The alien landscapes of Iceland are said to have inspired scenes in the new Star Wars film, The Force Awakens. David Wilcock explores a country that’s not so far, far away

BLEAK and inhospitable, Hoth, the frozen planet featured in The Empire Strikes Back, wouldn't be an obvious holiday choice.

But fans of cult film franchise Star Wars can travel to a place with ice, glaciers and mountains, which is a lot more picturesque.

Iceland has starred in several big screen blockbusters, the latest being the seventh Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, and is the perfect option for anyone seeking a sci-fi winter break.

I start my other-worldly weekend adventure in capital city Reykjavik, but it's the rugged landscapes outside the city limits that I'm eager to explore.

Iceland is a place that's been shaped by ferocious geological processes and the sharp teeth of Arctic weather for tens of thousands of years. Striking features include glaciers, volcanoes and hot springs.

My first stop is Soheimajokull glacier, a 90-minute drive south and east from the city, along the island's excellent long-distance main ring road. It is not far from Svinafellsjokull glacier, which doubled for the Himalayas in Batman Begins and the land North of the Wall in Game of Thrones.

It is also a sight of a changing environment. Our guide from Reykjavik Excursions (re.is) tells us that 20 years ago, you could step from the car park onto the ice. Now, it's a long uphill walk to the edge of the glacier.

If you're picturing glistening, pristine, blue-tinted ice, you might be disappointed. The 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano – the one that disrupted so much air travel – coated the glacier in fine volcanic ash, so now it looks a bit more like a coal mine.

We strap on our crampons, hoist our ice axes and spend several glorious hours exploring the ice, keeping a safe distance from any dangerous crevasses.

As well as glaciers, Iceland has some pretty epic waterfalls. Our route back from Solheimajokull takes us past Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss. The latter has a walkway winding behind the thundering torrent – just be prepared to get a bit wet!

No less damp are Iceland's lava tunnels, which have also become a tourist attraction. These narrow burrows are formed when lava flowing from volcanic eruptions cools and solidifies, and the hot magma runs away.

I don a hardhat and head torch, and follow our dry-humoured guide, Kommi, from Iceland Expeditions (icelandexpeditions.is), into the darkness. At times, we have to crawl on all fours and occasionally even wriggle along on our stomachs.

If this all sounds like a bit too much effort, there are ways to have a good time if you are a bit more C-3PO than Chewbacca.

Reykjavik is a small but superb city, with a long sweeping waterfront and a striking 1930s concrete cathedral, Hallgrimskirkja, where the views from the top of its tower are worth the hike.

Other city attractions include a museum on whales (whalesoficeland.is), a chance to see the Northern Lights (aurorareykjavik.is) and, bizarrely, the Penis Museum (phallus.is).

I stay at the four-star Fosshotel Reykjavik, which opened this year and is the largest hotel in Iceland. I spend a good few hours in the property's excellent beer bar called the Bjor Gardurinn. It has a varied and long drink list, with many Icelandic beers to try – although the cheapest will set you back £5 and others can cost £12 each.

Of course, a long weekend break in Iceland involves much more than just drinking. Pampering is also important in this Nordic country. This is where the famous Blue Lagoon (bluelagoon.com) comes in handy.

Located on the road between Reykjavik and Keflavik Airport, its milky blue, geothermal, silica-rich waters (heated between 36-40C) provide instant relaxation. It even has a swim-up bar – although there's a three-drink maximum rule, to avoid drunkenness.

I go there after dark, in the hope of glimpsing the aurora. Lying back in the warm water, I look up to see brilliant stars illuminating the clear sky.

It's unlikely I'll ever have a chance to enjoy space travel, but with the alien landscapes of Iceland on my doorstep, there's really no need to jet off to a galaxy so far, far away.

TRAVEL FACTS

David Wilcock was a guest of Wow Air (wowair.com)

Flights from London Gatwick to Reykjavik operate up to twice daily, with prices starting at £49, including taxes and hand luggage allowance