25 Travel Adventures Iceland (Hunter Travel Guides)

528 Pages·2008·28.55 MB·English

by  Don Young

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(cid:1) The spectacular glaciers, waterfalls, geysers, birdlife, pony
trekking,riverrafting,skiing–thisguidetellsyouhowtosee I
anddoitall,fromReykjavik’snightlifetothedramaticWest-
ernFjordsandtable-topmountainstotherichbirdlifeofLake
c
Myvatn.
(cid:1) Foreverytownandvillage,therearereviewsofthebestplacesto
stay,eatanddrink,bothonandoffthebeatentrack.
(cid:1) The authors have been visiting here for years and know how to e
travelonabudget.Theyshareimportantinsidetips.
(cid:1) Allaboutlocalheritagefestivals;traditionalcraftsstillpracticed;
farming vacations; wildlife watching and the famed Northern
Lights. l
(cid:1) Icelandistheworld’sbestplacetolive,accordingtothelatest
UNrankingof175nations.Lifeexpectancy,educationlevels,cul- a
tural attractions and real per capita income are extraordinary.
Reykjavik is among the cleanest and safest cities in the world.
Theenvironmentispollution-free–eventheriversandstreams
aresafetodrinkfromandfoodsarefreeofhormonesandpesticides. n
Your journey, your dream, your life –
let Hunter be your guide!
Where to Stay Food & Drink d
Festivals&Nightlife Hiking & Biking
Sightseeing Shopping rrraaavvveeelll AAAdddvvveeennntttuuurrreeesss
Iceland
HunterPublishing,Inc. ISBN978-1-58843-672-6
30 MayfieldAve
EdisonNJ08817
US$22.99
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www.hunterpublishing.com
HHUUNNTTEERR Don&MarjorieYoung
Travel dventures
Iceland
Iceland
Don & Marjorie Young
HHUUNNTTEERR
HUNTERPUBLISHING,INC.
30MayfieldAve,Edison,NJ08817
(cid:1)800-255-0343/fax[phone]
www.hunterpublishing.com
[email protected]
INCANADA:
UlyssesTravelPublications
4176Saint-Denis,Montréal,Québec,CanadaH2W2M5
(cid:1)514-843-9882ext.2232/fax[phone]
INTHEUNITEDKINGDOM:
WindsorBooksInternational
5,CastleEndPark,CastleEndRd,Ruscombe
Berkshire,RG109XQEngland,(cid:1)01189-346-367/fax[phone]
ISBN978-1-58843-672-6
©2008HunterPublishing,Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other-
wise,withoutthewrittenpermissionofthepublisher.
This guide focuses on recreational activities. As all such activities
containelementsofrisk,thepublisher,author,affiliatedindividuals
andcompaniesdisclaimanyresponsibilityforanyinjury,harm,orill-
nessthatmayoccurtoanyonethrough,orbyuseof,theinformation
inthisbook.Everyeffortwasmadetoinsuretheaccuracyofinforma-
tion in this book, but the publisher and author do not assume, and
hereby disclaim, any liability for loss or damage caused by errors,
omissions, misleading information or potential travel problems
causedbythisguide,evenifsucherrorsoromissionsresultfromneg-
ligence,accidentoranyothercause.
Coverphoto:Icelandichorses(AlbertoRoseo)
Mapsonpages116,164,212,214,243,262,281,286,332,348,353,
372,377,382,407,412,449,451,476,478courtesyofNordicAdven-
tureTravel (www.nat.is).
IndexbyNancyWolff
Contents
Land of Fire & Ice 1
History 2
TheGovernment 8
TheEconomy 8
TheLand,Flora&Fauna 10
TheWeather 19
ThePeople&TheirCulture 21
TravelInformation 34
WhattoPack 35
GettingHere 36
WhenYouLeave 37
GettingAround 38
Accommodations 46
Banks&PostOffices 49
CellPhones&Computers 50
StayingSafe 51
Police 52
Hospitals 52
IcelandicPhrases 53
Reykjavik – The City of Surprises 55
TheCityItself 59
Government&Business 63
WhattoSee 66
Museums 67
Galleries 71
Theater 72
Music 73
Lighthouses 74
OtherSights 75
ThingstoDo 76
Basketball 76
Biking 77
Boating 78
FreshwaterFishing 79
GlimaContests 80
Golf 81
Handball 82
Hiking 82
HorsebackRiding 83
Hunting 84
IceHockey 84
JeepSafaris 85
SaltwaterFishing 85
Skiing 85
Soccer 86
ii (cid:1) Contents
Swimming 86
Tours 87
Regularly-ScheduledOutdoorEvents 87
Shopping 90
WheretoStay 93
Hotels 94
Apartments 99
Guesthouses 99
Hostels 101
Campsites 101
SleepingBagAccommodations 102
WheretoEat 102
Nightlife 109
NearbyAttractions 113
West Iceland 115
Akranes 119
Husafell 125
Mosfellsbaer 126
Reykholt 130
Borgarnes 133
Hellissandur 142
Day-TripsfromHellisandur 145
Olafsvik 146
Arnarstapi 150
Budir 151
Grundarfjordur 152
Stykkisholmur 155
BudardalurArea 159
Eiriksstadir 162
West Fjords 163
Patreksfjordur 168
Reykholar 171
Kroksfjardarnes 172
Hnjotur 173
Talknafjordur 173
Bildudalur 175
Arnarfjord 177
Lighthouses 177
Thingeyri 180
Flateyri 182
Sudureyri 183
Isafjordur 185
Hnifsdalur 193
Bolungarvik 193
HornstrandirWildernessPark 195
Sudavik 198
Drangsnes 199
Djupavik 200
Gjogur 203
Contents (cid:1) iii
Holmavik 203
Thidriksvalladalur 206
Strandir 207
Nordurfjordur 207
Hvallatur 208
MoreSightsWorthSeeingintheWestFjords 209
North Iceland 213
Laugarbakki 214
Hvammstangi 215
Hindisvik 218
Borgarviki 218
Thingeyrar 218
Blonduos 219
Vikur 222
Skagastrond 223
Glerhallavik 226
Varmahlid 226
Reykir 228
Saudarkrokur 228
Mt.Tindastoll 231
Holar 231
Hofsos 231
Siglufjordur 233
LighthousesinNorthIceland 237
Olafsfjordur 241
Dalvik 243
Akureyri 247
Grenivik 260
Gjogur 262
Husavik(Husavikurbaer) 263
LakeMyvatn 269
Reykjahlid 271
Skutustadir 272
JokulsargljufurNationalPark 276
Kopasker 278
Raufarhöfn 279
Thorshofn 280
Bakkafjordur(Hofn) 282
Vopnafjordur 283
East Iceland 285
Husey 287
WhattoSee&Do 287
Activities 287
WheretoStay 288
Egilsstadir 288
Hjaltastadahreppur 297
Bakkagerdi 297
Hallormsstadur 299
Seydisfjordur 303
iv (cid:1) Contents
Reydarfjordur 308
Eskifjordur 310
Neskaupstadur 314
Budir 319
Breiddalsvik 320
Djupivogur 322
Hofn 325
South Iceland 333
SkaftafellNationalPark 334
Oraefi 335
Kirkjubaejarklaustur 335
Landmannalaugar 340
Vik 344
Skogar 346
ThorsmorkNationalPark 351
Hvolsvollur 352
Fljotsdalur 355
Hella 355
Selfoss 358
Skalholt 363
FloiNatureReserve 364
Haukadalur 366
ThingvellirNationalPark 367
Geysir 370
Gullfoss 370
Stokkseyri 371
Gaulverjabaer 373
Eyrarbakki 373
Kaldadarnes 375
Fludir 375
Laugaras 377
Hveragerdi 378
Reykjanes Peninsula 381
Thorlakshofn 382
Krysuvikurberg 383
Grindavik 384
Reykjanes 389
Hafnir 389
Sandgerdi 391
Gardur 392
Keflavik 394
Njardvik 398
Vogastapi 400
Vogar 400
Hafnarfjordur 402
Gardabaer 407
Kopavogur 409
The Interior 413
Contents (cid:1) v
Mountains 414
Askja 415
Bardarbunga 416
Baula 416
Blahnjukur 417
Breidamerkurfjall 417
Einhyrningur 418
Esja 418
Eyjafjoll 418
Grimsvotn 419
Hekla 419
Hengill 420
Herdubreid 421
Hestfjall 422
Hlodufell 422
Hofsjokull 422
Hrafntinnusker 422
Hvannadalshnjukur 423
Ingolfsfjall 424
Katla 424
Keilir 425
Kerlingarfjoll 425
Kirkjufell 425
Kistufell 426
Krafla 426
Kristinartindar 427
Krossanesborgir 427
Kverkfjoll 427
Laki 428
Landmannalaugar 429
Lomagnupur 429
Petursey 429
Skjaldbreidur 429
Snaefell 430
Vordufell 431
Glaciers 431
Bruarjokull 432
Drangajokull 432
Eiriksjokull 432
Eyjabakkajokull 432
Hofsjokull 433
Lambatungnajokull 433
Langjokull 433
Mydalsjokull 434
Snaefellsjokull 435
Solheimajokull 435
Torfajokull 436
Tungnafellsjokull 436
Vatnajokull 436
Rivers,Waterfalls,&Lakes 437
vi (cid:1) Contents
Rivers 437
Waterfalls 440
Lakes 445
Hiking 450
ArnarvatsheidiMoorlands 450
EyjafjallajokullGlacier 450
FjallabakNatureReserve 451
FloiNatureReserveBirdSanctuary 452
Hagavatn 453
Sulur 454
Thorsmork 454
More... 455
ExploringtheInteriorbyBusorbyCar 456
MountainBiking 466
Skiing 468
Snowboarding 469
Hunting 469
Tours 470
The Islands 477
WestmanIslands 477
Ellidaey 480
Heimey 481
Smaeyjar 489
Surtsey 489
BreidafjordurBay 490
Akureyjar 491
Brokey 492
Flatey 492
Hoskuldsey 494
Klakkeyjar 495
Oxney 495
Svidnur 495
Drangey 496
Eldey 497
GeldinganesIsland 498
GjardeyjarIsland 498
Grimsey 499
Gvendareyjar 503
Hrisey 503
Malmey 505
Papey 506
PeturseyIsland 507
SkrudurIsland 508
Thorisolmi 508
Videy 508
Vigur 510
GrottaIsland 510
Index 511
(cid:1) 7
Foreword
W
here in the world can you find fantastic scenery
thatincludes3,100milesofgorgeouscoastline,a
host of lakes and rivers, geysers, numerous waterfalls, roughly
100 volcanoes, and the largest glacier in all of Europe? Where
couldyoufindacountrythatenjoyssomeofthepurestwaterand
cleanestairinalltheworld?Acountrythatfeaturesunparalleled
opportunitiestoenjoybirdwatching,ridingamongthewhaleson
aferry,biking,hiking,camping,fishing,hunting,golfing,swim-
ming,touringthemountainsinaJeep,ponytrekking,riverraft-
ing... and then where you can end your day with a wonderful
dinner, followed by some of the most unbelievable nightlife on
earth?
Obviously,we’retalkingaboutIceland,oneofthemostexciting
countries in the world – yet a country that was virtually
unknowntotouristspriortoWorldWarII.Considertheamazing
historyofthisfabulouscountry,settledbytheVikingsmorethan
1,100 years ago. Erik the Red, one of the early Viking settlers,
laterdiscoveredGreenland,andhissonLeifur(betterknownas
Leif) Eriksson, went on to discover North America 500 years
beforethearrivalofChristopherColumbus.
Healthy, Wealthy & Wise
AsdescendantsoftheVikingsandtheCelts,Icelandicmenand
women are among the healthiest, most attractive people on
earth. They tend to be tall, blond-haired, and blue-eyed. In its
March2000issue,Voguemagazineannouncedthat“thewomen
looklikeeitherUmaThurmanorPatsyKensit,andeverythird
man resembles Brad Pitt.” During the 1980s, two Icelandic
womenwereselectedasMissWorld...justthreeyearsapart.