Hotel Rangá - Stargazing in Iceland's Wilderness

Hotel Rangá is a small resort located on the south coast of Iceland, where luxury and nature come together. Situated on the banks of a river, this boutique hotel is the perfect base for adventurers. 

The hotel stands out with its themed suites and an observatory with powerful telescopes, which lets you experience the northern lights in winter and starry nights year-round.

It is located between Hella and Hvolsvöllur, about an hour's drive from Iceland's capital city, Reykjavík.

The Rangá River is one of the most popular fishing rivers in the country, and alongside the river is the beautiful log building of Hotel Rangá. The hotel is well-liked by Icelanders and has also been popular among big stars.

Although it's officially rated only as a 4-star hotel (due to the lack of an indoor swimming pool), it's so trendy that the hotel's famous visitors included Justin Bieber, Charlize Theron, Forest Whitaker, the Kardashian clan, and King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, and Princess Victoria of Sweden.

Successful Icelandic businessman Friðrik Pálsson, after years of traveling the world, decided to create the perfect luxury hotel showcasing the beauty of his home country.

He understood that luxury is not about Swarovski chandeliers and golden faucets but about easy access to Iceland's wild beauty from a cozy, comfortable hotel.

The hotel reception has a map to help you find your way to impressive waterfalls, black sand beaches, glaciers, and thermal springs near Hotel Rangá.

But the big star is Hrammur, the bear who welcomes you (or scares you?) when you enter the hotel's building. Hrammur means "paw" in Icelandic, and this taxidermy polar bear standing on its two feet shows how enormous these wild animals are!

The hotel's location is also ideal for exploring the Golden Circle and going on glacier expeditions. Plenty of exciting activities are nearby, like snowmobiling, super jeep safaris, dog sledding, horseback riding, caving, and fishing. On lazy days, you can play billiards in the hotel's game room.

The hotel emphasizes seeking environmentally friendly solutions and taking the initiative to improve tourism in a green way. For example, the hotel is one of the biggest sponsors of Iceland's first electric plane, Rafmagnsflug ehf. (Electric Flight).

Another thing Hotel Rangá excels at is its food. The culinary journey at Rangá restaurant consists of a delicious seasonal menu inspired by the ever-changing Icelandic nature.

Junior Suite - Asia

Hotel Rangá has 52 rooms and suites, including elegant suites named after different continents. Their designs are inspired by these continents.

Junior Suite - Australia

In nearly every room, you can find murals created by local artists. These drawings are one-of-a-kind, and each one depicts an aspect of Icelandic culture and history.

Junior Suite - South America

Additionally, all rooms and suites offer views of Iceland's beautiful landscape.

Master Suite - Africa

The Master Suites are carefully designed to transport you to another continent for a night. Each suite is unique, with art from around the world and handcrafted furnishings.

Master Suite - Antartica

In the Antarctica Suite, you are surrounded by striking black-and-white hues, and in the African Master Suite, there is a straw ceiling made from locally grown wheat.

Master Suite - Icelandic

Master Suite - Royal

Standard Room

Deluxe Superior Room

Iceland's geothermic energy heats the rooms and even the hot tub.

Aurora wake-up call

One of a traveler's worst nightmares is traveling halfway around the globe and missing the northern lights. To address this, Hotel Rangá devised an ingenious solution of letting its jet-lagged guests enjoy a well-deserved sleep while the staff keeps an eye out for any auroras forming in the dark winter sky.

The best part is that you don't need to inform the hotel if you want this unusually cool service. Before drifting off to sleep, you can press a button on the bedside phone, and the staff will automatically know to call your phone once the northern lights appear. You can then open your room's curtains to witness Iceland's magic.

You can observe the surrounding nature while relaxing in one of the outdoor geothermal hot tubs overlooking the volcano.

Thanks to the hotel's remote location, you can enjoy the full spectacle of the northern lights and stargazing in the hotel's specially designed observatory.

Stargazing at Hotel Rangá

Hotel Rangá has the best-equipped stargazing facility in the country. It features a specially equipped small house with a removable roof and two powerful telescopes, including both lens and mirror telescopes.

It's located 150 meters from the hotel. At the touch of a button, the roof rolls out of sight to reveal the magnificent night sky. High walls protect you from the cold wind, but snowsuits are also available to keep you warm as you gaze.

On a clear day, Venus, the Moon, constellations, galaxies, binary stars, and globular clusters are clearly visible with the help of two computer-controlled telescopes.

Hot Spring in Landmannalaugar

The hotel's skilled staff will guide you to the best hot springs nearby, like the one at Landmannalaugar.