RESPONSIBLE TOURISMICELAND 7 RESPONSIBLE TOURISM & ' GREEN' ICELAND Responsible tourism is about fi nding a balance between minimizing our impact on the environment, both physical and social, yet not losing the ability to open minds and educate through new experiences. Discover the World is proud to hold the AITO 3- star Responsible Travel accreditation which recognises our commitment to sustainable tourism. In 26 years of operation, we have raised a signifi cant sum of money for a number of extremely worthwhile organisations and causes, including the Born Free Foundation, introduced ground-breaking whale watching tours and have supported the Whale Museum in Husavik, as well as giving considerable contributions towards the Scott Polar Research Institute's ' Eurasian Arctic: Melting Ice' project; an ongoing in- depth study of glaciers and icecaps with regard to their sensitivity to climate change. ICELAND NATURE CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION ( INCA) We are delighted to support the Iceland Nature Conservation Association, whose primary objective is to conserve and protect the wilderness of Iceland. INCA's fi rst aim was to establish a national park in the highlands ( 40% of Iceland's 100,000 sq km), and in June 2009, the Vatnajokull Glacier Park ( 15,000 sq km) was established. INCA continues to be heavily involved in the public debate on sustainable and wise use of hydroelectric and geothermal resources, as well as focusing on fi sheries issues, calling for a global moratorium on deep sea trawling in the high seas. PIONEERS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES Iceland remains at the forefront of renewable energy initiatives and is undoubtedly a commendable example of a country's ability to make the most of its natural resources. In particular, Icelanders have harnessed an abundance of hydro- electric and geothermal energy resources to provide heat and hot water for nearly the entire country. This element of Iceland's natural and sustainable resource is also an important tourist attraction whether in the form of hot springs and geysers or numerous open air hot pools. Two famous visitor ' must- do's' are linked with renewable energy; the soothing Blue Lagoon, fed by waters from a geothermal power station; and the magnifi cent hilltop Perlan (' The Pearl'), a structure of 6 gigantic aluminum tanks which supply all the capital's hot water, atop of which sits a world- class revolving restaurant and an outdoor viewing platform. We should not forget the economic value of tourism; in Iceland's fi nancially turbulent past year, the buoyant travel industry ( bringing invaluable income to the country via international visitors), has helped in maintaining Iceland's focus on a more stable future. THE FIRST HYDROGEN ECONOMY Iceland is at the forefront of renewable energy research and plans to become the fi rst 100% renewable energy ' hydrogen economy', aiming to power the country's cars, buses and fi shing trawlers through its abundant renewable resources. Visits to geothermal and hydro- electric power stations such as Nesjavellir provide excellent opportunities to view fi rst- hand renewable and sustainable energy in action. tel. 01737 218 800 | discover- the- world. co. uk Jokulsarlon Lake Myvatn

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS As you may be a fi rst time traveller to Iceland, no doubt you'll have plenty of questions. Our team of travel consultants frequently visit Iceland to see for themselves, what makes it so special. They try out the wealth of activities and excursions on offer as well as visit the accommodation we feature and drive the rental vehicles we offer, so who better to give you insider knowledge. Here are some of our more frequently asked questions but feel free to call us as we are always happy to share our expert knowledge and assist with your holiday plans. Q. What type of people travel on holiday to Iceland? A. If you are into the outdoors, nature and adventure then Iceland is for you. The island's breathtaking and diverse landscape particularly, will fulfi l the wildest dreams of hikers, photographers, bird watchers and geologists. Yet people of all ages, interests and fi tness can appreciate what Iceland has to offer with many visitors more than pleasantly surprised and often coming back for more! It is a great place for a family holiday too, with lots of activities such as horse riding, whale watching, white water rafting, snowmobiling and superjeep adventures! Q. When is the best time to travel? A. Well it depends what you want to see or do. Although Iceland is big enough to avoid the crowds, July and August are still the busiest months. The ' shoulder season' months of May and September are in our opinion fantastic times to visit, taking advantage of the good weather and competitive hotel rates. May and June are the best months for birds and mid June to August for wild fl owers. But if you want to travel through the uninhabited interior of Iceland, you should plan your visit for July and August as most of the highland tracks are only open during this period. If you want to go whale watching then you'll need to travel between May and September. Q. Isn't it always cold in Iceland? A. No, not at all! Warmed by the Gulf Stream, winter temperatures are similar to those of Vienna or Milan, while in summer they are usually in the range 10- 16° C ( lower in the highlands). The weather is changeable and most visitors can expect a mix of sunny and cloudy conditions as well as rain and wind. In winter, snow comes and goes, and from around October to April ( inclusive) a 4WD vehicle is required for self- drive holidays. Q. What are the northern lights/ aurora borealis and when can I see them? A. Iceland is an absolutely fantastic place to view the northern lights, and it may be possible to see them between September and mid- April ( November to February in particular). The aurora borealis appears when solar wind particles collide with air molecules in the earth's atmosphere, transferring their energy into light. Displays can vary in intensity ( and duration); the swirling curtain of glowing green and yellow stretching overhead is just magical. A clear cloudless night without any light interference nearby is essential, making Iceland the perfect location! For visitors to Reykjavik, we offer evening Northern Lights excursions into the countryside ( by both superjeep and coach), or why not consider our ' Aurora Nights' and ' Northern Lights Special' holidays ( pages 32 & 84- 85). Take a look at our range of Lapland holidays too, for further northern lights adventures ( call us for a brochure or see our website). But remember that displays cannot be guaranteed even if conditions are perfect! Q. When can I see the midnight sun? A. The midnight sun basically refers to the time of year when the daylight hours are at their longest. To be totally accurate, this only happens north of the Arctic Circle. The northernmost coast of Iceland is just kilometres below the circle, and during the months of June and July the sun barely disappears below the horizon ( take a look at our Arctic Circle Adventurer itinerary on page 41). This period of ' golden light' is perfect for some creative photography and allows for longer days of exploration! ICELANDFAQS 8Why choose Discover the World - see page 4 For our office opening hours please visit our website MONTHTEMPERATURE ( daily, in Reykjavik, max/ min ° C) RAINFALL ( mm) SUNRISE/ SUNSET ( on 1st day of each month, in Reykjavik)* NORTHERN LIGHTS** or MIDNIGHT SUN? January2/- 28911: 19/ 15: 44Northern Lights February3/- 36410: 09/ 17: 15Northern Lights March4/- 16208: 36/ 18: 45Northern Lights April6/ 15606: 47/ 20: 18Northern Lights until approx. mid- month May10/ 44205: 01/ 21: 51- June12/ 74203: 23/ 23: 30Midnight Sun July14/ 95003: 04/ 23: 57Midnight Sun August14/ 85604: 33/ 22: 33- September11/ 66706: 08/ 20: 45Northern Lights from late September October7/ 39407: 35/ 18: 58Northern Lights November4/ 07809: 09/ 17: 12Northern Lights December2/- 27910: 44/ 15: 49Northern Lights Please note statistics shown above are averages, based on records. * Thanks to the Science Institute of the University of Iceland. ** Possible viewing - subject to weather conditions. East Fjords