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May 2022

Travel

9 Luxury Experiences You Don’t Want to Miss in Iceland

Iceland is one of the foremost countries worldwide that promises a luxury holiday experience. The land of fire and ice is blessed with unbelievable natural beauty. From its dramatic volcanic landscapes to charming isolated towns to striking hiking trails to the unforgettable spectacle of the Northern Lights to its breathtaking coastline, and so much more, Iceland is a land of endless riches that deserve sustainable exploration. 

As one of the premium luxury holiday destinations, Iceland offers travellers many must-have experiences. Let’s explore some of the most glorious luxury experiences you should have in this naturally gorgeous country.

9 Must-Have Luxury Experiences in Iceland

Here are some experiences you must have when you visit the land of ice and fire:

Witness the Magical Aurora Borealis

Seeing the Northern Lights tops the bucket list of many people worldwide. Iceland draws in thousands of tourists each year to witness the magic of Aurora Borealis in winter, autumn, and spring. If you are lucky enough to see these elusive lights, you will experience the sky coming to life in a mesmerising dance of light and beautiful hues. You can book a private tour with a luxury travel company to see the lights from the best spots and stay at the best resorts nearby. 

Walk behind a Waterfall

If you love waterfalls, you will undoubtedly enjoy visiting Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss as they give you the remarkable opportunity to walk behind the waterfall and witness glorious rainbows. You can even witness the Skógafoss rainbows when driving on the southerly route. However, the path to the waterfall can be slippery during winters due to ice, so you need to be careful. 

Snowmobile on Glaciers

Snowmobiling on glaciers is hands-down one of the most exhilarating experiences you can have in Iceland. Home to beautiful, untouched ice caps, Iceland offers you several snowmobiling opportunities to explore its bare white canvases with professionals to guide you along the safest routes. You can enjoy this adventure of a lifetime in Vatnajökull, Mýrdalsjökull, and Langjökull. The former two are along the picturesque South Coast, while the latter is along the Golden Circle route. 

Soak in a Hot Spring

If you’re planning a luxury couples holiday to Iceland, you have to soak in a geothermal pool with your partner to forget your worries and live in the moment. You can visit the Blue Lagoon and experience soaking in the mineral-rich, steamy waters. You can also head to the geyser hot spring area in the Laugarvatn Fontana and enjoy its naturally sourced hot baths. 

Explore the Beautiful City of Reykjavik

Reykjavik is the perfect, culturally rich Icelandic city with multiple live music venues, vibrant main streets, iconic Lutheran churches and multiple museums with Viking history displays. You can taste the delectable and versatile food in Iceland, try out its only Michelin star restaurant, and luxuriously explore the city with a guided tour. 

Go Whale Watching

If you’re planning on visiting Reykjavik, you have to head on a whale-watching tour that will last around three hours. You will see several minke whales and dolphins on this tour, making the trip worth your while. 

Drive the Golden Circle

The golden circle is the finest route in Ireland if you want to explore the dramatic, mesmerising landscapes of the southern part of the country. It’s roughly a 300km round trip that allows you to witness the Geyser hot springs, Thingvellir National Park and Strokkur. It’s easily one of the best ways to explore Iceland. 

Visiting Thingvellir National Park will allow you to witness the two tectonic plates and swim between them by snorkelling in Silfra. This crystal-clear water gorge offers visibility of more than 100 metres. 

Explore the Inside of a Volcano

Iceland isn’t just blessed with glaciers and snow caves, but it stands true to its nickname and is the embodiment of the land of fire and ice. It has several volcanoes, including Þríhnúkagígur in its south. Þríhnúkagígur means “Three Top Crater”. Since this volcano has not erupted since the second century BC, it’s perfectly safe to enter its magma chamber by boarding a specifically designed elevator. Exploring the inside of this volcano is a one-of-a-kind experience that you will surely never forget.

Go Dog Sledging         

Dog sledging is a truly unique experience you can enjoy in Iceland. You can experience this activity all year round on dry land and snowfields. You can even sledge across Iceland’s mighty glaciers when the conditions are ideal. Not only will you have a memorable time, but dog sledging is also a treat for dog lovers as you will get to meet adorable Siberian and Alaskan huskies. 

The Bottom Line

Iceland is a land of abundant riches and stunning landscapes. You can amass many experiences that last you a lifetime and bring you immense joy when visiting this country. Apart from the experiences mentioned above, you have to visit Iceland’s gorgeous coastline and explore its ice caves.

Author Bio: Rhodri Andrews

Rhodri Andrews is the Head of Content at SevenTravel, a luxury travel company based in Mayfair, London, that specialises in once-in-a-lifetime experiences. SevenTravel is all about the kind of travel that forges deeper connections with the countries you visit, encouraging you to linger for longer with trips that last ten or more days. Rhodri manages all of SevenTravel’s content, bringing to life the countries, regions and unique tailor-made experiences its clients will discover as well as all the useful information SevenTravel clients need to know before they head off on a luxury holiday of a lifetime. He crafts content for all SevenTravel’s luxury holiday destinations, whether it’s the Arabian charm of Oman to the Amazon jungle of Peru and everything in between. Through his natural curiosity and passion for travel, he also brings SevenTravel’s one-of-a-kind experiences to life, from trekking through the Patagonian wilderness to exploring Morocco’s souks and medinas. Whether you’re a couple, honeymooners or a family embarking on an exciting luxury holiday, the experiences are crafted to suit your personal preferences.

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Travel

Creative ways to discover the best sights in Basingstoke

Basingstoke is a well-known tourist destination, bragging some of the most recognisable historical landmarks in the UK, such as the Tudor palace Basing House, as well as modern attractions like the Aquadome Lagoon Pool. But if you’re only going for a brief trip and want to make the most of it, what’s the best way to experience it all? Join us as we run down the creative ways you can discover the best sights in Basingstoke.

Take a trip on the miniature railway

Taking in the lovely scenery is even better when you can feel the wind through your hair and hear the steam engine of a miniature train chugging along. The Basingstoke and District Model Engineering Society is based in the Viables Craft Centre and puts on limited rides of their miniature versions of live steam locomotives, that are as authentic to the real thing as it gets at such a small size.

This is fun and educational for all the family while being one of the lesser-known attractions of Basingstoke. Even if the miniature railway isn’t open to ride when you visit, you can still enjoy the many detailed, running models and learn about the history of locomotives in Basingstoke and discover hidden stories behind its biggest tourist attractions.

Head to the sky in a balloon

If you’re looking for a more wide-reaching view, look no further than a Virgin Balloon Flight. They have many options available including those that set off from Basingstoke where you will be able to see everything – literally. This is a unique gift idea for thrill-seekers and keen travellers who aren’t afraid to try something new and take in the vast scenery from a different perspective.

Find a guided tour

A more traditional option for those who prefer to stay grounded is a walking guided tour which will grant you the opportunity to see some of the most popular attractions and learn from an expert. There are many to choose from depending on what your field of interest is, making this versatile and suited to what you want to make out of your Basingstoke trip. The Jane Austen tour is a popular option, or you may choose to head to one of the historical sites that schedule several tours throughout the day.

Take a self-guided walking tour

If your interests lie somewhere different to what guided tours have to offer, why not try a self-guided tour? An increasingly popular option for tourists, this means simply downloading an app on your phone and following along without even the need for headphones, with photos and text being used (although some audio options are available). The best part is that one of our favourite options, Trial Tale, is completely free, so you can explore Basingstoke at your own pace with no additional charge for the awesome routes, stories, photos and fun facts that it offers.

There are numerous ways to experience Basingstoke and make your trip there truly your own, so make sure to do your research and experience it how you want to.

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