Freedom of Nature

Travelers visit Iceland today for many of the same reasons that motivated the Vikings to settle down on the island in the ninth century. One is the love of freedom. Whether you delight in vast, untouched and uninhabited expanses of landscape, or walking around town making friends, you'll feel free in Iceland. And there's a slew of travel options available if, instead of taking organized tours, you want to set your own pace. You can travel the 900-mile-long Ring Road in part or in full, or head out to see the sights on fjords and peninsulas that branch out all over the country.

Local accommodations are available to suit every taste and budget, ranging from quality hotels in larger towns, through summer hotels (regional school premises) with beds or room for sleeping bags, to guesthouses, farm accommodations and campsites with standard facilities.

Car rental - on the spur of the moment or as part of a "Fly and Drive" package - has become a big favorite in recent years. A broad range of vehicles can be rented, including 4WD, but drivers are advised not to venture alone in isolated places where they may face the risk of having to cross unbridged rivers.

Those who fancy the challenge of touring under their own physical steam will find that bicycling more than repays the calories spent. Cyclists should come prepared for all weather, even at the height of summer. A number of bike rental establishments offer good mountain bikes. And car ferries as well as aircrafts take cycles aboard.