GET TO KNOW ICELAND when travelling in Iceland due to natural hazards Iceland is an amazing country filled with beautiful caused by weather and nature, where conditions can nature, wonderful food, and inspiring art and culture. change at a moment´s notice. The country is sometimes described as a land of Always wear layers. The Icelandic weather can change contrasts, which becomes evident when travelling very quickly, stay one step ahead.If you´re planning through different parts of the country. With more than to visit a glacier, make sure you go with a certified half of its 330.000 inhabitants living in the capital guide. The ice is constantly changing so it´s wise to city, the country remains largely uninhabited. The know where to step. If you´re driving in highways make country is typically divided into different geographical sure you´re fully prepared by looking ahead into road regions. Each region differs in respect of culture and conditions and weather forecast, and always drive landscape, but all are uniquely Icelandic. Learn more according to circumstances. If you´re travelling further about the different regions of Iceland and what makes out into the wilderness we recommend you rent a them special. personal location beacon, it can send an emergency signal from anywhere in Iceland. DRIVING Visit www.safetravel.is to make sure you have a safe Route No. 1, the Ring Road around Iceland, is 1,332 km adventure in Iceland. (827 mi). The general speed limit is 50 km/h in urban areas, 80 km/h on gravel roads in rural areas, TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY and 90 km/h on asphalt roads. All mountain roads Icelandic nature is a continuous source of inspiration and roads in the interior of Iceland have loose gravel for locals and visitors alike. But while our volcanos, surface, so drive carefully. The mountain roads can be geothermal areas and lava fields may seem rugged quite narrow and are not made for speeding. The same and tough, they´re actually quite vulnerable. Here are goes for some single-lane bridges. Many mountain a few tips on how to travel responsibly in Iceland: roads may be impassable in winter time. All off-road Don´t drive off the road. It is forbidden and punishable. driving is strongly prohibited, and punishable by law. And even worse, it will leave a mark on nature for Information on road conditions can be found on centuries. www.road.is. RESPECT NATURE. DRESS APPROPRIATELY Never walk or jump on the moss, it takes decades to Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Iceland enjoys a cool, grow back. Keep to the paths... to protect nature – and temperate maritime climate; cool in summer and you. Always use official campsites, we´ve got over 200. mild in winter. However, the weather can change Don´t build cairns. The cairns in the nature have been without notice, and tourists should prepare for the there for centuries so travelers don´t get lost. unexpected. When travelling to Iceland you should bring a lightweight woolens, a sweater or cardigan, TRAVEL TO ICELAND a rainproof coat and sturdy walking shoes. Travelers Several international airlines maintain regular who are camping or heading into the interior will need scheduled flights to Iceland from Europe and North- warm underwear and socks, rubber boots and a warm America. Flight time from North-America can be sleeping bag. down to 5-6 hours and from Europe 3-4 hours. Smyril Line maintains a regular scheduled cruise- and car- STAY SAFE ferry service with the MS Norröna between Iceland Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world. and Europe. Crime rate is extremely low and medical care is excellent. However, it is necessary to take precaution WEST ICELAND WEST ICELAND West Iceland is a world where culture, nature and history complement MAJOR ATTRACTIONS each other, creating a unique experience. This vast area consists of Hraunfossar, Glymur, fjords, valleys, craters, glaciers and volcanoes and the highest waterfall Kirkjufell, Snæfellsjökull in Iceland Glymur less than an hour from Reykjavík. Visit the homestead and Eiríksstaðir of medieval writer Snorri Sturluson at Reykholt, and see the man-made geothermal bath in which he must have often allowed his mind to wander. MAJOR TOWNS Or learn about the awe-inspiring Viking poet Egill Skallagrímsson. Akranes, Borgarnes and Stykkishólmur These are only a few examples of the interesting sites that can be found all over West Iceland, where nature is inextricably linked to the story of MORE INFO the people. Just look around, history is everywhere to be discovered. The west.is magnificent landscape and wildlife at Snæfellsjökull National Park. The westiceland mystical volcano Snæfellsjökull Glacier has inspired artists and poets westIceland through the centuries, being one of seven greatest energy centres on westiceland Earth. Snæfellsjökull is the setting of Jules Verne’s Journey to the center westIceland of the Earth. Snæfellsnes offers beautiful nature and was given the Earth Check award for being a sustainable community in 2008. From Snæfellsnes you can cross over to Dalir, cradle of the great explorers Eirík the Red and his son, Leif the Lucky, the first European to set foot in America. The short distances between popular destinations make it possible to enjoy the area at a comfortable pace all year round, so remember to slow down in West Iceland. TRENDING ENJOY THE SAGAS The Icelandic Sagas come alive in West Iceland, where some of the most heroic tales take place. History is celebrated in various exhibitions around the region. The Settlement Centre in Borgarnes documents the early days of Iceland and events from the Sagas. In Reykholt, you will find Snorrastofa, a museum dedicated to the writer Snorri Sturluson, author of Prose-Edda. Also in the region is the museum at Eiríksstaðir, the birthplace of Leifur Eiríksson, who first discovered America. CAVES OF WEST ICELAND West Iceland offers unique opportunities for cave exploration. Viðgelmir Cave is the largest lava tube in Iceland, about 1600 m long and about 16 metres at its higest and widest point. Vatnshellir cave is located in the national park of Snæfellsjökull and is the entrance to the centre of the Earth in the novel Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864) by Jules Verne. Close by, in Hallmundarhraun you will find the caves Surtshellir and Stefánshellir. IMPRESSIVE WATERFALLS Glymur is Iceland’s tallest waterfall. It is located in Botnsdalur valley in Hvalfjörður. Leading up to it is a fabulous hiking path that should only be attempted by those not daunted by heights or challenging hikes. Expect to spend some 3-4 hours of hiking. Note it can be really difficult to hike in the winter. Close by is Hraunfossar, a series of waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming over a distance of about 900 meters out of the Hallmundarhraun. DEILDARTUNGUHVER Deildartunguhver is Europe’s most powerful hot spring. It provides 180 l/sec of 100°C hot water. Most of the water used for central heating in the towns of Borgarnes and Akranes comes from Deildartunguhver. The hot water pipeline to Akranes is 64 km long, the longest in Iceland and the water is about 78 - 80 degrees when it reaches Akranes. If you take a shower anywhere within a 65 km radius of the spring, you have already bathed in the hot water from this powerful spring. HÚSAFELL AND SURROUNDINGS The pristine surroundings in Húsafell have made it a popular summer destination for locals, but with more options for winter activities and accommodations in the area, the place is catching on as a tourist destination. Artist Páll Guðmundsson is a local treasure, and easy access to the highlands, caving and the Langjökull glacier have made it one of the hottest plaes to visit in Iceland. WEST ICELAND TOP 5 LANGJÖKULL GLACIER Langjökull Glacier (The Long Glacier) is the second largest glacier in Iceland (950 km2). It rises to about 1300 meters and the icecap is more than 500 metres thick. The glacier is surrounded by beautiful mountains and valleys, and two glacial rivers flow from underneath the glacier. Since 2015, it is possible to explore the glacier from the inside, through a large tunnel that has been dug into the glacier. It is a unique opportunity to experience a glacier, inside out. THE PICTURESQUE WEST If you are looking for the perfect shot, Kirkjufell (463m) is a beautifully shaped, symmetrical, free standing mountain. Standing next to the Kirkjufellsfoss, you get a great view off the mountain, which holds the title ‘Iceland’s most photographed mountain.’ Another popular destination for photographers is the lighthouse in Akranes. Down by the harbour you will notice the two lighthouses that have inspired great photos in the past. The bigger one is currently in use and is open to the public. So you can go up and enjoy the view from there. BREIÐAFJÖRÐUR Breiðarfjörður has around 3,000 islands, islets and skerries. One of them is Flatey, an island which is really worth visiting. Several geothermal sites can be found like the beautiful basalt columns. There are around 50 breeding bird species including Common Shag, Glaucous Gull, White-tailed Eagle, Common Eider, Black Guillemot and Grey Phalarope. The area is important staging area for the Brent goose and the Red Knot. The Common Seal and the Grey Seal have their main haul-out on the islands and the skerries. SNÆFELLSJÖKULL NATIONAL PARK Snæfellsjökull Glacier is 1446m above sea level. The glacier is an active volcano, having been built up through numerous eruptions during the last 800,000 years. Snæfellsjökull is a part of the Snæfellsjökull National Park which was established on June 28, 2001.