ICELAND
Iceland is an otherworldly place of fire and ice. With some of the world’s most spectacular natural sights from vast flat landscapes to gargantuan cliffs, this is a paradise for anyone who loves the great outdoors and a foreign adventure. Rainbow-arched waterfalls cleave mountains with snow-capped peaks. Rugged fjords and lush valleys lace the countryside, and peninsulas reach their fingers toward the Arctic circle. Thingvellir National Park sits on the edge of two continents while Iceland’s still-active Hekla Volcano is a fiery counterpoint to the chilly splendor of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier also known as the Water Glacier. Here, the forces of nature have created a volatile playground where you can swim outdoors in a snowstorm in geothermal pools, trek across a mossy lava field or power a skidoo over an icy glacier. Go whale-watching off Snaefellness or swim in the Atlantic at Nauthólsvík, Reykjavik’s heated ocean beach.
Iceland’s Viking spirit is reflected in its friendly, independent people, making this a journey not to be missed, and travel between June and August tends to be the most popular times with visitors. June offers 24 hours of Arctic daylight, while July and August are the warmest months with the best chances for good weather. Or, sneak in to one of Iceland’s luxury hotels before snowfall and avoid crowds from mid-September to mid-October, when you also have an excellent chance of catching the Northern Lights.