(From top): the frozen Gullfoss; a view of the rugged landscape on the outskirts of Reykjavik; tourists take a walk in Þingvellir National Park

Vikings, a tad on the violent side and a slightly vindictive thunder god with an evil temper ? if that’s all you associate with Iceland, then you need a reality check.

Besides its fire-and-ice natural beauty, Iceland is fast becoming known as one of the world’s newest party destinations. Think nightlong parties, a lively music scene, which has definitely moved way beyond Bjork (thank you very much), and people ready to live it up come what may. Nowhere is this more evident than the cooler-than-dry-ice capital city of Reykjavik. In fact what Reykjavik’s throbbing nightlife has really done is open up the beauty of Iceland to tourists from all over the world ? and surprise, surprise, to Indian travellers as well.

Yep, that’s right. Indian travellers are heading towards Iceland in increasing numbers each year. According to Vensimal’s all-India statistics, 45 people signed up for the Iceland package this year as compared to eight people in 2003. Says Satish Ramnani, director, sales, “Right up to June this year, we have arranged for 14 travellers to go to Iceland, and that too only from Calcutta.”

What awaits travellers who sign up for the Vensimal deal? There’s a five-day, four-night package. If you opt for three-star digs, expect to pay about Rs 55,244 while four-star accommodation will rush you up to near about Rs 64,451. The package includes a full day tour to the famed Golden Circle attractions, a city tour of Reykjavik by coach, a day excursion to the world- famous Blue Lagoon in the Peninsula Reykjanes as also a drive to the Viking town, Hafnarfj?r?ur. There’s also a trip to Kleifarvatn, a place famous for its geo- thermal field of steaming vents, and fumaroles (steam geysers). Now while sightseeing is a major part of the deal, airfare and visas are not. Remember that air travel will cost anything between Rs 47,000 and Rs 65,000.

For those less inclined to zealously guard their privacy, the same tour can be done on a coach with 30 other people. It may not give you the comfort of a chauffeur-driven car, nor the freedom to make as many stops as you want and shape your trip according to your fancy, but it certainly does bring the price down by a solid $300 (Rs 13,810).

You can also opt for a more custom-made tour. These are more expensive, but offer an insider’s view of Iceland. Says Nikhil Kumar, head of outbound travels, Abercrombie and Kent, “We sit with travellers to chalk up itineraries to suit individual tastes and even put up people in old-fashioned lodges and igloos to give them a more insider experience. The tour usually costs anywhere between Rs 2,30,399 and Rs 3,22,558. Airfare, though is not included. According to Kumar, Iceland is usually the choice of the yuppies. “MNC executives and younger couples are more likely to go here. You won’t find the typical industrialist choosing Iceland for a vacation ? they’d rather stick to the French Riviera,” he says.

Whether you choose to tour Iceland at leisure or do it fast and furious, the country with its wild, rugged beauty leaves you breathless. There are moss-grown lava fields, glaciers, geysers, live volcanoes, waterfalls and much more to feast your eyes on. South Iceland is what most visitors aim at when facing a time crunch. Easily accessible, South Iceland offers a variety of day tours from the capital, and its famed Golden Circle trip is a real must for sightseers. Some Golden Circle highlights are the gorgeous ?ingvellir National Park, the mighty Gullfoss or Golden Falls (which freezes during winter), the geo- thermal fields of Geysir, and views of the active volcano Mt Hekla.

Thirty-two-year-old stockbroker Shaona Dasgupta who made the trip to Iceland, before re-locating to London recently recalls her first glimpse of the Gullfoss ? a vision that she says will never leave her for the rest of her life. “It was ethereal. I found that kind of majestic display from nature very awe-inspiring ? particularly since all my life I’ve been an urban animal. I did everything I could under the sun ? skiing along a glacier, whale watching and partying at Reykjavik, which sure gives Ibiza a run for its money,” reminisces Dasgupta.

Travellers to Iceland can also make a detour to Greenland, which is a two-hour flight from Reykjavik. With a nearly 80 per cent Inuit population, Greenland not only offers anthropological interest, it’s also a favourite with naturalists for whale watching. Throw in such splendours as the Northern Lights, and the surreal midnight sun (visible till July end), and you can see why this is one trip with which most tourists prefer to wrap up their Viking expedition. You will need a separate visa though.

Even if you don’t make it Greenland, Iceland by itself makes for a once-in-a-lifetime trip. In fact, a recent World Value Survey on lifestyle statistics concluded that Iceland is the world’s happiest country. Now that’s just one more reason to shake those warm clothes out of the closet, pack up that rucksack and head over to those distant, icy shores.

 

Route map

It will be a first for Mumbai. From November 1, all those packing their bags and travelling to the United States will be able to fly direct by Delta Air Lines from Mumbai to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport cutting out any stops on the way. In other words you don’t have to spend hours at an airport doing absolutely nothing as you wait for the connecting flight.

If you are flying from the US, you’ll take off from JFK airport at 9.20pm and arrive in Mumbai at 10.10pm the next day. When the direct flight begins, Delta will call off its one-stop service to the US from Mumbai and Chennai via Charles de Gaulle Airport. However, the airline will continue to connect Chennai by codesharing with Air France. With the new flight, the airline will become the only global carrier to serve nonstop between Mumbai and New York, while saving the traveller some four hours of travel time in either direction as compared to the current one-stop service. What’s more, at JFK travellers can take their pick of the best connections to other US cities.

 

My favourite holiday

Anita Nair,
author

Italy has always been one of my favourite places to holiday in. There’s just something about the culture and atmosphere of this country that draws me again and again. I’ve been going there each year for the last five years now and I just can’t seem to get enough of it. I can’t even pinpoint which cities I like the best really ? the whole of the country fascinates me and I think I’ve visited almost every corner. Florence and Padua are two of my absolute favourite destinations in the world, and so is Venice. I love burrowing through the old flea markets there and coming back with beautiful old whimsical things to put around the house. I also love porcelain and china figures and I pick up the loveliest ones in Italy.

But if you’re talking about a nice, relaxing holiday that lets me totally unwind, there’s nothing like going back home to Kerala. Putting up my feet, having home-cooked food served to me piping hot, not having to bother with a different language ? now that’s my notion of a good time and I try and do this at least twice a year.