Torfhús Retreat

Based in central Reykjavík, Kvosin is styled with a simple, clean and modern character and enjoys a home away from home feel.

While a keypad and code replaces your typical hotel room key, the guestrooms are reminiscent of mini apartments with bundles of space and contemporary comforts including a fully-equipped kitchenette. Adding to the hotel’s quirky vibe, accommodation sizes are divided up – not as generic rooms and suites – but as ‘Normal’, ‘Bigger’, ‘Biggest’ and an impressive ‘Larger than Life’.

A friendly team go one step further to enhance Kvosin’s amiable ambience and remind you to head up to the top-floor terrace to soak up lovely lake views and then down to the wine bar for a fantastic range of drinks.

Found in the perfect spot of Southern Iceland for outdoor lovers, the log-cabin Ranga Hotel is a cocoon of warmth, ideal for relaxing after Northern Lights viewing and glacier touring.

This cosy hideaway boasts uninterrupted panoramas from all parts of the property. Guestrooms look out to the East Ranga River or Mount Helka which are best enjoyed with a soak in your private jacuzzi – drink in hand. If you fancy something a little quirkier, opt for one of the lavish suites. Themed on the seven continents, they are filled with weird and wonderful touches such as Aztec wall-hangings, a didgeridoo, bearskin and bison head.

Facing the salmon-filled river, the reputable restaurant features a farmer’s market concept. Local produce and freshly-caught seafood is prepared here to create delicious Nordic dishes with a Mediterranean twist.

Venturing outside to the barely polluted rural skies, the luxury amenities continue. Three outdoor hot tubs heated with geothermal water provide an unforgettable place to watch the aurora borealis dance across the sky, while the astronomical observatory with its roll-off roof and telescopes offers superb stargazing.

Under an hour from Reykjavik, yet deep within the Golden Circle is Ion Hotel: a contemporary-cool, design bolt-hole boasting the perfect blend of luxury and adventure. Dramatically jutting out on stilts at the foot of the volcanic Mount Hengill, you’re surrounded by Iceland’s natural wonders, with the Nordic mood continuing inside.

Everything is distinctly Icelandic from the wool throws to the artwork, to organic toiletries and eco-friendly cuisine. Watch the bewitching Northern Lights paint the sky as you dine on modern regional dishes, or from your room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, the softly-lit bar, or, for an utterly indulgent setting, the ten-metre outdoor hot tub.

To really make the most of this vastly surreal landscape, head out on an extreme natural adventure. Trek across ancient glaciers, fly-fish in icy rivers and horse ride among natural hot springs, before sinking into the luxury of a massage at the lava spa.