There’s nothing better than immersing yourself in nature; taking in the beautiful scenery and escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Adventure travel is a popular way to combine restorative time in the great outdoors with adrenaline-inducing activities that add excitement to your trip. Whether you consider yourself ‘adventurous’ or not, a holiday with outdoor experiences can be truly rewarding.
To help introduce more people to the wonderful world of adventure travel, we surveyed UK residents to find out how they feel about outdoor activities and to match up their interests with experiences on offer in Iceland.
From exploring Reykjavik's geothermal pools to heli-skiing, there's something for everyone.
The UK definitely has an appetite for adventure travel.
According to our survey, 45% of people consider themselves to be adventurous when it comes to outdoor activities and nearly half of the UK (47%) believe they’re more adventurous when on holiday.
While just under half of travellers want a purely relaxing holiday, 1 in 4 people look for holidays that provide a mix of activities, with London and Manchester residents taking the lead in embracing ‘extreme sports’ when travelling outside the UK.
More than half of people (57%) wish that they were more adventurous when it came to outdoor activities, suggesting many have an interest in more thrilling experiences, even if they haven’t tried adventure travel before.
What’s holding them back?
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to adventure travel. Everyone has different comfort zones, and activities that seem intimidating to one person may be more suited to someone else.
52% of people we surveyed said they’d like to try more outdoor activities but are conscious of safety, with 16-24-year-olds being the most concerned (69%). This is also the age group that seems to have the biggest interest in adventure travel, with 78% saying they’d like to try more exciting outdoor activities.
These figures show that while people are keen on the idea of adventure travel, they want to make sure they’re finding a safe way to enjoy these experiences.
We’ve created four adventure personality types to help you explore your boundaries without pushing them too far, balancing a wish to dial up the adrenaline while balancing safety concerns and personal comfort zones.
Take a look and find where you fit:
From adventure travel newbies to experienced thrill-seekers, Iceland is a great destination for all types of travellers.
This mysterious country offers a range of outdoor experiences, no matter how adventurous you’re feeling. From relaxing in the Blue Lagoon to cross-country skiing, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Now that you know your adventure type, here are some of our recommendations for activities to do in Iceland to add some excitement to your trip:
For those new to adventure travel, spending time outdoors is a great way to expand your boundaries. Here are three nature-based activity recommendations from our experts:
Northern Lights tour – another way to immerse yourself in Icelandic nature is to go northern lights hunting. While you can plan your own aurora borealis adventure, we’d recommend a guided northern lights tour. These tours are run by local experts who know where to go and what to look for.
Whale watching – home to over 20 different species, Iceland is a great destination for whale watching (provided you don’t suffer from sea sickness!). Whale-watching tours are a safe way to observe these majestic animals in their natural habitat. Enjoy a calming boat trip through Iceland’s waters and feel the excitement as you spot a pod of whales swimming along.
Looking to add a touch more adrenaline to your trip? Here are some exciting activities that are still ideal for people and families seeking new experiences:
Glacier walking – one of our favourite guided experiences in Iceland is glacier hiking. Gaze out at the icy landscapes and marvel at the ancient formations as you hike your way across one of Iceland’s many glaciers on a group tour. Our tours are led by certified experts so you’ll be in safe hands as you explore.
Kayaking – while you can kayak at locations across the world, nothing quite beats taking in the unbeatable panoramic views as you serenely drift across one of Iceland’s crystal-clear lakes. From navigating through icebergs and bird-watching trips to sea kayaking days, each tour offers something different for every kind of traveller to enjoy.
For those already familiar with adventure travel, our experts have put together some more exhilarating activities to add to your itinerary:
Snowmobiling or ATV adventures – taking a snowmobiling or ATV (all-terrain vehicle) tour is all about the fun and is a great way to up the ante and explore Iceland. These specialised vehicles tackle all kinds of terrain, granting you access to routes you won’t be able to explore on foot. Take a look at our tours to find an experience for your trip.
Mountain biking – another great way to uncover Iceland’s hidden gems is mountain biking. Whether you go on a guided tour or rent a bike and explore at your own pace, mountain biking gives you the chance to venture off the beaten track and fully immerse yourself in Iceland’s stunning scenery.
To satisfy the thrill-seekers, these three activities put a unique spin on the ones you might have tried before. All these recommendations require some experience and guided supervision.
Mountain climbing – for keen hikers, mountain climbing is an experience that’s equally challenging and rewarding. Whether you want to gaze out across the horizon from Iceland’s highest peak or summit ancient volcanos and glaciers, there’s no shortage of amazing mountain climbing spots.
Scuba diving – it might come as a surprise, but Iceland is a great location for scuba diving. While you won’t see any tropical fish or coral reefs, cold-water diving lets you explore this country’s mysterious geothermal formations. Encounter a different side of Iceland as you dive between tectonic plates and explore underwater chimneys.
For those new to adventure travel, spending time outdoors is a great way to expand your boundaries. Here are three nature-based activity recommendations from our experts:
Northern Lights tour – another way to immerse yourself in Icelandic nature is to go northern lights hunting. While you can plan your own aurora borealis adventure, we’d recommend a guided northern lights tour. These tours are run by local experts who know where to go and what to look for.
Whale watching – home to over 20 different species, Iceland is a great destination for whale watching (provided you don’t suffer from sea sickness!). Whale-watching tours are a safe way to observe these majestic animals in their natural habitat. Enjoy a calming boat trip through Iceland’s waters and feel the excitement as you spot a pod of whales swimming along.
Looking to add a touch more adrenaline to your trip? Here are some exciting activities that are still ideal for people and families seeking new experiences:
Glacier walking – one of our favourite guided experiences in Iceland is glacier hiking. Gaze out at the icy landscapes and marvel at the ancient formations as you hike your way across one of Iceland’s many glaciers on a group tour. Our tours are led by certified experts so you’ll be in safe hands as you explore.
Kayaking – while you can kayak at locations across the world, nothing quite beats taking in the unbeatable panoramic views as you serenely drift across one of Iceland’s crystal-clear lakes. From navigating through icebergs and bird-watching trips to sea kayaking days, each tour offers something different for every kind of traveller to enjoy.
For those already familiar with adventure travel, our experts have put together some more exhilarating activities to add to your itinerary:
Snowmobiling or ATV adventures – taking a snowmobiling or ATV (all-terrain vehicle) tour is all about the fun and is a great way to up the ante and explore Iceland. These specialised vehicles tackle all kinds of terrain, granting you access to routes you won’t be able to explore on foot. Take a look at our tours to find an experience for your trip.
Mountain biking – another great way to uncover Iceland’s hidden gems is mountain biking. Whether you go on a guided tour or rent a bike and explore at your own pace, mountain biking gives you the chance to venture off the beaten track and fully immerse yourself in Iceland’s stunning scenery.
To satisfy the thrill-seekers, these three activities put a unique spin on the ones you might have tried before. All these recommendations require some experience and guided supervision.
Mountain climbing – for keen hikers, mountain climbing is an experience that’s equally challenging and rewarding. Whether you want to gaze out across the horizon from Iceland’s highest peak or summit ancient volcanos and glaciers, there’s no shortage of amazing mountain climbing spots.
Scuba diving – it might come as a surprise, but Iceland is a great location for scuba diving. While you won’t see any tropical fish or coral reefs, cold-water diving lets you explore this country’s mysterious geothermal formations. Encounter a different side of Iceland as you dive between tectonic plates and explore underwater chimneys.
Whether you’re enjoying a thermal spring or hiking up a glacier, adventure travel can have a range of health benefits.
Doing more physical activity can have a positive impact on factors like weight and cardiovascular health and even enhance your sleep quality, helping you feel rested and restored. Spending time in nature can also boost your immune system.
Aside from these physical benefits, doing outdoor activities is also great for your mental health.
As part of our study, we asked the UK public about what they could personally gain from exciting, outdoor activities to see how rewarding adventure travel can be.
According to our research, 43% of people felt that adventurous or outdoor activities could boost their confidence, with 42% saying that adventure travel would give them a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment. 26% of people said adventure travel reduced their stress, further demonstrating the positive impact these kinds of activities can have on your mental health.
Given that 59% of women and 40% of men prioritise self-care and wellbeing in their day-to-day lives – second only to spending time with friends and family – the mental health benefits of outdoor activities make adventure holidays ideal for wellness-minded travellers.
,With the range of physical and mental benefits it can bring, it’s no surprise that adventure travel is becoming more and more popular, with many travellers looking to add exciting outdoor experiences to their holidays.
While there are plenty of destinations to choose from for your adventure holiday, we think Iceland is an ideal destination for this kind of travel. Offering activities for every experience level, Iceland is the perfect place to spend some time in nature and try something new.
Ready to dip your toe into the world of adventure travel? Whether you’re flying from London or Manchester, we offer plenty of direct flights from the UK to Reykjavík so you can explore Iceland’s great outdoors and unleash your adventurous side.
Using a wide-ranging survey of 2000 UK travellers, Icelandair gathered data regarding the attitudes of people toward adventure and outdoor travel, how adventurous they class themselves to be, and the benefits of this type of travel. To ensure the survey was representative of the UK, respondents are from all regions, all genders, and above the age of 18.
To class the different types of adventure travellers, Icelandair collated data from adventure travel platforms. We used information from the Adventure Travel & Trade Association (ATTA) and The Adventure Junkies to focus on the physical aspect of adventure travel. After analysing the data, we identified 4 categories of physical adventure travellers based on their interests, physical demands, risk levels, and other factors.