Buggy Across the Lava to Hellisheidi: the Plant That Heats Reykjavik

Two and a half hours on a buggy, across lava fields and into the geothermal country behind Reykjavik. The day starts at the operator's base camp with a safety briefing, and there is free coffee there before you set off. The route crosses the lava and reaches the Hellisheidi geothermal power plant, which supplies electricity and hot water to the entire capital. That is the fact worth carrying home: the volcanic activity that makes Iceland difficult to live on is also what heats every tap in Reykjavik. Along the way there are the Blue Mountains, where the city skis, and the climb up into the Hengill range, where the view takes in the steam rising all around the plant. If you would rather drive yourself to the start, tell the operator by email. The base camp is at Lambhagavegur 19, and it comes up in Google Maps as Safari Quads. Be there 15 minutes before departure.