Chilled & thrilled
baths are set within the breathtaking Lake Urridavatn. The site’s natural hot spring was initially discovered when locals noticed that part of the lake wasn’t freezing over when the rest of the surface turned solid with thick sheets of ice in the colder months.
Incorporated into the natural lake are two floating hot pools, where you can sit with a glass of champagne and watch out for the Northern Lights overhead – or plunge into the freezing water that lies beyond the pool edge. A sauna and swim-up bar add to the feeling of total luxury and relaxation at this hidden gem.
If you don’t have time for a trip to the Vok Baths, the Lake Hotel in Egilsstadir has a small spa with hot and cold plunge pools plus a sauna and stunning lake views.
But it is worth a visit for the food alone, with the fresh fish of the day (£23) standing out as a highlight on the menu. You won’t regret ordering a side of the crushed potatoes with crunchy wasabi and lime aioli (£5.50).
Just a 30-minute drive from here is Seydisfjordur, a magical town with a population of only 670. Despite its tiny size, it has an impressive foodie scene, with a sushi restaurant and super-cool Skaftfell bistro that serves up pizzas in an understated and arty setting. Seydisfjordur is also home to the Rainbow Walk, where its Pride parade takes place, supporting the LGBTQ community. It offers the ideal backdrop for an Instagram snap and you can follow it to the town’s blue church.
Residents are keen to tell you the local lore about a major landslide that engulfed a number of homes but miraculously resulted in no loss of life.
The legend goes that the townspeople here were saved thanks to the crystal core of the mountains that tower over this charming little place.
A trip to Seydisfjordur wouldn’t be complete without a stay at the Hotel Aldan, where the simple interiors offer visitors a warm and welcome rest from the cold.
At times it can feel like we’re living in a world where there is nothing left to explore but a trip to Eastern Iceland leaves you with the distinct sense that you’ve experienced something that’s entirely unspoilt.
The wild and rugged terrain remains largely untouched from the frontiers first explored by the adventurers who have been honoured in Denni’s Wilderness Centre museum.
Whether you’re riding through the forest on horseback or submerging yourself in the natural waters of a hot spring, you can’t help but find a sense of peace in the seclusion and tranquillity that characterises this lesser explored region of Iceland.
For the sake of a 45-minute flight from Reykjavik, it’s certainly worth taking the path less travelled and venturing beyond the Blue Lagoon to find what awaits you at the end of the road.
The wild and rugged terrain remains largely untouched