Nordic Isle: Ice Ice Baby!

Home to less than half-a-million people, Iceland is unconventionally and surreally beautiful.

Its spectacular landscapes have played starring roles in movies such as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Batman Begins. Game of Thrones fans will recognise some of the country's natural wonders that served as the Wildling- and White Walker-infested land "Beyond the Wall", and as backdrops to numerous battles and two love stories. Iceland has long been a favourite with location managers and for good reason. Christina Voskou visits to find out more
Home to less than half-a-million people, Iceland is unconventionally and surreally beautiful. Its volcanic landscapes range from moss-covered rocky plateaus with geothermal steam oozing from hidden fissures, to stunning mountains draped with green pastures, waterfalls, glaciers and herds of sheep.
With its population largely concentrated in Reykjavik, visitors can drive miles along the country's only highway - the 1,332 km Ring Road - without encountering another car. Reykjavik, a short drive from the country's international airport in Keflavik and the world's northernmost capital city, is a vibrant city with an art and music scene that could hold its own against most other European cities. Its Harpa concert hall and the Sun Voyager sculpture both overlook the Atlantic and are major landmarks. It is also home to Bjork, arguably Iceland's most famous cultural export, but don't expect to see her strolling around town.   
All Fire, Not All Ice
While mass tourism hasn't made its way to Iceland, and thankfully so, the tourists that do visit are looking to take in its natural sights and experiences. And one of its most important experiences are its numerous geothermal pools, which are the Icelandic equivalent of the Middle Eastern Majlis. These pools - sometimes naturally occurring, other times constructed, but always filled with natural, mineral-rich geothermally-heated water - are where the community gathers and while tourists are welcome, they tend to get steered towards the Blue Lagoon which is designed - and priced - for the country's visitors. If you prefer to visit a less crowded hot spring, take your pick from Reykjadalur, Landmannalaugar, the Secret Pool and the Lake Mývatn Nature Baths amongst others, or ask a local for a recommendation.
Community pools apart, geothermal energy is an essential part of Icelandic life. The country generates most of its energy from it and even the hot water flowing through the taps comes from the earth.
The Golden Circle
One of the top attractions in Iceland is a route that covers approximately 300 km in the south. A day-trip from Reykjavik, the Golden Circle has three main sights: the Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and the geothermal area in Haukadalur valley - all connected by a spectacular drive.
The Þingvellir (pronounced Thingvellir) National Park is a site of historical and geological significance. Located in a rift valley, it marks the highest point of the mid-Atlantic Ridge and the border between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This is where the Althing (Parliament) was established in 930AD - the world's first institution of its kind - and up until 1798, all parliamentary procedures were held here. The one-thousandth anniversary of the Althing was marked with the establishment of Þingvellir National Park in 1930. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2004.
The awe-inspiring Gullfoss (Golden) waterfall, located on the Hvítá (White) River, has its origin in the Langjökull glacial lake and gets its golden hue from the glacial sediment in its water. Visitors have two choices of viewing platforms to take in the view, but it's worth the short trek to the rocky ledge that overlooks the edge of the falls.  
Down the road from Gullfoss lies the Great Geysir, which lent its name to erupting hot springs all over the world. Even though Geysir was a dormant hot spring, an earthquake in 1896 made eruptions possible again. With less frequent eruptions nowadays, the boiling water has been known to reach up to 70 meters high in the past. The Strokkur geyser, which is part of the park, has more frequent eruptions. The area is filled with many hot pools and numerous smaller geysers, including one referred to as Little Geyser.
Spectacular South East
While tour companies offer day-trips from Reykjavik to the country's South East, independent travellers with rented cars may prefer to base themselves at one of the many farms that offer a bed and breakfast, in and around Selfoss. 
The world-famous Reynisfjara shore, a black sand beach located on the South Coast of Iceland, near the town of Vik, is a two-hour drive from Selfoss' farmlands. The black sand on this beach comes from the basalt lava which covers most of the area and also forms stunning columns by the shore. The area is also home to a series of rock outcrops that rise from the sea. Local legend has it that Trolls trying to drag ships to land turned to stone when daylight broke.
The nearest town is picturesque Vik, Iceland's southernmost community. Located near the Katla volcano, which has been dormant since 1918, the town is in danger of being washed away by melted water from the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, should the volcano erupt again. Like many parts of Southern Iceland, the danger of volcanic activity is a constant reality.
A few hours' drive from Vik, past volcanic ridges, rising out of otherwise flat land, is the glacial river lagoon, Jökulsárlón. Jagged icebergs in various shades of blue float in the lagoon as tourists either take in the view for free from the shore, or splurge on any one of the boat tours offered at the lagoon. 
The lagoon is connected to the sea with a short channel and the smaller icebergs float back and forth with the tide, often melting into smaller chunks that wash up on the beach, offering visitors a surreal combination of sand and ice.
While most visitors on a short visit to Iceland will head back to Reykjavik after Jökulsárlón, others drive farther down the country's sole highway which loops back to the capital. The town of Höfn, which stood in for Greeland's Nuuk, in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, is a short drive away from the lagoon. Further north lies Akureyri, Iceland's second city, which is an excellent base from which to explore the sights of the country's bleakly spectacular Arctic lands.
While there are numerous operators offering tours - some in Mad Max-esque modified vehicles, designed to drive over boulder-strewn volcanic terrain - Iceland is best explored at leisure with a rented car. While renting cars in the country does come with some unusual caveats - hold the doors when opening them so they don't get blown off their hinges by a strong gust of wind - it offers travellers the chance to explore at their own pace: stopping to feed Icelandic horses, taking pictures of the stunning landscapes, or drinking water from a mountain river, but never, ever, stepping out of the designated areas for fear of destroying some of that protected Icelandic Moss.
Iceland: Five Things You Need To Know
An Icelandic Soundtrack for an Icelandic Road Trip
Set your road trip to the sounds of Iceland's musicians: 
. Bjork - Needing no introduction, this internationally famous singer and songwriter is known for her eclectic style
. Kaleo - A rock band with a distinctive sound, influenced by blues and folk music, and featured in the series Vinyl
. Emiliana Torrini - An artist with a unique sound and musical style, known internationally for performing Gollum's Song in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
. Of Monsters and Men - A five-member folk-rock band, with a few hits in their cache, including the hit single Little Talks
wknd@khaleejtimes.com