Getting Around on your Iceland Holidays

?Around? is the right word. There's a great deal to see on and near Iceland's coastlines so you'll find that the coach tours for Iceland holidays won't stray more than eighty kilometres from the sea. Along the coast you might come across a gleaming transparent ice-boulder lying on a coal-black beach. Or you might see waters filled with drifting turquoise tinted icebergs. And the great capital of Reykjavik (a ?must see? on your holidays to Iceland) rests on the glassy waters of Faxafl'i Bay. It is linked to the other cities and the other coastal sights by a huge ring road that threads around the edge of the country.

Since no-one lives far inland there are only a couple of roads that cross the interior, and access to these is seasonal. The coach tours will get you in far enough to visit the sights popular on Iceland holidays, such as the Waterfalls at Gullfoss and the dramatic hot springs at Geysir. But beyond these, Iceland becomes difficult to negotiate. To penetrate the country's inner frontier ? in search of the lava fields, volcanic craters, deserts and mountain scenery ? you'll need to climb aboard a different kind of transport.

Big Wheels and Hooves

This is indeed a country of unusual and extreme landscapes, so the more specialist holidays to Iceland will involve some extreme vehicles to help you see more of it. Many people are mistaken in thinking that the whole of Iceland is buried under a deep wall of snow, but for the parts that really are, you will need a vehicle made for the job.

Commonly, operators of Iceland holidays use specialist 4x4 vehicles known as ?Super Jeeps? to transport visitors between the sights. These are powerful rovers with bulbous wheels that bound and charge through the snow drifts, making the ride as exciting as the scenery. You might drive these inland to the lava fields or through another of the formidable terrains in Iceland. Holidays can be relaxing here too though, with horseback treks for those places hard to reach on foot. Equally, a stroll near the lakes of the Thingvellir National Park suggests a more leisurely pace, and perhaps you'll enjoy a dip into a natural hot pool.

Wings and Fins

Some specialist holidays in Iceland feature a plane tour of the island. This makes it possible to witness the amazing variety of the countryside within a single day. A fly-drive tour can be tailor-made to show the highlights of Iceland, and package holiday itineraries exist which let you see all of the country's regions within two weeks.

Just in case you forget you're on an island, you should include a boat trip. There's Whale Watching from Husavik Harbour, and in the summer months when the fjords are clear of ice, the boats can take you to where the glaciers spill from the land into the sea.

Of course, you may choose not to stay constantly mobile. There's plenty to keep you in Reykjav'k for a few days. But if you still haven't had enough excitement on your Iceland holidays, there are always the snowmobiles to try!