North America takes on North Iceland!

Every year the Icelandair Boston office takes a day off and heads to Iceland for a long weekend of exploring and team building!

This year’s trip was no different, with the itinerary beginning as a series of surprises with only the planners knowing where the journey would lead. With the goal of learning more about the country we represent and bringing the team closer together, we ventured this year to North Iceland in hopes of catching a glimpse of an active Bardabunga.

We landed in Keflavik and quickly transferred to the domestic airport for an early morning flight to Akureyri. The weather was on our side, including moderate temperatures and nearly clear skies – in the middle of November! - perfect for a beautiful morning drive to the turf houses at Glaumbaer. Once there, we learned a bit about the area, toured the farm house and ate a meal “just like Grandmas” at Askaffi, including Icelandic soups, cake, and hot cups of tea & coffee. 

From there we traveled to Tindastol to ski the first run of the season! Non-skiers were able to snowmobile and Super Jeep around the region, which included sights of the area’s beautiful and panoramic mountain landscapes. Next, we learned about the history of the Icelandic horse and even had a chance to go horseback riding at Reidhollin Svadastadir.

Another relaxing drive through the countryside was followed by a dip in the secluded hotpots at Grettislaug. The serene setting was accented with the sound of crashing ocean waves nearby and the samples of Brennivin and Hakarl being served under the dark, night sky. The evening was later spent at one of Iceland’s oldest hotels, Saudarkrokur’s Hotel Tindastol, preceded by a delicious dinner at Olafshus Restaurant, also located in the town centre. 

The following morning we traveled to the small fishing village of Siglufjordur to learn how the herring industry turned this once sleepy town into one of the country’s most thriving and wealthy communities. Today the town sees a promising future for tourism with increased infrastructure and a growing population thanks to new demand from the cruise ship industry. The town prepares every year for the influx of tourists through their fascinating herring era museum, a large welcoming hotel and a few great shops & restaurants, including Kaffi Raudka where our team sampled traditional Icelandic foods including the delicious plokkfiskur.

One of the highlights of the trip was whale watching in Dalvik with Arctic Sea Tours. Whales were plentiful as we watched three humpbacks feeding in the fjord, giving us a show that weathered sea captains could only dream of seeing. While on the boat, we also had the opportunity to angle for the chance to catch our own meals, with two cod and a red fish being caught and later prepared when we returned to the harbor.

This year’s trip was made extra special with the addition of five new members to the North America Team, including Meghan MacDonald, from the Groups Desk, who had never been to Iceland before. We joked that this trip provided her the opportunity to see parts of Iceland that many seasoned veterans had never seen before, while only spending a few brief hours in Reykjavik! 

We ended our day with a ride into the countryside to see the glow of Bardabunga, courtesy of Saga Travel! Mother Nature had different plans however, as the skies opened up and rain made the conditions unfavorable for the journey. The team headed to downtown Akureyri for a dinner at Rub 23 followed by an impromptu night on the town to see Eurovision sensation Pall Oskar perform at Sjallinn. The team danced the night away with the locals and by the end of the night was even singing in Icelandic! It was Gordjoss! A good night’s rest was provided by the new Berjaya Akureyri Hotel!

The goals of the trip were once again achieved with our new employees mixing with the seasoned staff and sharing some of the many wonderful activities that Iceland has to offer! Although there was no active volcano sighting, the team strengthened their bonds, enjoyed the wonders of Iceland and made many long lasting memories, including custom made lopapeysas for the entire staff.?

Thanks again Iceland!

Kær kveðja/Best regards
MICHAEL RAUCHEISEN
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Boston Office USA Marketing