ION Adventure Hotel

The highlights

• Silfra Restaurant and Northern Lights Bar showcase excellent Nordic cuisine
• Spa, sauna and warm outdoor pool with incredible views
• Views across beautiful Thingvellir National Park – a World Heritage site
• Just over 20 miles from Reykjavik
• Visit the spouting hot spring of Strokkur and the Golden Waterfall, Gullfoss
• Activities including Jeep tours, snorkelling and helicopter trips can be arranged

You should know

• The hotel is non-smoking throughout
• Pets are not allowed at this hotel

The detail

There can be few destinations with such inspiring natural surroundings as Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel, with its incredible views of the Northern Lights. In diverse Western Iceland, this hotel is surrounded by hot springs, cold rivers, lava fields and a dormant volcano – and it’s all within a 40-minute drive of the ever-enchanting capital Reykjavik.

Ion was once a staff building of a geothermal power plant – it’s rather more glamorous now, but retains plenty of energy and a uniquely Icelandic spirit. With rooms looking out towards the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park (through floor-to-ceiling windows if you choose to go deluxe), the accommodation is carefully considered and environmentally friendly. You’ll find hypoallergenic beds, Fairtrade linens and organic toiletries made with Icelandic herbs.

Multi award-winning, Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel incorporates the Silfra Restaurant and Northern Lights Bar. The restaurant takes its name from Iceland’s most popular diving site, the Silfra Rift, which marks the continental meeting point of Europe and America. Rest assured, the menus - and the design - keep things strictly Nordic.

An ethos of purity, freshness and simplicity guides its chefs, who accompany dishes of just-caught fish, locally reared lamb and farm-fresh vegetables with beers and spirits from Icelandic microbreweries. Look out too for traditional Icelandic dessert, Skyr Brulée – it’s well worth trying.

As befits a hotel all about natural energy, Ion’s spa, sauna and 10m outdoor pool are particularly special. A number of revitalising treatments are available, including massages and facials. With the tranquil surroundings and incomparable landscapes you’ll be enjoying, you may just discover a whole new level of relaxation.

All kinds of adventurous excursions can be arranged with Ion, from volcano hikes to snowmobile rides and horseback riding to helicopter trips. Alternatively, take to the water with a river raft, or simply jump in an eco-friendly Super Jeep for a tour of the region’s unbelievably numerous natural wonders.

Yet another bonus is the proximity of all this to cosmopolitan, charming Reykjavik – easily reached and easy to fall in love with. The capital retains a small-town feel and has chilled café culture and heritage to enjoy, with museums, galleries and a vibrant local music scene. You can linger over your evening meal knowing the nightlife doesn’t get going until late (often continuing well into the following morning).

Iceland can’t help but warm your heart, and Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel has more than a few ways to do just that.

Features

Essential