Enveloped by mountainous lava fields and situated less than an hour from Reykjavík, ION Adventure Hotel lures guests with its jaw-dropping location and access to extreme outdoor adventure based on the four elements from trekking across ancient glaciers and fissure diving to cave exploration. Opened in 2013, the 45-room Brutalist-inspired eco adventure property—once serving as staff lodging for nearby Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant in Iceland’s Golden Circle—was reinvented by owner Sigurlaug Sverrisdóttir along with childhood friends and architects Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson of design studio Minarc.
Using materials such as locally-salvaged driftwood and Icelandic rock, the glass-and-concrete property suspended atop stilts boasts a 32-foot-long heated geothermal pool and spa; paintings by artist Ingvar Björn; an expansive menu of adventure offerings from snowmobiling to Gullfoss Waterfall, or exploring an interior ice cap at Iceland’s second largest glacier, Langjökull; and guestrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows yielding views of Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant. During the Northern lights season (typically October to March), take a seat for prime viewing of the Aurora Borealis at the Northern Lights Bar appointed with 180-degree panoramic windows, and cozy, low-slung sofas.
At Silfra Restaurant, helmed by chefs Sindri Guðbjartur Sigurðsson and Þráinn Freyr Vigfússon, choose from Nordic-inspired starters and entrees such as shellfish soup with pickled cauliflower, shrimp, and scallops; glazed lamb shank with cauliflower, grilled scallions, and mustard glaze; or barley falafel with sunchoke purée, oyster mushrooms, scallions, and fried spinach.
At the end of the day, head to the Lava Spa to warm up in a cedar sauna, or opt for the Ion Heal treatment. Begin with a cup of relaxation tea made with a blend of Icelandic herbs, followed by a full-body exfoliation, hot shower, and a heated body mask application and thermal blanket wrap. Before emerging from the cocoon, the treatment continues with a light facial and final rinse.
