚菲亚德拉火山就曾在2010年大爆发，导致了欧洲航空交通大瘫痪。天气条件极好时，游客还有机会远眺到西人岛(Vestmannaeyjar)。
在抵达维克镇之前，您会首先抵达冰岛著名的观鸟海崖迪霍拉里(Dyrhólaey)。每年夏季5至8月的筑巢季节，海鹦就会来此筑巢栖居，迪霍拉里也将成为冰岛夏季观海鹦的最佳地点之一。
冰岛最著名旅游景点之一雷尼斯黑沙滩(Reynisfjara)就位于维克镇旁。雷尼斯黑沙滩被誉为全世界最美的非热带沙滩之一，以黝黑神秘的火山沙砾和熔岩地貌而闻名。
在雷尼斯沙滩，您可以找到独具冰岛特色的六棱玄武岩柱群与岩洞，大西洋中则矗立着壮丽的雷尼斯岩柱(Reynisdrangar)。有关雷尼斯岩柱的由来有许多个版本的传说，相传几只想把渔船拖上岸的巨魔因躲避不及阳光而石化，成为了如今的雷尼斯岩柱。
雷尼斯沙滩是夏天观午夜阳光、冬天观北极光的绝佳地点，但在游览沙滩时一定要注意个人安全，远离大西洋的巨浪，以防危险发生。
沿着一号公路继续东行，经过Skeiðarásandur黑沙滩，您将进入冰岛最大的国家公园——瓦特纳冰川国家公园(Vatnajökull)。大名鼎鼎的斯卡夫塔山自然保护区(Skaftafell)以及杰古沙龙冰河湖(Jökulsárlón)都位于国家公园内。冬季时，许多自驾游客会在游览完冰河湖后返回雷克雅未克；夏季时则有很多人选择继续向北进发，完成冰岛环岛之旅。
维克镇附近的野生生态
维克镇依傍着Reynisfjall山，与迪霍拉里海岬也很近。这一区域生活着丰富的鸟类。在小镇徒步，可以看到海鸥、暴雪鹱、海雀等鸟类，夏天更可以找到海鹦。
维克镇沿海而建，游人也有机会看到海滩上慵懒的野生海豹，甚至还有几率远看到海中的鲸鱼或者海豚。
维克镇的基础设施
维克镇是冰岛南部的主要城镇之一，基础设施完备，加油站、商店、咖啡店、超级市场、温泉泳池、不同级别的住宿选择应有尽有，镇上甚至还有羊毛工厂供游人参观。
维克镇人口很少，如果您对于食物有特别的要求、需要寻找特别的食材，维克镇的超市未必可以完全满足您的需求，最好的方法是从雷克雅未克买好所需的特别食材，带去维克镇食用。
Svartifoss,Svartifoss, in spite of being just 20 metres (66 feet) tall, and not particularly powerful, is one of Iceland’s most popular waterfalls. The beauty of its formation and surroundings draw thousands of guest a year, and have inspired artists for centuries.
Columns of Svartifoss
Svartifoss is best renowned for the hexagonal basalt columns that surround it and lay shattered at its base. These columns, which are very dark, lend the feature its name; Svartifoss means ‘Black Falls’.
These columns are found in other places in Iceland, such as the Gerðuberg cliffs on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and on Reynisfjara beach on the South Coast. At none of these locations, however, is there a cascade of foaming white water to add to the beauty and fantasy of the site.
The geology surrounding Svartifoss has inspired many artists and architects, spanning generations. To list them all would be impossible, but perhaps the most notable is Hallgrímskirkja, the largest church in Reykjavík, which took elements of Svartifoss’s columns and Thor’s hammer in its design.
The capital’s National Theatre also drew inspiration from Svartifoss, as did the artwork ‘Milestones’ on Viðey Island, by Richard Sierra.
Location of Svartifoss
Svartifoss is located in the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, a place once so beautiful it was once its own national park; since, it has become enveloped into the greater Vatnajökull National Park.
This reserve is renowned for it diverse and spectacular sceneries. It is partly forested in birch, partly covered in lava, divided by rivers and streams, and has many glacier tongues and lagoons within its boundaries.
Avid hikers, photographers and nature lovers, therefore, find Skaftafell to be an oasis of beauty.
To many, Svartifoss is its highlight. The hike from the Skaftafell Visitors’ Centre to the waterfall is just over thirty minutes, and though relatively easy, requires a reasonable level of fitness and decent hiking boots.
Sites Surrounding Svartifoss
Svartifoss, within Skaftafell, has a host of sites that compete for attention from visitors. Perhaps most notable of these is Svínafellsjökull, one of the country’s most popular ice caps for glacier hiking.
Visitors are encouraged to spend several hours following different treks in the path, to discover a whole host of unspoiled spots of incredible natural beauty.
If travelling to Skaftafell from Reykjavík, the journey is direct, going east along Route 1. The four hours it should take you is likely to extend much longer, however, as you stop off at the many sites en route. These include the marvellous waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, the glaciers Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull, and the cliffs of Dyrhólaey and Reynisdrangar.
Unfortunately, Svartifoss and Skaftafell are often both overlooked by travellers racing their way to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach, which are half an hour further along Route 1.
While these sites are majestic places, where you can see enormous icebergs cruise from a vast lake to the ocean, amongst dozens of playing seals, Svartifoss still stands up as a natural highlight next to them, and visitors should still attempt to see it.
埃伊尔斯塔济,埃伊尔斯塔济(Egilsstaðir)是冰岛东部最大城镇，截止2018年的统计，当地人口有2464人。埃伊尔斯塔济位于拉加尔湖(Lagarfljót)边，属于冰岛大东部地区(Fljótsdalshérað)其中一部分。
埃伊尔斯塔济是冰岛东部交通、行政及服务的重要枢纽，对于利用冰岛一号环岛公路顺时针或者逆时针环岛的自驾游旅人来说，埃伊尔斯塔济是作为东部旅途最佳的休息站。埃伊尔斯塔济也连接着鲜少有游人造访的东部峡湾，穿过东峡湾后，就可以抵达冰岛最大的国家公园—瓦特纳冰川国家公园(Vatnajökull National Park)范围。
埃伊尔斯塔济机场及旅游信息
埃伊尔斯塔济为旅行者提供多样化的服务和设施—超市、纪念品店、酒店、游客信息中心、餐厅和旅行团营运商，都可以在这个东部最大城内找到。城市内还有值得参观的历史博物馆，游人可以在这里看到冰岛人在过去的那个世纪居住的古老草顶房(turf-houses)。
城市内还有冰岛国内航空机场，游客可以乘坐冰岛国内航空从不同的城市飞到东部游览观光。城市内同时设有医疗诊所，为冰岛东部居民提供医疗服务。
在埃伊尔斯塔济还有每年都会举办的Hringrás电子音乐节；Ormsteiti 小镇节以及爵士音乐节。
埃伊尔斯塔济周边自然景点
距离埃伊尔斯塔济不远处有两个冰岛的小众景点：Hallormsstaðaskógur森林和充满神秘色彩的拉加尔湖(Lagarfljót)。
Hallormsstaðaskógur森林面积约740公顷，集中了来自世界各地超过80种不同的树木。它在1910年时只是一个面积很小的自然保护区，可以发展成现在这样的规模，速度可谓非常惊人。这个森林深受徒步旅行和自行车旅行者们的欢迎，区内长40公里的小道为这些旅人创造了优良的观光探索环境；这片森林同时也聚集了数量庞大的当地鸟类，也是观鸟爱好者们的天堂。
拉加尔湖(Lagarfljót)则是一个充满奇幻传说的景点。自14世纪以来，当地的管理员就陆续收到许多宗湖内有像蠕虫般水怪的报告，直到现在为止，依然有不少人称在这里看到了水怪的踪影。
距离埃伊尔斯塔济稍远处，坐落着冰岛绝色的东部峡湾地区。和西峡湾一样，东峡湾也是冰岛国内最原始的地区之一，有着延绵的山脉、深壑的峡湾、淳朴的渔村小镇，到访这里你将可以接触到冰岛最为质朴与纯粹的大自然。
沿着海岸遥看，你有机会看到许多海鸟的的巢穴；在海滩上慵懒地享受阳光的野生海豹；在平原上奔跑的野生驯鹿，甚至是海中畅游的鲸鱼、海豚。
在穿过埃伊尔斯塔济后继续北行，你将会抵达瓦特纳国家公园的北部。在这个地区你可以找到杰古沙格鲁夫尔峡谷(Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon)，欧洲水力最大的黛提瀑布(Dettifoss)也坐落于此。
如果你是顺时针环岛，在入住埃伊尔斯塔济之前的最佳住宿地点莫过于冰岛北部的阿克雷里(Akureyri)、胡萨维克小镇(Húsavík)或者米湖地区(Lake Mývatn Area)。
如果你是逆时针环岛，在前往埃伊尔斯塔济之前，你也可以选择杰古沙龙冰河湖(Jökulsárlón)或者斯卡夫塔山自然保护区(Skaftafell National Park )作为住宿地点。
锡格吕菲厄泽,Siglufjörður is a town of about 1,300 people, located in North Iceland. It is the northernmost town of the mainland.
Along with its natural beauty, it is a cultural hub, with an award-winning Herring Era Museum, Folk Music Museum and the Folk Music Festival that attracts ever more travellers every year.
Economy
Siglufjörður has one of Iceland's best harbours and the fishing industry has been the mainstay of the economy for a long time. Like with the rest of Iceland, in recent years services and tourism have become increasingly essential parts of the economy.
Since the tunnels through the fjord Hedinsfjörður opened in 2010, the town has become much more easily accessible to those travelling the Ring Road of Iceland or staying in the northern town of Akureyri. Thus, there has been a large increase in visitors over the past decade.
History & Culture
Siglufjörður has an eventful history in its more recent years, seeing a quick rise in the early 20th Century from being a tiny village to becoming an established town by 1918. By the middle of the 20th century it was one of the largest settlements in Iceland.
From this period, it was the capital of herring fishing in the North Atlantic, and the town's fishing museum bears proud witness to this history. Here, you can learn all about how important the seas were to the survival of all Icelanders from settlement to modernisation.
Called the Herring Era Museum, it is one of Iceland's largest seafaring and industry museums in the country. It is split into three houses; in one, you can learn about the fishing itself and the national processing processes. In another, you can see many ships and boats from the 1950s. The salting station retains the old look of the place and on good summer days travelers may observe the salting process in action.
Finally, the old Grana factory shows how herring was transformed into meals and oil.
The Folk Music Center is another cultural centre, located where the reverend Bjarni Þorsteinsson, 'The Father of Siglufjörður', lived. Here, the the old folk songs are brought to life, and you can hear recordings of people singing quint songs, called tvisongur; chanting the epic rhymes, or rimur; playing the langspil; and singing the old Icelandic nursery rhymes.
The centre also depicts the life of reverend Bjarni.
The Folk Festival
In early July, Siglufjörður hosts it annual Folk Music Festival, including the folk music of various nations, but with a special focus on Icelandic folk music. Various events take place, including lectures and courses on music and handicraft, along with dances, concerts and parties.
Nature
Siglufjörður is located in a particularly beautiful fjord of the same name, and high and dramatic mountains tower over the town. The birdlife is varied, with some 2,000 birds of 16 to18 species usually be found in the fjord, particularly in summer.
Popular hiking trails include the passes Hólsskarð and Hestskarð, which lead to the beautiful fjord Hedinsfjörður, which may also be accessed by boat or car.
The deserted Hedinsfjörður is surrounded by steep and impressive mountains and has a beautiful valley with good trout fishing in the Héðinsfjarðarvatn lake.
The last farm here, of Hedinsfjörður, was abandoned in 1951. In the 20th Century, there were usually five inhabited farms in the fjord, as the vegetation in the region is rich and food could be obtained from land and sea. The winters were hard, however, the area saw many avalanches, and the fjord was also hard to reach, so none remain.
Northeast of Hedinsfjörður you'll find the remnants of one of the remote farms in Iceland, Hvanndalir. Hvanndalir can be reached from Hedinsfjörður, though we would only suggest this route to seasoned hikers, accompanied by professional guides, as it goes over a collapsed mountainside.
布伦迪欧斯小镇,Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo by DebivortBlönduós is the largest urban area of Húnaflói bay in northwest Iceland.
It has a population of around 880 people. It is a service centre for the local area and a common stop for travellers of the Ring Road.
Economy, accommodation and services
Blönduós’s main economy is acting as a serving centre, particularly for dairy products, as well as fishing, light industry and tourism. A creamery and a butchery are both operated at Blönduós, as well as a hospital and a health service.
The town has a hotel and a guesthouse, as well as summerhouses and a camping area and offers general commerce and services.
Attractions and activities
Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo by EmstrurBirdwatching is popular in the area, as well as horse riding tours. The nearby lakes and rivers are some of the best in the country for fishing trout and salmon.
Among these is the river Blandá, one of Iceland's longest rivers. In it is the beautiful island Hrútey, rich with vegetation and is a habitat for many bird species, such as geese.
The Yndisgarður is a nice park with a variety of beautiful plants. A small golf course is also located in the town. The town is further a good set off point when travelling in Húnaflói bay.
You might also want to check out the handicraft museum, the Sea Ice Exhibition Centre and the textile museum, the only one of its kind in Iceland. The local church, also called 'the new church', has interesting architecture, inspired by nature and made to resemble a volcanic crater.
The older church, built in 1894 is particularly notable for its beauty, built in Romanesque style from metre thick granite blocks. The ceiling is painted with a thousand stars and the church has a thousand small window panes. The altarpiece was made by Jóhannes S. Kjarval, one of Iceland's foremost painters.
凯瑞斯火山口(Kerið),Kerið is a volcanic crater lake in the Grímsnes area of South Iceland. It is close to the three major sites that comprise Iceland’s world-famous Golden Circle sightseeing route and thus makes for the perfect detour for those on visiting these landmarks.
Kerid and the Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is Iceland’s most popular tourist route. Its three main highlights are Gullfoss, or the ‘Golden Waterfall’; the Haukadalur Geothermal Valley, with its many springs and geysers; and Þingvellir National Park, the only UNESCO World Heritage Site on Iceland’s mainland and the birthplace of the country’s parliament.
There are several tour operators who offer trips to the Golden Circle. Many of those define their tours from others with extra stops, and Kerið crater is the most popular of these. It is approximately 40 minutes drive from Þingvellir and Haukadalur in different directions, providing visitors with two routes by which they can return to Reykjavík.
If travelling to Kerið crater alone, please be aware that there is a small entrance fee, of 400 ISK (about two Euros, or three US dollars). This is only to help the landowners preserve and protect the crater; after all, it is on privately owned land.
Other sites you may want to detour on when travelling the Golden Circle are the Sólheimar ecovillage, the Fontana Spa in Laugarvatn, the Secret Lagoon in Flúðir, and the Friðheimar tomato and horse farm.
Geology of Kerid
Kerið is approximately three thousand years old, making it roughly half the age of most volcanic calderas found in Iceland. This is the major reason as to why Kerið’s slopes are red in colour, rather than a volcanic black; the iron deposits are, geologically speaking, fresh.
This vivid redness is part of the appeal of visiting this crater. The crimson rocks contrast dramatically with their surroundings, particularly the intense azure colour of the waters within the crater lake, and the verdant bursts of vegetation.
Kerið is approximately 55 metres (180 feet) deep, 170 metres (558 feet) wide and 270 meters (886 feet) in circumference. It is possible to take a path right to the crater’s edge, to fully encircle it, and to descend down to the pristine waters of the crater lake.
Many crater lakes can be found in nearby, a region known as Iceland's Western Volcanic Zone. The area surrounding it is of barren, stark lava fields, further illustrating the volcanism of the region.
Scientists believe that Kerið was once a cone-shaped volcano. Upon eruption, it is widely believed that the volcano depleted its magma reserve, causing the foundation to fall in upon itself and result in the formation it has today. Of course, this was two thousand years before settlement, so no one is quite certain.
At some point in the centuries following the collapse, Kerið crater filled with water. The resulting lake is between seven and fourteen metres deep, depending on the time of year and the amount of rainfall.
The reason why the lake is so vividly coloured is that of the minerals from the rocks, seeping into and dyeing the water the aquamarine colour for which it is renowned.
Gljufrabui,Gljúfrabúi (or Canyon Dweller) is a beautiful waterfall located at Hamragarðar in South Iceland, close to its better known counterpart, Seljalandsfoss waterfall. It is one of the hidden gems of the South Coast, and thus a great spot for photographers and those seeking to admire nature in peace.
Image from Regína Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir
Nature of Gljúfrabúi
The 40 metre (131 feet) high Gljúfrabúi is hidden behind a huge cliff which faces out towards Iceland’s South Coast and the Atlantic Ocean. Because of its decent ‘hiding place’, it is overlooked by most travellers, in spite of the fact that thousands of people visit Seljalandsfoss, less than a kilometre away, every day.
A stream, the Gljúfurá, runs through a cleft in the cliff, and those who wish to approach the falls must do so by wading through these waters.
After a few metres of travelling through a narrow valley, the space will open, and here, Gljúfrabúi tumbles before a great boulder, which it is possible to climb upon for some great photos. With the open sky above, mossy walls, silver mist and black lava, it is one of Iceland’s most breathtaking gems, seemingly from a fantasy story.
This is especially the case on sunny days, where rainbows curve through the water’s spray.
It is also possible to see Gljúfrabúi from above. There is a steep path that allows you to clamber up the cliff, at some points with the aid of ropes.
Both these routes are mildly challenging and have their dangers, so only attempt to reach Gljúfrabúi if you are in a decent state of health and confident on your feet. They should only be attempted when there is not ice on the ground, and in the case of the path up the cliff, when it is wet and slippery.
Surroundings of Gljúfrabúi
Gljúfrabúi is in one of the most travelled regions of Iceland, on the South Coast along the Ring Road. This means that it is very easy to reach, either alone or on a guided tour, just an hour and a half’s drive from the capital.
As mentioned, Gljúfrabúi is about ten minutes walk north Seljalandsfoss. Interestingly, this is one of the country’s most famous and photographed waterfalls, due to the fact it falls from a concave cliff which allows visitors to fully encircle the cascade.
Seljalandsfoss is taller than Gljúfrabúi at 60 metres (196 metres), with a similar waterflow. Both are fed by the meltwater of the glacier Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano beneath which caused widespread problems to air traffic across Europe when it erupted in 2010.
A much more powerful waterfall can be found just half hour’s drive or so along the Ring Road, called Skógafoss. This is a similar height to Seljalandsfoss, but up to 30 metres (98 feet) wide after a heavy rain.
Another popular site in the area is Sólheimajökull, the most popular glacial outlet in Iceland for glacier hiking. This feature is on Sólheimasandur, a vast expanse of volcanic ash that resembles a black sand desert.
Those who travelling a little further along the South Coast will reach the cliffs of Dyrhólaey, with their beautiful rock arch and resident puffins in summer, and the beach of Reynisfjara, renowned for it powerful waves and basalt sea-stacks, called Reynisdrangar.
All these sites can be visited with ease within a day.
Hofsós, Photo from 3 great reasons for visiting beautiful Hofsós. Located in the north-west, Hofsós is one of the oldest trading posts in Iceland, dating back to the 1500s. Today, it is a sleepy fishing village, though tourism is now on the rise thanks to the recent addition of a designer swimming pool.
History
In the 16th century, Hofsós seemed destined to develop into a large and prosperous town. It was built centre-north of the country, there was easy access for boats to land, the fishing was rife and, most importantly, it was a trading port for the Danish Trade Monopoly.
Given that Iceland was under Danish crown rule, this trade monopoly ensured that the then King of Denmark, Christian IV, could both pursue his mercantilist priorities and maintain overseas territories.
An old wooden warehouse, Pakkhúsið, still exists in the town dating back to this period, which ended in 1786 following the cessation of the Danish Trade Monopoly. However, Hofsós failed to develop substantially in the 20th Century, and to this day is still a fairly quiet village west of Akureyri.
Culture
A number of harbourside buildings have been converted to the Iceland Emigration Centre, a museum dedicated to the story of Icelandic emigration to North America.
During times of famine following major eruptions, particularly from the 18th Century to the beginning of the 20th, many Icelanders crossed the Atlantic in hopes for a better life. Iceland lost 16,000 residents between 1870 to 1914, all pursuing the dream of a “New Iceland”.
Further thousands left after the Second World War, many settling in the Upper Midwest of the United States. The Iceland Emigration Centre’s main exhibition is a collection of letters, photographs and displays called “New Land, New Life”, which brings this story to greater attention.
Since 2010, Hofsós has boasted an outdoor swimming pool and adjacent hot pot— Sundlaugin á Hofsósi—built fjord side and beautifully integrated into the landscape. Swimmers are privy to truly majestic views of the area. It is also called the Infinity Pool.
Boat tours are available for bird watching and sightseeing trips to the uninhabited island of Málmey.
Keflavik International Airport,Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is Iceland’s only international airport and the port of arrival for the vast majority of visitors to the country. In 2016 alone, almost seven million passengers went through its gates.
The History of Keflavík International Airport
Keflavík International Airport is a relic from the ‘invasion of Iceland’ in World War II, when Allied troops took over the island nation following the defeat of its colonial ruler, Denmark, at the hands of the Nazis.
The British laid out a landing strip in the town of Garður, but considering Iceland’s incredibly strategic position in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, one strip was not quite enough.
After taking control of the ‘occupation’, US troops constructed and opened two airfields for military purposes in 1942 and 1943. Though they returned the property after the war, the United States reclaimed it in 1951 after a controversial defence alliance with Iceland.
This pact, and the general joining of NATO in 1949, caused decades of national protest, comparable to the ‘Women’s Day Off’ marches in 1975 and the ‘Kitchenware Revolution’ which followed the 2008 economic crash. The circumstances of it, however, also allowed decades of development at Keflavík Airport.
The airport first started to separate civilian and military use in 1987, with the opening of the Leifur Eríksson Terminal. Named after the first European to settle the Americas, it would go on to handle all the guests coming to or leaving Iceland.
The arrangement that the US would provide Iceland’s defences continues to this day, but their permanent bases at Keflavík were left at the expiration of the treaty in 2006. The airport was thus moved into full control of Icelanders and has expanded as a civilian hub ever since.
Keflavik International Airport Today
Keflavík International is located on the tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland’s south-westernmost region. The drive to the capital city of Reykjavík is only about forty-five minutes, and there is a bus service that continuously runs between the locations, day and night.
This service provides guests with the option to stop at the Blue Lagoon en route in either direction, the iconic health spa renowned for its healing azure waters. The lagoon sits between the airport and the capital, refreshing guests after a long flight, or revitalising them in preparation for one.
The airport itself has all the modern amenities one would expect from a port that experiences so much traffic. It has restaurants, bars and cafés, banks and money transfers, car rental options available, a smoking area and, of course, many options for duty-free shopping.
Considering the price of and lack of availability of alcohol in Iceland, it is the best place to stock up on any tipple desired for your trip. Otherwise, you will have to locate specialist alcohol shops, which have limited opening hours, are sparse in the remote regions of the country, and have high taxes and duty.
The main airlines that arrive at and depart from Keflavík are the two national carriers, the prestigious Icelandair and budget airline WOW. Over thirty different carriers have chartered flights to the port, however, which head to over ninety different destinations. This is only ever increasing, with new travel routes emerging as Iceland’s popularity continues to skyrocket.
雷尼斯岩柱群,雷尼斯岩柱群(Reynisdrangar)，又译雷尼斯德兰格，位于冰岛南岸的维克镇(Vík)旁，毗邻闻名遐迩的雷尼斯黑沙滩(Reynisfjara)。
雷尼斯玄武岩矗立于大西洋中，是古时海崖的遗骸。岩柱在海浪中傲然挺立，与雷尼斯山(Reynisfjall)的岩壁相对而望，独有一份神秘的野性与壮美。许多电影与美剧都曾在此取景，其中就包括大热的《权力的游戏(冰与火之歌)》。
游览安全事项
雷尼斯岩与雷尼斯黑沙滩是冰岛南岸的著名景点，但在游览时要格外注意旅行安全。因南极洲与黑沙滩之间没有任何能够阻挡浪潮的大型陆地，海浪自南半球即开始蓄势，因此格外强劲汹涌，十分危险。海浪强度与天气无关，即便是在风和日丽的夏季，黑沙滩地区也有可能产生令人猝不及防的凶猛大浪。
游客必须远离海洋，至少与其保持30米的距离，以防被卷入海洋，发生无可挽回的惨剧。
民间传说
雷尼斯岩柱的造型鬼斧神工，冰岛也流传着不少与岩柱有关的奇诡传说。
一则传说道，夜间几只巨魔将一艘船只拖入海中，却选错了时机，在日出天亮时被阳光变为石柱，被永久地封印在岸边。另一则传说则言，两只巨魔杀害了一位妇女，女人的丈夫在黑沙滩上将巨魔变成了石头。
雷尼斯岩生态
雷尼斯黑沙滩是观赏雷尼斯岩英姿的经典地点，而在维克镇以及雷尼斯山上，游客还可以以俯视的视角领略雷尼斯岩的震撼规模。
每年夏天，即5～8月，数以万计的海鹦还会来到雷尼斯黑沙滩地区栖居。海鹦憨态可掬的姿态惹人喜爱，游客有机会近距离观赏它们的萌姿，但一定要记得不要尝试去触摸它们，也不要打扰它们正常的栖息、破坏其栖息地。凶悍的北极燕鸥以及暴风鹱、海鸥等鸟类也会在雷尼斯黑沙滩的上空自由盘旋。
许多海洋生物也以冰岛为家，海豹、鲸鱼、海豚就有可能在大西洋的惊涛中陡然现身。
Öxarárfoss,Öxarárfoss is a waterfall situated within Þingvellir National Park in southwest Iceland.
The waterfall flows out the river Öxará, cascading in two drops over the cliffs of Almannagjá gorge, which marks the eastern boundary of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Description
The waterfall has a height of 13 metres (44 feet) and an average width of six metres (20 feet). The pool of water at the waterfall’s base is dotted with large, smooth rocks, which get especially icy in winter. The waterfall can be visited year round, but expect large crowds during the peak season of the summer.
During the depths of winter, the waterfall is entirely frozen over. Ice climbers have been known to scale it, but this should only be done with and by experts.
Surroundings and History
Öxarárfoss is one of the most popular attractions of Þingvellir Natural Park, which in turn, is one of the most popular attractions of Iceland. The National Park is one of the three famous sites of the Golden Circle along with Gullfoss waterfall and the Geyser Geothermal Area, for both geological and historical regions
The geological reason is that, as mentioned, Þingvellir lies between the tectonic plates. As they pull apart, the land is torn, and thus there are many beautiful ravines and lava fields to be found.
The most famous of these ravines is Silfra. Like the others, it is filled with crystal clear glacial water, which emerges from a spring, but unlike the others, it is possible to take snorkelling and diving tours here.
The water from the crevasses such as Silfra feed into the lake Þingvellavatn; in fact, the river Öxará, which feeds Öxarárfoss, is the only source of the lake that does not come from a spring.
The historical reason that makes Þingvellir so famous is that it was the original site of the Alþing, the Icelandic parliament founded in 930 AD. This parliament continues to exist in Reykjavík but for nine centuries flourished here.
Icelanders would meet annually to pass laws, settle disputes, and share news. It was both incredibly progressive, giving a voice to all people and granting women divorces long before many other nations were considering it, and barbaric, hosting many battles and the prosecution of dozens of witches.
It is thus featured in many sagas, and though not always mentioned in them, Öxarárfoss was a witness to this long history.
One notable piece of folklore about the waterfall was that it was said to have prophetic powers for the year ahead. At midnight on New Years Eve, it would run red with either wine or blood, with the former promising prosperity ahead, and the latter warning of war.
米湖温泉,
图片来自 众神瀑布+米湖温泉组合旅行团|阿克雷里出发，奢享温泉体验米湖温泉(Mývatn Nature Baths)位于冰岛北部的米湖景区，距离雷恰利兹小镇(Reykjahlíð)两公里左右，是冰岛最热门的地热温泉体验地之一。
米湖温泉于2004年正式营业，有冰岛北部的“蓝湖温泉”之称。米湖温泉是该地区内最大的天然地热温泉，也日渐受到游客们的欢迎；尤其是如果准备夏季造访，最好提早预定门票。
米湖温泉设施及门票价格
米湖温泉围绕一座大型潟湖而建，温泉水温常年维持在36～40摄氏度。温泉富含硫等矿物质，对改善呼吸道及皮肤问题有显著效果。
米湖温泉设有两个直接坐落于地热温泉上方的桑拿蒸汽房。蒸汽房内温度接近50摄氏度，湿度接近100％，在进入蒸汽房之前要补充充足的水分。温泉内还设有温泉池、独立的儿童戏水池及餐厅。
米湖温泉成人门票冬季期间(10月～4月)为4500冰岛克朗；夏季期间(5月～9月)5000冰岛克朗；13至15岁青年门票冬季期间(10月～4月)1800冰岛克朗；夏季期间(5月～9月)2200冰岛克朗；12岁或以下小童在有家长陪同下免费。老人、学生和伤残人士门票冬季期间(10月～4月)3000冰岛克朗；夏季期间(5月～9月)3300冰岛克朗。
*价格更新至2019年3月，一切价格以米湖官网为准米湖温泉周边旅游景点
除了米湖天然温泉之外，冰岛北部的米湖景区(Mývatn)还集聚了众多奇诡的自然风光与地质地貌。Námaskarð地热区距离温泉不远，蒸汽孔、沸泥潭等地热奇观一展冰岛北部的外星球氛围，被矿物质染得斑斓的土地也令人眼花缭乱。
黑暗城堡(Dimmuborgir)比邻而立，嶙峋交错的火山熔岩拔地而起，展现着古堡般的恢弘气势；这里也是冰岛传说中十三个圣诞老人的家。如果您是美剧《权力的游戏(冰与火之歌)》粉丝，或许还会发现黑暗城堡就是剧中“野人”的营地。
黑暗城堡旁还隐藏着另一处小众景点，同时也是美剧的取景地：Grjótagjá洞穴温泉。温泉因温度过高现已关闭，不供游人体验，但您仍然可以下到洞内，参观雪诺和“野人”的定情之地。
米湖本身浩渺而美丽，众多鸟类聚居于此，光是鸭子就有超过十几种。如果对植物感兴趣，记得去寻找这里举世罕见的珍奇苔藓球。
米湖景区是冰岛北部旅游路线钻石圈中的一站。除上述景点外，钻石圈还包括了黛提瀑布(Dettifoss)、阿斯匹吉峡谷(Ásbyrgi)和众神瀑布(Goðafoss)等壮丽的自然胜景。
Lagarfljót,Lagarfjlót is a narrow lake in the east of Iceland, also known as Lögurinn.
This feature is best known for its natural beauty, its fishing, and its folklore.
Folklore at Lagarfjlót
No doubt the most fascinating thing about Lake Lagarfjlót is its folklore, and the feature has long attracted the superstitious to East Iceland.
According to legend, the deep lake is said to hold a beast called the Lagarfljót Wyrm, a cousin of the Loch Ness Monster with a lot more history. While the earliest significant records of Nessie go back to the 1870s, the Lagarfjlót Wyrm has been spoken about since 1345.
Even today, videos and photos emerge of disruption at the surface of the lake, said to be the venom spitting beast. While most are attributed to logs, currents, ice and wind, there are a few that have experts puzzled, with no concrete answer as to what they could be.
As such a little culture has arisen around the lake, and you can see figurines and sculptures depicting different interpretations of this elusive serpent.
Of course, however, there has been no concrete evidence to suggest anything lives in the lake other than trout and other fish. If you are interested in fishing for these, you will need a license.
Sites near Lagarfljót
Any visitor to East Iceland will no doubt see Lagarfljót, as it is located right next to the Capital of the East, Egilsstaðir. This is the region’s largest town and its commerce centre. Many of its accommodation options are set against the lake edge.
Iceland’s largest forest, Hallormsstaðaskógur, also sits on its shores. This is an amazing place for birdwatching, and where the forest and lake meet, one can find a wealth of ducks, geese and other water birds.
Lake Lagarfljót is also near to the beautiful falls Hengifoss. This is Iceland’s third tallest waterfall, with a height of 128 metres (420 feet).
Capital Region,The Capital Region refers to Reykjavík and its bordering towns. It holds well over half of the country’s population, in spite of taking up less than 1% of the country’s landmass.
The towns surrounding the capital are Kópavogur, Hafnafjörður, Garðabær, Mosfellsbær, Seltjarnarnes and Kjósarhreppur. Combined with Reykjavík city itself, these municipalities account for around 220,000 people, with the capital itself containing around 124,000 people.
Although each area is its own municipality, they cooperate on issues like transport, and by doing so, keep the region well connected. Buses, for example, run between them several times a day.
Each area has its own appeal. Hafnafjörður, for example, is a hotbed of folklore and superstition, with a beautiful harbour; Seltjarnarnes, meanwhile, is best known for its abundant birdlife and lighthouse, and Mosfellsbær has beautiful nature and a fascinating literary history.
All have excellent services, places for leisure such as swimming pools and museums, and a wealth of accommodation options.
Tröllaskagi,Tröllaskagi is a dramatic peninsula in north Iceland, renowned for its enormous mountains and high population of Icelandic horses.
Geography of Tröllaskagi
Outside of the Highlands, Tröllaskagi has the tallest mountains in Iceland, many exceeding 1,000 metres (3281 ft) in height. The tallest here is Mount Kerling, which is over 1,500 metres (4921 ft) tall.
In spite of its elevation, the permanent glaciers on the peaks are miniscule compared to even average Icelandic ice caps.
Many valleys and bays were carved at the end of the last ice age, meaning the region is home to many rivers and waterfalls.
What to do on the Tröllaskagi Peninsula
The Tröllaskagi Peninsula lies to the west of Eyjafjorður, the fjord in which the ‘capital of the North’, Akureyri, is nestled, and to the east of Skagafjörður. In spite of its tall mountains, its lowland regions have quite a high population, due to excellent fishing and surprisingly fertile lands.
Most farms are horse-farms, and riding is a popular activity in the area. Icelandic horses are a unique breed, known for being smaller than others, but also more intelligent, curious and sturdy. They also have their own unique gait, the tölt, making them a favourite amongst equestrians.
Though only at the base of the peninsula, Akureyri is the most popular town in the area. It has a wealth of museums and galleries, excellent opportunities for whale-watching and other tours, and is close to highlights of the north such as Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss waterfall.
Besides the Capital of the North, the most popular towns on it for visitors are Hofsós and Siglufjörður.
Hofsós is most renowned for its Infinity Pool, an outdoor swimming pool with unbelievable views over the fjord and ocean. Those who have a walk along the cliffs here will also note some beautiful basalt rock formations.
Siglufjörður, meanwhile, is best known for it Herring Era Museum. This museum has won an international award, and discusses how fisheries sustained the Icelandic populous in such tough conditions before the country’s development.
Hallormsstaðaskógur,Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo Credit: Cristophe L HessHallormsstaðaskógur is Iceland's largest national forest, found in East Iceland near Egilsstaðir. The area is a famous for its pleasant hiking trails, wildlife and collection of tree species.
Development and Nature
For a largely treeless landscape, a forest in Iceland is something of an enigma. The nation was once covered in woodland, but the overuse of wood saunas by the early settlers, followed by several great volcanic eruptions, meant that for centuries, the land has been quite barren.
However, the reforestation service of Iceland has sought to change this. It cares for 53 patches of public access land, most of which are easily accessible for travellers on the Ring Road. Hallormsstaðaskógur is their largest success story, with trees covering 740 square kilometres (286 square miles).
Initial experiments in planting trees began as early as 1903, though large scale cultivation truly began in 1950. In 1905, Hallormsstaðaskógur was labelled a protected forest. Ever since then, the forest has been greatly venerated by the local population as an area of respite from the often barren, volcanic terrain of the island.
Common tree species include native dwarf birch and mountain birch, as well as over 80 different species of tree brought from 177 locations overseas.
Birds such as redpolls, goldcrests and ravens all use the forest as a sanctuary from predators, with red wings, snipes and meadow pipits joining the fray in the summer months. The area also presents opportunities for botany, as well as berry and mushroom picking. Streams running through the forest are perfectly drinkable spring water.
To Do
In June, Hallormsstaðaskógur hosts Skógardagurinn, or “Forest Day”, a weekend of accordion music, active festivities and competitions amongst the birch trees. Here, festival-goers can enjoy logging competitions, grilled lamb served by local farmers, art exhibitions and even mini-marathons (one 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) long, the other 14 kilometres (nine miles).
The Skógardagurinn celebrations are a fantastic treat for all the family and provide great insight into the culture of Iceland’s less visited regions.
There are two camping areas in Hallormsstaðaskógur: Atlavík, located in the picturesque tree cover of the inner-forest, and Höfðavík, a site providing a more luxurious standard of service for visitors.
Hallormsstaðaskógur is located near to the town of Egilsstaðir, the capital of East Iceland, and the perfect point from which to explore the region.
Víðgelmir,Photo from: Into the Lava | Audio Tour of Víðgelmir Lava Cave and BorgarfjörðurViðgelmir is the largest lava tube in Iceland at 1585 metres (5200 ft) long. It is located in the country’s west, and is one of the most popular destinations for lava tubing.
Geography and Geology of Viðgelmir
Viðgelmir is situated in the Borgarfjörður of west Iceland, beneath the Hallmundarhraun lava field. It was formed during a lava flow that occurred in the area in 900 AD.
Lava tubes are formed when a river of running lava cools from the outside, creating a solid shell. When the liquid lava within this flows out, a cave is left remaining.
This river must have been vast, as it left the largest cave in the country. Not only is it the longest, but also its widest, with the walls 16.5 metres (54 feet) apart at one point, and the highest, which the ceiling up to 15.8 metres (52 feet) above the ground.
As with many lava caves in Iceland, Viðgelmir has both lava stalactites, which come from the ceiling, and stalagmites, from the ground. The former were formed when lava at the top part of the cave cooled as it dripped from above, and the latter indicated where this lava landed, pooled and began to stack.
Unlike in limestone caves, these features never grow back if broken off, thus it is absolutely essential that you do not touch them or attempt to break them off. There are large fines for those who break these rules, and many of the more beautiful features are cordoned off.
Lava Caving in Viðgelmir
Viðgelmir is one of the country’s most popular lava caves, and the easiest to traverse for beginners.
Unlike lava caves such as Leiðerendi on the Reykjanes Peninsula, Viðgelmir has a paved walkway and installed lights. This means those who are less confident on their feet do not need to worry about the uneven lava or relying on their own torch.
The scale of the cave also makes walking it much less challenging, as there is no crawling, stooping or clambering needed to get through.
History of Viðgelmir
Viðgelmir is one of the many caves in Iceland that humans were known to have lived in.
Through Iceland’s medieval period, it was a common punishment for criminals to be outlawed from society. Many of these moved into caves and lived out their lives as notorious bandits.
It is very likely, considering the age of the evidence found, that this was the case in Viðgelmir. These artefacts are now kept in the National Museum of Iceland.
南岸,The South Coast of Iceland is the country's most visited sightseeing route, along with the Golden Circle.
This incredible shoreline stretches from the greater Reykjavík area in the west to the magnificent Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in the east and is lined with countless natural wonders such as cascading waterfalls, volcanoes, black sand beaches and glaciers.
Geography, Nature & Wildlife
The South Coast is the most easily accessible part of the country’s southern region, found along the Route 1 highway (the Ring Road), which encircles Iceland. The area consists of a diverse lowland that transitions between, marshlands, bays, cultivated pastures, estuaries and black sand deserts.
Underneath the soil rests a vast lava field, known as Þjórsárhraun. Its edges reach several hundred metres offshore where the ocean waves crash upon them, thereby protecting the lowland from the invasion of the sea. This results in the South Coast being unusually lacking in the deep fjords that so distinctly characterise the rest of Iceland's shoreline.
The region boasts vibrant bird life during all seasons. Freshwater birds nest in the marshlands and around the estuaries, while seabirds flock around the cliffs of Reynisdrangar and Dyrhólaey, including the North Atlantic puffin between May and August. Some species stay throughout the harsh Icelandic winter, including the northern diver, the loom and various species of gulls and ducks.
Seals are often found along the shore, particularly around the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. As with everywhere in Iceland, you should always keep an eye out to sea, as whales and dolphins reside all along its coastline.
Highlights of the South Coast
The South Coast offers an unprecedented array of natural wonders that draw thousands of visitors each day.
When driving the route from Reykjavík city, the first major features are the two great waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, which sit beneath the notorious subglacial volcano, Eyjafjallajökull. On clear days from these beautiful cascades, the Westman Islands can be seen across the ocean.
A little further down the route is the glacier Mýrdalsjökull, which covers one of Iceland’s most explosive volcanoes, Katla. Many glacier hikes are taken here upon the outlet of Sólheimajökull.
The aforementioned Dyrhólaey cliffs are next, home to many seabirds. Even if you come outside of puffin season, they are well worth a visit; jutting out to sea is an enormous rock arch of the same name, which you can marvel at from many angles.
Adjacent to the village of Vík is the famous black-sand beach, Reynisfjara, home to the rock pillars of Reynisdrangar, said to be two trolls frozen by the light of the sun. Though beautiful, this area is gaining notoriety for its dangerous sneaker waves, so visitors should be sure to stay well away from the edge of the water, even on a calm, still day.
There are no landmasses between Reynisfjara beach and the continent of Antarctica, so you can imagine how the waves can build momentum.
After passing through Vík, you will cross the glacial sand plain of Skeiðarársandur, before entering Vatnajökull National Park, home to the largest ice cap in Europe, Vatnajökull itself, dozens of glacial outlets and the magnificent Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.
While almost all of these sites can be seen from Route 1, they make up a fraction of what the South Coast has to offer. The vast sand plains of Sólheimasandur are home to a crashed DC-3 Plane Wreck, and within the Vatnajökull National Park is the dramatic Skaftafell Nature Reserve.
Less than a kilometre from Seljalandsfoss is the hidden gem of Gljúfrabúi waterfall, and short distances from Jökulsárlón you will find the Diamond Beach, where icebergs wash on the black-sand shore, and another glacier lagoon, Fjallsárlón.
钻石冰沙滩,钻石冰沙滩位于冰岛南岸的杰古沙龙冰河湖(Jökulsárlón)旁，是一片遍布碎冰的绝美黑沙滩，属Breiðamerkursandur冰川平原的一部分。
冰河湖内的碎冰被暗涌冲刷上岸，陈列在沙滩之上。透明的冰块和黝黑的沙滩形成了鲜明的对比，特别是在阳光明媚的日子里，冰块反射着太阳光芒，犹如钻石般闪耀，因此得名钻石冰沙滩。钻石沙滩是摄影爱好者、自然爱好者和野生生态爱好者们的天堂。许多野生海豹生活在这一地区，经常出现在岸边或冰河湖中的巨型浮冰上，因此钻石冰沙滩及周边地区也是冰岛观赏海豹的最佳地点之一。
Breiðamerkursandur冰川平原
Breiðamerkursandur冰川冲刷平原位于Hornafjörður峡湾地区。这片广袤的沙滩沿冰岛南岸延绵约18公里，从Kvíárjökull冰川脚下一直延伸到Breiðamerkurjökull冰川下的杰古沙龙冰河湖。
Kvíárjökull冰川和Breiðamerkurjökull冰川同属欧洲最大冰川——瓦特纳冰原(Vatnajökull)的分支冰舌，位于瓦特纳冰川国家公园内。
Breiðamerkursandur形成于火山运动。瓦特纳冰川的三只冰舌(Breiðamerkurjökull、Hrútárjökull、Fjallsjökull)由于火山活动而向前流动，碾碎了其下的岩石，同时推动了冰川沉积物，塑造出一片平原。
冰岛有许多形成原理类似的冰川平原。Breiðamerkurjökull冰川的末端更切入地表，塑造出如今的杰古沙龙冰河湖。这座1935年才形成的湖泊是目前冰岛最深的湖。
虽然冰河湖和钻石冰沙滩有着令人屏息的美景，但它们都是气候变化、全球变暖的产物。随着冰川不断消融，冰河湖和冰沙滩的冰将逐步消失，最终变为普通的湖泊与沙滩。
杰古沙龙冰河湖
杰古沙龙冰河湖是冰岛最热门的旅游景点之一。湖中漂浮着无数从冰川上剥离的巨型浮冰。湖泊与海洋相连，暗流不断改变着浮冰的形态与位置，冰河湖的景色因此瞬息万变。
Jökulsá河将冰河湖与大西洋连接，湖内浮冰会随着河水流动不断向大海移动，最终汇入海洋，许多碎冰还会被海浪带到冰河湖的出水口，在Breiðamerkursandur黑沙滩上陈列，这就是著名的“钻石沙滩”。
钻石冰沙滩安全须知
钻石冰沙滩不似雷尼斯黑沙滩(Reynisfjara)那般危险，并没有汹涌澎湃的巨浪，但在游览沙滩时仍有许多需要格外注意的安全事项。
首先要防范巨型冰川碎冰。任何时候都绝对不要攀上这些冰块，以免被冰块锋利的边缘割伤。
更危险的是，貌似平稳的浮冰暗藏危险；有人踏上冰块时，冰块很有可能因为突然的重量改变而翻转，使人落水；落水者则还有可能被湖泊暗涌拖入海中，或者因体温骤降而休克，危及生命！
为了禁止游客做出鲁莽且危害个人生命安全的行为，地方政府已经正式立例，对踏上浮冰的游客征收高额罚款。
一号环岛公路,Iceland has one main road: Route 1, or the Icelandic Ring Road. This ring road goes all around the island and is 1,332 kilometres long (828 miles), allowing visitors to see all regions bar the Westfjords and Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
Perhaps most importantly, the road connects the capital, Reykjavík, to the second biggest city in Iceland, Akureyri, in the north of the country.
Other notable towns that are connected via the ring road are Borgarnes, Blönduós, Egilsstaðir, Höfn, Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Vík, Hella, Hvolsvöllur, Selfoss and Hveragerði.
Features on the Ring Road
A number of popular tourist attractions are also found by the ring road. In the south, drivers will pass the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss; the glaciers Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull; the black-sand-beach of Reynisfjara, and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.
In the east, there is the largest forest in Iceland, Hallormsstaðaskógur, and the lake Lagarfljót, said to contain a monster, records for which date back centuries before the Loch Ness Monster.
In the north, the most notable features are Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss waterfall. In the west are many historical settlements and beautiful fjords.
History of the Ring Road
The road was completed in 1974, with the opening of Iceland's longest bridge, which crosses Skeiðará river in southeast Iceland. In 1998 a tunnel below the fjord Hvalfjörður shortened the drive around Iceland by about one hour and it offers a straight and easy alternative to a winding fjord.
The Hvalfjörður tunnel is the largest tunnel in Iceland, 5.8 kilometres (3.6 miles) long and an impressive 165 metres (541 feet) below sea level. The ring road has another tunnel called Almannaskarð in the southeast by Höfn, and the Vaðlaheiðar tunnel in north Iceland is due to open in the North Iceland which is set to shorten the drive from Akureyri to Húsavík by 16km.
In wintertime, most of the ring road is kept open, with the exception of a short passage in the eastern part of the country that may be closed due to heavy snow (a detour is needed to travel from the north to the east during wintertime).
Good to Know
The ring road consists mainly of paved two lanes road (one each direction). Some sections of the ring road are original 1940s country roads demanding caution when driving with features such as many sharp curves, blind curves, blind summits as well as single lane bridges.
The speed limit is 90km per hour on the paved section of the road (lower when it passes through towns), and 80km per hour on gravel.
The ring-road can be driven in a two-wheel-drive throughout the year, but it is highly recommended you rent a four-wheel-drive if travelling between October and May.
Guide to Iceland would advise people to drive cautiously on the ring road both in summer and wintertime, but also to explore other roads leading from it to multiple attractions. Be sure that if you want to stop to take a picture, make sure you have turned off into a safe parking area. Stopping on the Ring Road itself can be very dangerous for you and other travellers using it.
Fossatún,Fossatún is a country hotel, renowned for being a centre to learn about Iceland’s troll folklore.
Nearby are Troll Waterfalls; in the cliffs next to them, the formation of a troll face can be seen amongst the rocks. For those staying at the hotel, there is a troll walk, where visitors can learn many local tales while enjoying the verdant countryside. The beautiful Skessuhorn mountain dominates the scenery, and the rushing river Grímsá is an excellent place to watch salmon jumping in summer.
Diamond CircleThe Diamond Circle is a famed 260 kilometre (162 mile) sightseeing route in the northeast of Iceland, characterised by its sheer number of natural attractions, picturesque settlements and fantastic landscapes.
The Diamond Circle is available for those who wish to drive the route themselves, as well as those who would prefer to partake in a guided tour of the region.
It is considered the northeastern alternative to the popular Golden Circle sightseeing route, which is reached by travelling for forty minutes from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, and comprised of the three major sites Þingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Valley and Gullfoss Waterfall.
The route’s four main attractions are Lake Mývatn, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss, the horseshoe-shaped canyon, Ásbyrgi and the fishing town of Húsavík, known primarily for its fantastic whale watching opportunities.
Lake Mývatn
Lake Mývatn is one of the most popular sites of the north; it is a favourite location for birdwatchers in particular, who can see dozens of species year round.
The lake area is also known for its flora, being home to rare moss balls and many wildflowers, and its geology. This takes the form of basalt pillars rising from the waters, pseudocraters surrounding them, and the lava fortress of Dimmuborgir.
Dimmuborgir is a dramatic and beautiful location, used as a setting for the Game of Thrones franchise. In folklore, it is said to be home to the thirteen Icelandic Yule Lads
Dettifoss.
Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, found in the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river in the Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon, which is part of the great Vatnajökull National Park. It is 40 metres (131 feet) tall and over 100 metres (328 feet) wide.
Dettifoss is one of three waterfalls in the river; Selfoss is just a little upstream, while Hafragilsfoss is downriver.
Ásbyrgi
The horseshoe shaped canyon of Ásbyrgi is so perfectly formed that one could be forgiven for thinking it has divine origins. This is, in fact, what old Icelanders used to believe; according to legend, it was created when one of the hoofs of the eight-legged horse of the god Oðin made contact with the earth.
The land within the canyon is well-forested, due to the shelter that the sheer cliffs provide.
Húsavík
Húsavík is often nicknamed ‘the whale-watching capital of Europe’, due to the wealth of life in its waters. Most tour operators boast 100 percent sighting rates on their tours throughout summer, with the most common species being humpback whales and white-beaked dolphins.
Over twenty species of cetacean, however, are found in Iceland’s waters, and there is a chance of seeing any of them, depending on the time of year, from the town. Blue whales, for example, have been seen in summer, and some rather lost Narwhals and Belugas have been seen in winter.
Other Sites
Other sites on the Diamond Circle include the likes of Goðafoss Waterfall, Æðafossar (“Eider Falls”), Hljóðaklettar (“Echo rocks” or “The Whispering Cliffs”) and Laugar swimming pool.
Do note, however, that not all tour operators travel to each of these attractions. If you are looking to visit each location individually, with nothing missed, it is recommended to drive the sightseeing route yourself.
开始时间 : 灵活.
到达冰岛凯夫拉维克国际机场后取车，请查看接机大厅屏幕， 如果接机大厅租车公司屏幕未有您车行的名称， 车行工作人员会到达机场接机大厅与您回合， 并带领您前往办理租车手续，向您解释如何在机场还车及安全驾驶等注意事项。若屏幕有显示您的车行名称， 请跟随屏幕指示前往取车。 （如果您当天取车有任何疑问，也可以直接拨打您租车订单上的租车公司电话，进行联系）
在您离开冰岛前，也是在凯夫拉维克国际机场还车。您还可以选择在首都雷克雅未克取车、还车。
冰岛境内7晚住宿 (舒适级别、品质级别两种级别可选，私人卫浴、含早餐，具体信息请阅读每日行程及住宿信息)
8天租车：大众Polo或同级别车型 (预定时可升级车型)
车险：基础碰撞险、超级碰撞险、碎石险
GPS定位导航系统
详细、实用又有趣的行程单，覆盖了行程中涉及到的冰岛自然、历史和文化
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燃料
午餐/晚餐
建议携带
驾照
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－在预订自驾时增加特色项目，可以享有5%到10%的优惠，预订时的可选项目价格已是折后价格。别错过在冰岛旅行网预订自驾游的特色项目优惠。
自驾团可以选择以冰岛国际机场或以首都雷克雅未克市区为起点及终点。
您需要持有合法的驾驶执照，有一年以上的驾龄(驾照需办理英文公证件)。
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在Guide to Iceland定自驾套餐，我们可以免费提供行程单送签信，作为您申请签证的辅助材料。预订后，请提供您的航班等旅行信息，大约需要7-14个工作日后，您可收到送签信。
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蓝湖温泉为冰岛热门景点，为确保服务质量而控制入场人数，旺季期间可能存在门票供不应求的情况，建议确认日期后尽快预订套餐。预订成功后，客服专员会根据您的行程设计入场时间。若已订满，则为您进行相应调整，安排同样精彩的行程。
每日行程
行程日 1 - 到达：冰岛凯夫拉维克国际机场－雷克雅未克
到达冰岛凯夫拉维克国际机场后，会有租车工作人员在机场接机大厅等待，把车交给您，并向您解释如何在机场还车及安全驾驶等注意事项。接下来您便可以驾车前往首都雷克雅未克的酒店。
如果时间尚早，您可以游览市区，利用今天剩余的时间逛逛博物馆、艺术廊、走访雷市著名的地标，在咖啡厅、餐厅坐一坐补充能量。
如果您的航班在下午4点前到达冰岛，可以选择取车后直接前往蓝湖温泉。蓝湖温泉在凯夫拉维克国际机场和首都雷克雅未克之间，这样安排最能节省宝贵的行程时间，不走回头路。如果离境日的航班时间在下午，也可以选择离境日的上午去蓝湖。如果两天都不合适，我们会合理的安排在其它日子。预定时，您还可以选择把蓝湖温泉从舒适门票(含浴巾、一杯饮品、面膜泥)升级为高级门票(舒适基础上再增加拖鞋、浴袍、蓝湖Lava餐厅定位及一杯气泡酒，且排队时间短)。
行程日 2 - 黄金圈－冰岛南岸
第二天，您将来到冰岛广为人知的黄金圈景区，这里以众多自然奇观而名声大振。
黄金圈三大站的第一站是辛格维利尔国家公园(Thingvellir National Park)，在这里您可以行走在欧洲－美洲两大板块的大西洋中脊的裂谷，享受脚踏两大洲的成就感，在史费拉裂缝(Silfra)进行浮潜，探索这个曾在冰岛历史上扮演过重要角色的地方。
下一站是Haukadalur地热小镇，该小镇以间歇泉而闻名。在这里您可以看到史托克Strokkur间歇泉和盖谢尔间歇泉。
接着，驾车向前几公里，便可到达冰岛最著名的景点－黄金瀑布(Gullfoss)，周围有一条小道可以通向瀑布边缘，站在那里，您可以最直观最真实地感受到瀑布的雄伟气势和自然的力量。
离开黄金圈后，来到备受青睐的Kerið火山口(这也是您驶上环岛公路，到达南岸前不可错过的地方)。接下来，您会经过壮丽璀璨的塞里雅兰瀑布(Seljalandsfoss)，和与之齐名的斯科加瀑布(Skógafoss)。继续向南，沿着临近维克镇的海岸线，停驻在由于火山喷发造成的奇异黑沙滩，一睹魔幻般Dyrhólaey岩门石洞和雷尼斯德兰格玄武岩石柱群。
可选额外项目：
1.朗格冰川雪地摩托：如果您喜欢刺激，就一定不要错过雪地摩托，这是冰岛最受欢迎的户外项目之一。这个项目的集合地点在黄金大瀑布的信息中心外停车场，所以适宜加在这一天的行程中。(最低年龄8岁， 需要您持有有效驾照，如无驾照只能做乘客)
2. 丝浮拉大裂缝干衣浮潜：体会在两大地质板块间遨游的超然体验，冰岛最酷的特色项目之一。（浮潜项目需要您会游泳并年满16岁）
3. 骑马：2小时轻松骑马，无需经验，最低年龄7岁。
注：这一天只能增加一个额外项目，否则时间不够用。
行程日 3 - 斯卡夫塔山冰川 - 钻石冰沙滩
第三天，您将去往位于瓦特纳冰川国家的斯卡夫塔山Skaftafell地区，在这里既可以欣赏风景，还可以参加各种各样的户外活动。您还可以选择出发前先去索尔黑马冰川参加冰川徒步项目。
出发前，您还可以选择前往米达冰川内的卡特拉冰洞，探索冰川内部奇妙景色。
如果您喜欢徒步，斯卡夫塔山地区有多条徒步线路可供选择，满足您的不同选择偏好和需求，其中一条就通往美丽的斯瓦提瀑布(Svartifoss)。
当您回到环岛主路，首先映入眼帘的就是杰古沙龙冰湖(Jökulsárlón)－这里不仅是冰岛最著名的景区之一，也是最顶级的摄影天堂；您可以选择参加付费项目－冰湖船游，穿梭于宁静、形状各异的巨大冰山之间。在冰湖对面，是一片“钻石冰沙滩”，搁浅在黑沙滩的冰石让你觉得宛如来到了《爱丽丝梦游仙境》中的梦幻世界。
行程单中还有更多小众景区可选择游览。
可选额外项目：
1. 米达冰川卡特拉冰洞：最低年龄12岁
2. 斯卡夫塔山冰川徒步：最低年龄10岁
3. 杰古沙龙冰河湖两栖船游：船游在每年的5月至9月之间运营，但是也可能会受到天气的影响。如果入夏早、入秋晚，4月和10月也有一定的可能会可以船游，但是这个完全取决于当时的天气状况。
4. 杰古沙龙冰河湖快艇船游：6月至9月运营，最低年龄10岁。
小贴士：霍芬镇(Höfn，又名赫本镇)，这里是很著名的吃冰岛龙虾的地方。如果您是美食爱好者，记得提前定位。
行程日 4 - 东部峡湾
第四天，您将沿着东部峡湾地区北上，沿途经过秀丽静谧的峡湾小镇。东部峡湾蜿蜒曲折，海岸线美不胜收。每一个拐角处都是另一片天地，一路上您将路过多个小渔村，可以按照自己的喜好选择停留、游览。
东部峡湾地区的村镇是冰岛开发程度最低的地区，您可以了解冰岛古老的历史和文化，夜晚留宿东部地区的中心－埃伊尔斯塔济镇(Egilsstaðir)或周边地区。
行程日 5 - 北部米湖－阿克雷里
第五天，您将驶向冰岛北部的米湖区。北部米湖区以其独特的地热景色闻名，包括Námaskarð地热区、Skútustaðagígar伪火山口、Dimmuborgir黑色城堡火山岩群和Krafla火山(人气颇高、到访者众多的冰岛火山)。
结束了一天的长途跋涉和观光，可以去米湖天然地热温泉泡温泉，缓解一天的疲劳。
如果您希望多走访一些地区，还可以北上到被称为欧洲观鲸之都的小镇－胡萨维克，乘船出海赏鲸。
可选额外项目：
1. 米湖天然温泉(6月1日至8月31日，早9点至午夜12点营业；4月－5月及9-10月，中午12点至晚10点营业。您可以提前再米湖天然温泉官网订票，也可以现场订票)
2. 胡萨维克观鲸团
3. 胡萨维克观鲸＋观海鹦船游旅行团：最低年龄7岁
行程日 6 - 北极海岸
第六天，参观童话般的阿克雷里。阿克雷里与其说是一个城市，更像一个可爱的海边小镇，这里有许多俏皮的商店、博物馆，以及世界最北的植物园，是行程中一个调整步调、放松的好机会。
接着，继续向Skagafjörður峡谷进发(该峡谷以数量惊人的冰岛马而闻名)；穿过山岳连绵、景色优美的Tröllaskagi渔村(这里是Siglufjörður峡湾古老的鲱鱼渔村)，放松身心远眺周遭风光。
可选额外项目：
1. 北部冰岛一小时骑马旅行团（最低年龄为7岁）。
2. 阿克雷里观鲸团。
行程日 7 - 一号环岛公路沿路风光
第七天，您可以探索冰岛西部的众多景区，包括位于博尔加内斯(Borgarnes)古冰岛人定居博物馆和Deildartunguhver－欧洲最大的天然地热泉。继续前行，不可错过的还有赫伦瀑布(Hraunfossar，又名熔岩瀑布)和儿童瀑布(Barnafossar)。历史爱好者还可以参观位于雷克霍特(Reykholt)的Snorrastofa，这里是13世纪Snorri Sturluson书写Heimskringla萨迦文学的地方。
如果希望有更多时间在首都购物休闲，今天可以早点出发，直接返程首都，体验世界最北首都的独特文化。
可选额外项目：
1. 朗格冰川冰川隧道：探索世界首个冰川内的人工隧道。
2. 火山岩洞洞穴探险：地理地质爱好者的天堂。
3. 火山内部遨游：冰岛是全世界唯一一个可进入火山内部的国度，这是冰岛夏季最受欢迎的特色项目。5月15日至10月15日之间运营。（最低年龄12岁）
行程日 8 - 离境
今天在您离境前，需去凯夫拉维克机场还车；如果您的航班时间在傍晚，还可以增加一些额外项目，让行程更丰富。可以把蓝湖安排在离境前，作为本次自驾的最后一个小高潮，被火山石包围的蓝湖温泉宛如仙境， 湖水中富含着矿物质，对皮肤非常有益，也具有一定的疗愈效果。您可以在这里彻底放松身心，为冰岛之行画上圆满句号。
欢迎再来!
住宿
下面我们列出了这个自驾套餐中的可选住宿级别。在每日行程中，您可以看到每一天具体的首选酒店。舒适级别住宿为单人预订安排单人间，多人预订将安排双人间或三人间的组合。如果您多人同时出行但是希望安排单人间，请联系客服进行单间差升级。品质住宿会为单数人数预订提供一个单人间，余下提供双人间。
青少年、儿童与家长共享房间时，可享受产品的青少年、儿童价格。如果因为人数超额需要额外安排房间，需按成人价格计算。
我们会从Guide to Iceland优选的酒店中为您安排您预订时可选的最佳选择。冰岛全国的酒店质量水平差异较大，且严重的供不应求，您定的越早，效果越为理想。一些地区无品质级别的住宿，如果您选择品质级别，无品质住宿地区的住宿将被安排在舒适级别住宿中，我们的品质级别升级差价只增加了可升级的部分，为您合理安排最佳酒店。如果您有特别需求，可联系我们的客服，我们会尽力满足您的需求。注：特别安排将会有额外的房型或服务费用。选择日期即可查询位置并预订。
车型
下面您能看到我们的自驾套餐提供的车型选择。我们为您提供的车绝大部分情况下都是两年内的新车，配置GPS定位系统，以及基础碰撞险(CDW)、超级碰撞险(SCDW)、碎石险(GP)。预订过程中，您可以选择手动或自动挡车。
经济
小型二驱车，适宜基础路段。范例车型：大众保罗、丰田雅力士，或同级别车型。此类车型不适宜走山路、进入中央高地地区。
舒适四驱
中型四驱吉普车，能更好的驾驭非沥青路面和湿滑有冰雪的冬季路面。范例车型：丰田RAV4或同级别车型。此类车型有基础的山路能力。
豪华四驱
大型四驱吉普车，适宜冰岛绝大部分路段、可走山路进入中央高地地区。范例车型：丰田陆地巡洋舰及同级别车型。
取消保险
购买取消保险，您将可以享受更灵活的取消政策。只要您提前48小时以上，发送邮件至英文客服邮箱info@guidetoiceland.is，就可以获得此产品的全额退款(每人5000克朗的保险费用不可退，邮件请用英文说明订单号和取消要求)。
注：此保险只适用于取消整个产品预定，而不能拆分取消分项住宿、租车、旅行团等。
保险本身费用不可退或用于其它预定。
评价
中文
夕达洋
非常感谢Guide to Iceland！我来过冰岛3次了，但是做自驾行程还是没底，很多意想不到的小地方，不在本地的确不了解。Guide to Iceland帮了大忙，租车对保险的推荐、检查车的注意事项也很有用。虽然是第三次来冰岛，依然去了很多以前没去过，甚至听都没听说过的景点。冰岛太美啦，夏天自驾，那感受，简直了。
Alex
我們參加了６月下旬出發的８日７晚自駕環島遊套餐。為配合自訂行程，我們要求在住宿方面作出調動，Guidetoiceland不但滿足了我們的要求，更為我們離開冰島前一晚，訂了接近Reykjavik的酒店，確保我們有足夠時間前往機場，真的欣賞他們細心的安排。此外，各酒店的位置、設施和早餐都使我們感到十分滿意。 扣了一些分數是因為訂車時出了一些問題，我們原先想訂一輛９人豪華車，但最後只得兩部５人舒適車，原來計劃由兩位司機輪流駕駛便不能實現了。 最後要多謝Lagoon Car Rental。我們兩組人因先後飛往不同地點，交車後早離隊的團員按服務規定由租車公司送往機場，而部份人則要自行乘的士返回數公里外的酒店。租車公司知道情況後，亦把我們一并送返酒店。冰島人外表給人冷漠的感覺，內心則是熱情好客的！
Wang Fan
非常棒
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