ION Adventure Hotel, Nesjavellir, a Member of Design Hotels

"ION Adventure Hotel might have one of the most picturesque and otherworldly settings not just Iceland, but the entire Northern Hemisphere. Jutting out from a set of rugged cliffs above a field of jet-black lava, this hotel sits amid swirling sulfurous steam inside the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park. If the setting is a tad dramatic, the interiors are by contrast an oasis of warmth and tranquillity. The elegant design incorporates driftwood and other natural materials from the surrounding landscapes, creating a blend of high-end luxury with low-key Icelandic sensibilities, an homage to the beauty of the scenery outside. A highlight is the Northern Lights Bar, elevated over the lava field with huge windows for watching the shimmering aurora unfolding across the night sky. The onsite Silfra Restaurant serves up fantastic dishes, from fresh Arctic Char to glazed lamb shank, while a heated plunge pool is artfully exposed to the elements, letting you experience the drama of Iceland’s weather from the warmth of the steamy water. The hotel also acts as a great base for deeper explorations of the Golden Circle. Reception can organize everything from snorkeling between tectonic plates at the nearby Silfra fissure to super-jeep tours on the glaciers and expeditions into nearby lava caves." - James Taylor

"The otherworldly landscapes of Iceland, we reasoned, were crying out for the full Patagonia treatment — which is to say, they were crying out for a rural escape that’s at once a building of real architectural distinction and a thoughtfully luxurious hotel as well." - Mark Fedeli

"Nestled within a landscape of moss and lava less than an hour from Reykjavik, the Ion Adventure Hotel is one of the few true luxury hotels outside of Iceland’s capital.Under the careful eye of owner Sigurlaug Sverrisdóttir, a no-frills barracks for geothermal power plant workers was transformed into a concrete-and-glass Nordic-modern showpiece that wears its reverence for the natural setting on its sleeve. Sverrisdóttir is committed to using local products—everything from the artwork to the bath products to the food are sourced from the area—and the hotel’s sustainable materials and practices, like using geothermal cooling for power, have earned it a number of awards. Plus, all 45 of the sleek but comfortable rooms feature fair-trade organic linens and floor-to-ceiling views of Lake Thingvellir or Mount Hengill, an active volcano. The glass Northern Lights Bar juts out toward the horizon, providing a perfect viewing spot when the aurora borealis appears; beneath it sits a large rectangular hot tub adjacent to the spa. As for adventure, the hotel is happy to arrange any number of excursions, including fly-fishing, horseback riding, kayaking and, for the truly bold, snorkeling in the Silfra fissure."

"Like a mirage in the desert, the 45-room Ion Adventure Hotel seems to materialize out of thin air. Built into the side of a mountain, half of the property stands on what look like elaborate stilts. Although it's less than an hour east of Reykjavik, the Ion's isolation makes it a popular first stop for international travelers doing bigger cross-country drives as well as for Reykjavikers who want a peaceful, but action-filled weekend getaway—think fissure-diving and -snorkeling at Silfra in Thingvellir National Park, where North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, or a glacier trek at Sólheimajökull. Pluis there's no need to swim with the masses at the Blue Lagoon: Tucked underneath the hotel is a thermal pool where guests can relax and warm up while hoping to spot the Northern Lights from the bar."

"The Ion Adventure Hotel is located near a tectonic boundary simmering with geothermal energy, and summer weather softens the lava fields of Nesjavellir with new growth that hints at energy beneath the surface. Icelandic wool blankets and amenities made with local herbs are some of the hotel’s many sustainable touches, which make this an eco-friendly home base for exploring Thingvellir National Park. There, you can take advantage of the mild summer temperatures to snorkel the Silfra Rift between the North American and Eurasian plates, or take a shaggy Icelandic horse for a cross-country ride under late-night sunshine. 64˚ north; +354 482-3415; doubles from about $440 per night." - Jen Rose Smith