September 7th, 2011
Newsweek Magazine – Iceland’s Culture Palace by Judith H. Dobrzynski.“To the Blue Lagoon, where tourists discover the joys of soaking in warm, mineral-laden seawater, and to the island’s strange but beautiful terrain, Harpa adds a cultural dimension to Iceland’s appeal.” Read More
Budget Travel Sept issue
The Sweet Spot Iceland “The greenish glow begins dancing over over the lava fields north of Reykjavik come fall, and this year the northern lights are expected to burn even more brightly than usual.”
Canadian Living – Journey to Iceland – A nature-lover’s dream by Natalie Bahadur “Boasting volcanoes, mountains, glaciers, nearby islands, the Northern Lights and the Blue Lagoon, Mother Nature pulled out all the stops here. Iceland is a home of elf folklore and traditional charm that make the trip here interesting and unique.” Read More
Toronto Star – John Arkelian Iceland’s World of Snow and Fire “I experience such awe again at the celebrated Blue Lagoon. Its alien landscape stretches as far as the eye can see — lava rock, piled as high as a tall man and lightly sprinkled with moss and lichens.” Read More
Tags: Iceland in the Media, Iceland in the news, news
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September 7th, 2011
HOT Deal from Icelandair: Iceland Northern Lights & Glacier Walk
From $675 includes round-trip air, 3 nights hotel, glacier walk, Northern Lights & lobster, and luxurious spa visit. Oh my! Details at www.icelandair.us.
HOT Deal from Iceland Travel: $100 Off Per Person Self Drive Tours in September & October
Experience all the wonders of south and west Iceland, including hot spring areas, mystical glaciers and picturesque waterfalls. 6 Nights / 7 Days. www.icelandtravel.is
HOT Deal from Iceland Tours: Northern Lights Splendor from $143 Per Person
Come and enjoy Reykjavik this autumn! Experience the pure energy from the boiling thermal underground, the beautiful landscapes and fun-filled nightlife. www.icelandtours.is
Tags: Travel Deals
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September 7th, 2011
Rettir is an Icelandic farming tradition and a fun attraction for natives and visitors alike. Participants spend several days in some of the wildest landscapes of Iceland, bringing in sheep and horses that have spent the summer roaming free in the highlands.
The animals are collected together by a long line of horsemen which can extend to more than 20 miles, and driven down to the lowlands to be claimed by their owners. Spectators arrive early to watch the show and participate. The sheep bleat loudly as people squeeze between them, grab their horns, mount them and drag them into the relevant corral.
After all the sheep have been categorized the farmers have a cup of coffee and a slice of cake. In the meantime spectators walk among the sheep, pet them, admire their colors, and children chase the sheep around and ride their backs. Rettir is a time to time to fall in love, tell stories about elves, and experience Viking culture.
Tags: Rettir
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September 7th, 2011
For the past several weeks, our inbox has been flooded with photos from Iceland Naturally Facebook fans eager to win a trip to Iceland Airwaves. After receiving tons of submissions, it is time to select a winner! We have chosen the most creative finalists but are turning to you to determine who is number one.
Visit Iceland Naturally’s Facebook page to view all ten finalists and vote for who you think should win a free vacation to one of the premier music festivals in Europe.
The winner will be announced on Tuesday, September 13, so be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to find out if your favorite won. You will also be the first to receive exclusive announcements and other exciting contests and promotions from Iceland Naturally.
Check out the finalists here – and get voting!
Tags: contest, Facebook, Iceland Airwaves, photo contest, twitter
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September 7th, 2011
For those in the know, Iceland is an up and coming foodie destination boasting the freshest seafood imaginable, organic fruits and vegetables grown in geothermally heated greenhouses, and of course the exquisite Icelandic lamb praised by chefs around the world. The Reykjavik Real Food Festival is a new celebration of Iceland’s food culture and takes place for the first time in Reykjavik September 14-18th.
Experience Icelandic cuisine made from the freshest harvest straight from the farm, feast on special festival menus at restaurants throughout Reykjavik, and meet farmers at the market and experience Icelandic culture through various events and food happenings. For further information visit the official Reykjavik Real Food Festival website www.fullborgmatar.is.
Tags: festival, food, Reykjavik
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June 8th, 2011
Viking Festival (June 16–19)
The Viking Village in Hafnarfjordur town hosts a Solstice Festival with Viking clothing, instruments, jewlery, crafts, and of course plenty of food and drink. www.fjorukrain.is
Icelandic Independence Day (June 17)
Parades and events are held throughout the country, culminating in a spectacular fireworks show. www.visitreykjavik.is
Summer Solstice (June 21)
Gatherings around Reykjavik celebrate the magic of the midnight sun on the longest day of the year. www.visitreykjavik.is
Arctic Open Golf Tournament (June 23-25)
Iceland has over 50 golf courses throughout the island, many with outstanding views. Golf can be played in Iceland from May through September, with 24-hour golf available in high summer due to the midnight sun. The town of Akureyri hosts the northernmost golf tournament in the world June 23-25.
www.arcticopen.is
Landsmot National Horse Show of Iceland (June 26- July 3)
The Landsmot horse show is a world-renowned celebration of the Icelandic horse. Superb Viking horses and riders demonstrate their capabilities during competitions and show events.
www.landsmot.is
Tags: Arctic Open Golf Tournament, festival, golf, Icelandic Independence Day, Landsmot National Horse Show of Iceland, summer, Summer Solstice, Viking Festival
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June 8th, 2011
TripAdvisor Ranks Reykjavik a Top Destination in Europe for 2011: “We appreciate Reykjavik’s open-minded and energetic culture that includes a hip and internationally recognized music and arts scene, great food and notoriously ‘enthusiastic’ nightlife.” Read More
National Post – Iceland Express Flights from Winnipeg: Now With a Lot More Rock & Roll by Karen Burshtein: “This year, the company is relaunching Winnipeg service with a marketing idea that could conceivably make more noise than an erupting volcano: Iceland Express has hired Bruce Dickinson, front man for heavy metal band Iron Maiden, to pilot some of the Winnipeg-Reykjavik flights on the company’s latest acquisition, a Boeing 757.” Read More
CNN International – World’s 10 Most Exotic Wellness Retreats by Anthea Gerrie: On the Blue Lagoon “This full-service indoor-outdoor spa is built atop the largest of the country’s many natural hot springs, and lies conveniently halfway between the airport and the capital, Reykjavik.” Read More
TIME Magazine – High Above the Glacier by Vaughn Wallace: “Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson has spent years photographing Iceland’s volcanoes. His images of last year’s Eyjafjallajokull eruption were featured prominently in the pages of TIME.” Read More
CBS News – The Early Show – Six New Superfoods You’ll Want to Try: “Skyr is the new Greek yogurt. It’s Icelandic yogurt, which is strained in a way that makes it even thicker and higher in protein than Greek yogurt. One six ounce serving packs 17 grams of protein, compared to about 15 in Greek yogurt and about eight in traditional yogurt.” Read More
The Wall Street Journal – Adventures, with Children – Break Out of the Theme Parks and All-Inclusives-Rut with Real World Excursions that Will Thrill the Whole Brood by Jane Margolies: “Exploding geysers, erupting volcanoes and steaming rivers give this North Atlantic country a ‘Lord of the Rings’ quality that appeals to kids.” Read More
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June 8th, 2011
The sun is high and the days are long…with three air carriers flying to Iceland this season, Delta, Iceland Express and Icelandair, it’s not too late to book your dream summer vacation to Iceland. Check out these hot deals and new travel offers…
NEW from Icelandic Mountain Guides: Golden Circle Tour with Glacier Walk
The Golden Circle is Iceland’s most popular tour encompassing three must-see sights: Golden Falls, Geysir Geothermal Area & Thingvellir National Park of geological wonders. Icelandic Mountain Guides have added a new twist to this old favorite with a boat ride on a glacial lagoon and a walk on Langjokull glacier. www.mountainguides.is
NEW from Husavik Whale Watching with North Sailing: Touch the Arctic Circle and Experience Magnificent Whales
Edge of the Arctic: This new tour offered out of northern Iceland includes two days on a beautiful schooner with deep sea fishing and fresh catch barbequed on board. There are plenty of opportunites for sighting rare species of whales and the boat crosses into the Arctic Circle. From USD $877 per person. Departs every Wednesday from Jun 15- Aug 17. www.whalewatchinghusavik.is
HOT Deal from Iceland Tours: Special offer on “Around Iceland in a Week” Self-Drive
Iceland Tours is offering a hot deal on their Around Iceland in a Week self-drive tour if booked by June 30th. Select 8, 10 or 14 days with pre-booked accommodations according to your wishes! This is the time to enjoy adventurous Iceland and save as much as $115 pr. person! Prices are from $1315 including 7 nights stay in comfortable accommodations with breakfast and rental car in category A. www.icelandtours.is
HOT Deal from Icelandair: Active City Break
Have fun in Iceland! The Active City Break offer from Icelandair includes round-trip airfare, two nights hotel, whale watching in Reykjavik Harbor, a bike tour, and an Icelandic hotdog! With guaranteed early check in – this offer can’t be beat. Prices start from $649 per person. www.icelandair.us
Tags: travel, Travel Deals, value
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June 8th, 2011
Hotel Loftleidir in Reykjavik is in the process of an extensive refurbishment and will re-open on June 10th with a new look and a completely new name: Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura! The hotel has a new style and atmosphere with nature themed rooms where guests can choose between a stay in moss, glacier, northern-lights, volcano, geothermal and natural water rooms.
The lobby area and spa facilities have been renovated and upgraded to a high class facility. A new restaurant, SATT, will also open on with special emphasis on seasonal, local ingredients. June 10th also sees the opening of Icelandair Hotel Akureyri located in Iceland´s second largest city. For more information: www.icelandairhotels.com
Tags: cuisine, food, Hotel, Hotel Loftleidir, Icelandair, Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura, Reykjavik, spa
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June 8th, 2011
There are plenty of new developments bubbling up at Iceland’s famed Blue Lagoon, the least not being a top ranking by CNN International in the World’s 10 Most Exotic Wellness Retreats.
In addition to the luxurious spa facilities on offer, the Blue Lagoon has now added two new sumptuous buffets to their menu at LAVA restaurant in spectacular surroundings. From June 1st until Aug 31st the breakfast buffet runs from 7:30-10:00 and lunch 12:30-13:00, both laden with homemade breads, fresh fish, delectable cheeses and gourmet treats made from pure and natural Icelandic ingredients. This is now a wonderful stop for North American travelers whose flights arrive early in the morning.
If you’re keen on seeing the Blue Lagoon for yourself but can’t wait for your next trip – check out their new live webcam at www.bluelagoon.is .
Tags: blue lagoon, cuisine, food, livecam, spa
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