THE COOLEST

Jökulsárlón Glacier, Iceland

Kerið Crater, Iceland

WILD WONDERS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC

by KRISTEN POPE

The wide-open spaces and incredible landscapes of Iceland and the Faroe Islands are ideal for a nature escape. Combine these scenic destinations for the ultimate outdoor adventure.

Ever since I saw images of the Faroe Islands, I wanted to go see them in person. Remote Atlantic islands aren’t always the easiest to get to, so when I looked into flight options and saw Iceland was a gateway offering direct flights, I was all in. My husband and I always love trips where we can hike and immerse ourselves in nature, and both Iceland and the Faroe Islands promised endless scenery, challenging trails and untamed nature. We booked our tickets with visions of windswept islands, rugged mountains and glaciers, and adventure on our minds – and we weren’t disappointed.

Arriving in Iceland

It was raining sideways when we flew into Reykjavík, Iceland, at 6:15 a.m. After picking up our rental car, my husband and I found a little cafe where we enjoyed a satisfying meal of broccoli soup, fresh-baked bread, and pastries, while gulping down coffee after our flight.

At first, we laughed at the warning sticker on the rental car: “Don’t blow up car door.” But as the wind gusted, we soon realized it wasn’t a joke. A car door could easily be damaged by what the Icelandic media dubbed “flying trampoline weather.”

Stocking up on sandwiches and snacks, we headed out to road trip along Iceland’s southern coast. After donning layers of fleece, rain jackets, rain pants, and hiking boots, we were ready to explore. Iceland is known as the Land of Fire and Ice, and we soon discovered both its volcanic wonders and glaciers. We were enthralled by Reynisfjara’s black sand beach, Geysir’s geological features, and the kaleidoscope of colors at Kerið Crater. Peering into the Silfra fissure, we saw where two tectonic plates meet and then went on to tour Þingvellir National Park.

Ice was on the agenda at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which was packed with chunks of ancient ice, from room-sized slabs to pebble-sized pieces. We savored every moment of silence and solitude, listening to glaciers calving with a reverberating splash and watching ripples spread across the water.

Flowing water was also plentiful further along our route, with many cascading waterfalls lining the way. We hiked near a few beauties, including Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, and spotted plenty of others as we drove in the mist, which created an air of mystery.

Exploring the Faroe Islands

The days flew by, and soon it was time to hop on a 90-minute flight to the Faroe Islands. The North Atlantic archipelago is a self-governing nation within Denmark, and has remained relatively undiscovered. While Iceland is known by travelers from around the world, we mostly shared the Faroe Islands with locals and sheep. As we drove from the airport to our rental accommodation, we watched the late evening light dance along the hillsides as ewes and lambs settled in for the night. Our host

Múlafossur Waterfall , Faroe Islands

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Bøsdalafossur Floating lake, Faroe Islands

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greeted us with a spread of meats, cheeses, breads, sliced bell peppers, tomatoes, and all the fixings. He kindly said he thought we would be hungry. He left us to eat and rest before another day of exploration.

In the Faroe Islands, particularly scenic drives are designated as “Buttercup Routes,” so we set out to traverse as many of these narrow, winding roads as possible, taking our time along the way to stop and listen to the symphony of sheep “bahhhing” as they nibbled on grass and scampered on the hills.

We laced up our hiking boots and set out to immerse ourselves in the stunning topography. We found many of the trails to be more rugged than those we encountered in Iceland. Many of the Faroe Islands’ prized routes go straight up mountains and meander along precarious ridge lines, packed with slippery moss and the possibility of precipitous falls. Carefully, we set out to explore the Bøsdalafossur waterfall and the famous “floating lake,” which appears to hover above the ocean. We sneaked a peek at the illusion, staying far from the cliff’s edge. Another day, we explored a village and spectacular viewpoints of Múlafossur waterfall on a cloudless day.

The Vestmanna Boat Festival just so happened to coincide with our visit, so we hopped a tour boat out to the Vestmanna Sea Cliffs and grottoes where puffins, fulmars, and guillemot nest. Then, we stuck around to watch the seafaring Faroese compete in rowing competitions and events, with plenty of merriment to go around.

We had hoped to take a ferry to see the large population of puffins on Mykines, but our time was running out– so we decided to save that adventure for

Fogo Island Inn Dining Room

a future journey. You never know what the wild North Atlantic has in store.

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An Expedition for all Tastes

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Whether you plan to explore Iceland and the Faroe Islands by land or by sea, you’ll never be too far away from water. It turns out sailing is also a great way to explore these islands, especially if expedition cruising and small ships are your cup of tea! Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic will take you on a modern-day expedition to these legendary Northern isles to meet the welcoming islanders who call the scenic Faroes home, observe massive puffin colonies and experience a near circumnavigation of the geologic wonders of Iceland. INTERVIEW ENTREVUE

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Contact your travel advisor to start making your North Atlantic dreams come true.

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Chill Stays

Looking for someplace new to wax rhapsodic beneath the Aurora Borealis? While it's a MUSIC bit harder to get to than others, the original MUSIQUE Ice Hotel in the Swedish Lapland village of Jukkasjärvi is worth the journey. Now open 365 days a year, the ice is harvested annually from the Torne River. And the artist-sculpted rooms make you feel as though you're already dreaming. (Hint: Splurge on a "deluxe art suite" to enjoy a private sauna and bathroom.)

Sapporo For The Win

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Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival | Hokkaidō, Japan We may have been denied front-row seats Doing a comparative study of Northern to the Summer Olympics, but there's a competition brewing on Japan's northernmost European ice stays? Book into Iglu-Dorf island that could make a winter visit just as exciting. in Zermatt, Switzerland; the magical Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort inside the Arctic A short flight from Tokyo, the city of Sapporo is known for sub-zero winter Circle in Finland; and Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel in temperatures, record snowfalls, and the annual Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki the northernmost region of Norway. Matsuri). COCKTAIL COCKTAIL BOOK LIVRE

Scheduled for February 4 - 11, 2022, the competition attracts teams from all over the world. The main event is held in Odori Park, where oglers stroll the avenue marveling at the imaginative sculptures whilst sampling Hokkaido cuisine.

When night falls, wander over to the city's Susukino entertainment district to see mesmerizing ice sculptures lit with neon lights. A third location, Tsudome, added in 2009, features action-packed snow rafting, ice sledding, and an indoor gourmet market.

The Ice Hotel

While the Sapporo Snow Festival lasts just a week, there's more to see at the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, Asahikawa Winter Festival, and Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival. Toss in some ski runs at Niseko, Furano, Teine, or Rusutsu—then stick the landing with a relaxing onsen for the win.

Iglu-Dorf in Zermatt

Fogo Island Inn Dining Room

Remote Outpost

Fogo Island Inn | Newfoundland Perched at the edge of the wild North Atlantic sits perhaps the coolest hotel in the world. The unreservedly mod Fogo Island Inn boasts 29 cozy rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and iceberg views. Cool inn-hosted activities include hiking, boatbuilding, jam and jelly making, caribou watching, open-air ice skating, a rooftop hot tub and sauna, and dark-sky stargazing..