A SMALL lesser-known destination in Europe could offer a great value trip this month, with prices more affordable now than they are during peak seasons.
Akureyri in Iceland is a gateway to amazing natural sights and experiences for visitors, with new direct flights launched from two UK airports in the last year.
In October 2023, easyJet launched its first route from London Gatwick, which flies twice a week to the northern Icelandic destination.
Then in June this year, the airline revealed it was launching flights from Manchester, which will begin for the first time in November.
Iceland is a pricier place to visit than a lot of European destinations, but now is the time to go for anyone who wants to make a saving.
According to i tourist lets are 15 per cent cheaper at the end of September compared to the start of August.
There are plenty of reasons for people to head to the north of Iceland where they can find an action-packed holiday that also offers some amazing relaxation.
Not far from Akureyri is the country’s whale watching hotspot, Husavik, which has humpbacks, orcas, minkes and even blue whales among the species swimming off its shores.
Puffins and dolphins are also found in the nearby waters, making it an amazing place for anyone hoping to see some wildlife in its natural environment.
Comedy film fans will also enjoy a visit to Husavik with a lot of scenes from the Netflix movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga featuring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams filmed there.
Back in the great outdoors there’s plenty more nearby to explore, including some really impressive waterfalls.
Godafoss, which means “waterfall of the gods”, is a surprising sight, found just a short walk away from a car park, and is one of the region’s most amazing natural attractions.
Meanwhile, a bit more of a walk through the Icelandic landscape brings tourists to Dettifoss, the second most powerful waterfall in all of Europe.
Other landscapes nearby that are worth discovering include expired volcanoes that can be climbed and, in the winter, frozen lakes that can be walked across.
Visitors can arrange skimobile trips and husky sledding as other unique ways to see more of the area.
Iceland’s natural volcanic properties have created some amazing places for people to relax and unwind, with hot springs a very popular spot for the locals to meet in the evenings.
Arguably the most frequently visited at Akureyri is the Forest Lagoon, which sits opposite the town centre on a hillside.
The naturally warmed waters have swim up bars and overlook the fjord, surrounded by pine trees.
It’s the perfect place to chill after a day exploring the area’s amazing natural sights.
Evening visitors are sometimes lucky enough to see the northern lights dancing in the sky from the lagoon, with the area a very popular spot for people looking to see the aurora.
Getting to Akureyri is simple for Brits, with flights available from £17.
A night for two in the town can be booked from £49.
Earlier this year, Sun Travel’s reporter Ryan Gray visited Akureyri and this is what he made of it.
The town itself is very quiet and quaint, with its wooden houses overlooking the fjord creating a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.
However, just outside of Akureyri, there’s a whole exciting world to explore.
The highlight of my visit was of course whale watching, with two humpbacks coming and showing off their flukes to those of us lucky enough to be in the boat that day.
Other amazing experiences included having a hot chocolate while standing on the middle of a frozen lake and climbing to the top of an expired volcano and gazing into its crater.
The waterfalls nearby are absolutely breath-taking and the sheer force of them is amazing to be in the presence of.
However, for water experiences, warming up in the naturally hot pools of the Forest Lagoon is something that I would love to do every single evening and can easily see why it’s such a popular activity for the locals.
I went to Akureyri unsure what to expect, but I found it just a wonderful destination to explore.
With flights so cheap, I’d urge everyone else to make the trip and discover just how many amazing things this destination has to offer.
Meanwhile, this cheaper alternative to Lapland has new flights from the UK.
And here are five holiday destination dupes to avoid overcrowded hotspots.
