Hotel Ranga is the only 4 star luxury country resort in Iceland. Located approximately 60 miles southeast of Reykjavik (an hour's drive more or less) in an isolated spot next to a river, also called Ranga, this is an idyllic base to explore Southern Iceland.
The hotel's remote location means that nothing disturbs the peace and quiet of this starkly beautiful spot. The picturesque surroundings include glaciers, mountains, and the nearby volcano at Hekla. The lack of light pollution also means that this is one of the best places in Iceland for viewing the famous Aurora Borealis. You can enjoy the view from the glass-walled restaurant, the balcony of your room or suite, or even from one of the geothermically powered hot tubs between the hotel and the river Ranga. The best time to view the Northern Lights is during the longer winter nights. The hotel keeps guests updated with forecasts of the sunspot activity which leads to this phenomenon, and if you request it, can even wake you if an occurrence begins while you are sleeping.
The hotel is well situated for trips into the volcanic areas of the south of Iceland, including the infamous Eyjafjallajökull crater and the scenic Thorsmork national park, as well as the sights of the best known tourist route of the island, the 'Golden Circle'.
Ranga's decor features natural woods and terracotta. The service is attentive and professional yet informal and friendly. There are some characteristic touches like the oft-photographed Hrammur, a 10 foot tall stuffed polar bear that dominates the reception area. The panoramic glass-walled restaurant serves beautifully prepared Icelandic and Nordic specialities, and the wine cellar is one of the best stocked in the country. The bar has a huge selection of single malt whiskies to warm guests on long winter nights.
There is a good range of accommodation options, from the comfortable but simple standard double rooms to the large and luxurious 'Master Royal Suite'. For those looking for something different the 'World Pavilion' features seven suites themed on the continents of the world and carefully decorated with typical works of art from each specific geographical area.
The newest addition at Ranga is their Astronomical Observatory, ideal for some stargazing! The roll-off roof observatory has room for up to 30 people and is equipped with two high quality 11-inch computerized telescopes, making it the most advanced observatory in Iceland. The observatory is located about 150 metres north of the hotel's main building to minimize light pollution. Scopes can be turned towards the stars to view amazing detail on Jupiter, see Cassini's Division in the rings of Saturn, and resolve details on the surface of Mars. Even the distant Uranus and Neptune are within your reach.
