Few countries are as synonymous with adventure as Iceland. Its unique volcanic and glacier-laced geology practically provided the template for the fantasy genre. J.R.R. Tolkien drew heavily from the Icelandic sagas as he imagined Lord of the Rings. George R.R. Martin’s television series Game of Thrones chose nearly 20 of the island’s geological wonders as shooting locations.
The show’s popularity set the country’s tourism industry ablaze, and The Telegraph reported in 2019 that over HBO’s run, visitor numbers surged “from just 500,000 in 2010 to around 2.2 million in 2018 — an increase of 340%.”
While we can’t confirm the total who journeyed to battle White Walkers, many have come seeking Iceland’s adventure offerings. According to the Icelandic Tourism Board, 53.1% of 2023 travelers reported that “nature-based recreation” greatly influenced their decision to visit, while another 26.8% said it played “somewhat” of a factor. From untracked ski mountains to world-famous hot springs, the Land of Fire and Ice features adventures of every temperature. Here are three ways to jump in.
Do It Yourself
Since Iceland’s landmass is roughly the size of Maine, a traveler could venture to most corners of the country in less than a couple of weeks. Merely driving through the topography is an adventure, as volcanic and glacial events have created one of Earth’s most spectacular works of art. Two well-established driving routes can simplify your trip: the 821-mile-long Ring Road and the 190-mile Golden Circle. If you travel these main roads, you can tick off many of Iceland’s greatest hits, but opportunities to explore deeper cuts also abound.
Heading south from Reykjavik, the Golden Circle is the first major detour off the Ring Road. Its shape is closer to a triangle, however, and it features three major points of interest: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir and the Golden Falls of Gullfoss. At Thingvellir, you can walk through the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, which are still drifting apart at the speed of about 0.8 inches per year. If you’d like to take Thingvellir to its greatest depths, snorkel or scuba dive through the Silfra Fissure in Thingvellir Lake. Created by earthquakes, Silfra is one of the deepest fractures along the tectonic border, and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors rates it as one of the world’s top dive sites due to its rock formations and vibrant algae colors, including the filamentous green “troll hair” that clings to the rock like wispy strands upon a balding head.
The Ring Road generally follows Iceland’s coastline, especially south and east of Reykjavik. Just a few of the wonders along this stretch include the stunning Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, as well as Reynisfjara Beach, with its cliffs and caves of basalt column formations and the monolithic Reynisdrangar sea stacks. At Seljalandsfoss, the water cascades for 130 feet out over a hollowed cliff, and visitors can walk comfortably behind the falls. If you follow the cliff line — another tectonic rift similar to that in Thingvellir — you’ll find a stream flowing out from a crevice in the rock. It’s a short walk through the water and into the cavern that houses the hidden waterfall of Gljúfrabúi, which roughly translates to “one who lives in the canyon.”
While you should explore Iceland’s famous adventure spots along the Ring Road, it’s also easy and fun to branch off and wander local routes through picturesque hamlets such as the fishing town of Eyrarbakki. Google Maps can be your friend for these excursions as it can show places such as the Black Sand Dunes in Thorlakshofn. Off Route 34 on the south coast, this spot is unlikely to appear on any tour websites, but it’ll make you feel like you’re walking on the dark side of the moon. Pay attention as you navigate, though, because there’s hardly any signage.
Trust in Guides
Depending on your appetite for exploration, do-it-yourself adventures will take you only so far. If you’re seeking action sports, proximity to active volcanos or expeditions into ice caves, you’ll want to work with an agency and/or hire a guide. Not only will guides provide you with access to more remote areas, but they’ll also help keep you safe in terrain that can quickly turn dangerous.
If you want to get deep into the mountains, consider connecting with Jökull Bergmann, founder and owner of Bergmenn Mountain Guides and Arctic Heli Skiing Iceland (AHS). Bergmann’s name, translated from Icelandic, is “glacier mountain man,” and he jokes that he was born into his chosen profession and passion. He is also Iceland’s first certified member of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations — and all six of the country’s certified guides work for his companies. Bergmann operates in the Troll Peninsula of northeast Iceland, and a 45-minute flight from Reykjavik to Akureyri will get you started. From there, it’s a 55-minute drive north to the AHS headquarters near Dalvik.
While the Ring Road is one of the country’s most popular tourist routes, only a small number of travelers visit Iceland to ski, according to tourism board data. That said, the Troll Peninsula is the epicenter of both backcountry and heli-ski action. It’s also Bergmann’s backyard. For many generations, his family raised sheep at its farm outside of Dalvik. “That’s where I grew up, chasing their woolly coats, barely visible against the persistent blanket of snow,” he says. “Today, I run a heli-ski lodge on that same plot of land and lead ski touring trips all over the island.”
As the first operators in the region, Bergmann and his team established exclusive access to their favorite terrain and runs, many of which are “ski to sea.” Some of the descents will transport skiers more than 4,000 feet through pristine snow. According to the AHS website, 90% of Troll Peninsula and Hidden Land’s mountains are skiable, meaning there are not many cliff faces or flat spots. The mountains are a mix of steep couloirs, faces and wide-open glacier runs. Now add the fact that you’ll ski at a latitude of 66 degrees north, just about 25 miles south of the Arctic Circle, near the Arctic Ocean.
Sail with The Ritz-Carlton
If you seek to explore Iceland in utter luxury, book a voyage with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The trip that sets the brand apart by focusing entirely on Iceland is the Reykjavik/Reykjavik tour, a circumnavigation on the 2024-debuted Ilma that docks in seven locations over seven nights.
Each stop provides guests with a menu of excursions, beginning on the first day in the capital city, when you can opt to tour the Golden Circle, take a four-wheel-drive adventure through the powder or saddle up a snow scooter to traverse a glacier. On day three, you’ll visit the Arctic Circle. The next day, in Akureyri, you’ll have the choice of six activities, including riding Icelandic horses, zipping off in a rigid inflatable boat to spy on whales or exploring some of the area’s natural gems such as Lake Mývatn and Godafoss, the “waterfall of the gods.”
The Ritz-Carlton offers the Reykjavik/Reykjavik itinerary in August when the weather is generally more favorable and the days are still long. Ilma, which joins a fleet that includes the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Evrima, offers several on-board distractions, too, in the form of exquisite dining, a full spa and a pool with a bar.
