Iceland: The place to be in 2012
Located just below the Arctic Circle, Iceland is by no means the most northerly landmass on earth. But as a unique and adventurous travel destination, it‘s on top of the world.
Iceland was recently voted as the Top Country in Lonely Planet‘s Readers‘ Choice Best of Travel 2012 awards, edging out second-place Italy by an impressive 19% lead. Lonely Planet readers also picked Reykjavik as the Top City by a sizable margin over the runner-up, Lisbon. This comes just days after National Geographic Traveler magazine named Iceland as one of the Best Trips for 2012.
Of course, our “land of fire and ice” has been no stranger to the travel spotlight in recent years. Following the steep depreciation of Iceland’s currency in 2009, the country was selected as one of Lonely Planet‘s ten Best Value Destinations for 2010 and was called a Destination to Watch in 2010 by USA Today, who also named Iceland as a Top Travel Destination for 2011.
So what’s the big deal? What makes Iceland such an award-winning destination?
Besides the favourable exchange rate for foreign visitors, Iceland offers unsurpassed access to incredible natural phenomena. For example, just an hour’s drive or bus ride from Reykjavik brings you up close to some of the country’s most famous attractions on the Golden Circle route, including the Geysir and Strokkur geysers, the colossal Gullfoss waterfall and the ancient assembly grounds in the tectonic rift valley at Thingvellir National Park.
Also, as mentioned in Lonely Planet, the country is currently undergoing two “maximum cycles”: one that is expected to produce more intense northern lights this winter and one that may result in increased volcanic activity in the coming year. As National Geographic Traveler added, “Recent volcanic eruptions remind us that Iceland is still a country in the making, with changed landscapes that even Icelanders continue to discover.”
And if you don’t feel like venturing out of the city, Reykjavik’s lively downtown offers plenty of charms: a bustling nightlife with a thriving music scene, the new Harpa concert hall, an array of Icelandic design boutiques, thermal swimming pools, a nice walking path by the sea with wonderful mountain views, interesting museums and a surprising assortment of cafes and coffee houses (most of which offer free Wi-Fi). Plus, this city is a blast on New Year’s Eve!
Of course, there are many other reasons to travel to Iceland in 2012 and beyond. Why not discover Iceland’s wonders for yourself?
Get a head start on your 2012 summer holiday with our Early Bird Special, offering a 20% discount through November 30th on all self-drive packages in Iceland with arrival from May to September.
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