THUNDERING waterfalls, geothermal spas and the magical northern lights.

This thrilling mix of naturally occurring phenomenon is what attracts the cool crowd to Iceland.

The unique country on the edge of the Arctic Circle is set for a tourism explosion in the next 12 months after winning two top travel industry awards.

Iceland was Lonely Planet readers' choice for the best place to visit in 2012, with voters citing its bustling nightlife, friendly people and, above all, its rugged beauty.

Cheaper It was also in National Geographic Traveler's Best of the World 2012 list, for being "a final relic from the world's last ice age", with its "knife-cut valleys, gargantuan fjords, monumental cliffs, black sand beaches and silent white glaciers".

Despite not having had the best publicity recently, thanks to its ash clouds and broken banks, Iceland is still a country of major fascination for us Brits.

And getting there has never been cheaper, with return flights starting at £115.

My trip began with a 45-minute flight from the capital city of Reykjavik to the northern capital of Akureyri, perched on the shore of Iceland's longest fjord.

A wonderful restaurant called Laxdalshus, run by a husband and wife team, provided me with my first real taste of Iceland - a feast of horse and goose with an amazing chocolate cake, all washed down with Viking Bock brew.

The food, like just about everything else in Iceland, is not for those who don't enjoy trying something a little different. Horse may sound disgusting but it was actually delicious, in stark contrast to the other delicacy of this isle, fermented shark.

After being buried to ferment - well, rot - for three months, it is defi-nitely an acquired taste. Much like the local schnapps, Brennevin, or Black Death.
From Akureyri, the north opens up into a beautifully bleak landscape.

There is a blossoming ski resort at Hlidarfjalls, with major expansion plans, where I snowboarded under a full moon in a sky slashed with blues and purples.

If there is one thing Iceland does as well as exploding volcanoes, it is waterfalls.

Godafoss is beautiful and not too far from Akureyri, while the even more stunning Dettifoss is well worth the hourlong, off-road ride.

Ploughing through the snow to reach it, with no signs, lights or even road for most of the way, is for experts only and my giggling driver Siggi clearly loved the thrill of the drive as much as I did in a 4x4 with tyres the size of Jeremy Clarkson's ego.

Cave The powerful sight of nature in the raw was my reward for all the bumps on my head.

But just as impressive as the view was the sound of tonnes of glacial water thundering to the bottom of the 150ft drop.

The underground delights of the ice cave at Lofthellir were no less impressive and equally worth another off-road ride. Its natural ice sculptures frozen solid on to the rocks above and rising up from the ground are illuminated with coloured lights, making it look like a sci-fi film set.

But nothing I saw or heard in Iceland could compare with the northern lights.

After several nights of disappointment I had given up hope of seeing the strange green glow.

That was before Siggi cried out in excitement as mother nature finally put me out of my misery with a magical midnight lightshow.

I could have watched the spellbinding show, caused by charged atomic particles hitting the Earth's atmosphere, for hours.

Instead, it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Nasa scientists predict that the northern lights will shine at their brightest levels for 50 years in 2012. Since 2007 they have been growing in intensity.

The best time of year to increase your chances of seeing them is between September and March.

After that unforgettable experience, the Nature Baths near Myvatn turned out to be the perfect way to finish off my trip, with a beer under the stars in the geothermal pool. The water is as warm as a bath and drawn from depths of up to 2,500 metres.

Disappearing into the billowing clouds of steam and immersing myself into the mineral-rich waters was the most brilliant way to chill out.

There's never been a better time to visit Iceland, so book your trip quickly because tourism is aboutto seriously erupt.

FACT FILE

ICELAND Express flies daily from Gatwick and Edinburgh to Reykjavik starting from £115. See icelandexpress.com Iceland Air flies from Heathrow, Manchester and Glasgow to Iceland from £207. See icelandair.com

Accommodation: Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel in Reykjavik, from £112 per night. See radissonblu.com. Center Hotel Arnarhvoll costs from £50 per night. See centerhotels.com. Hotel Kea in Akureyri costs from £89. See keahotels.is. Saeluhus has studio apartments sleeping four from £90. See saeluhus.is/en.

Saga Travel can provide group or personal day tours from Akureyri. See sagatravel.is or call 00354 558 8888.

Discover the World offers a sevennight Northern Highlights, self-drive deal from £884 per person, including return flights to Keflavik, transfers, domestic flight between Reykjavik City Airport and Akureyri, and also airport taxes.

Accommodation is at the Lava House and you get car hire with unlimited mileage. See discover-the-world.co.uk or call 01737 218 800.
For more details see visiticeland.com.

FOLLOW THE STARS

BRAZIL'S capital Rio de Janeiro gets the Twilight treatment in the first final instalment of the vampire saga, Breaking Dawn.

Hitting the screens on November 18, the action sees newlyweds Edward and Bella, played by Robert Pattinson, 25, and Kirsten Stewart, 21, on their honeymoon there.
Check out Copacabana Palace where R-Patz and K Stew stayed at while filming, which costs from $1,090 for the cheapest suite.

Or go for eight nights at the four-star Atlantico Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, bed and breakfast, flying with KLM Airways from Heathrow on December 3 for £979. Visit netflights.com or call 0871 703 8000. Meanwhile, Vancouver serves as the backdrop for the stunning forest scenery the series is famous for.

Get your teeth into seven nights at the four-star Ramada Inn & Suites Downtown Vancouver for £787. The price includes flight with Air Canada from Heathrow on December 5. To book call 0844 800 7001 or visit thomascooksignature.com.