Jutting out from the base of an active volcano above ancient lava fields, the stark and brutalist design of the ION Adventure Hotel provides the perfect base for an adventure break in one of the most unique hotels in Iceland.
Located an hour inland from Reykjavik, on the outskirts of the Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, the ION Adventure Hotel sits in a remote location surrounded by other worldly Icelandic landscapes. From the stunning surroundings, the stylish rooms, creative food offering and incredible Northern Lights bar, this hotel is the perfect destination to wind down or the ideal base to explore the Golden Circle route of Iceland.
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WHAT MAKES THE ION ADVENTURE HOTEL ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE HOTELS IN ICELAND?
So what makes this hotel one of the most unique hotels in Iceland? From the dramatic setting to the architecture, sustainability and use of the surrounding natural resources, the ION Adventure Hotel feels like it is at one with its surroundings. Enclosed by volcanic mountains, the hotel is located a short distance away from the Nesjavllir Geothermal Power Station – the second largest geothermal power station in Iceland, which plays a large part in the story of the ION Adventure Hotel.
The hotel sits on the the site of a former staff building to the power plant, which sat derelict before being purchased in 2011 to form the basis of the hotel development. Located at the base of Mount Hengill, the location was perfect not only for the scenery, but to make use of the geothermal energy of the area. An active volcano system, Mount Hengill has not erupted in over 2000 years, but the geothermal water stored beneath the ground is used for heating and hot water, servicing the surrounding area and the capital, Reykjavik.
ARCHITECTURE | What makes the ION Adventure Hotel stand out is the architecture. The brutalist design is made up of exposed concrete and glazing, with the new wing of the hotel jutting out of the base of the mountain on concrete pillars above the lava fields. During the summer months, the greys blend in with the mossy rocks below, whereas in winter, the building stands out from the surrounding bright white blanket of snow, reminiscent of a scene from Hoth, the ice planet in The Empire Strikes Back.
A stand out feature of the design is the Northern Lights bar, located to the front of the building. This cantilevered floating glazed box sits out from the building, reflecting the surrounding landscape during the day, before transforming into a beautifully lit window into the bar area during the darker hours.
SUSTAINABILITY | From the natural materials, products and colour schemes, sustainability is key at the ION Adventure Hotel. As well as using the natural energy from the earth below, the building structures, fixtures, fittings and interiors all have a huge focus on sustainability. Lava, recycled wood and Icelandic wool all play a large part in the make up of the furniture in the hotel. From using recycled materials to make the furniture, to fair trade organic bed linen and Icelandic herbs in the bathroom products, the interiors as well as exterior of the ION Adventure Hotel feel at one with its surroundings.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY | Making use of the natural hot water of the area is another key part of making this property one of the most unique hotels in Iceland. The geothermal water utilised at the adjacent power station is used for heating and hot water of the hotel. Surrounded by natural hot springs, the drive up to the hotel in winter runs alongside a river, from which steam rises high up into the air. Another use for the hot water is the naturally heated outdoor spa pool, located amongst the pillars underneath the hotel.
It’s worth noting that due to the geothermal nature of the adjacent power plant, there is a sulphur smell in the area. Some reviewers compared this to ‘rotten eggs’ which did make me question whether this was a good choice of hotel. Whilst the aroma is definitely present, it’s one of those scents that has an initial impact but quickly wears and was not overbearing, or present within the property, apart from a small hint when running water from the taps or shower.
OUR WINTER STAY AT THE ION ADVENTURE HOTEL
I’d considered visiting Iceland for a long time – years in fact. Not being able to decide whether my preference for the first visit was winter or summer, I procrastinated so much that it never happened. Finally, after much deliberation, we opted for a winter trip in February 2024. We wanted to spend some time out in the countryside, with a few days also spent in Reykjavik. Having read up about the potential hazards of winter conditions in Iceland, we were fairly sensible with our road trip plans. We wanted to explore, but chose to explore the South West of Iceland rather than venture on an epic trip. We’d save that for summer. On that basis, we were keen for our rural hotel to be a destination hotel – somewhere that we could enjoy the surroundings should the weather take a turn.
THE JOURNEY TO THE HOTEL
I’m so glad we did. After a relatively mild few weeks running up to our trip, the snow arrived days before we were due to depart. A weather warning of snow and gales on the afternoon of our arrival was just what we needed for a) our landing into Keflavik International Airport and b) our drive to our hotel of choice – the ION Adventure Hotel. A smooth landing ensued but before disembarking the aircraft, views out of the window were of the snow being blown sideways by the heavy gusty winds. Nevertheless, off we went to collect our hire car from SIXT, paid for some additional insurance due to the weather, and set off onto the snowy roads of Iceland.
Our flight had landed mid afternoon and with limited hours of daylight during February, sunset would be about 5pm which allowed enough time to get to the hotel before darkness fell. In theory. The roads heading out of the airport and around Reykjavik were in good condition, recently ploughed and we continued further east towards the Thingvellir National Park. With the most direct route to the hotel, the 435 road from Reykjavik, closed during winter we headed along the 36 – the main Golden Circle road, until we turned off just before Thingvallavatn Lake, where we would skirt around the lake’s edge before making our way up towards the hotel.
As we turned onto this narrower and less ploughed road, the snow was getting heavier, the wind becoming gustier and darkness beginning to fall. Luckily for us, there was very little traffic on this road. The winding road with steep hills and sharp turns, in poor conditions, was challenging to say the least. More than once, we had to put the hazard lights on, pull over and await the white outs to clear, while questioning our life choices. But we persevered and finally saw the lights of the power station up ahead and made our way up the drive to the hotel.
EXPLORING THE ION ADVENTURE HOTEL
A warm welcome at reception was just what we needed, along with the two glasses of fizz that swiftly followed. The lava stone clad reception desk sat centrally within the main public space of the hotel to the front, with a cosy seating area and library space to the right and the hotel’s restaurant and bar to the left. This open plan space was warm and inviting with natural wooden flooring, exposed wooden beams to the ceiling and soft lighting creating a warm atmospheric space, a great tonic from wintry conditions outside. A door to the rear of reception led through to a corridor to the hotel rooms, which were situated across two floors.
THE ROOMS AT ION ADVENTURE HOTEL
With 45 rooms in total, there were four different classes of room at the boutique ION Adventure Hotel – Single, Standard, Deluxe and one Junior Thermal Suite. We had opted for a Deluxe Room for our stay, located on the lower level. Whilst fairly compact in size, the room offered enough space for our three night stay. Stylish and modern, the decor was in-keeping with the hotel’s ethos, with natural wood flooring, an exposed concrete feature wall and wooden panelling to the remainder. A floor to ceiling window provided views over the surrounding landscapes towards Thingvallavatn Lake and a king sized bed was flanked by two solid wood bedside tables.
With counter space to one wall, alongside a drinks station with pod style coffee machine, there was also a side chair tucked in the corner. The ensuite shower room, again compact in size, provided a large walk in shower cubicle to the rear, alongside a WC and basin with ample storage. Whilst the room was perhaps not designed as a space to spend the day relaxing, the hotel offered plenty of cosy and comfortable spaces where you could settle down in a quiet corner to relax with a book. During the summer months, the surrounding area is a maze of hiking trails, and with close proximity to the Golden Circle route, this is unlikely to be a destination where people would spend a lot of time in their rooms.
DINING AT THE SILFRA RESTAURANT
The sleek design of Silfra Restaurant at the ION Adventure Hotel provides wonderful surroundings to enjoy the creative and exciting menu, packed full of fresh and local produce. Having won a number of awards for quality, the restaurant was a great destination to sample some fabulous Icelandic dishes. With windows to one aspect overlooking the surrounding mountains, the restaurant felt spacious with high sloping ceilings and was separated from the reception area by a well stocked bar.
With a fairly simple menu consisting of only a few items per course, there were choices to suit all tastes including a catch of the day which was a local Arctic Char during our stay. Meals were beautifully presented, and served with a range of great wines, local beers and cocktails. The service at Silfra was great during our visit, despite there being some larger groups dining at the same time. We ate at Silfra for all three nights of our stay, making different choices each night – I could have happily eaten everything off the menu. Dinner finished, there was option to grab a drink from the bar and relax in the seating area across from the reception area, or stroll down to the Northern Lights Bar.
THE SPA AT ION ADVENTURE HOTEL
Grabbing robes and slippers (made of recycled plastic bottles) from the room, we made time to visit the spa at the ION Adventure Hotel. Located one floor down from the lower level hotel rooms, the Lava Spa area included a treatment room, steam room, sauna and an outdoor space featuring a 10 metre long geothermal pool, nestled among the concrete pillars under the hotel structure. The shallow pool utilising the local naturally heated water was perfect to relax and soak up the surrounding views, or to stare up hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Stepping out from the warmth of the spa area into crunching snow and ice on the wooden decking, the warm pool was a welcome tonic.
DRINKS AT THE NORTHERN LIGHTS BAR
One of the stand out features of the ION Adventure Hotel was the Northern Lights Bar, both architecturally and aesthetically. From the outside, this impressive glass box floated above the ground with windows to three sides, whereas internally there was a level of warmth and comfort, and those incredible views of the remote landscapes surrounding the hotel. Accessing the Northern Lights Bar from the top floor of the hotel, steps led down to this chic and stylish space with a bar tucked under the stairs surrounded by a number of seating areas, with modern decor and bold prints on the wall.
From the bar area, steps led into the glass box space to the front featuring those floor to ceiling glazed walls. Comfortable sofas filled the central space with a bench seat running the length of all the three aspects. The winter views from this space were incredible. On the clearer days of our visit, we’d catch glimpses of the nearby Thingvallavatn Lake, and visiting for a pre or post dinner drink once darkness had fallen, the room had a wonderful glow and warmth. The use of recycled and natural materials were ever present, with small but noticeable features such as the candle holders constructed from lava.
THE SETTING OF THE ION ADVENTURE HOTEL
Whether it’s a summer hiking trip or a winter Northern Lights trip, the ION Adventure Hotel is a fabulous base from where to explore the local area and the Thingvellir National Park. There’s also an easy route to get onto the southern ring road at Selfoss. When winter hits hard though, the roads directly around the hotel can be tricky to navigate, and it’s important to have a car with winter tyres and a stock of supplies in the car when travelling. During our three days exploring rural Iceland, we encountered a number of cars in ditches, some very near the hotel. While care was needed on the roads, the scenery surrounding the ION Adventure Hotel in winter was absolutely incredible. With the hiking routes around the hotel closed in winter, we didn’t have the opportunity to explore the very local area, but we did get the opportunity to take in the panoramic scenery from the early glow of morning, through the pastel shades of afternoon and into the dark starry nights.
One evening after dinner, we heard some excitement and activity from a larger group who were staying, and heard those two magic words; Northern Lights. There had apparently been a glimpse in the northern skies, so wrapping up warm, we headed out to investigate. Sure enough, after some adjustment of the eyes, there was definitely a pale green tinge to the sky, but only through the lens of a camera or a phone could we clearly see the green streaks moving slowly through the skies. My first encounter with the Aurora Borealis. A subtle start, but one I hope to improve on with further trips north.
USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ION ADVENTURE HOTEL
BOOKING YOUR STAY AT THE ION ADVENTURE HOTEL | There are several ways to book your stay at the ION Adventure Hotel including directly through their website, where deals are often available and prices vary seasonally. Alternatively, the hotel is available to book through various online booking sites.
GETTING TO THE ION ADVENTURE HOTEL | There are many airlines and tour operators who fly to Iceland from the UK, including Icelandair with whom we flew from Manchester Airport to Keflavik International Airport near Reykjavik, in south west Iceland. Direct flights from Manchester take 2 hours and 45 minutes, with good transport links from the airport to Reykjavik. Driving is the most convenient way to get to the ION Adventure Hotel given its remote location, and there are a number of car hire options available from Keflavik International Airport. We picked up a rental car from SixT whose base was located just outside of the airport, with a free shuttle bus that took about ten minutes or so. Be sure to check all the insurance options prior to travelling, to ensure you are covered for all eventualities, especially in winter weather.
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