Hotels and guesthouses

This tour stays in a mixture of hotels and guesthouses. Hotels are generally of a three-star standard and selected for their location and good levels of service. Guesthouses are often family-run, offering a warm welcome and traditional Icelandic hospitality.

Reykjavik: Hótel Klettur
Hvolsvöllur: Hótel Fljótshlið or Hótel Drangshlíð
Höfn: Guesthouse Gerði
Egilsstaðir: Hótel Valaskjálf or Hótel Hallormsstaður
Myvatn: Sel Hótel or Hótel Laxá
Akureyri: Hótel Norðurland or Hótel KEA Akureyri
Laugarbakki: Hótel Laugarbakki
Snæfellsbær: Langaholt Guesthouse or Kast Guesthouse

The accommodation on this trip consists of twin rooms, although single rooms are also available. While we prebook all accommodation according to the itinerary, as space is limited, we may move to alternative accommodation according to availability. A limited number of single rooms are available, at a supplement on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Please contact your sales representative for details.

Breakfasts are mainly continental style, lunches are taken in cafes or restaurants, or even service station cafes depending on our location. The main meal of the day is usually local fish or lamb specialities, plus European standards such as pasta and chicken. Vegetarians and those with special dietary requirements can be catered for but may get a less variety in the meals provided. It is still common practice for restaurants receiving big groups to offer a restricted menu. Our tour leader will do their best to ensure as much choice as possible.

Please advise us of any special dietary requirements at the time of booking.

Outdoor clothing:

— Good-quality waterproof jacket
— Waterproof trousers (pants)
— Warm fleece
— Thermal underwear, top and bottom, for winter departures
— Balaclava or scarf
— Extra-thick gloves
— Warm hat that covers your ears
— Large water bottle and/or flask
— Trainers/comfortable shoes for the evenings

For thermal pools:

— Towel
— Swimwear

Other:

— Eye mask for 24-hour daylight (summer departures)
— Small backpack for camera, water bottle etc
— Waterproof walking boots (three- or three-to-four-season) with semi-rigid soles and good ankle support are best. Good walking sports shoes may be suitable for summer departures

This is a guided small-group adventure. The group is usually between five and 16 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded people booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

— Experience the immensity of Iceland’s wilderness: fjords, glaciers, volcanos and coasts
— Complete the famed Golden Circle: Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir and Thingvellir National Park
— Explore the dramatic scenery of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula
— Gaze over Skagafjördur bay from a remote geothermal swimming pool
— Choose between 24-hour sunlight in summer or the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights in winter

Key information
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
Airport: Keflavik Airport (KEF)
Airport transfers
The start hotel is approximately 45 to 60 minutes’ drive from the airport. Prior to travel, everyone will receive a Flybus voucher, which must be exchanged at the Flybus counter inside the airport or on the first bus for two tickets – one to the hotel and another back to the airport.
The public Flybus system offers bus transfers throughout the day and stops at various city hotels, including our start hotel. You need to carry your own luggage and change bus at the Reykjavik bus terminal to continue your journey to the start hotel. There may be a wait of around 15 minutes between buses. You will receive further details in your Final Joining Instructions.

Why Flybus?

We use Flybus so you have full flexibility to choose the flight times that work best for you. This also means we avoid adding to the road traffic and carbon emissions by having a private bus meet our groups. It is the most cost effective and responsible way to transfer from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik. If you prefer to be met by a taxi, this can be arranged at an additional cost. Contact your sales representative for more detail
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

— Travel insurance
— Single accommodation (available on request)
— Visas or vaccinations

Outdoor clothing:

— Good-quality waterproof jacket
— Waterproof trousers (pants)
— Warm fleece
— Thermal underwear, top and bottom, for winter departures
— Balaclava or scarf
— Extra-thick gloves
— Warm hat that covers your ears
— Large water bottle and/or flask
— Trainers/comfortable shoes for the evenings

For thermal pools:

— Towel
— Swimwear

Other:

— Eye mask for 24-hour daylight (summer departures)
— Small backpack for camera, water bottle etc
— Waterproof walking boots (three- or three-to-four-season) with semi-rigid soles and good ankle support are best. Good walking sports shoes may be suitable for summer departures

— Accommodation: 9 Classic nights (hotels and guesthouses)
— Travel by air-conditioned minibus
— Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16

Lunch costs around 3,000-4,000 Icelandic króna (approximately US$21-US$28)

Dinner can vary according to the establishment; however, expect to pay 4,000-8,000 króna (approximately US$28-US$55) excluding drinks.

A beer is usually around 900-1,500 króna (approximately US$6-US$10.50), a standard glass of wine is closer to 1,800 króna (approximately US$12.50).

Admission to the swimming pool at Hofsos costs 1,175 króna (approximately US$9).

The Blue Lagoon is a popular destination close to both Reykjavik and Keflavik Airport. Depending on your flight times, you may be able to visit on your arrival or departure day. Destination Blue Lagoon offers packages with transfers between Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon and Keflavik Airport. Book direct at www.destinationbluelagoon.is or speak to your sales representative for more information.

March-October: During your free day in Akureyri, you may wish to go whale watching. There are tours of different durations (normally two or three hours) and prices start around 12,490 króna (approximately US$87) per person and can go up to 19,990 króna (approximately US$139) per person. Speak to your tour leader at the beginning of the trip to make a reservation.

Tipping is not expected in Iceland. Many restaurant or cafe bills will include gratuity.

If you do wish to tip your leader, we recommend around US$25 per person; however, this is entirely at your discretion.

We use a comfortable van or bus, ruggedly built to Icelandic standards and able to cope with most types of terrain, including fording glacial rivers. Airport transfers are on the FlyBus service.

This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Journeys: Much of this trip is touring by small bus, with plenty of stops. Iceland is bigger than many people expect, so there are some significant distances to travel. Overall, the trip covers around 1,550mi (2,500km) with an average of five hours per day travelling by bus. Days are long and busy with travel or site visits.

Driving times: The transfer times stated in the itinerary, which are based on summer conditions, should be used as a guide only. If road conditions are difficult in winter, the times will be longer. We can reduce the impact of bad road conditions with earlier starts and shorter stops.

Travel: We use a comfortable bus, ruggedly built to Icelandic standards and able to cope with most terrain types. Most roads we travel on this trip are paved, providing a reasonably smooth ride.

Walking: Many site explorations are completed on foot, often on uneven ground. There are sometimes steep and slippery slopes to reach the sites, plus steps and stiles. Some sites have walkways; however, many do not. In winter, ice on the ground can be common; if required, snow grips are provided to fit over regular shoes.

Choosing your dates: Daylight hours vary enormously throughout the year. Here’s what to expect.

In winter, we depart before sunrise (though this isn’t a particularly early start) to maximise the daylight, meaning we see sunrise every day.
May, June and the first half of July, we experience 24-hour daylight, before a few hours of darkness around midnight (and the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights) returns.
From October to April, the roads can be closed with little or no notice due to ice or snow. Even if some roads are open, our tour leader may not deem them safe enough for driving (particularly the road from Egilsstadir to Myvatn via Dettifoss), in which case they take an alternative route. Itinerary alterations due to adverse weather are at the discretion of the tour leader, who always prioritises health and safety over all else.

Summer departures: Iceland is on the northern edge of the temperate zone, meaning it has cool summers. Daytime temperatures in summer can be anything from 10C to 20C (50F to 68F). In mountain areas, be prepared for some days of poor weather with strong winds and rain, but usually the weather is quite pleasant, though cool. There is constant daylight, but not midnight sun, in May, June and July.

Winter departures: On any winter day, you may experience periods of sunshine alternating with short or long showers of snow, sleet or rain. Away from the coast, in most winters, there is good snow cover for much of the season, particularly in the north. Average daytime temperatures in Reykjavik are between 0C and -5C (32F and 23F). In the interior, it can be several degrees colder with significant wind chill. Visibility of the Northern Lights depends on a combination of solar activity and clear skies. The two can combine to produce a visible display any time between late August and April.