Hotel Katla, Vik

Location

Driving in Iceland is a wonderful thing. The scenery is spectacular, everything is well signposted, and many of the most popular attractions can be accessed from the country’s famous Ring Road, a circular route of more than 1,300km that girdles the country. Follow this road anti-clockwise from Reykjavik for a little over two hours and you’ll find yourself in the beautiful seaside village of Vik, with a wild, black-sand beach in front of you and a stunning mountain backdrop behind. Hotel Katla is just 5km east of Vik. It’s a great option for exploring the south coast, where highlights include the bird cliffs of the Westman Islands and Skogafoss Waterfall.

Accommodation 

The hotel has 72 comfortably furnished standard and superior rooms, available as doubles, twins or triples. Each en-suite room is equipped with televisions (flatscreens in superior rooms) and wireless internet access. There are also four rooms with wheelchair access. This is simple but good quality accommodation, and one of the finest choices along this breathtaking stretch of the Icelandic coast.

Dining 

The hotel has its own restaurant and both the staff and chefs take enormous pride in the service they provide. Menus focus on local produce, so expect to find the likes of lobster, salmon, trout, char, lamb, venison and perhaps even puffin, which is usually smoked before being cooked.

Facilities 

Hotel staff can arrange all manner of activities, from hiking and horse riding to snowmobiling in winter and guided treks on the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier. And after a day of adventures it’s nice to be able to relax in the hotel’s outdoor hot tubs, filled with natural spring water that bubbles away at a constant 38C. Drinks from the bar are served straight to the tubs and in winter – if you’re lucky – they make an ideal spot for viewing the Northern Lights.