WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING TO BEAT THE HEAT OR JUST LOVE A ROAD LESS TRAVELED, HERE’S WHERE AN EIDERDOWN EXPERT SUGGESTS YOU VISIT IN ICELAND…
01
Heliskiing.
The sanctuary where our eiderdown comes from is up in Akureyri, near an adventure lodge called Deplar Farm, which is part of Eleven, an adventure brand with resorts around the world. I was just there in March of this year, and the heliskiing is unreal. Itís one of the only places in the world where you can ski down a mountain and look onto the sea. Being in that environment, in a sanctuary where maybe 50 people go per year, is just insane. elevenexperience.com
02
Fish Stew.
Thereís a restaurant in DalvÌkó where the recent season of True Detective with Jodie Foster was fi lmed—that’s named after three brothers in an Icelandic folktale, called Gisli, Eirikur, Helgi. This tiny cafÈ makes the most incredible fi sh stew. You order your stew and it comes with homemade bread made from a local beer. The wall decor is mostly local historic artifacts, which is cool too. I went back twice in one week. dalvikhostel.is
03
Sweaters.
In Reykjavik, there are a bunch of places that sell the classic Fair Isle sweaters, but our local host told us not to buy in the tourist shops, Instead, we were taken to this little old lady and her husband, who knit sweaters out of their garage in Akureyrióshe does the body and he does the fi nishing. Our daughter bought one, and the lady fi tted it to her. They don’t speak English, so you have to hire a guide to take you, but itís worth it. +354.865.2839
04
Waterfalls.
Goðafoss is this sort of secret thing. Thereís no town around it, but itís a natural reserve with these arched waterfalls you can hike through. The scenery is just crazy. 65.6828° N, 17.5502° W
05
Thermal Springs.
The Blue Lagoon is famous, but there are thermal springs in Akureyri called the Forest Lagoon that have a very authentic Nordic fl avor, with white cedar and a series of baths. Itís smaller and quainter, and you can even have wine. Itís very well done. forestlagoon.is
