Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LONG WEEKEND REMIX: THE DIAMOND CIRCLE
Perfectly positioned between North America and Europe, Iceland has become the itdes-
tination for a cool weekend getaway. The constant stream of tourists has turned the
three-day Reykjavík-Golden Circle-Blue Lagoon trip into a well-worn circuit, so why not
blaze a new trail and tackle Iceland's northern triangle of stunning attractions: Mývatn,
Húsavík and Akureyri. It's less legwork than you think - when you land at Keflavík Interna-
tional Airport, catch a connecting flight to Akureyri (you may need to travel to the capit-
al's domestic airport). And to make things even simpler, here's a handy planner.
DAY 1: AKUREYRI
Jump-start your visit to the north with something quintessentially Icelandic: horse riding.
Trust us: these aren't your usual horses. Then, a half-day is plenty of time to bop around
the streets of the city centre. Or for those who can withstand another plane ride, spend
the afternoon on Grímsey, Iceland's only slice of the Arctic Circle. For dinner, a good op-
tion is Strikið or Rub23, followed by a night out on the town.
DAY 2: HÚSAVÍK & AROUND
In the morning, head to Húsavík. First, swing by the Húsavík Whale Museum for a bit of
background info, then hop aboard a whale-watching tour. Consider heading east for a
walk among the canyon walls of Ásbyrgi, check out the roar of thunderous Dettifoss, then
recount your whale tales over dinner back at Naustið in Húsavík.
DAY 3: MÝVATN
For those of you who have been drooling over the photos of Iceland's turquoise-tinted spa
springs, fret not. Mývatn has its very own version of the Blue Lagoon: the Mývatn Nature
Baths. After a leisurely soak, it's time to get the blood flowing again. A three-hour hike
around eastern Mývatn takes in a smorgasbord of geological anomalies. A stop at stinky
Hverir is a must, and, if time permits, have a wander around the steam vents at Krafla.
Then make your way back to Akureyri to catch your flight, but not before visiting one last
site: the heavenly waterfall Goðafoss.
Blönduós
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