Iceland review - 2017, Qupperneq 103

ICELAND REVIEW 101
RAUFARHÓLSHELLIR
A Trip into
Earth’s Creation
WHALES OF ICELAND
Visit an
Underwater World
The lava tunnel Raufarhólshellir is one of Iceland’s biggest lava
tubes, 1,360-m (4,462 ft) long and 10-30-meters (33-98 ft) wide.
Man-made platforms and stone-paved trails make the tunnel
accessible for most adults and children, as long as they wear
sturdy shoes.
Located in a 5,200-year-old lava field, the tunnel offers an
amazing insight into geology. Spectacular lava formations and
colorful layers tell a geological story which the tour guides in-
terpret for visitors.
En route to Þorlákshöfn, the tunnel is merely a 30-minute
drive from Reykjavík, a short drive from Ring Road 1. Parking
and toilet facilities on location.
Year-round hourly tours are offered from 10 am to 5 pm.
Once a day, a slightly more challenging ‘Extreme Tour’ takes
visitors all the way to the bottom of the tunnel, offering more
of a spelunking experience. New facilities open June 1, and to
celebrate, special rates are offered for the summer of 2017.
thelavatunnel.is
With recently renovated facilities, the Whales of Iceland exhi-
bition is like a different world, dominated by whales. It’s de-
signed for all age groups and visitors can download an audio
guide in Icelandic, English or German. Private guides can also
be booked for groups.
Learn all about the different types of whales and their behav-
ioral habits. The exhibition offers multi-user, interactive panels
that react to a huge minke whale model, so visitors can learn all
about its anatomy. And the VR experience allows you to ‘swim
with the whales’—entering the underwater world with virtual re-
ality goggles where the whales might brush against you if they
swim too close and you can take a good long look at each an-
imal, and even make them come to you so that you can learn
more about them.
Located near the harbor in Reykjavík, at Fiskislóð, the exhibi-
tion is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. For more information and
tickets, visit: whalesoficeland.is
SPECIAL PROMOTION Adventure