ICELANDTRAVEL DIRECTORY 16Why choose Discover the World - see page 4 For our office opening hours please visit our website A region of diverse and incredible natural beauty. During the height of the summer, witness the full effect of the midnight sun as it dips towards the horizon, and barely touches it before rising again, swathing the landscape in a beautiful golden light. THE NORTH EAST LAKE MYVATN a showcase of craters and volcanic and geothermal oddities surrounds this enormous lake which, in summer, is a magnet for birds. See, hear and smell the bubbling mud pools at Namaskard; hike amongst eerie lava formations at Dimmuborgir and keep watch for the hidden people! Take a dip in the soothing Nature Baths and at Krafl a, visitors can walk on lava and literally feel the power of nature under their feet. En route between Myvatn and Husavik take a small detour to visit Grenjadarstadur, a wonderful old turf parsonage and folk museum ( open June to August) - nearby is the Laxa Power Station. JOKULSA CANYON this rugged canyon was formed several thousands of years ago and at its deepest, its 100m high walls look down over the raging Jokulsa River. Don't miss thundering Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall which, as you walk towards it from the road, you will hear long before you see it ( a new, paved road to Dettifoss is scheduled to open in summer 2010 otherwise 4WD vehicles are required). Just downstream, the falls at Hafragilsfoss though not as high, are equally as magnifi cent viewed from the east bank. Access to the chaotic Hljodaklettar volcanic plugs and basalt columns is from the west side, where a walking trail runs the 25km length of the canyon. Continue to Asbyrgi, a horse- shoe shaped gorge approximately 3.5km in length and 1.1km wide with a distinctive rock formation in its centre. Park up and walk through a forest ( a rarity in Iceland!) to the sheer 100m high bird cliffs and a silent pond at the head of the gorge. HUSAVIK visit this quaint northern town if you have an interest in all things ' cetacean'. Also known as the whale watching capital of Europe, the harbour side Whale Museum has an interesting collection of artefacts and skeletons and is both educational and entertaining. Husavik is also the ideal location for a whale watching excursion; set sail from here out into Skjalfandi Bay aboard a converted oak fi shing boat. GODAFOSS the ' waterfall of the gods' can be found near to Lake Myvatn and is said to be one of the most beautiful in Iceland. At 30m wide and with a 12m drop, it is certainly very photogenic. RAUFARHOFN this is a small town on the Melrakkasletta Peninsula, whose tip is virtually on the Arctic Circle, making it mainland Iceland's most northerly point. Known for its superb bird watching, hiking and fl y fi shing opportunities, the peninsula is characterised by inlets, lagoons and deserted beaches. The pond in the centre of town is a bird sanctuary. RAUDANES sited midway between Raufarhofn and Thorshofn, this coastal peninsula boasts a fantastic array of columnar basalt cliffs and natural stone arches, all the more impressive when pounded by a north- easterly gale! Namaskard, near Lake Myvatn DettifossHusavikGodafoss

tel. 01737 218 800 | discover- the- world. co. uk TRAVEL DIRECTORYICELAND 17 Fly to Akureyri from Reykjavik in under an hour ( or direct from the UK) and the scenic north of Iceland is yours to explore. Here you'll fi nd diverse and striking scenery with interesting towns and villages, and plenty of opportunities to explore the great outdoors. THE NORTH NEW FOR SUMMER 2010 Weekly direct fl ights ( Mondays only) will operate with Iceland Express between London Gatwick and Akureyri. Should you wish to book a trip that focuses on the north, without the need to travel via Reykjavik, please talk to our specialist team - see page 40 for further details. AKUREYRI this principal town of the north, even with 17,000 inhabitants, has a wonderful ' small and friendly' appeal. Because of the town's position almost at the end of Eyjafjordur, a long fjord shielded by high mountains, the area often enjoys a pleasant summer and with all that sunshine it isn't surprising to fi nd Botanical Gardens here. The town's architecture is charming, the harbour bustling and visitors can choose from a number of excellent restaurants and bars. It is also pretty good for shopping with a small pedestrian area and mall. Like Reykjavik, a church dominates the skyline and, if you can manage the many steps, the views from here over the town and fjord are lovely. OLAFSFJORDUR & SIGLUFJORDUR these quaint fi shing towns are located at the mouth of Eyjafjordur. In its heyday Siglufjordur was Iceland's herring capital, and visitors can experience the ambience of the era in the Herring Museum. VATNSNES visit Hvammstangi's seal exhibition or see them in the wild yourself; they can be found at the tip of the Vatnsnes Peninsula ( a nature reserve). On the east side, seals also haul out on the sands by the river estuary, near the monster- like sea- stack Hvitserkur. SKAGAFJORDUR this is one of Iceland's most prosperous farming regions, known for its very successful horse breeding. Visit the turf buildings of the Glaumbaer Museum for a little history or if you prefer something more energetic, try river rafting or horse riding in Varmahlid. DALVIK & HAUGANES Hauganes on the shore of Eyjafjordur offers whale watching excursions in a beautiful wooden boat, as well as sea angling. You can also visit the pretty offshore island of Hrisey from here, of particular interest to birdwatchers. Neighbouring Dalvik hosts a famous summer fi sh festival, one of Iceland's liveliest. GRIMSEY this is the northernmost inhabited Icelandic territory, approximately 40km north of the mainland - people often visit by ferry from Akureyri just to cross the Arctic Circle. Though barely 5 km2 in area, it has a thriving population of 100 people joined in summer by a million or so noisy sea birds. HOLAR & HOFSOS Hofsos, with its natural harbour is one of the oldest trading ports in Iceland, while Holar was an early episcopal seat, boasting the oldest stone church in Iceland. Olafsfjordur SiglufjordurAkureyri