Iceland excursion companies used to do things on your own

[FSU Girl]

I normally book my excursions through the cruise ship and never really look into doing a local tour guide so I don't really have any idea of where to look. I know people are planning for their upcoming Iceland cruise so I thought maybe someone could recommend a reliable tour group to use?

We aren't doing a cruise to Iceland, but we are going to go in May to celebrate my 30th birthday for 4 days! We had a cruise booked originally going there for our honeymoon, but when we switched cruise lines to go on Disney we lost this part, so we thought we'd do this mini trip instead.

I've been looking at the cruise website for excursions offered to see what activities we should do while there, I'm just not sure who to do them with. I had googled tour guides and a couple different companies came up, but one I found on Facebook had awful reviews so I'm a little nervous about doing this on my own.

Should we rent a car and do somethings on our own without a tour guide at all?

 

[aggiedog]

Oooh, I love Iceland questions. It's my favorite country. I've been twice and am working on a 3rd trip.

How many actual days are you there? When do you arrive and fly out?

Do you want to drive yourself? Are you on a tight budget?

If you stay in Reykjavik, you can do the Golden Circle one day and the south coast another day, about as far as Vik, to see the black sand beach and some amazing waterfalls. Everything else is quite a drive and you'll be doing a lot of back tracking.

Or you can do a multiday tour, which would take you all the way to Jokulsarlon, the glacial bay. There are tours that do it in one day, but that is about 12 hours in the car/bus. Too long in my mind. Multi day is better as you can break up the driving and spend more time at each site.

If you are going this summer, you can drive and stay somewhere out of Rey yourself, but lodging choices may be less than ideal this close to travel.

Many people like the Blue Lagoon. As it's close the airport, its easy to do coming into, or leaving, the country.

If you like to hike there are lots of good hikes (I'm not a hiker, so can't give you specifics.)

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g189952-i223-Iceland.html This site has a lot of great info.

Common tour companies with good reputations are Arctic Adventures, GoEcco, Extreme Iceland. Those tend to be smaller groups. (I've used GoEcco twice.) You can also do Grey Line big bus tours.

 

[SDJEL]

PM me and I will give you the contact information for the most amazing travel agent I have ever used. She is in Iceland and helped plan one of our greatest vacations.

 

[EllinK]

We opted to not rent a car. Iceland has all the infrastructure so that you don't really need one. The tour companies will pick you up from your hotel (or nearby). We booked an overnight trip with Extreme Iceland that went to the south coast (waterfalls and diamond beach) and the glacier hike. It was amazing. We also did the Golden Circle, but after the south coast, it was a bit of a letdown. And the Reykjavik Food Walk. We stayed in a studio apartment in Reykjavik. Would do the whole trip again. You will have an amazing time.

 

[FSU Girl]

Oooh, I love Iceland questions. It's my favorite country. I've been twice and am working on a 3rd trip.

I'm really excited, I've wanted to go there for years. That's awesome you've been so many times.

How many actual days are you there? When do you arrive and fly out?

We're planning for my 30th birthday for next May, so we have time to plan. They've just released plane tickets for those dates so we've been looking at what would work best. So our plan is to fly out on Thursday, it seems flights leave around the afternoon time, layover in New York and then we arrive in Iceland around 6am. Then we would fly home on Tuesday, so we'll have basically 4 full days there, with two travel days on the ends. The flights home on Tuesday look like I can find some for the afternoon, but this day will basically be a travel day.

Do you want to drive yourself? Are you on a tight budget?

We're not opposed to driving ourselves (do they drive on the same side of the road as the US? Or are they like England?) We haven't really set a budget, but we don't want to go too crazy with spending since we are doing our honeymoon a few months later.

If you stay in Reykjavik, you can do the Golden Circle one day and the south coast another day, about as far as Vik, to see the black sand beach and some amazing waterfalls. Everything else is quite a drive and you'll be doing a lot of back tracking.

I think we'll definitely be staying in Reykjavik. Is it easy to drive outside of the city or could we end up really lost?

If you are going this summer, you can drive and stay somewhere out of Rey yourself, but lodging choices may be less than ideal this close to travel.

Since we're going next May we have lots of time to plan and book ahead of time. Where would you recommend staying?

Many people like the Blue Lagoon. As it's close the airport, its easy to do coming into, or leaving, the country.

I definitely want to go to the Blue Lagoon. Do hotels let you store your luggage there before check in time? Since it seems most flights arrive very early in the morning we'll probably not have a room ready. What do people typically do with their luggage if they want to go and do things right away?

If you like to hike there are lots of good hikes (I'm not a hiker, so can't give you specifics.)

I used to go hiking as a kid, but haven't done any hiking as an adult so this will be on the maybe list lol.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g189952-i223-Iceland.html This site has a lot of great info.

Thanks for this!

Common tour companies with good reputations are Arctic Adventures, GoEcco, Extreme Iceland. Those tend to be smaller groups. (I've used GoEcco twice.) You can also do Grey Line big bus tours.

Thank you! This is perfect. When I was looking at different tours there seemed to be so many and it's always good to hear good reviews of a place before using them.

 

[FSU Girl]

We opted to not rent a car. Iceland has all the infrastructure so that you don't really need one. The tour companies will pick you up from your hotel (or nearby). We booked an overnight trip with Extreme Iceland that went to the south coast (waterfalls and diamond beach) and the glacier hike. It was amazing. We also did the Golden Circle, but after the south coast, it was a bit of a letdown. And the Reykjavik Food Walk. We stayed in a studio apartment in Reykjavik. Would do the whole trip again. You will have an amazing time.

That sounds like so much fun! I really want to explore a lot of Iceland since we'll be there for a few days. We might end up going back on a cruise, but they aren't there for very long so I figure if we could do more now it would be perfect. The south coast tour you did sounds awesome I'm going to look into that.

 

[aggiedog]

OK, then. With 4 full days, I'd consider a few options, which I'll list in a bit. They drive on the same side of the road as the US. I've not driven there myself, but wouldn't hesitate doing it. I don't think you could even get too lost as there are not that many roads. Driving yourself is nice, as you can stop, wander, go where you please. Taking tours are nice because you get a local's perspective, learn things you wouldn't be able to on your own, and don't have to worry about driving if the weather is bad. May is shoulder season. End of May should be ok to drive, but we did have sleet when we were there at that time. Beginning of May has a chance of worse weather. Most young people speak excellent English. You won't have a problem getting directions, help, etc, if you need it.

I would pick lodging based on what you want to see. I really would not recommend spending the whole time in Rey. It's a nice city, but Iceland is about the countryside, and you'll do a lot of back tracking. When you get out of the city, lodging is harder to find, so I'd plan to secure lodging no later than 6 months prior if you want a good choice of location and price.

Two possible options:
Arrive, go to the Blue Lagoon. There is luggage storage there, very safe. Then go on to Reykjavik. The BL has shuttles to Rey. You can explore the city then probably go to bed early. Then take a combination of tours. I'd recommend a two day south coast tour that gets you to Jokulsarlon. That will include lodging and usually most meals. You could keep your Rey hotel for convenience, as you may return fairly late. With 2 more days, you could see Snaefellsnes ( https://adventures.is/iceland/day-tours/sightseeing-tours/snaefellsnes-peninsula-small-group-tour/ ), or snorkel in Silfra between the tectonic plates, or take a tour that includes the secret lagoon, or the very cool "Inside the Volcano." https://insidethevolcano.com/ Many companies will give you discounts if you book more than one tour with them. I also really enjoyed our walking food tour in Reykjavik. That will take up all afternoon (and will easily cover lunch and dinner food wise), however, so decide if you'd rather be out seeing the countryside.

Or

Arrive, get a rental car and drive a short distance to your first lodging. Definitely do not plan to drive very far just due to jet lag etc. The roads are narrow, and winds can be high. You want to be well rested. The next day, set out and explore based on what research you've done. Many tours and such start in Reykjavik, so some activities need to be joined there, but several, like Silfra or a boat ride in Jokulsarlon can be joined on site. The main waterfalls, Golden Circle, etc, are nature - you can walk in any time and you don't need a guide. The nice part of driving yourself is you can get up super early, or stay up late, since there will be a LOT of daylight in May, and see the sights without many/any other people around. Then hit the Blue Lagoon on the way back to the airport. It opens quite early, so you'd have time even with an early afternoon flight.

I've stayed twice at the Reykjavik Residence Hotel. I love it, but there are plenty of good hotels. One thing to remember is that Iceland is expensive. They've done a good job of providing cheap flights there, but once there, it is an island economy. Just be prepared for sticker shock. Alcohol is cheapest at the airport. Gas stations have good Icelandic hot dogs, skyr (a local yogurt type product), and a variety of sandwiches. There are grocery stores around also, if you drive yourself and want to save money.

I'd browse the TripAdvisor forum and get an idea of what type of trips and itineraries people do. Then you can decide if you'd rather strike out on your own or take tours.

 

[SailingScout]

We are thinking of doing a stopover in Iceland on our way home from the EBTA next May. Very interested to hear about recommendations for short trips, especially with kids. (Not to hijack the original post-just if anyone is feeling extra Iceland chatty )

 

[aggiedog]

It's a painfully slow day at work. I don't usually lurk here that much!

How old are the kids? I'm assuming end of May?

We did a stopover on the way to our Baltic cruise. Beware. You may fall in love and want to go back.

 

[SailingScout]

It's a painfully slow day at work. I don't usually lurk here that much!

How old are the kids? I'm assuming end of May?

We did a stopover on the way to our Baltic cruise. Beware. You may fall in love and want to go back.

Oh great! I doubt you’re at work anymore, but for if you have time ... kids will be 4 and 7. Yes, end of May.

 

[aggiedog]

Yup, done with work, made dinner, make zucchini bread for the band bake sale, laundry, etc. Home was busier than work today!

End of May is nice. It's not quite high tourist season, but it's not likely to be icy cold, and the days are very long. Twilight lasts until well past 11:00pm. Make sure you stay somewhere with blackout blinds if your kids need dark to sleep.

With kids that young, I'd consider renting a car and taking things at your own pace, or hiring private guides. Little kids on big bus tours can be no fun for everyone. The same TripAdvisor link up there has several posts of trip reports with little kids. Lots of good ideas. One popular activity with young families is the local pools. Hot tubs and pools are a standard thing in every town, no matter how small. They're very kid friendly. Some of the more adventurous tours (glacier walks, etc) have lower age limits due to sizes of safety gear or ability to reliably follow directions. There's lots of more low key activities, including an Into the Glacier tour which is a bit pricey, but is free for kids under 12 and no age restrictions. There's a zoo, and really nice local pool in Reykjavik.

Actually, many of the activities/tours I've seen are free for kids under 12.

At that age, I'd consider skipping the Blue Lagoon, but consider the Secret Lagoon. http://secretlagoon.is There are tours or you can just drive there yourself.

One thing my kids liked was drinking from the glacial streams. The water coming from the main waterfalls is all melt from deep under the glacier and is clean and completely safe to drink. We just kept filling up our water bottles at every stop.

Be aware there are very few/no safety features a the natural tourist sites, as in no guard rails, etc. Be careful that the kids stay with you. Also, be careful with the water on the black sand beach in Vik. The waves don't follow the usually patterns we're used to (every 7th is bigger, etc.), are unpredictable, and the undertow is strong. Keep the kids away from the water's edge.

I mentioned this before, but the Reykjavik Residence Hotel is quite nice, especially for families, as it has several 1-2 bedroom units with small kitchens. They will deliver breakfast each morning if you wish, with fresh bread, yogurt, hard boiled eggs, meat, cheese, fruit. It's enough for breakfast plus a light lunch. Like everywhere, there are lots of airBnB's, but make sure to ask for their license. Iceland is cracking down on unlicensed providers, and people have lost reservations.

We had family portraits done with Mink photography. It was a lot of fun, and we got great pictures. http://mink.is Our Christmas cards that year were awesome, using those pictures.Turns out my sweetest dd (of the 4) makes the fiercest Viking face.

That's kind of random, but hope that helps. My kids were a bit older when we went, 9-16, and the family trip was just 3 days in May. I went back with a friend in March, and am hoping to go September of 2019. I'd love to go sooner, but darn college tuitions are cramping my travel style!

 

[Canesfan3234]

@FSU Girl rent your own car. Driving in iceland is easy. Far easier then driving around Florida. In my opinion, the guided tours are a complete waste of money. It’s much cheaper to rent a car and drive the Golden circle yourself. Same with driving down to vik for the black sand beaches. Only tour I would recommend is the inside the volcano tour because it’s the only place in the world you can go into a volcano and the tour is the only way to do it.

As for where to stay, look for an apartment to rent. You get more bang for your buck that way.

 

[EllinK]

As @aggiedog suggested, we did the 2 day south coast tour and kept our accommodations in Reykjavik. We stayed at Swan House -- efficiency apartments in a great location.

 

[SailingScout]

Yup, done with work, made dinner, make zucchini bread for the band bake sale, laundry, etc. Home was busier than work today!

End of May is nice. It's not quite high tourist season, but it's not likely to be icy cold, and the days are very long. Twilight lasts until well past 11:00pm. Make sure you stay somewhere with blackout blinds if your kids need dark to sleep.

With kids that young, I'd consider renting a car and taking things at your own pace, or hiring private guides. Little kids on big bus tours can be no fun for everyone. The same TripAdvisor link up there has several posts of trip reports with little kids. Lots of good ideas. One popular activity with young families is the local pools. Hot tubs and pools are a standard thing in every town, no matter how small. They're very kid friendly. Some of the more adventurous tours (glacier walks, etc) have lower age limits due to sizes of safety gear or ability to reliably follow directions. There's lots of more low key activities, including an Into the Glacier tour which is a bit pricey, but is free for kids under 12 and no age restrictions. There's a zoo, and really nice local pool in Reykjavik.

Actually, many of the activities/tours I've seen are free for kids under 12.

At that age, I'd consider skipping the Blue Lagoon, but consider the Secret Lagoon. http://secretlagoon.is There are tours or you can just drive there yourself.

One thing my kids liked was drinking from the glacial streams. The water coming from the main waterfalls is all melt from deep under the glacier and is clean and completely safe to drink. We just kept filling up our water bottles at every stop.

Be aware there are very few/no safety features a the natural tourist sites, as in no guard rails, etc. Be careful that the kids stay with you. Also, be careful with the water on the black sand beach in Vik. The waves don't follow the usually patterns we're used to (every 7th is bigger, etc.), are unpredictable, and the undertow is strong. Keep the kids away from the water's edge.

I mentioned this before, but the Reykjavik Residence Hotel is quite nice, especially for families, as it has several 1-2 bedroom units with small kitchens. They will deliver breakfast each morning if you wish, with fresh bread, yogurt, hard boiled eggs, meat, cheese, fruit. It's enough for breakfast plus a light lunch. Like everywhere, there are lots of airBnB's, but make sure to ask for their license. Iceland is cracking down on unlicensed providers, and people have lost reservations.

We had family portraits done with Mink photography. It was a lot of fun, and we got great pictures. http://mink.is Our Christmas cards that year were awesome, using those pictures.Turns out my sweetest dd (of the 4) makes the fiercest Viking face.

That's kind of random, but hope that helps. My kids were a bit older when we went, 9-16, and the family trip was just 3 days in May. I went back with a friend in March, and am hoping to go September of 2019. I'd love to go sooner, but darn college tuitions are cramping my travel style!

This is great info! Thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy day to provide it! (Mmm ... zucchini bread!)

 

[FSU Girl]

OK, then. With 4 full days, I'd consider a few options, which I'll list in a bit. They drive on the same side of the road as the US. I've not driven there myself, but wouldn't hesitate doing it. I don't think you could even get too lost as there are not that many roads. Driving yourself is nice, as you can stop, wander, go where you please. Taking tours are nice because you get a local's perspective, learn things you wouldn't be able to on your own, and don't have to worry about driving if the weather is bad. May is shoulder season. End of May should be ok to drive, but we did have sleet when we were there at that time. Beginning of May has a chance of worse weather. Most young people speak excellent English. You won't have a problem getting directions, help, etc, if you need it.

I would pick lodging based on what you want to see. I really would not recommend spending the whole time in Rey. It's a nice city, but Iceland is about the countryside, and you'll do a lot of back tracking. When you get out of the city, lodging is harder to find, so I'd plan to secure lodging no later than 6 months prior if you want a good choice of location and price.

Two possible options:
Arrive, go to the Blue Lagoon. There is luggage storage there, very safe. Then go on to Reykjavik. The BL has shuttles to Rey. You can explore the city then probably go to bed early. Then take a combination of tours. I'd recommend a two day south coast tour that gets you to Jokulsarlon. That will include lodging and usually most meals. You could keep your Rey hotel for convenience, as you may return fairly late. With 2 more days, you could see Snaefellsnes ( https://adventures.is/iceland/day-tours/sightseeing-tours/snaefellsnes-peninsula-small-group-tour/ ), or snorkel in Silfra between the tectonic plates, or take a tour that includes the secret lagoon, or the very cool "Inside the Volcano." https://insidethevolcano.com/ Many companies will give you discounts if you book more than one tour with them. I also really enjoyed our walking food tour in Reykjavik. That will take up all afternoon (and will easily cover lunch and dinner food wise), however, so decide if you'd rather be out seeing the countryside.

Or

Arrive, get a rental car and drive a short distance to your first lodging. Definitely do not plan to drive very far just due to jet lag etc. The roads are narrow, and winds can be high. You want to be well rested. The next day, set out and explore based on what research you've done. Many tours and such start in Reykjavik, so some activities need to be joined there, but several, like Silfra or a boat ride in Jokulsarlon can be joined on site. The main waterfalls, Golden Circle, etc, are nature - you can walk in any time and you don't need a guide. The nice part of driving yourself is you can get up super early, or stay up late, since there will be a LOT of daylight in May, and see the sights without many/any other people around. Then hit the Blue Lagoon on the way back to the airport. It opens quite early, so you'd have time even with an early afternoon flight.

I've stayed twice at the Reykjavik Residence Hotel. I love it, but there are plenty of good hotels. One thing to remember is that Iceland is expensive. They've done a good job of providing cheap flights there, but once there, it is an island economy. Just be prepared for sticker shock. Alcohol is cheapest at the airport. Gas stations have good Icelandic hot dogs, skyr (a local yogurt type product), and a variety of sandwiches. There are grocery stores around also, if you drive yourself and want to save money.

I'd browse the TripAdvisor forum and get an idea of what type of trips and itineraries people do. Then you can decide if you'd rather strike out on your own or take tours.

Thank you for this! It's so detailed and will help so much with planning

@FSU Girl rent your own car. Driving in iceland is easy. Far easier then driving around Florida. In my opinion, the guided tours are a complete waste of money. It’s much cheaper to rent a car and drive the Golden circle yourself. Same with driving down to vik for the black sand beaches. Only tour I would recommend is the inside the volcano tour because it’s the only place in the world you can go into a volcano and the tour is the only way to do it.

As for where to stay, look for an apartment to rent. You get more bang for your buck that way.

Good to know about driving. Going inside a volcano sounds super cool!