Sitting between the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans off the east coast of the European mainland, Iceland is the world’s 18th largest island, and with just over 300,000 citizens, it also one of the world’s least densely populated countries. Iceland’s interior highlands are largely uninhabitable, with the bulk of the population living instead in small towns and settlements dotting the country’s extensive coastline.

Reykjavik, the country’s capital and largest city, is typically the most populated destination where you will visit while you adventure travel in Iceland. With around 130,000 people, Reykjavik is the undisputed economic, political, and cultural heart of the tiny island nation. Other locations you might visit while you adventure travel in Iceland include the much smaller towns of Hafnarfjorour, Akureyri, and Isafjordur, in addition to the trips you may take to soak in the country’s unsettled areas.

As you might have already guessed by virtue of its name and geography, Iceland can get pretty cold. Although the climate is temperate, it’s peak average generally sits around 50°F in the summer months, when most adventure travel programs in Iceland take course. Pack warmly and plan for a brisk journey abroad!