We're exploring the wilds and diversity of the islands of the Atlantic Ocean in this episode of Travel Smart.Whether it's Iceland's geological activity of gushing geysers and lava flows or the cultural delights of Lanzarote, the Atlantic islands have a wide array of things to do and see. Annabel Grossman and Simon Calder take hop along the islands to give you some travel inspiration. Get all your travel updates with The Independent Travel section and Travel Smart, available on desktop, mobile and connected TV.
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00:00Hello and welcome to Travel Smart Weekly, your guide to the very best of travel
00:05from the independent. We aim to entertain, inform and inspire about the industry of
00:11human happiness. Whether you're traveling on a shoestring or ready to sign up for
00:15the long haul luxury trip of a lifetime, we have the inside information you need
00:22to make the most of your time and money. Today it's all about the islands and in
00:28particular the diverse, beautiful and culturally intriguing isles scattered
00:33across the Atlantic.
00:42Let's start in the far north, Iceland, the seismically active island that's never
00:50been better connected with the UK.
00:58A wide range of airlines will fly you from airports across Britain to Keflavik
01:03International Airport. If you touch down during the day you'll see the way the
01:09island has been sculpted by nature at the raw edge of the world and if it's
01:14after dark you may even see some lava flowing. No need to fret, the Icelandics
01:20are brilliant at predicting and managing volcanic activity and won't let tourists
01:26get in harm's way. The airport is a mid-Atlantic transit point offering
01:32onward connections to a range of North American cities. Even if you're in
01:37transit you may have time to soak in the joys of the Blue Lagoon where sheer
01:42indulgence is powered by the simmering heat of the restless earth. Much better
01:47to stretch your stopover and enjoy the most exciting city in the far north,
01:54Iceland's capital Reykjavik. Don't miss Harper, a spectacular concert hall on the
02:01water side which demands exploration. You can wander in at any time from 8 a.m.
02:08to midnight to see how the low northern light filters dramatically into a
02:13geometrically ambitious space and for a fabulous view across the city and its
02:19shoreline. Ideally take the route one ring road right around this far North
02:27Atlantic nation but if time does not allow make the Golden Circle day trip.
02:32Marvel at the site of the original Giza which gave its name to all the others
02:37worldwide. Then walk through a tectonic fault where the North American and
02:42Eurasian plates collide and where the nation's parliament was established in
02:47930 AD making it the oldest Parliament in the world.
02:52Fly 2,000 miles south and you reach the Portuguese Islands which are strung out
02:59so prettily across the Atlantic.
03:03I adore the Azores which I regard as the prototype for the new world.
03:13San Miguel is the main island at the heart of the archipelago but all nine
03:19deliver travel joy. In particular Corvo and Flores mark the extreme west of
03:26Europe. Madeira has long been a destination for visitors in search of
03:31warmth, relaxation and indulgence. Increasingly though this Atlantic
03:36fragment is becoming a destination for active travellers. Hiking along the
03:41levadas built beside irrigation canals, playing golf or boarding a basket for a
03:46high-velocity trip down the hillside above the capital Funchal.
03:54Spain's Canary Islands are even closer to the equator yet still only four hours
04:00flying time from the UK. I've been lucky enough to visit them all and I think the
04:06most rewarding and multifaceted is the largest island Tenerife which has
04:12everything from the ancient settlement of La Laguna, the highest mountain in
04:17Spain and great tourist attractions including water parks.
04:22Lanzarote is the top draw for cultural travellers due to the extraordinary
04:27creations of CĂ©sar Manrique whose work drew inspiration from the geology and
04:33colours of the island. His home constructed amid a field of volcanic
04:38bubbles is a work of art in its own right.
04:41Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura make good choices for beach lovers while to make
04:48the most of La Gomera and La Palma you'll need your hiking boots on and a
04:53special mention for El Hierro, the westernmost Canary Island where nature
04:58is firmly in control and you'll feel a million miles from modernity.
05:08On Travel Smart Weekly we aim to give the very best travel advice and this
05:14week we're taking your questions. So Simon, Emma has asked is it possible to
05:20fly between the various North Atlantic island groups such as from the Canaries
05:24to Madeira or even South America? Great question and wouldn't it be marvelous if
05:30you could easily do that. There's really busy networks around the Canaries and
05:34also around the Azores but I'm afraid between the groups the best you can hope
05:39for is really from Funchal, the capital of Madeira, going to Lanzarote, Tenerife
05:46North Airport, not the usual one in the south, also Las Palmas and the odd
05:51flight to Fuerteventura but for reaching South America I'm afraid the
05:55last flight departed about 10 or 15 years ago to Venezuela, now you're going
06:01to have to go back probably via the Portuguese or Spanish mainland, maybe
06:06even to Casablanca in Morocco. Alternatively you could fly back to the
06:11UK. You could do but that would be very tedious and it would also increase your
06:15carbon footprint so my advice really is it's a great idea to have a two-center
06:21Atlantic Island holiday, best combining Madeira with one of the Canary Islands.
06:27Very nice and if you have any travel questions for Simon please email us at
06:33travelsmart at independent.co.uk
06:39That's all we've got time for. Cape Verde, Bermuda and St Helena will have to wait
06:45for another episode of Travel Smart and be sure to check out the next episode
06:49online, on your smart TV or on the Independence mobile app. For all the
06:54latest travel news, reviews and advice go to independent.co.uk
06:59forward slash travel and do check out my daily travel podcast.
07:15you