TORFHÚS RETREAT

The Viking Langhus is where chef Thorarinn Eggertsson serves breakfast from the reclaimed horse-drawn cart, and creates cutting-edge Icelandic fare with ingredients sourced mostly from within a 10-mile radius. Dine with the Icelandic horses as your backdrop, in the greenhouse or inside the cowshed with an up-close-and-personal view of the livestock. Disconnect, unwind and retreat from the crowds.

Suitable for:

• Jaded urbanites 
• Northern Lights gazers 
• Wilderness and nature lovers 

Things to do at the hotel:

• Trek over hills and past rivers to be met with a picnic lunch 
• Stargaze from your geothermal basalt tub
• Feast on the finest Icelandic cuisine with views of grazing horses

Things to do nearby:

• Explore the three natural wonders of the Golden Circle off-peak, in the early morning or late evening 
• Ride the remarkable ‘five-gaited’ breed of Icelandic horse along wilderness trails 
• Take a helicopter trip over the mesmerising glaciers and waterfalls 
• Super-jeep across the highlands of Landmannalaugar, to find colourful valleys leading to the Rhyolite Mountains, volcanic craters and spring-fed waterfalls 
• Dive into crystal clear waters, to see rock formations that nestle between tectonic plates 
• Head to the 8,000 year old lava cave to see its colourful volcanic wall 
• Encounter the Icelandic wildness by travelling down the Hvítá River in a raft or kayak 
• Venture onto the Langjökull or Hofsjökull glaciers for hiking, ice climbing and snowmobiling