Iceland adventure travel: Outdoor activities in Iceland

Iceland is a country of extremes: it has a fiery volcanic centre, consistently blowing out hot water, in contrast to its several glaciers and freezing temperatures. In Iceland adventure travel provides a series of challenges: With four hours of daylight in the winter and 24-hour daylight in summer, outdoor activities in Iceland are limited, but only if you don’t plan effectively. This ... +Iceland is a country of extremes: it has a fiery volcanic centre, consistently blowing out hot water, in contrast to its several glaciers and freezing temperatures. In Iceland adventure travel provides a series of challenges: With four hours of daylight in the winter and 24-hour daylight in summer, outdoor activities in Iceland are limited, but only if you don’t plan effectively. This place makes for a really interesting visit without even trying any adrenaline-pumping sports.

Iceland is a European country, found in the North Atlantic Ocean. The majority of the country is a plateau; the remainder is mountainous highlands and glaciers. There are three major glaciers: Vatnajokull, Langjokull and Hofsjokull with several smaller ones covering about 11 per cent of the land. While some of the country rests 100m below sea level, the highest point of this geologically youthful island is just over 2000m. Across Iceland adventure travel is a series of natural challenges.The bays and fjords make its coastline a tempting feature, and the many glacial rivers running from the highlands to the ocean are among the wildest in Europe

While its position would suggest a sub-polar climate, the North Atlantic current helps to warm the coastal areas, bringing it more temperate conditions and increasing the variety of outdoor activities in Iceland. The south has milder temperatures but is windier than other areas. The north is the most likely to experience snow, yet the coldest place is the central highlands.

So much of the country is inhospitable that residential areas have grown around the coast, with the majority of settlements in the south-west. Most people start their Iceland adventure travel in the capital, Reykjavik. The airport at Keflavic is slightly further south. Other major towns include Borganes in the west, Isafjordhur and Saudharkrokur in the north and Egilsstadhir in the east. The main method of transport is by car and a circular route allows access around the whole of the coast.

There are so many outdoor activities in Iceland available here that you could soon see the country from every aspect imaginable. To test your water skills take a kayak tour in Lake Pingvellir or along the fjords to catch some of the most amazing lava formations in the ice. A more tumultuous journey can be had by travelling in a canoe along the rapids. Quad biking takes you further into the mountains faster than anything else, but be sure to hold on tight. Multi Activity breaks give you the chance to totally relax on holiday while the entire organisation of activities is taken care of. This way you can enjoy everything and miss nothing.

It would be strange to take an Iceland adventure travel holiday and not visit the hot springs and the Great Geyser. While this particular geyser is no longer active, there are plenty of others nearby.

Iceland is an adventurer’s dream. Its remote location offers some of the most extreme landscapes, some of which have been turned into a playground of activities to test even the most daring. -

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