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Iceland sits astride the join between two of the
world's major tectonic plates and there is literally a crack through the
island from the Southwest to the Northeast. Through this crack gushes,
lava, steam, hot water, boiling mud and sulphurous gases. Just about every
volcanic phenomenon is present, together with modern adaptations such
as a multitude of natural and built hot swimming pools, power stations
and greenhouses growing fruit.
The ice-caps of Iceland, so spectacular when you
fly in, dominate everything. They are on every horizon and have given
Iceland some of its greatest features - huge waterfalls, furious rivers
and deep gorges. The ice-caps can be visited and traversed on foot and
by jeep and skidoo. And they are not just endless ice and snow - there
are strange ice caves with rivers of hot water, and ice holes with gushing
steam.
These great natural forces of fire and ice have
produced landscapes of amazing variety and beauty - and there is still
only a tiny number of visitors. Walking, from a few hours to several days,
will take you through gorges, over hills and along coasts and see only
a handful of people.
Bird-life is prolific, particularly around the
coast, and on any visit in the early summer you cannot escape the overwhelming
number of birds. Husavik in the north has become the premier European
centre for whale-watching, with good sightings on virtually every trip.
Perhaps surprisingly in such a bleak landscape,
Iceland is deeply civilised and has a profound feeling of community. Icelanders
will proudly boast of the world's oldest democracy and the world's highest
literacy rate - and some of the world's great parties!
The weather is much better than most people imagine.
Through the summer months there can be long periods of sun and temperatures
can be in the 70s. The north and east of the island are in a rain shadow
and prolonged rain is unusual. However, as Iceland sits in the middle
of the North Atlantic, there is usually a lot of weather of some sort
about!
There are four ways to see Iceland - join a tour, hire a vehicle, take
your own vehicle or use public transport. Footloose would be pleased to
advise and arrange any of these.
Tours: these leave on fixed dates and are
arranged with our local agent in Iceland. The varied itineraries are exciting
and visit some of the most inaccessible areas. All have some walking -
up hills, to see waterfalls, to view wildlife. The accommodation is usually
'sleeping bag' - hostel type with dormitories and some helping out and
transport is by 4WD bus.
Vehicle hire: this is a flexible but expensive
way to see Iceland. The usual route is based on the Ring Road around the
coast. This is well surfaced and a medium saloon is adequate. If you want
to travel into the Highlands, 4WD is essential. Accommodation in private
houses and guesthouses is plentiful and can be booked ahead. Campsites
are available in all areas. Campervans, including 4WD, are available and
are an excellent way of travelling in the mountains.
Your own vehicle: this is a good option
if you are planning to stay a while or if you have a 4WD. The boat trip
is complicated, via Scotland and the Faroes, but interesting in its own
right. We can advise and book tickets for the ferry.
Public transport: there is an excellent
bus service which circles the island in both directions. There are also
services across the Highlands. The journey is divided into stages and
you can drop on and off at any point. The 'Circle Pass' is fully flexible
and sections of it can be used against other services. Accommodation vouchers
can be included. There is a good domestic air service which is useful
if you want to visit a particular part of Iceland.
Reykjavik is becoming popular for week-end
breaks in both summer and winter. The city itself is fascinating, with
an interesting and sometimes frantic social life, and the surrounding
area offers a lot of interest. If you are visiting North America, Icelandair
has an excellent and cheap service to many US and Canadian cities. This
also gives you the option of a stop-over in Reykjavik.
The range of possibilities is immense, so please ask for details. There
are many activities available including day trips on bikes, glacier jeeps,
horses and rafts to 4 day treks and bike tours.
Coming soon - please ring.
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