You can make stopovers exciting: we’re travel experts and that’s why you should break up transatlantic travel with a stay in Iceland, from thermal baths to snorkeling between tectonic plates

Did you think layovers were boring? Think again.

Two travel experts have revealed just how exciting it can be if you pick the right place – and they prove their point by showcasing incredible 36-hour stays in Iceland.

A stopover here can break up a transatlantic journey between Europe and the US, with the travel gurus showing how to enjoy it in two completely different ways.

One of the experts does Nicky KelvinEditor-in-chief at The Points Guy. He opts for an adventurous holiday: he stays at the remote Highland base at Kerlingarfjöll, snorkels between tectonic plates and eats bread cooked in the earth using geothermal energy.

Influencer Maz Green unveils a luxury Icelandic holiday, with a stay at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon. Her itinerary includes a Michelin-starred meal and an on-site water massage.

The pair recorded their experiences in a fascinating video and you can watch a sneak peek of it here (below).

They also exclusively revealed to MailOnline Travel what surprised them about Iceland, the misconceptions associated with the country – and whether they think it’s a great value destination.

Read on for more information.

Nicky Kelvin, Editor at Large at The Points Guy, and influencer Maz Green show the joys of a stopover in Iceland. They are pictured here during an Icelandair flight at the start of their escapade

What surprised you about Iceland?

Maz told MailOnline Travel: ‘The proximity to the wild terrain.

‘As soon as I drove out of the airport, I saw vast expanses of rugged, black lava fields formed by ancient volcanic eruptions.

‘Framed by coastal views of the Atlantic Ocean, the views were stark and utterly otherworldly. As if that wasn’t shocking enough, there was real smoke coming from the lava fields because the nearby volcano had erupted just days before I arrived.

‘I thought you had to travel far to reach this kind of dramatic terrain. I couldn’t believe how quickly I had experienced Iceland’s powerful nature.

‘We also went during the summer solstice, so experiencing the midnight sun was such a surreal experience! It was quite disorienting at first to have almost 24 hours of daylight, but personally I like longer days and the midnight sun provides such a beautiful light.’

What misconceptions exist about Iceland?

Maz reveals a luxury Icelandic holiday, with a stay at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon (above)

Maz said: ‘That Iceland is a very remote country, when in fact it is incredibly accessible and well connected for international travel.

‘Iceland’s location between North America and Europe makes it an ideal stopover point for travelers crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

‘Many people think that Iceland’s natural wonders cannot be experienced in such a short visit, but many of the sights were close to the airport and could absolutely be enjoyed in just 36 hours.’

What are the main points of interest?

Maz describes The Retreat at Blue Lagoon as a ‘completely premium experience’

Maz enjoys an in-water massage at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon

Maz commented: ‘I’ve only seen the Blue Lagoon but that was always a bucket list sight of mine and it certainly lived up to the hype.

‘It was such a refreshing experience to bathe in the warm, mineral-rich geothermal water. And the backdrop of black volcanic rock and moss-covered lava fields made such a striking contrast to the clear blue waters of the lagoon.

‘When I return to Iceland I would like to see the black sand beach Reynisfjara, and some of the dramatic waterfalls such as Kirkjufellsfoss and Seljalandsfoss.

What does it have that other wild places don’t?

“If you’re looking for a bucket list luxury stay, The Retreat is definitely something to add to your list,” says Maz (above)

Maz said: “The varied terrain. With geothermal hot springs, active volcanoes, black sand beaches, lush green valleys, dramatic cliffs and glacial ice caves, this country’s landscape is uniquely diverse compared to other wild places around the world.’

How’s the food?

Maz commented: ‘I have only eaten at the Michelin-starred Moss restaurant at The Retreat Hotel, but based on my dining experience there, Icelandic cuisine takes advantage of the country’s natural resources and cultural heritage.

‘I was told that many modern restaurants put a contemporary twist on traditional dishes and that there is a lot of emphasis on sustainability.

‘I enjoyed lots of fresh seafood and meat produced on Icelandic farms, all of which was of the highest quality.’

Is Iceland good value?

Maz is pictured here at The Retreat’s Michelin-starred Moss restaurant

Maz concluded: ‘My experience in Iceland was the presentation of the luxury wellness hotel The Retreat. While it may have an expensive price tag, it was by no means a rip-off. With exceptional service, a world-class spa, exclusive location, unique architectural design, Michelin-star dining and focus on sustainability, the hotel offered a unique and extremely premium experience, justifying the cost.

‘If you’re looking for a luxury bucket-list stay, The Retreat is definitely something to add to your list!’

NICKY KELVIN – ADVENTURE

What surprised you about Iceland?

Nicky told MailOnline Travel: ‘One of the most surprising things is the diversity of experiences you can have in Iceland.

‘It is possible to enjoy ultimate comfort and luxury, as well as wild adventures – but even more surprising is how places in Iceland manage to combine that adventure and luxury in one.

‘The prevalence of and dependence on geothermal energy was also surprising, not only because of how green and forward-looking Iceland’s electricity grid is, but because the source of the energy is visible as you drive around the island.

‘The whole building is buzzing, boiling and buzzing with energy.’

Nicky opted for an adventurous stopover in Iceland, where bread baked in a geothermal underground oven was one of the highlights (above)

Nick eats his geothermal bread amid Iceland’s wild landscape

Are there any misconceptions you had that changed during your stay?

Nicky said: ‘There may be a misconception that you need a lot of time to experience an enriching, exciting adventure in a destination, but this trip has proven that you can experience something magical in just 36 hours, all while traveling along the way. are. to your final destination. It’s also a misconception that adventure means roughing it out. In many places, Iceland has found a way to be wild and elatedly luxurious at the same time.”

What are the main points of interest?

Nicky told MailOnline Travel: ‘Of course we only had 36 hours to pack everything in during this stopover, but the real highlight for me was walking through the volcanic massif of Kerlingarfjoll, where the Highland Base hotel was located. It really felt like being on the moon, with the lunar landscape made extra dramatic by a mid-summer snowstorm and the bubbling geothermal pools of boiling water surrounding the paths.”

What does it have that other wild places don’t?

A stopover that makes a big impression: Nicky goes snorkeling between tectonic plates

Nicky floats in the water… while the tectonic plates drift

Nicky’s Icelandic base was the remote Highland Hotel. He compares the environment to a moonscape

Nicky said: “First of all, it has proximity on its side. A few hours’ flight from Europe and just a few hours to North America. Such a short flight takes you to an otherworldly landscape. You would have to travel much further to experience the same wild environment elsewhere in the world.’

Is it a good price?

Nick commented: ‘I was surprised that the cost wasn’t as high as I expected. While luxury experiences weren’t cheap, they didn’t feel like bad value, and things like coffee and snacks at petrol stations were no different to the prices you’d find in Britain.”

For more information from The Points Guy, visit thepointsguy.com. Click to watch the full Points Guy Iceland video here.