Iceland: Land of fire and ice

The March issue of National Geographic has a 28-page article on Iceland with outstanding photographs to whet your appetite for this North Atlantic country that so few people know. Maybe this is the year to explore this land of spectacular natural wonders.

The optimum time to visit Iceland is from April through October, with the best rates being in April, May, September and October when discounts are offered. Iceland awakens in spring with an array of unusual events, including the Reykjavik Arts Festival, Festival of the Sea, Rite of Spring (a music festival that focuses on the cutting edge folk, jazz and world music) and bird watchers and naturalists flock to Westman Island (20 miles south of Iceland) to view the return of the puffins from their long winter at sea. You can take in all these events if you visit in May.

For the golfer, who wants "bragging rights about where you have played golf," tee off at midnight in the "Artic Open." The 36-hole tournament, for amateurs and professionals, will be June 26 to 28 this year, on one of the world's northernmost golf courses.

Remember that if you choose Icelandair to Europe you can stopover in Iceland for up to seven days at no extra charge. There are two night packages for as little as $99 per person. This rate covers transfers, hotel, taxes and breakfast. You can add a variety of activities, such as a visit to the geothermal Blue Lagoon, gourmet dining or a car, to customize your stay.

This is an ideal destination for nature lovers, including horse riders. There are guided tours of varying lengths featuring horseback riding. They cover myriad sightseeing options and attract riders of differing skill levels. If horseback riding isn't your pleasure consider a fly-drive package, which for six days would cost about $1,249 per person. In six days you might experience the best that Reykjavik (the major city) has to offer and journey along the serene southern coast to view majestic cliffs, cascading waterfalls, caves, black lava beaches and an ocean that seems to stretch forever. You will want to leave time to relax in the world famous thermal waters of the Blue Lagoon.

For a circle island tour you would plan on a vacation of at least eight to 10 days as the diversity and natural wonders of this land are so great you will want to experience them all. You can look forward to the wilderness beauty of canyons, deserts, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, geysers, volcanoes, lava flows, and glaciers. Imagine visiting an ancient turf-roofed farmhouse, once a Viking-aged homestead and now a museum, the largest single lava flow in recorded history, and the most powerful hot springs in the world. Guided tours, as well as packages that allow you to go at your own pace can be arranged by your travel professional.

This island country, of fire and ice, will captivate all your senses and capture your heart. Put this destination on your list of must see places.

Melanie Chambers, CTC, is a travel consultant for Battlefield Travel in downtown Culpeper. She can be reached at 825-1393 or .