Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.10.2017, Qupperneq 54

Words: Charley Ward
Photos: Art Bicnick

Tucked away on the shores of Lake
Myvatń lies the tiny village of Reyk-
jahlíð, an unassuming, no-frills
place that’s home to only 300 in-
habitants. It has a sleepy charm
that requires you to slow down,
take a few deep breaths, and just be
calm in the moment. The village’s
offerings are modest—in the sum-
mer, there’s a stage for live music,
and a Vínbúðin store will open next
year so you can relax with a beer
without having to fork out at a lo-
cal hotel. Reykjahlíð’s proximity
to Krafla and Myvatń also makes
it a good spot to immerse yourself
in nature.
Stay: Fosshotel & Hlíð
For some hotel comforts, you can
stay in the newly built Fosshotel
Mývatn, just outside of town. For a
budget option, the local campsite
offers a range of options and in-
cludes showers and electricity. For
a more romantic occasion, try one
of the charming wooden cottages
that peek out across the landscape.
Hike: Lake Myvatń
There are many great hiking routes
around Lake Myvatń—pop over
to the local booking centre for
advice and speak to the friendly
owner, Ragnar. For a short hike,
Ragnar recommends a two hour
jaunt round the Krafla geothermal
area and caldera. If you have more
time, hike to Dimmuborgir and
marvel at the erratic volcanic rock
formations. If the lack of trees in
Iceland bothers you, carry on down
to Hofði and take a stroll through
the woods.
Visit: Myvatń
Nature Baths
Often referred to as the Blue La-
goon of the North, the Myvatń Na-
ture Baths are a ten minute drive
out of Reykjahlíð. Comprised of
two warm lagoons, a sauna and
a steamy hot pot, this quiet geo-
thermal bathing area is the per-
fect place to ease your joints after
a hike, take in the expansive views,
and relax with a beer.
Eat: Vogafjós Restaurant
The Vogar family farm has been
passed down through the genera-
tions for over 120 years. In their
café attached to the cowshed, you
can watch the cows being milked,
or go through into the shed and
give them a scratch. The restaurant
prides itself on its homemade se-
lection of healthy Icelandic dishes,
including a variety of cheeses made
with the farm’s own milk. We loved
the pan-fried arctic char with per-
fectly crispy skin and the raw
smoked lamb.
Trip: Sightseeing trips
by plane at Mýflug Air
If you don’t fancy hiking, sight-
see by air instead. These intimate
tours are suitable for two to six
people, and you can pick from six
routes. If there’s something you
want to see that isn’t covered by the
tours, the routes can be modified
to suit your wishes.
See: Krafla Power Plant
This power plant, with its little
red geometric huts, snaking silver
pipes, and plumes of steam, pro-
vides a futuristic pitstop inside the
mostly untamed landscape. Just 15
minutes outside Reykjahlíð you can
view a film about Krafla’s volatile
volcanic history, and learn about
geothermal energy. Alternatively,
try out one of the nearby hikes
across the Leirhnjukur lava field
or Viti explosion crater.
Accommodation provided by:
fosshotel.is
Car provided by:
gocarrental.is
Distance from
Reykjavík:
470 km
54 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 18 — 2017
Reykjahlíð
Town Guide
Nature Hikes, Plane Rides And Cows
How to get there:
Take Route 40 South
How to get there:
Take Route One North