Skip to content

Travel — Hotels & Resorts

Five days across Iceland’s most compelling corners

Scott Dunn maps a journey through Iceland's dramatic landscapes and refined pleasures, from Reykjavik's vibrant streets to the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon.

By Harvey HiraWednesday, 4th of November 20262 min read
Enter the world of Scott Dunn
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE 3 MIN LISTEN
READY

AI-assisted voice playback. Starts only when you choose Play.

A figure in a black quilted jacket and lavender trousers stands with arms outstretched before a massive waterfall plunging from moss covered basalt cliffs, mist rising from the cascade beneath a clear sky
Scott Dunn (@scottdunn_travel)

Five days in Iceland need not feel hurried if one moves with intention. Scott Dunn has shaped an itinerary that unspools across the country’s most compelling terrain, threading together the capital’s coloured houses, the northern reaches of Akureyri, the geothermal theatre of the Golden Circle, and the mineral rich ritual of the Blue Lagoon.

Four Polaroid style photographs arranged over a landscape of volcanic terrain with a winding dark road: Reykjavik showing a burger in hand, Akureyri with four people in snowmobiling suits, the Golden Circle waterfall, and the Blue Lagoon's geometric pool edge against moorland

Day one settles in Reykjavik, where the streets glow in shades of blue, red and yellow beneath clear light. The capital rewards wandering, and the seafood speaks for itself: fish landed that morning, prepared without fanfare. Stay at the Reykjavik EDITION or Parliament Hotel, each offering a different angle on the city’s contemporary mood.

Reykjavik skyline at golden hour with colourful buildings in blue, white, yellow and red, the white spire of Hallgrímskirkja church rising above, mountains visible across the bay under clear sky

Days two and three belong to Akureyri in the north. This is where the journey sharpens into pure sensation: whale watching from the water’s edge, husky sledding across terrain that seems to belong to another century, snowmobiling across pristine snow, and then the geothermal embrace of Mývatn Nature Baths, where warm waters meet cold air in a scene of elemental theatre.

A figure in a black quilted jacket and lavender trousers stands with arms outstretched before a massive waterfall plunging from moss covered basalt cliffs, mist rising from the cascade beneath a clear sky

Day four traces the Golden Circle, that loop of natural grandeur where geysers erupt with geological force and waterfalls drop like curtains of white silk. Snorkelling at Silfra offers an altogether different intimacy: crystalline water between tectonic plates, and nothing but visibility for metres in every direction. As evening falls, Hotel Rangá’s observatory opens the sky, where starlight rewards patience and clarity.

A figure in a black quilted jacket and lavender trousers stands with arms outstretched before a massive waterfall plunging from moss covered basalt cliffs, mist rising from the cascade beneath a clear sky

The fifth day is devoted to conclusion and ritual. The Blue Lagoon offers more than a spa experience; it is a pause, a moment of warmth in a landscape of ice and stone. Afternoon tea follows, and then dinner at Moss, where a Michelin star crowns the journey with refined cuisine that speaks to place.

A figure in a black quilted jacket and lavender trousers stands with arms outstretched before a massive waterfall plunging from moss covered basalt cliffs, mist rising from the cascade beneath a clear sky

Scott Dunn orchestrates the details: accommodation, reservations, the seamless movement between corners of a country that never quite reveals all its drama at once. Contact the team to begin planning.

A figure in a black quilted jacket and lavender trousers stands with arms outstretched before a massive waterfall plunging from moss covered basalt cliffs, mist rising from the cascade beneath a clear sky

Imagery courtesy of Scott Dunn (@scottdunn_travel).

Four Polaroid style photographs arranged over a landscape of volcanic terrain with a winding dark road: Reykjavik showing a burger in hand, Akureyri with four people in snowmobiling suits, the Golden Circle waterfall, and the Blue Lagoon's geometric pool edge against moorland
Reykjavik skyline at golden hour with colourful buildings in blue, white, yellow and red, the white spire of Hallgrímskirkja church rising above, mountains visible across the bay under clear sky
A figure in a black quilted jacket and lavender trousers stands with arms outstretched before a massive waterfall plunging from moss covered basalt cliffs, mist rising from the cascade beneath a clear sky
A figure in a black quilted jacket and lavender trousers stands with arms outstretched before a massive waterfall plunging from moss covered basalt cliffs, mist rising from the cascade beneath a clear sky
A figure in a black quilted jacket and lavender trousers stands with arms outstretched before a massive waterfall plunging from moss covered basalt cliffs, mist rising from the cascade beneath a clear sky
A figure in a black quilted jacket and lavender trousers stands with arms outstretched before a massive waterfall plunging from moss covered basalt cliffs, mist rising from the cascade beneath a clear sky

Stay inspired

Join the world of Simply Luxury.

Curated stories, exceptional places and private invitations.

Story Index

SIMPLY LUXURY is a registered trademark of Mr Anand S Hira, licensed to H.H L.L.C-FZ, Licence 2313961.01, Meydan Grandstand, 6th Floor, Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, UAE. Contact: pa@simplyluxury.net

Privacy PolicyCookie PolicyTerms of UseAccessibilityCookie settings