If you have travelled to Iceland and you never left the capital city of Reykjavik, you have only seen one of the two Icelands.
Yes, there are two Icelands and they are like twin, beautiful, yet antithetical daughters. One is cool, chic and a little shallow. She’s the kind of woman you might pick up in a bar – exciting but brief, that’s Reykjavik. The other is mysterious, deep and earthy. She is unyielding and does not give herself over easily. She is the kind you marry, that’s the other Iceland.
Reykjavik. It’s quaint and interesting with lots of old buildings to see and explore. It is also modern and lively, with a rather infamous nightlife. The downtown main thoroughfare, a street called Laugavegur is very nice, with lots of pedestrian activity, shops, bars and the like. It’s worth seeing and experiencing, no doubt. But, Reykjavik is fairly small as capital cities go and one could see most of it in a weekend.
What is truly unique about Iceland, is that which lies outside of the capital; it’s the other Iceland and it is the real reason why Iceland is such a gem. The total population of the entire country is approximately 320,000, two thirds of which live in Reykjavik. That means that the rest of the country is open space – clean, beautiful and exotic open space with natural wonders at almost every bend of the road.
For most of us getting away from it all is quite a chore. In Iceland it is as easy to access as a Sunday drive. Out in the country, you’ll see few cars and few people. What you will see is an unspoiled land filled with natural wonders. This other Iceland is a place where time slows down a bit. A place where you can acquaint yourself with nature as it was. A place you can still drink water from a stream.
And, the beauty of Iceland is that it is not as far away as you think. It is not yet a mainstream destination for the hordes of hungry global tourists. So, if you go, spend a little time in Reykjavik, than treat yourself by spending more of your precious time in the other Iceland. Rent a car, travel the ring road, stay at guesthouses, go horseback riding, walk on a glacier – soak it up.
If you want you want a little more structure and local knowledge, book an Iceland tour with one of the many tour operators. There are all kinds of fun adventure-type tours for your choosing: 4×4 tours, mountain climbing, ice climbing, trekking – whatever moves you. The main thing is do yourself a favor and see the ‘other’ Iceland. Just skip the bus tour, you won’t find her there.
