Despite its name, Iceland is a land of beauty and contrast. It’s a nature lover’s paradise, highlighted by towering mountains, spouting geysers, active volcanoes, waterfalls, lava plains and lakes.

Iceland’s coastline is home to more than 100 fjords. There are five glaciers (including the three largest in Europe) and over 500 hot springs.

Iceland’s pristine nature offers great potential for outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, horseback riding, cave exploring, hiking, swimming, skiing, river rafting, kayaking and mountain safaris on modified four-wheel drives, to name but a few.

It also features some of the world’s best whale watching opportunities (April through October) and is home to more than 10 million puffins.

Iceland is also one of the best places on earth to view the Northern Lights (October through April).

North America’s closest European neighbour is also blessed with a very temperate climate. In January, the average temperature of minus 1 degree C. in Reykjavik is higher than that in Toronto. The warmest month is July with an average temperature of 17 degrees C.

In total, Iceland is about 101,000 sq. km. (about the size of Ohio), and, according to Einar Gustavsson, head of the Icelandic Tourist Board for North America, is very accessible, safe and easy to get around.

“You can be in Reykjavik and take a taxi 20 or 30 minutes and be in a place where you feel like the first person to ever be there,” he said. “Wherever you are in Iceland, you can see a mountain in your backyard. The nature is quite spectacular, basically anywhere you are. It’s very beautiful.”

Reykjavik itself has a charming, almost “village feel” to it and is a safe, modern city featuring all the conveniences and facilities of a metropolitan city. The city is known for its nightlife, cultural scene and first-class restaurants.

Accommodation in Iceland ranges from luxurious, privately owned boutique hotels to simple guesthouses. Farm and country house accommodation, popular with FIT travellers, are also available throughout the country.

One of Iceland’s most famous attractions is the popular Blue Lagoon, a unique outdoor geo-thermal spa.

The newly refurbished facility includes change rooms and showers, an indoor Blue Lagoon Pool, conference centre and restaurant. In addition to bathing in the lagoon, guests have access to a sauna and a steam bath carved into a lava cave. Spa packages are also available, as well as tours from Keflavik International Airport for passengers with layovers. Go to www.bluelagoon.com for additional information.

For golfers, Iceland is home to more than 50 golf courses. And, each June, the land where the sun never sets offers a unique opportunity to tee off at midnight in the Arctic Open, which Gustavsson admits is “known for its fun more than the quality of golf.”

Just a five-hour flight from Toronto, Gustavsson says Iceland is a great stopover for travellers on their way to or from Europe.

“It’s not out of the way. It’s on the way,” he said. “People usually have a great time in Iceland. Your clients will love you for suggesting it.”

Icelandair offers seasonal scheduled service to Iceland from Toronto and Halifax.

For further information on Iceland, visit www.visiticeland.com for more.