Earth, water and fire create natural landscapes unlike anywhere else in the world, from waterfalls and volcanoes to geysers and fjords. Here's where to go and how to travel in Iceland and Norway.
What drives us to embark on a journey? Most of the time, it all begins with a suggestion. A curious-sounding name, an image, something we've read or a scent is enough to stir in us the desire to find ourselves in an extraordinary natural setting, to experience other ways of life and customs, to taste new foods, to encounter different peoples. And everything becomes even more compelling the more the destination is a remote place, barely accessible, unspoiled. Explored in a sustainable way.
Geysers, waterfalls, volcanoes, wild nature and puffin colonies are the impressions that drive us to venture towards Iceland, a land where everything is shaped by ice and fire. A journey that Turisanda offers over eight days, covering a total of 1,710 kilometres. It begins with the most celebrated and unmissable itineraries, such as the Golden Circle, in the south-west of the country, just a few hours from the capital Reykjavik, which takes in Thingvellir National Park, the geothermal area of Haukadalur and the Gullfoss waterfall.
The first is a Unesco World Heritage site for its historical significance. Icelanders regard it as the birthplace of the nation, for it was here in 930 that the Icelandic parliament was founded, and here that it continued to meet until 1798. The site is also spectacular from a geological standpoint: the lava landscape is split by gorges and faults formed by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The rifts are particularly visible in the Almannagjá canyon and at Silfra, where it is possible to dive and snorkel "between the continents".
In the geothermal area of Haukadalur, several geysers can be observed, including the one that gave its name to all the others, the Geysir, and the Strokkur, which erupts roughly every 10 minutes with jets reaching 30 metres in height. Gullfoss, meanwhile, is the "golden waterfall" and is among the most famous in Iceland: 100,000 litres of glacial water from the Hvítá river plunge more than 30 metres into the Gullfossgljúfur canyon every second.
And then there are black sand beaches, glacial lagoons, floating icebergs, lava columns and craters, fumaroles: every day in Iceland is a journey into the beating heart of the earth and into a nature that expresses all its force and grandeur.
The tour is filled with many authentic experiences, such as puffin watching: these are birds with a stocky build and a posture reminiscent of parrots. Around 60 per cent of the world's Atlantic puffin population nests in Iceland, arriving along the coast from late March and returning to sea by late July — this is the time when they can be admired near Egilsstadir, crossing rugged terrain aboard a truck pulled by a tractor. Travelling on foot or by car is not possible due to the absence of beaten paths or stretches of water.
The journey continues through the dark fortress of Dimmuborgir, a vast expanse of volcanic rocks, thermal baths at the Forest Lagoon in Akureyri, and historic sites that served as settings for Viking sagas, such as the area around Reykholt.
The waters that lap the coasts of south-eastern Iceland, moving eastward, become the Norwegian Sea — a sea that here, more often than not, carves itself into fjords, offering a spectacle unlike anywhere else in the world. Just as unique is the midnight sun, when sunset blends into sunrise without leaving room for darkness, a phenomenon that extends the working hours of fishermen and shepherds alike, and has inspired artists and writers throughout the ages.
More wonders, another journey to dream of and experience over seven days with Turisanda, which offers a combined tour of Norway by train and cruise, eschewing the use of polluting means of transport. The trains and motorships selected run exclusively on hybrid engines (with the exception of the first transfer) in order to minimise environmental impact.
An unmissable capital, caught between the vibrancy of its historic centre and the forests and fjords that surround it. From here, the route crosses countryside and highlands by rail to board another train — this time a scenic one — which arrives in Flåm, a village of 500 inhabitants nestled at the innermost point of the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the Sognefjord. This celebrated fjord can be explored by cruise all the way to Bergen: along the way, passengers can admire the mouth of the Nærøyfjord, a Unesco World Heritage Site recognised for its extraordinarily beautiful natural landscape and its status as the archetype of fjord uniqueness.
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, dubbed the "capital of the fjords". Here, an ancient atmosphere pervades the old harbour district of Bryggen (a Unesco World Heritage Site as a representation of the historic architecture of a Hanseatic city) and the fish market, which has existed since the 1200s and where goods were once sold directly from boats along the quayside.
From Bergen, you sail to Stavanger, where you set off to discover the Lysefjord with its iconic rock formations, above all Preikestolen, the pulpit rock, which you can climb all the way to the summit at 604 metres to enjoy the breathtaking view over the fjord. The sense of wonder is, now more than ever, very real.