Iceland review - 2014, Síða 88

86 ICELAND REVIEW
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the art of shopping
Overlooking the beautiful Reykjavík Pond, The National Gallery of Iceland is an
essential destination for every art lover. There you will find an inspiring selection of
exhibitions mainly focusing on 19th and 20th century Icelandic art, although inter-
national art is featured as well. After exploring its spacious halls, make sure to stop
by the gallery shop. There, you will find a great selection of art books, catalogues,
cards and posters, published by the National Gallery to complement its exhibitions.
In addition, the museum shop offers a wide range of Icelandic art and design items
allowing for great gifts or souvenirs to bring back home. Open Tuesdays-Sundays, 11
am-5 pm, closed Mondays. listasafn.is
the recipe for a glorious day
Reykjavík Excursions offers a range of exciting day tours, many of which include the
ever popular Golden Circle. Travelers get to visit the erupting hot spring Strokkur at
the Geysir geothermal area, the mighty waterfall Gullfoss, which tumbles 32 meters
down a crevice, and the historically and geologically significant Þingvellir National
Park. In addition to the classic stops, Reykjavík Excursions now takes visitors to the
greenhouses at Friðheimar where they can learn how tomatoes and cucumbers are
grown in a sub-Arctic climate and taste the products.
Also, travelers can include snorkeling in the crystal-clear Silfra lake at Þingvellir,
in a rift between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates, relax in the hot tubs
and natural steam bath of Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths, where locals
have enjoyed the healing powers of the steam coming straight from the ground for
almost a century, explore nature from the back of an Icelandic horse, or feel the
thrill of snowmobiling on Langjökull glacier. For those with little time to spare,
Reykjavík Excursions also offer express afternoon and evening tours. re.is
adventure extraordinaire
Just as one should never have hot chocolate without cream, one should never visit
Iceland without a glacier tour. Mountaineers of Iceland offer tours by snowmobile
and super jeep on Langjökull, the country’s second-largest glacier. Visitors can choose
between different glacier tours or combine them with other destinations. The popular
Pearl Tour includes the Golden Circle—Þingvellir National Park, the erupting hot
spring Strokkur and Gullfoss waterfall—topped off with a cruise on the creamy-white
Langjökull. The Mountaineers’ base camp at the foot of the glacier, including a stor-
age for coveralls, is heated and well-equipped. Guides make sure travelers are warmly
dressed and wearing the necessary safety gear before they head out onto the glacier.
Mountaineers operate open day tours, half-day tours and evening tours as well as
private tailor-made tours for smaller and larger groups, for one, two or more days.
Other destinations include highland reserve Landmannalaugar and volcano Hekla,
forested highland paradise Þórsmörk with a view of Eyjafjallajökull glacier-volcano
and a trip around the volcanic wonderland of Reykjanes peninsula. Every trip with
Mountaineers of Iceland is an adventure worth embarking on. mountaineers.is