Iceland

Iceland feels like another planet that happens to have good coffee. On a single road trip you can pass thundering waterfalls, black-sand beaches, steaming vents, glacier lagoons full of drifting ice and lava fields covered in moss. The country sits on a volcanic hotspot, so the ground is alive, and locals soak in geothermal pools year-round. Reykjavík is small and colourful, with a strong music and design culture, and nature starts almost at the city limits. Summer brings midnight sun and long drives, and winter brings northern lights and ice caves. Weather changes fast, so plan generously and respect the land.

Talking points

• The Ring Road circles the island and links most of the headline sights.
• Geothermal pools are part of everyday life, from the Blue Lagoon to village pools.
• Glacier lagoons, black beaches and waterfalls sit within a few hours of each other on the south coast.
• In summer the sun barely sets; in winter the northern lights can appear on clear nights.
• Iceland's landscape is young and still changing, shaped by volcanoes and glaciers.