Iceland review - 2015, Page 88

86 ICELAND REVIEW
Soaking in Style
Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths are located right on the black beach of
Laugarvatn Lake, which is boiling hot in places due to geothermal activity. An
hour’s drive from Reykjavík, Laugarvatn Fontana is a must-stop on the popular
Golden Circle route. Laugarvatn Fontana’s steam rooms are built over a boiling
hot spring which has been used for this purpose for over 80 years. Elegantly reno-
vated, the steam rooms have special grates in the floor allowing guests to see, hear
and smell the natural hot spring. A Finnish-style sauna has also been added to the
area, along with a series of interconnected baths and natural pools of various
temperatures and depths, ideal for the entire family to relax or play. A refreshing
swim in Laugarvatn completes the bathing experience. As swimming heightens
the appetite, you can spontaneously decide to try the freshly-made delicacies in
the in-house buffet, available daily at noon and in the evening. fontana.is
Explore the Origins of Icelandic Culture
At The Settlement Exhibition visitors can experience the settlement of Iceland
in the late 9th century through two remarkable exhibitions. The first is based
on archaeological findings from the days of the settlement and the other on
manuscripts documenting the same period, offering an unprecedented view into
the origins of Icelandic culture. The exhibition centers on an excavated site, the
actual remains of a Viking Age longhouse that have been preserved in-situ. The
second exhibition comprises some of the nation’s most renowned documents,
many of them written in the 12thcentury but relating to events that go back
as far as 874 AD, when the first settlers came to Iceland. The manuscripts are
recognized by UNESCO as having outstanding cultural value. Open 9:00-20:00.
reykjavikcitymuseum.is
BITS & PIECES SPECIAL PROMOTION
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