The majestic tranquility of the fjords, the multicolored drape of the northern lights, the bluish veins of the glaciers… Iceland offers travelers the spectacle of a wild nature that can be discovered by boat, plane, snowmobile or quite simply on foot. In What if we left? on Europe 1, the columnist and author at Lonely Planet , Jean-Bernard Carillet, gives you his tips so you don't miss anything on this island, an ideal destination to end the summer in a cool place!
Reykjavik, a festive capital
Reykjavik is a bustling city. We really know how to party there, sometimes a little too much. Its streets are full of cafes and microbreweries. We recommend a tour of the beer bars, which become party places in the evening, especially at weekends. Guaranteed atmosphere! There is even a specific term: "djammið", which means "going out into town". We also speak of "pöbbarölt" (little pub crawl).
Reykjavik is full of small bars where you can enjoy a good beer. Haraldur Gudjonsson / AFP
Because of the high price of alcohol, the party starts late. Icelanders first visit the Vínbúðin wine and spirits chain, then return home for the first part of the evening. Once heated, they go out around midnight and party until 5 in the morning, finish with a hot dog, then go back to bed.
>> Gastronomy, music, tourism: discover all our summer topics here!
Rather than spending the night in a specific bar, it is customary to progress from bar to bar. The more the hours pass, the more the inhibitions fall ...
Dive into the Blue Lagoon
Near Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon is an unmissable natural site, the most touristic in the country. The Blue Lagoon is to Iceland what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. It is a large geothermal pool in the middle of a black lava field. The basin is filled with turquoise water, with a slightly milky consistency, at a temperature of 38 ° C.
There's nothing like relaxing in the warm, bluish waters of the Blue Lagoon, while the outside temperature flirts with zero degrees. HALLDOR KOLBEINS / AFP
In the midst of the whirlpools of steam, we coat ourselves with white silica mud, full of mineral salts, with softening and exfoliating properties. It feels like another world.
The Northern Lights Show
It is not only in Lapland that you can find the Northern Lights. On the contrary, Iceland is one of the best places in the world to observe these sublime colored sails, like animated draperies, which set the nights on fire. From mid-September, we witness a real silent fireworks display of green, white, purple or pink lights.
This memorable experience is to be lived in a bubble hotel: the Bubble Hotel. We spend the night in a transparent bubble that serves as a bedroom, adjoining a solid structure with kitchen and sanitary facilities. The traveler thus has the impression of sleeping under the stars, in the forest, with the stars and the Northern Lights for the bed canopy.
The meeting of fire and ice
The Vatnajökull Glacier, the world's largest ice cap outside the poles, covers part of the south-eastern part of the country and offers spectacular scenery. Countless glaciers originate in this frozen mass, which covers active volcanoes and mountain peaks. The must: an overview in a small plane to see the rivers of ice taking shape which meander on the volcanic and ashy ground, like long hair, long filaments.
In winter it is possible to explore ice caves. The traveler travels through bumpy cavities on the edge of a glacier. These are ephemeral caves, each year there are new ones, and the others disappear. In summer, the water melts, and digs tunnels in the ice cap.
Another option: a snowmobile tour on the glacier for thrill seekers. It is also a way to fully appreciate the icy landscapes and the exceptional views of the surrounding valleys and mountains.
Whale watching
Husavik, in the north of the country, is the capital of whale watching: humpback whales, blue whales, orcas ... These mammals come to feed in this area in summer. Until the end of August, you are sure to see them.
To observe whales, go to Husavik for a small boat trip at the foot of the fjords. HALLDOR KOLBEINS / AFP
Aboard a schooner, a wooden sailboat or a zodiac, you sail along the fjord landscapes. And suddenly, a few feet away from you, cutting through the smooth, dark waters, a 30-ton whale rises to the heavens and falls to the surface. Unforgettable !