Being only 10,000 years old, Iceland is a relative newcomer to the world (writes Antony Hayes) but still carries itself with an ancient grace; and even though it is a young land, it wasn’t until the 9th century that it was settled by the Vikings and finally made an entrance into the civilised world.

Now, over a thousand years later, the language is still very similar to the original Viking tongue, and most of the population is still able to read books from those far distant times. As a result, Icelanders are fiercely proud of their heritage, and they have every right to be since Iceland is a spectacular country.



A mystical landscape

The landscape in Iceland is like nowhere else in the world. There are very few trees, mostly because they were chopped down to build settlements in the early years, but this somehow adds to the mystery that shrouds the land like a veil. Because of this fact, there is a famous Icelandic joke that states: “If you are lost in a forest in Iceland, all you have to do is stand up.” This is accurate since most of the trees are still nothing more than saplings, following recent efforts to repopulate the country's woods and forests. However, don’t be discouraged, because the open grasslands, dramatic mountain ranges and hundreds of volcanoes more than make up for this loss in scenery.

Icelandic cuisine

Iceland has embraced modern food and culture thanks to its proximity and trading experience with North America, but still holds its own quite nicely. Most families produce dishes that are creative and unique, but aren’t entirely different to what most Europeans are used to. Strange dishes will include horse meat and whale, with horse meat actually being quite nice. However, when they decide to cook traditionally be very aware: traditional dishes can include sheep's head, rotten shark's meat and sheep's testicles, to name a few. On a side note, is it worth mentioning that their lamb is second to none, and this is coming from someone who usually can't stand lamb.

Icelandic culture

Icelanders are very proud of their folklore, which is why you will often hear tales of “hidden people” such as the dwarves, elves, gnomes and the like that are only visible to a few people. Many of these stories and sagas are still celebrated and shared today, with one example being the 13 sons of Christmas that provide gifts to good children leading up to Christmas. Traditionally these 13 sons of Christmas will also punish or spirit away bad children in a reminder that good behaviour is paramount around this time of year.

Come January there is often a great bonfire to say farewell to the Santas of Christmas, with all kids contributing by carrying fire over a certain distance to the bonfire. There are a number of these special days throughout the year but one that all Icelanders look forward to is Thorrablot. This is the Viking midwinter feast, and it is the time of year when those traditional dishes mentioned above are eaten. Luckily for travellers, there is often a non-stop supply of brennivin liquor to numb the senses, which is often home brewed using sugar.



Logistical arrangements in Iceland

It is advisable to rent a car from Keflavik airport when you arrive, since public transport isn’t very frequent, with many of the towns and tourist spots well out of the city. However once out of Reykjavik, it is quite difficult to get lost since there is only one road that leads around the coast. If you are arriving in winter it is best if you have experience with driving on icy roads, since snowstorms can come at any time. However, if you do, try to rent a 4x4 since these are often more stable and don’t get stuck nearly as much. As with all Scandinavian countries, dress warm with thermals if you are coming in the winter, and if you are arriving in the summer, bring your sunglasses because the sun doesn’t set.

Northern adventures

Iceland has a lot to offer when it comes down to activities, adventures or sightseeing. There are geysers and volcanoes to marvel at, many thermal pools such as the world-famous Blue Lagoon to swim in; whale watching, snowmobile and glacial tours; and the incredibly popular jeep excursions into the great uninhabited icy interior. In addition to this there are a number of beautiful towns, each containing a heritage of their own. My personal recommendation is to plan a week-long trip around the entire country, and I am sure that you will feel as humbled as I did when doing just this.

Iceland is a very distinctive country when it comes to its characteristic landscape and unique flavour. Although it isn’t the cheapest country for accommodation and meals, the flights are often very cheap from most European destinations. If you do come in winter keep an eye out for the amazingly bright Northern Lights which are mostly green with flashes of purple. However, it doesn’t really matter what time of year it is in Iceland, because it will never fail to leave a lasting impression.