Iceland - The Land of Fire and Ice

Iceland is a destination like no other. 

Whilst the name itself conjures up images of snow-covered mountains and glaciers, there is much more to see, learn and do throughout this country. You can enjoy long summer days with nearly 24 hours of sunshine, but that is followed by short winter days with only a few hours of daylight.

Iceland is home to some of the largest glaciers in Europe, plus the world’s most active volcanoes and geothermal wonders. Iceland is not your normal European destination, and that’s its USP.

I went to learn why Iceland has become a rising destination for meetings, events, and incentives, or just to get away from it all...

Why visit?

Despite its proximity to the Arctic Circle and frosty reputation, average winter temperatures in Iceland are similar to New York. However, even in summer, temperatures average around 12 degrees, and with much of Iceland's activities outdoors, it is best to layer up and be prepared. Iceland is just a three-hour flight from London, with no time difference in winter and only 1 hour in summer, making it the perfect short-stay getaway.

What to do?

We had a packed itinerary during our three-day visit with our DMC Atlantik, beginning with a day exploring the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall, or 'The Golden Circle' as it is often known.

These areas are best explored with a guide, who can explain how these natural phenomena occur, although they are certainly striking enough to be appreciated without.

Incentive delegates can play golf, go skiing, hike the mountains, trek through wilderness, go snowboarding, try whale watching, marvel at geysers and, last but not least, swim in the spectacular Blue Lagoon and not have to queue for any of it. That’s one advantage of Iceland being one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.

Here’s our list of things that should make it onto your itinerary:

Geysir Hot Springs

Definitely a site to see with the geyser ‘Strokkur’ erupting every few minutes, shooting columns of piping hot water up to 15-20 metres into the sky. It’s a great picture opportunity and a naturally occurring one, which is now quite rare.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland. The views are incredible, with the waterfall demonstrating the true power and beauty of untouched nature. The waterfall is located in South Iceland and can be seen on the Golden Circle tours. The freshest seafood is another appeal when visiting the southern part of the island.

Snowmobiling on the Glacier

An unforgettable experience! Suit up and ride into the glacier on a snowmobile, where you will encounter the vastness and beauty of the open landscape that is Iceland. Meet your guide at base camp and venture into the wilderness, or opt for an alternative pick-up point, such as Reykjavik, and extend your tour to include multiple sites.

Into the Glacier

Langjökull Glacier offers the extraordinary opportunity to journey inside the glacier through the world's largest man-made ice tunnel. Extending approximately 500 metres into the ice, the tunnels and chambers provide a fascinating insight into the glacier from a completely different perspective.

In addition to offering a unique travel experience, parts of the caves have been excavated to create meeting and event rooms, with many weddings and receptions taking place there in recent years. For a completely different viewpoint, we also explored Langjökull on snowmobiles, which can be rented along with a guide, who will take you through the surreal and stunning landscape above the glacier.

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss Waterfalls

The Hraunfossar is a spectacular yet unusual natural wonder, as the water flows through the lava in streams to create the waterfall and rapids that descend into the river, which is a stunning, glassy blue. This was my favourite ‘site’ as the water was so vibrant and full of life.

4x4 Adventures

A short drive from Reykjavik, you will find the meeting point where your ATV tour will begin. These self-drive vehicles are great fun, taking you over the lava fields and through the mountain valleys to the sea front.

Blue Lagoon

A trip to Iceland is not complete without a visit to the famous Blue Lagoon. Floating in the mineral-rich water is the perfect way to end a trip to Iceland, with an opportunity to try the natural silica mud mask and even enjoy a drink at the swim-up bar. The outdoor spa is surrounded by the rugged natural landscape and is an experience not to be missed when visiting the country.

Northern Lights

Another activity (though more difficult to plan and proving elusive during our trip) is seeing the Northern Lights. These are best seen from September to mid-late March, and several companies offer boat trips and excursions that provide the ultimate way to experience this spectacular light show.

Whale Watching

Getting up close and personal with whales, a whale-watching tour with Whale Safari from the old Reykjavík Harbour is a fantastic way. They offer amazing RIB boat tours that accommodate 12 people each.  The RIB boats can not only travel fast, but also approach the whales without disturbing them too much. The season is from 1st April to 31 October.

Where to Stay

Canopy by Hilton

We stayed at the Canopy hotel; it is ideally located in the centre of Reykjavik at just a short walk from iconic attractions such as Laugavegur (a street known for its shopping), eateries, pubs, Harpa Concert Hall & Convention Centre, as well as Old Reykjavik Harbour, which offers incredible views of Mount Esja and the landmark Hallgrímskirkja Church.

Each Canopy hotel is designed to incorporate the local feel and traditions of the city they are based in. With comfortable accommodation and multiple social areas, Canopy is ideally suited to incentive travellers, but it does offer space to host a small business meeting if required.

Husafell Hotel

For a true taste of rural Iceland, the Husafell Hotel, located 90 minutes north of Reykjavik, is the perfect retreat from the city's vibrancy. Surrounded by mountain ranges and open stretches of land, the hotel offers tranquillity and an escape for any guest wanting to recuperate after a day of activities in the glacier.

In the hotel, you will find the onsite restaurant, which offers local cuisines with a modern take (I sampled the BEST vegetable puree soup I have ever eaten). The hotel also has its own geothermal pool which is open throughout the day and evening. Just float and watch the northern lights dance overhead. 

Meeting Space

Harpa Concert Hall

Björtuloft is an elegant two-level event space with panoramic views across Reykjavík and the harbour. It can accommodate up to 130 guests for a seated dinner or up to 200 for a standing reception, with a balcony providing additional outdoor space and spectacular views.

The space is surrounded by glass and has a beautiful panoramic view over Reykjavik.

Additional exhibition space is also available at the entrance of the conference hall and can then continue along the ground-floor-to-first-floor stairs.

The venue is one of Reykjavik’s greatest landmarks, located by the picturesque harbour in the city centre, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the North Atlantic Ocean. Harpa offers conference rooms of various sizes; the largest, Eldborg, seats 1,200 guests.

In terms of nightlife, Reykjavik has a lot to offer. Bars are often packed, particularly on weekends, and nobody raises an eyebrow if people start dancing on tables or playing instruments along with the songs. Restaurants and cafes also tend to offer live music, turning into nightclubs as the evening draws on. Although it is easy to stumble into a great bar or pub, with many hidden gems, some of the most renowned venues are Kaffibarinn, Club Kiki and Ölstofa.

Where to entertain your clients? Look no further. H.

Unsurprisingly, fish forms a large part of most Icelandic restaurant menus; however, lamb is also a popular local dish. For a truly Icelandic experience, try Frakkar, which serves dishes like local dishes like Catfish. A particular highlight during our visit was the restaurant at Hotel Husafel, for amazing food in a spectacular setting.

Matarkjallarinn restaurant

Enjoy truly exquisite cuisine that caters to everyone’s palate in this rustic, comfortable yet sophisticated underground restaurant, and be entertained by pianists while you dine. The restaurant uses fresh ingredients and flavour combinations that would not be described as traditional, but undeniably they light up all the senses for a truly enjoyable dining experience.

Iceland is an exceptional incentive destination and, with demand particularly strong during peak periods, early planning is highly recommended for groups.

This visit was hosted by our Iceland DMC, Atlantik DMC.