6-Day Small-Group Adventure Tour Around Iceland from Reykjavik
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
6-Day Small-Group Adventure Tour Around Iceland from Reykjavik
By Arctic Adventures
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About
Ages 6-99, max of 19 per group
Duration: 6 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More
- Breakfast
- Breakfast
- Breakfast
- Breakfast
- Breakfast
- Accommodation for 5 nights
- National Park fees
- Live commentary on board
- Professional guide
- Reykjavik pick-up and drop-off
- Whale Watching in Dalvik
- Glacier Hiking adventure
- Stop at Myvatn Nature Baths
- Free wi-fi on board
- Entry/Admission - Thingvellir National Park
- Entry/Admission - Seljalandsfoss
- Entry/Admission - Vatnajökull Glacier
- Entry/Admission - Studlagil canyon
- Entry/Admission - Dalvik
What's not included- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Entrance fee to the nature baths (optional at an extra charge ~40EUR)
- Entry/Admission - Myvatn Nature Baths (Jardbodin vid Myvatn)
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.Pickup details
- Please note that we only serve the pick-up locations specified in our pick-up list below. Due to traffic restrictions, we are not allowed to pick up from hotels in the city center nor from private Air BnBs. If your pick-up location is not on our pick-up list then we kindly ask you to find the closest pick-up point to your accommodation from our list: 22 Hill Hótel – Brautarholt 22-24. Arctic Comfort Hótel – Síðumúli 19. BSÍ Bus Terminal – Vatnsmýrarvegi 10. Bus Hostel Reykjavík – Skógarhlíð 10. Bus pick up/drop off nr.1 – City Hall, Vonarstræti Bus pick up/drop off nr.4 – Miðbakki Bus pick up/drop off nr.6 – Safnahúsið (The Culture House) Bus pick up/drop off nr.8 – Hallgrímskirkja Church Bus pick up/drop off nr.9 – Snorrabraut Bus pick up/drop off nr.12 – Höfðatorg Bus pick up/drop off nr.15 – Vesturbugt Cabin Hótel – Borgartún 32. Eyja Guldsmen Hotel – Brautarholt 10. Grand Hótel Reykjavík – Sigtún 38. Grayline – Main bus terminal - Klettagarðar 4. Hilton Reykjavík Nordica – Suðurlandsbraut 2. Hótel Ísland – Ármúla 9. Hotel Ørkin – Brautarholti 29. Icelandair Hotel Reykjavík Natura – við Hlíðarfót, Nauthólsvegur 52. Klettur Hótel – Mjölnisholt 12-14. N1 Gas Station – Ártúnshöfði Reykjavík City Hostel – Sundlaugavegur 34. Reykjavík Lights Hotel – Suðurlandsbraut 12. Skarfabakki – Cruise Ship, Reykjavik Harbor, 105 Reykjavik
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.Port pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included ports.- Skarfabakki Harbour, 544P+F35, 104 Reykjavík, Iceland
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5590P43- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Minimum age: 8 years old
- Please note that if you are a solo traveler you will be paired in a twin room with another participant of the same gender
- If you are a solo traveler and wish to have your own room then you can opt for a single room upgrade directly with the operator at an extra charge
- The operator reserves the right to alter the itinerary due to weather and/or other conditions outside its control.
- Pick up is offered from authorized pick up points in Reykjavik. Contact the operator for further details.
- What to bring: Warm outdoor clothing, waterproof clothing, headgear, gloves and hiking boots.
- Waterproof clothing and hiking boots can also be rented from the operator for a small fee if you let them know in an advance.
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 19 travelers
- If you cancel at least 7 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
- If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
- If you cancel within 2 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5590P43
From
$2,638.18
per adult
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
Overview
Full Map
39 stops
Day 1
Golden Circle and South Coast of...
Day 2
South Coast of Iceland
Day 3
East Fjords of Iceland
Day 4
Stuðlagil - Mývatn - Nature Bath...
Day 5
Whale watching in Dalvík -...
Day 6
Borgarfjörður - Reykholt -...
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- zimnraia0 contributionsDiving between the tectonic platesIt was an amazing experience and our instructor Francesca was super helpful and made this experience 10 times better!!! The energy she brought to the group of a whole was 10/10 ! Would definitely recommendWritten November 13, 2024
- HonestThoughts130 contributionsMUST DOOne of the coolest experiences ever! Daniel did an incredible job with leading us, he was very energetic and fun. I didn’t know exactly what I was getting into, but it was amazing! Highly recommend this tour, definitely worth it!Written November 10, 2024
- Getaway331205273980 contributionsThanks Mitch!Many THANKS to Mitch, he is amazing! Our family had a wonderful time in Iceland, Mitch is really a nice gentleman, great trip, great food he suggested, great memories of Iceland!Written November 10, 2024
- U670LWrichardf0 contributionsFun, informative tour. Amazing sights and culture.This was an amazing tour. My first trip to Iceland was much anticipated and fully lived up to my expectation in a big way thanks to our guide Lilli who was professional, informative but most of all created a fun atmosphere for everybody involved. Highly recommended.Written November 9, 2024
- tommE2814PV0 contributionsOur Favourite Day in IcelandThe whole day was well beyond expectations! Our guide Elisa was full of enthusiasm throughout, she was very knowledgeable about Icelands history/landforms and was the and was a very approachable trip guide. The actual glacier hike was truly brilliant and the highlight of our whole Iceland trip, we were lucky enough to have a private tour with Enchy (sorry for misspelling, it's a lovely name!) who was brilliant throughout, she took us on a great adventure, and seemed to be enjoying the hike as much as us. The hike was relatively easy, but does involve occasional steep inclines; you'd get more from this experience if you have basic hiking abilities on rough terrain due to the crampons. We'd highly recommend this trip to anyone visiting Reykjavik and wanting to experience the South coast. 6/5 from us!Written November 9, 2024
- 610wenjiec0 contributionsWonderful experience.The ice cave and waterfalls are beautiful. It was really a great experience to hike on the glacier on our way to the ice cave, and taste the glacier water. Our guide Hilmar is nice and friendly. He talked to us about Iceland during the bus trip and introduced some traditional icelandic foods.Written November 8, 2024
- siljeanettes0 contributionsTerrible serviceFrancesca (one of the instructors) and Sigurdur (driver) were fantastic, otherwise terrible service!!! Beautiful scenery though!Written November 8, 2024
- OnAir167704973590 contributionsI would recommend thisThe bus guide Hilmar was friendly, knowledgable, and offered an interesting selection of music. He gave us plenty of facts about icelandic geography/history. Our ice cave guide was also very friendly, and cracked some funny jokes. He made sure we were safe and put us all in the right mood to enjoy the glacier.Written November 8, 2024
- patrikk6430 contributionsIncredible tourWoderful once in a life time experiance. Glacierhike, and black beach are worth it by themselves. Tour guide Vjeran was spectacular!Written November 8, 2024
- veroniquew3120 contributionsBest Guide, amazing tour!Best guide I have ever had - Funny jokes and Traditional Music. It is a Must this tour! The driver is adapting to the Needs of the group. Amazing places to See.Written November 7, 2024
- melissamD3003ER0 contributionsWhat clouds?We got very lucky and managed to see great lights despite the day being cloudy. Hjortur was our guide and did a fantastic job of finding holes in the clouds and great locations for viewing the lights. He took great photos of everyone in front of the lights as well.Written November 7, 2024
- Jordan8957210 contributionsCancelled tour without any noticeThey cancelled our tour without any notice (I found out when they no-showed at the meeting spot and had to call them to find out it was cancelled) and required that I fill out a refund request form to get a refund, rather than them just proactively refunding meWritten November 7, 2024
- Purwitanto0 contributionsA trustworthy tour company in RekjavikTour was cancelled due to bad weather. They gave us notification in the afternoon on that day. It was unfortunate, but they gave us the instruction on how to get the refund. We follow the instruction and filled the form that they gave us. We waited for the refund for about 2 weeks and we have not received it yet so we contact them again through the customer care via email. After some correspondencies we finally received our refund. Their customer care was very responsive. This review was written to show that this tour company is trustworthy and I recommend this tour company for anyone who like to travel in Iceland.Written November 7, 2024
- Inspire477851273100 contributionsPerfect way to see iceland, saw so much of this beautiful countryTook the 3 day tour of golden circle, south coast and glacier hike. What an experience. Even lucky enough to see the northern lights. Guide was great. Saw so much of this beautiful country. However, the accent and microphone made it a challenge to understand. Please note when they say waterproof gear they are not kidding. Head-to-toe waterproof, especially on the glacier hike. It rained most of the day. Brought knitted gloves instead of waterproof ones. No jeansWritten November 7, 2024
- paulamH6560JJ0 contributionsGreat experience!We did several tours with Arctic Adventures and this one and the snorkeling tour were our favorites. Our driver on the first day, Lili, did a great job in showing and explaining us the things we saw on our way to the glacier as well as giving us insight into Iceland/Reykjavik (spots to see, food, public pools etc.) Although there were several tours from other companies that day we did not have to wait long to get to the glacier and start climbing. Basia, our guide, took good care of us, making sure we didn't get cold and showed us other interesting formations in the glacier. We loved the snorkeling a lot and our guide Weronika made sure we are ok and that we can manage the 30 to 40 min in the cold water. But since there is only one spot to enter into the water and multiple tours at the same time who do this activity, we also had to wait for a bit to get in. Another thing is, that the same spot is not only for snorkeling but also for diving so we had to wait even a bit more because you can't snorkel on top of the divers. Since we could have even two thin warm layers underneath the warm and the dry suit most of the body stayed relatively warm. The only parts that will be cold are your hands and feet. If I was to do the same tour again, I would take thicker socks or even two pairs of socks (one of them being wool socks) to keep my feet warmer (I only had thin socks). Also, for people with longer hair.. it will get wet. Wear it in a low ponytail and take a comb to fix your hair afterwards ;)Written November 6, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
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8
Taka
Annapolis, MD2 contributions
Jun 2022
It was a great tour overall. We would never have been able to visit places that our tour guide, Alvaro, drove us to, if we had been renting a car ourselves. He was a capable and funny guide and driver. We had a full load of 18 companions who spent our days in a van together. It turned out that this tour is so popular that two vans independently left on the same day. We saw and experienced often awe-striking and beautiful landscapes, including lots of waterfalls, lupines, and sheep!
However, we'd like to note some points for future improvement.
1. It would have been better if the tour guide had provided more options for dinner in advance. At least a few times, the only option was a buffet of about $50/person or $25 or so as the least expensive meal. We regularly stopped at a convenience store before reaching a hotel of the day, and the guide could have said "here's the dinner situation. If you don't want to spend 3000-5500 Krona for dinner, you can buy a cheaper meal like a sandwich at this convenience store." We were not the only people in the tour who were not happy about this lack of options sometimes. Our guide accommodated our request after the first day's experience of no choice for dinner but an expensive buffet (or no dinner at all), but he did not consistently practice this option throughout the tour. As a side note, be warned that food is significantly more expensive in Iceland than the United States, including in convenience stores!
2. The tour descriptions should have noted that the whale watching tour provides a warm clothing to cover the whole body, and that you don't need many layers of warm clothing on your own beyond the clothing to spend time in a 50F/10C degree although bringing a winter cap and gloves would be a good idea. It would have reduced my luggage size.
3. I would have been interested to visit a folk artist or sheep farmer who shares their story of why they do what they do including their challenges that may illuminate larger Iceland's history, culture, economy, and politics (and their relations to the world). It was great that we visited a family which raise horses for competitive races and tourists. We heard what they basically do, and we got to experience feeding and touching horses. I think learning a little more about Icelandic people's lives (not just seeing landscapes) would be enriching.
4. I personally wish the glacier walk had also included walking in an ice cave.
In any case, it is highly recommended!
However, we'd like to note some points for future improvement.
1. It would have been better if the tour guide had provided more options for dinner in advance. At least a few times, the only option was a buffet of about $50/person or $25 or so as the least expensive meal. We regularly stopped at a convenience store before reaching a hotel of the day, and the guide could have said "here's the dinner situation. If you don't want to spend 3000-5500 Krona for dinner, you can buy a cheaper meal like a sandwich at this convenience store." We were not the only people in the tour who were not happy about this lack of options sometimes. Our guide accommodated our request after the first day's experience of no choice for dinner but an expensive buffet (or no dinner at all), but he did not consistently practice this option throughout the tour. As a side note, be warned that food is significantly more expensive in Iceland than the United States, including in convenience stores!
2. The tour descriptions should have noted that the whale watching tour provides a warm clothing to cover the whole body, and that you don't need many layers of warm clothing on your own beyond the clothing to spend time in a 50F/10C degree although bringing a winter cap and gloves would be a good idea. It would have reduced my luggage size.
3. I would have been interested to visit a folk artist or sheep farmer who shares their story of why they do what they do including their challenges that may illuminate larger Iceland's history, culture, economy, and politics (and their relations to the world). It was great that we visited a family which raise horses for competitive races and tourists. We heard what they basically do, and we got to experience feeding and touching horses. I think learning a little more about Icelandic people's lives (not just seeing landscapes) would be enriching.
4. I personally wish the glacier walk had also included walking in an ice cave.
In any case, it is highly recommended!
Written July 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear takaono5,
Thanks a lot for taking the time to leave us this wonderful review. We are delighted to hear the tour went smoothly for you. A special thank you for all of the amazing compliments to our guide. Alvaro will be absolutely delighted to read this!
Also, we are extremely grateful for all the points for future improvement. We have passed your remarks to both our Operations team and Product managers. Our aim is always to grow and make our customers feel welcomed and happy.
It means the world to us that you have chosen to book an experience with our team. We are looking forward to seeing you again on one of our tours sometime in the near future!
Warm wishes from Iceland.
Written July 8, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hernehiller
London, UK200 contributions
We are an adult family with one food allergy. The group was a good size 18 and a range of ages and countries. Every accommodation was very clean and equipped, and there was a good range of activities included in the trip. Doing 6 days meant we were able to go to the north, access places too far from Reykjavik and also do whale watching. Going in the super jeeps to the glacier in a snowy remote glacier was certainly a unique experience! Soli, our guide was wonderful. He looked after the group really well and set the tone just right. His guiding style was interesting, informative, very kind and caring with lots of other diverse snippets crossing world knowledge, Icelandic folklore and the Arts which engaged everyone. The younger element of the group certainly gave him a few laughs as well! He took us to the public baths and we even managed to see the Northern lights! We did add on days out after the trip with the same company, snowmobiling and snorkelling which we also highly recommend booking if you have time. Each day is full and active but suitable for willing participants of all ages and abilities….we definitely slept well each night!
Written March 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Hernehiller,
Thank you for this wonderful review. We are very happy to know you had a great time. Thank you for sharing your experience with us and the community. We can't wait for you to come back and have another great adventure!
Warm wishes from Iceland.
Written March 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Slawdog
3 contributions
Aug 2021
Every day of this 6-day tour had the group seeing and doing things that I’ve never done before. First and foremost, our driver and guide Solle did such a fantastic job. He is a native Icelander who speaks 4 languages, and was a pleasure to get to know. In order for us to see the volcano while still actively erupting, Solle reversed our itinerary, driving the ring road clockwise, and making the hike to the volcano the first day, and not the last. We then had a picture-perfect weather day to see lava. The next day, the volcano went dormant for 3 days. Reversing our itinerary involved changing hotel AND activity reservations for 20 people. All to make sure we had the best experience possible.
This was our first group tour, and we’ll never do a self-drive tour again. The 17 other passengers came from all around the world, and were a great mix of ages, nationalities, and personalities. It included 4 solo travelers (3 female) who bonded with the rest of the group. We laughed together, ate together (with Solle), learned from each other, and all found it hard to say goodbye at the end of the tour. Solle adjusted the schedule as necessary to fit in some unplanned stops that were always worthwhile and appreciated.
This was our first group tour, and we’ll never do a self-drive tour again. The 17 other passengers came from all around the world, and were a great mix of ages, nationalities, and personalities. It included 4 solo travelers (3 female) who bonded with the rest of the group. We laughed together, ate together (with Solle), learned from each other, and all found it hard to say goodbye at the end of the tour. Solle adjusted the schedule as necessary to fit in some unplanned stops that were always worthwhile and appreciated.
Written August 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear pineconepops,
Wow, we were blown away by your positive words, we really appreciate the time you took to write such a good review! It’s wonderful to know you had enjoyed the guide company, communicated and had fun with the other people in the group and in general were happy while on the tour! It warms our hearts to read your words.
Your review means a lot to us and lets us know we’re on the right track! We can't wait for you to come back and explore more of Iceland with our amazing team!
Greetings from Iceland.
Written August 16, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Will K
1 contribution
May 2022
I would highly recommend this tour to anyone, it was excellent! When we were deciding what to do for our Icelandic vacation, we were considering renting a car, finding hotels, etc all by ourselves. This trip took all the hassle out by handling all accommodations and showing us the most beautiful parts of the country. On top of that, it is probably cheaper than doing it all yourself too! Our tour guide Gumi was insightful, down to earth, and a joy to be around. The bus was not a giant tour bus and was comfortable for long rides without being cramped. We saw magnificent waterfalls, bubbling geothermal wonders, hiked a glacier, bathed in a hot spring, whale watched, and visited an Icelandic horse farm, so there was a lot of variety.
One of the downsides was that a lot of things were expensive. Iceland is expensive in general, but a lot of the hotels we went to were in the middle of nowhere so you could only eat at their overpriced restaurant. We could have gotten around this by stocking up at gas stations, but that's not a very attractive alternative. The only other thing was the first two days were very long and intensive, but this was balanced out by more relaxed days at the end of the tour.
Overall, I would highly recommend the tour!
One of the downsides was that a lot of things were expensive. Iceland is expensive in general, but a lot of the hotels we went to were in the middle of nowhere so you could only eat at their overpriced restaurant. We could have gotten around this by stocking up at gas stations, but that's not a very attractive alternative. The only other thing was the first two days were very long and intensive, but this was balanced out by more relaxed days at the end of the tour.
Overall, I would highly recommend the tour!
Written May 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear C7025PTwilliamk,
Thanks a lot for taking the time to leave us this wonderful review. We are delighted to hear the tour went smoothly for you. A special thank you for all of the amazing compliments to our guide. Gumi will be absolutely delighted to read this!
It means the world to us that you have chosen to book an experience with our team. We are looking forward to seeing you again on one of our tours sometime in the near future!
Warm wishes from Iceland.
Written May 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emily V
4 contributions
Jul 2020
I booked with this tour group in March and paid in full for the trip (approx $3000 AUD).
I cancelled my trip within the terms of the contract and have been emailing for months. Originally I received multiple replies stating that there was only one colleague working on the refund request but after 3 months of requesting updates, I was informed that now the refund payment is suspended due to a dispute with the Icelandic government.
I understand that this is a tough time for tour companies, but I never would have paid my full trip so far in advance if it was not for the part of the contract that guaranteed a 90% cancellation refund. The conduct is deceptive and worrying and I would discourage anyone from booking with Arctic Adventures during this uncertain period as your money is probably lost forever.
I cancelled my trip within the terms of the contract and have been emailing for months. Originally I received multiple replies stating that there was only one colleague working on the refund request but after 3 months of requesting updates, I was informed that now the refund payment is suspended due to a dispute with the Icelandic government.
I understand that this is a tough time for tour companies, but I never would have paid my full trip so far in advance if it was not for the part of the contract that guaranteed a 90% cancellation refund. The conduct is deceptive and worrying and I would discourage anyone from booking with Arctic Adventures during this uncertain period as your money is probably lost forever.
Written July 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Traveler,
Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding your experience with Arctic Adventures. We deeply apologize for any inconvenience and frustration you have encountered during this process.
The unprecedented challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have indeed affected the travel industry in unforeseen ways, including disruptions to refund processes. We understand and share your disappointment regarding the delay in processing your refund and the communication surrounding it.
While we strive to uphold the highest standards of service, we recognize that we have fallen short in this instance. Please accept our sincerest apologies for any confusion or distress caused by the delay and uncertainty surrounding your refund.
Negotiations with the Icelandic government have impacted the situation regarding refunds, leading to delays in processing refunds. We understand the frustration this has caused.
In response to the challenges faced by our customers, we have offered lifetime vouchers as an alternative option for those unable to travel during this time. These vouchers can be redeemed for future trips with Arctic Adventures, providing flexibility and peace of mind for when you are ready to embark on your Icelandic adventure.
Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we assure you that it will be taken into account as we strive to improve our services and policies. Our ultimate goal is to ensure the satisfaction and trust of our customers, and we are committed to resolving this matter to your satisfaction.
We sincerely hope for the opportunity to restore your trust in Arctic Adventures and welcome you on one of our tours in the future. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@adventures.is. We are here to assist you in any way we can.
Written May 15, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mirole
Toronto, Canada828 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
We booked this tour because we did not want to rent a car but wanted to see as much as possible on an 8-day vacation. And it was a great decision!
The tour was very well organized, with many stops and very varied program. We normally prefer hiking vacations and I had been a bit apprehensive that this tour would be too much driving and not a lot of moving but I was wrong. We stopped at various sites and had to walk up to them most of the times. We were given enough time at each site to walk around, take pictures and take in the views. There were two hikes incorporated into the tour. I very much doubt that we would have seen as much if we drove around Iceland in a rented car.
The highlights were all the numerous waterfalls, each beautiful in its own way, Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon, whale watching boat tour (and yes, we saw whales!), Thingvellir National Park, horse farm and just watching the beautiful landscapes from the bus.
The big factor in the tour's success was our wonderful guide Siggi. To say that he is knowledgeable is an understatement. He has a great sense of humour and he was very patient answering our countless questions about Iceland's history, economy, demographic situation and every-day life.
We had a very nice group of people on our tour and we all became friends by the end of it. There were only 10 of us.
The only downside although a minor one in the big picture was very limited menu in the restaurants of the first three hotels where we stayed. Those were very small hotels in the middle of nowhere which we didn't mind. The hotel restaurant was the only option at each of them and the choices were very few and the prices higher than at a good restaurant in Reykjavik for worse dishes, e.g. arctic char was very pedestrian.
At the same time, the food at the last restaurant (at hotel Bifrost) was great and we thought was well worth 90,000 ISK if you can afford it. It's a dinner buffet with a lot of fine appetizers (we loved smoked arctic char, cured salmon and fried shrimp) and their main dish of salmon was amazingly tender and tasty. We came in pretty late so they had already run out of lamb for the main dish which was fine by us as we would choose fish over meat any day.
Bottom line, if you want to see and experience as much of Iceland in a limited amount of time as possible, book this trip or similar with Arctic Adventures. I already recommended it to some of my colleagues who were very interested listening to my stories of our tour and seeing the pictures.
The tour was very well organized, with many stops and very varied program. We normally prefer hiking vacations and I had been a bit apprehensive that this tour would be too much driving and not a lot of moving but I was wrong. We stopped at various sites and had to walk up to them most of the times. We were given enough time at each site to walk around, take pictures and take in the views. There were two hikes incorporated into the tour. I very much doubt that we would have seen as much if we drove around Iceland in a rented car.
The highlights were all the numerous waterfalls, each beautiful in its own way, Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon, whale watching boat tour (and yes, we saw whales!), Thingvellir National Park, horse farm and just watching the beautiful landscapes from the bus.
The big factor in the tour's success was our wonderful guide Siggi. To say that he is knowledgeable is an understatement. He has a great sense of humour and he was very patient answering our countless questions about Iceland's history, economy, demographic situation and every-day life.
We had a very nice group of people on our tour and we all became friends by the end of it. There were only 10 of us.
The only downside although a minor one in the big picture was very limited menu in the restaurants of the first three hotels where we stayed. Those were very small hotels in the middle of nowhere which we didn't mind. The hotel restaurant was the only option at each of them and the choices were very few and the prices higher than at a good restaurant in Reykjavik for worse dishes, e.g. arctic char was very pedestrian.
At the same time, the food at the last restaurant (at hotel Bifrost) was great and we thought was well worth 90,000 ISK if you can afford it. It's a dinner buffet with a lot of fine appetizers (we loved smoked arctic char, cured salmon and fried shrimp) and their main dish of salmon was amazingly tender and tasty. We came in pretty late so they had already run out of lamb for the main dish which was fine by us as we would choose fish over meat any day.
Bottom line, if you want to see and experience as much of Iceland in a limited amount of time as possible, book this trip or similar with Arctic Adventures. I already recommended it to some of my colleagues who were very interested listening to my stories of our tour and seeing the pictures.
Written August 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kc
London, UK21 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
This tour was fantastic! Our guide
Hjalti Björnsson was full of all sorts of knowledge about the island, but what really stood out was his ability to fit everything in despite multiple weather disruptions. On Day 3, we faced gale force winds that made the roads nigh impassable, but Hjalti expertly drove us through the blizzard.
The highlights were easily the Glacier lagoon and Ice Cave, as well as the Diamond Beach. We were even lucky enough to see the Northern Lights too! Aside from that you will see so many beautiful sights across the countryside and get to relax in a lovely hot spring bath
I'd highly recommended letting the guide know what things you are interested in. We asked about Game of Thrones so Hjalti made sure he pointed out all the filming locations. Others mentioned about the Icelandic horses and so on the last day we went to a lovely family-owned stable and got to meet all the beautiful Icelandic horses there
P.S. Hjalti, if you're reading this, you're the greatest!!
Hjalti Björnsson was full of all sorts of knowledge about the island, but what really stood out was his ability to fit everything in despite multiple weather disruptions. On Day 3, we faced gale force winds that made the roads nigh impassable, but Hjalti expertly drove us through the blizzard.
The highlights were easily the Glacier lagoon and Ice Cave, as well as the Diamond Beach. We were even lucky enough to see the Northern Lights too! Aside from that you will see so many beautiful sights across the countryside and get to relax in a lovely hot spring bath
I'd highly recommended letting the guide know what things you are interested in. We asked about Game of Thrones so Hjalti made sure he pointed out all the filming locations. Others mentioned about the Icelandic horses and so on the last day we went to a lovely family-owned stable and got to meet all the beautiful Icelandic horses there
P.S. Hjalti, if you're reading this, you're the greatest!!
Written January 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear kimputer04,
Thank you so much for leaving positive feedback about your tour with us. It's such great news to us to hear that everything went smoothly for you. We hope to see you soon again for another great adventure. Let's explore more of Iceland together!
Warm wishes from Iceland.
Written January 7, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Leah M
4 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
This was an awesome tour. We did so many things and saw so many sights that you couldn’t on a short tour or with a car of your own. Our guide Vjeran was very attentive, informative, flexible and a safe driver. He added extra stops where he could, took our photos and kept us informed of the itinerary. Some of the reviews criticise the price of food at the hotels, but Iceland is an expensive country and Vjeran told us days in advance when there were grocery stops so we could grab something else in case we didn’t want a pricey dinner. All the sights were beautiful and unique, plus the whale watching, glacier hike and horse farm tour were all so much fun. I’d happily do the tour again and recommend it anyone coming to Iceland!
Written January 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Monet E
2 contributions
Jul 2022
Sindri was the most amazing tour guide. He had unlimited knowledge about Iceland in addition to non-stop hilarious stories he told during our driving time. I felt like I was on a stand-up comedy road trip. He was also flexible with our stops, and took us to see Puffins when we were all a bit too tired to go on a scheduled hike, which we all appreciated.
I was a bit worried I would be the only solo traveler out of the 18 of us, but there were four others in our group. I'm not sure if that is unusual, but it certainly made the trip that much better.
Highly recommend bringing waterproof pants and shoes in addition to a jacket. We endured some sideways rain during a walk and some people were drenched the rest of the day. Worth investing in some good gear, even for Summer.
I was a bit worried I would be the only solo traveler out of the 18 of us, but there were four others in our group. I'm not sure if that is unusual, but it certainly made the trip that much better.
Highly recommend bringing waterproof pants and shoes in addition to a jacket. We endured some sideways rain during a walk and some people were drenched the rest of the day. Worth investing in some good gear, even for Summer.
Written July 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear monete2022,
Thanks a lot for taking the time to leave us this wonderful review. We are delighted to hear the tour went smoothly for you. A special thank you for all of the amazing compliments to our guide. Sindri will be absolutely delighted to read this! We are truly proud and lucky to have him on our team.
It means the world to us that you have chosen to book an experience with our team. We are looking forward to seeing you again on one of our tours sometime in the near future!
Warm wishes from Iceland.
Written July 12, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Olivia A
2 contributions
Jun 2022 • Friends
Hannah at the glacier hiking tour was absolutely amazing. She learned everyone’s names, held our hands to help us across tough spots, and even allowed one group member to stick by her side the entire time because she was scared. She was funny and cracking jokes to make us laugh and get past our fears. She was very sweet and we were lucky to have her!
Written June 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear oliviaandy224,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this 5-star review with our team! We are happy you have enjoyed your time with us and our guide Hannah. We hope to have you back soon so we could explore more of Iceland together!
Greetings from Iceland.
Written June 20, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No luggage limit and it’s stored in a trailer attached to the bus. You have access to your luggage at all times. Keep in mind that it might get wet and muddy depending on the weather and roads conditions.
Written November 7, 2022
The tour includes the blue lagoon?
Written August 9, 2022
Does this trip have a trip to see the northern lights, or is this something we can book for the night time?
Thank you
Barbara
Written August 4, 2022
If the weather and natural conditions cooperate, the Northern Lights can be easily viewed throughout this journey. Some folks in our group saw the Northern Lights (usually in the middle of the night), but many nights during our late winter trip were too cloudy.
Written August 5, 2022
What is the iteniary for the June 15, 2022 tour? Please provide a map showing the route around Iceland and what sites are included
Written March 14, 2022
We need to see the itinary for the June 15 tour of Artic Adventure and a map showin g how it goes around the island of Iceland
Written March 14, 2022
Hi Cathy - you will need to get that from Arctic Adventures, since the exact itinerary changes with the seasons (and with the weather). I hope yoiu do go with the trip. It was wonderful
Written May 2, 2022
What languages are available in this tour?
We are a mexican family and we need the spanish option
Written February 16, 2020
Hi I’m looking to book this package, but have a question about the luggage. Do we carry our luggage everyday with us since we are staying at different hotels? If so why are we offered the luggage Fee to store our Luggage in R town? Will we then have to go back to R town to get our luggage every night??
Written December 17, 2019
The tour bus was a luxury leather seats sprinter and the suitcases kept in a trailer behind the bus so worked well. The guide loaded and unloaded it every day at each hotel. I think if you have more luggage that you don’t need everyday you can store it at their office. I think that’s what they mean. We just had one suitcase each and a ruck sack we took on the bus each day.
Written March 16, 2022
Brenda F
Buenos Aires, Argentina
You dont have mor availability for january 7th?
Written December 2, 2019
Melanie Muijs
Goirle, The Netherlands
Would you recommend traveling to Iceland in february?
Written November 18, 2019
I did see the Northern Lights in early February, but only once and I think we got lucky to see them at 8 PM.
Written March 15, 2022
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.