Iceland review - 2015, Side 106

104 ICELAND REVIEW
Iceland’s uninhabited interior is desolate, vast, and teeming with nat-
ural sites to visit. The country’s largest glaciers are the backdrop to
the highlands, which is full of dramatic and wild scenery, cut by end-
less wind and vast expanses of desert and ice. Tourists are treated to
the most unique and unforgiving landscape on the island, complete
with lava fields, challenging hiking routes and towering volcanoes.
ESSENTIAL STOP
Hrauneyjar Guesthouse, which is the last outpost before you enter
the highlands, is a necessary stop on your journey to the center of
Iceland. Visitors can stop to get something to eat, fill up their gas
tank, and buy maps and other essentials at the tourist shop. It’s also
a wonderful place to base your trip to the highlands. The guesthouse
recently underwent an extensive renovation and opened 16 new
rooms, bringing the total number of rooms to 96.
With the addition of the new rooms, Hrauneyjar Guesthouse is
the first all-season hotel in the highlands, and accommodates every
budget. There are three categories of accommodation: level 1 offers
sleeping bag accommodation, level 2 has 10 m2 (108 square feet)
double rooms with private facilities, and level 3 offers bigger rooms
with private bathrooms. Guests also have access to a sauna, pool
table, TV room and a bar.
EXPLORE AND EAT WELL
As the guesthouse is close to a number of natural sites, it also
operates a car rental company that offers jeeps that can navi-
gate the challenging terrain. The Highland Car Rental company
is housed within the guesthouse, providing access to three jeeps
throughout the summer months. It’s important to remember that
some roads require a jeep, so be sure to check out the car rental
offers depending on your itinerary. If you are unsure what you’d
like to see, be sure to stop by the guesthouse’s information cen-
ter for advice and directions before heading out on your journey.
Lava fields, interesting rock formations and looming mountains in
the distance await you.
After a day of exploring, return to Hrauneyjar’s restaurant,
which offers a delicious array of dishes that incorporate local Ice-
landic ingredients. The dish of the day is often fresh fish or lamb,
and there are also savory sandwiches, hearty soups and a vege-
tarian dish of the day on offer. The restaurant is open daily from
11 am to 11 pm and catering is available for large groups.
If you are heading to the highlands, Hrauneyjar Guesthouse is
the perfect spot for all your traveling needs.
hrauneyjar.is
GATEWAY TO
THE HIGHLANDS
Before heading for the rocky and mountainous interior,
with its hot springs and wild rivers, visitors will find the cozy
Hrauneyjar Guesthouse: the gateway to it all.
SPECIAL PROMOTIONSOUTH ICELAND