(more location details are available in the above map)

WEST ICELAND

Geographically close to Reykjavík, yet far, far away in thought, West Iceland (known as Vesturland) is a splendid microcosm of what Iceland has to offer. The long arm of Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a favourite for its glacier, Snæfellsjökull, and the area around its national park is tops for birding, whale watching, lava-field hikes, and horse riding. Inland beyond Reykholt, you'll encounter lava tubes and remote highland glaciers, including enormous Langjökull with its unusual ice cave. Icelanders honor West Iceland for its local sagas: two of the best known, Laxdæla Saga and Egil’s Saga, took place along the region’s brooding waters, marked today by haunting cairns and an exceptional museum in lively Borgarnes. West Iceland offers everything from windswept beaches to historic villages and awe-inspiring terrain in one neat little package.

THE WESTFJORDS

To the east of Snæfellsjökull National Park, coastal Rte 574 passes the hamlets of Hellnar and Arnarstapi, with their glacier tour companies and interesting sea-sculpted rock formations. It continues east along the broad southern coastal plain, hugging huge sandy bays such as Breiðavík on one side, and towering peaks with waterfalls on the other.

• The hub of Westfjords adventure tours, and by far the region’s largest town, Ísafjörður is a pleasant and prosperous place and an excellent base for travellers. The town is set on an arcing spit that extends out into Skutulsfjörður and is hemmed in on all sides by towering peaks and the dark waters of the fjord. The center of Ísafjörður is a charming grid of old timber and tin-clad buildings, many unchanged since the 18th century when the harbour was full of tall ships and Norwegian whaling crews. Today it is a surprisingly cosmopolitan place, and after some time spent travelling in the Westfjords, it’ll feel like a bustling metropolis with its tempting cafes and a fine choice of restaurants. There’s hiking in the hills around the town, skiing in winter, and regular summer boats ferry hikers across to the remote Hornstrandir Peninsula.

• Craggy mountains, precarious sea cliffs, and plunging waterfalls ring the wonderful, barely inhabited Hornstrandir Peninsula, at the northern end of the Westfjords. This is one of Europe’s last true wilderness areas, covering some of the most extreme and inhospitable parts of the country. It’s a fantastic destination for hiking, with challenging terrain and excellent opportunities for spotting Arctic foxes, seals, whales, and teeming bird life.

• Best known for its dramatic cliffs and abundant birdlife, the remote Látrabjarg Peninsula also has wonderful, deserted, multi-hued beaches, like exquisite Rauðasandur, and plenty of long leisurely walks.

NORTH ICELAND

Iceland’s mammoth and magnificent north is a geologist’s heaven. A wonderland of moonlike lava fields, burping mud pots, epic waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, and whale-filled bays – this is Iceland at its best. The region’s top sights are variations on one theme: a grumbling, volcanically active earth. There are endless treats to uncover: little Akureyri, with its surprising moments of big-city living; windy fjord side pastures full of stout Viking horses; fishing villages clinging tenaciously to life at the end of unsealed roads. Offshore islands are populated by colonies of seabirds and a few hardy locals while lonely peninsulas stretch out towards the Arctic Circle. White-water rapids are ready to deliver an adrenalin kick and national-park walking trails reach unparalleled views. Under-hyped and underpopulated ski fields await and underwater marvels will woo divers into its frigid depths.

EAST ICELAND

As far as you can get (some 650km) from Reykjavík, Iceland’s impressively varied and sparsely populated east doesn’t announce itself as loudly as other parts of the country, preferring subtle charms over big-ticket attractions. The Eastfjords is the area’s most wondrous destination – the scenery is particularly spectacular around the northern fjord villages, backed by sheer-sided mountains etched with waterfalls. If the weather’s fine, several days spent hiking here maybe some of your most memorable in Iceland. Away from the convoluted coast, the country’s longest lake stretches southwest from Egilsstaðir, its shores lined with perfect diversions. Further inland is the forgotten farms, fells, and reindeer-roamed heathlands of the empty east, and Snæfell, one of Iceland’s prime peaks. Ring Road motorists often simply overnight in Egilsstaðir then speed out of the east. Lunacy! The east's spectacular fjords, scenic hiking trails, fascinating geology, and friendly villages are some of Iceland's unsung treasures.

SOUTH ICELAND

Containing glittering glaciers, toppling waterfalls, the iceberg-filled Jökulsárlón lagoon, and Iceland’s favourite walking area, Skaftafell, it’s no wonder that the south is the country’s most visited region. Various places along the coast offer hiking, snowmobiling, dog sledding, and glacier explorations; or head offshore to the charming, puffin-friendly Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands).

• Vast, varied, and spectacular, Vatnajökull National Park was founded in 2008 when authorities created a giant mega park by joining the Vatnajökull ice cap with two previously established national parks: Skaftafell in southeast Iceland and Jökulsárgljúfur in the northeast. With recent additions, the park measures 13,900 sq km – nearly 14% of the entire Iceland (it's one of the largest national parks in Europe).