iceland excursion holidays

All Tours Operating Normally. Experience Iceland Safely: Current Volcanic Eruption Updates Here .

ICELAND TOURS & ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS

Small groups – big adventures.

Multiday Tours

Popular activities

Choose from iceland's most popular activities.

Snorkeling Tours

Glacier Tours

Northern Lights Tours

Ice Cave Tours

Sightseeing Tours

Hiking and Trekking Tours In Iceland

Golden Circle Tours

Snowmobiling Tours

Popular day tours, choose from iceland's most popular tours.

Snorkeling In Silfra Fissure

Magical Auroras - Northern Lights Tour

Skaftafell Blue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike Tour

"Into the Glacier" Ice Cave Tour

Glacier Explorer - Moderate Glacier Hike in Skaftafell

Landmannalaugar Hiking Day Tour

Golden Circle Superior

Crystal Ice Cave Tour with Super Jeep Ride

Popular multi-day tours, secure your seat on iceland's most sought after vacation packages.

2 Day South Coast, Ice Cave, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon Tour

6 Days Around Iceland Adventure

2-Day Tour to Snæfellsnes Peninsula & Borgarfjörður Fjord

3 Day South Coast & Golden Circle Tour

Laugavegur & Fimmvörðuháls Trek - 6 Day Tour

5 Day Snæfellsnes Peninsula And South Iceland Tour

7 Day Complete Iceland

8 Day Iceland Ring Road Tour

Special offers.

Get up to 20% OFF for selected tours!

4-Day Trekking Tour in Laugavegur

Glacier Experience - Sólheimajökull Easy Glacier Hike

Adventure tour types, explore the wonders of iceland.

Multi-Day Tours

Self-Drive Tours

Private Tours

Our new tours in 2024, experience something different this year.

Glacier Xtreme - Glacier Hiking & Ice climbing tour

Volcano Trail & Reykjanes Peninsula Tour

Geysir Buggy Car Day Tour

Golden Circle & Hvammsvík Hot Springs Tour

Our Sustainable Values

Our mission statement is simply: “Nature is the adventure.” We have tailored our tours in such a way that there will be no harm to or impact upon nature. We show our clients how nature can be treated with respect, we can pass through it without leaving a mark and take away only photographs and memories.

1. Take nothing but pictures.

2. Kill nothing but time

3. Leave nothing but footprints.

4. Make nothing but memories.

Shuttle bus transfer in Iceland

Book your scheduled shuttle bus transfer with us. Bus transfers to and from Keflavík International Airport, Reykjavík and the Landmannalaugar.

Flybus - Bus transport from KEF airport to Reykjavik

Bus To Landmannalaugar

Reykjavík - Blue Lagoon Transfer

Arctic Adventures is the biggest adventure tour operator in Iceland. Our primary goal is to utilize our passions and strengths to bring you an incredible experience and a long-lasting impression of our beloved country. We operate many of our tours from the headquarters in Reykjavik but also have operation locations in Skaftafell, Akureyri, Drumbó and Skagafjörður. Our roots lie back to the first rafting tour on the Hvítá river in 1983. We wanted to give others the same adventure we experienced and became the first adventure company founded in Iceland.

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Iceland vacation packages

Visit Iceland and see stunning landscapes, like lava fields, glacier lagoons, and ice caves. With these Iceland vacation packages, you can fit all this in and a whole lot more. So get stuck in and find your next adventure.

• Wide range of travel styles
• Itineraries designed by locals
• Extend your trip with extra days
• 24/7 helpline in Iceland

65 trips found

Iceland Ring Road Adventure with Snæfellsnes

The ultimate road trip with ‘Iceland in Miniature’.

Iceland Ring Road: Best of the Best

Take the Iceland road trip of a lifetime.

Iceland Ring Road & Westfjords Epic Adventure

Explore every corner of Iceland in 2 weeks.

Iceland Ultimate Day Tripper with Northern Lights

Combine a stay in wintry Reykjavík with guided day tours into the frosted countryside.

Iceland Active Winter Wellness

Combine thrilling activities with blissful hot spring visits.

Christmas Wonders of Iceland Group Adventure

Spend Christmas in Iceland and glimpse waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, and more

Northern Lights Ring Road Group Adventure

Explore jaw-dropping landscapes and learn about local culture from an expert guide.

South & West Iceland in a Week

7 days, dozens of unforgettable sights.

Iceland Ring Road Bus Tour – Big Group Adventure

Soak up Iceland’s awe-inspiring sights around the Ring Road.

Winter Wonders of Iceland – Big Group Adventure

Set off on a wintry adventure around the south coast.

Winter Wonders of Iceland – Small Group Adventure

Discover top attractions in winter with a local guide.

Active Iceland Fire and Ice Expedition

Experience glaciers up close and walk in the footsteps of lava.

Showing 12 of 65 trips

About our Iceland vacations

See the Land of Fire and Ice your way with Iceland Tours. Dive into a wide range of vacations to Iceland with fun-packed itineraries, flexible booking terms, and just a 5% deposit!

Choose from self-drive adventures, group trips, camping packages, multi-day tours from Reykjavík, and more. With such a wide selection, you’re bound to find the right vacation for you. We’ve got itineraries ranging from 3 to 19 days, all with accommodation and transport included.

Iceland’s great all year round too. Spot the Northern Lights in the depths of winter. Or see the midnight sun in the summer months. Whenever you visit, you won’t be short on things to see and do.

• Transport and accommodation included
• Add adventure activities like ice caving and kayaking
• Start your trip on any day you like for most travel styles
• Breakfast included on every day of your trip (except camping)

Don’t take our word for it

See what hundreds of fellow travelers have to say about their trips with Iceland Tours.

FAQs about vacations to Iceland

Is it worth going to iceland.

Yes, it’s absolutely worth going to Iceland! This volcanic island nation in the middle of the North Atlantic has got mind-bending nature in spades.

First up, there’s gushing geysers, steaming hot springs, and otherworldly lava fields. Then you’ve got thundering waterfalls , gigantic glaciers , and serene glacial lagoons. All these incredible sights are framed by Iceland’s beautiful mountains and fjords.

What exactly can you do on an vacation to Iceland? Here’s some of our suggestions:

• Tour the Golden Circle and see the Strokkur geyser erupt
• Join an ice caving expedition under an ancient glacier
• Spot famous volcanoes and admire vast fields of lava
• Stroll black sand beaches studded with diamond-like icebergs
• See where the North American and European plates meet
• Bathe in the warm, nourishing waters of the Blue Lagoon
• Rent a car and drive the country’s Ring Road
• Go on a whale watching boat tour and marvel at gentle giants
• Hunt down the Northern Lights in the depths of winter
• Enjoy the buzz of city life in Reykjavík , Iceland’s capital

Want more inspo? Check our complete guide to Iceland for all the material you need.

Is it safe in Iceland?

Yes! Iceland is one of the safest countries on Earth . Thanks to its extremely low crime rate and excellent healthcare system, you can relax and enjoy your vacation with peace of mind.

Around the country, you’ll see children left to their own devices to happily play outside or walk to school by themselves. Iceland is a fantastic place for kids to run wild, totally carefree! This means that the country is a great destination for a family trip.

Is Iceland expensive?

Iceland has a reputation as a pricey destination, but it doesn’t have to be! One trick to save money is to book an Iceland vacation package. That way, you don’t have to organize everything yourself either.

When you book a package with Iceland Tours, you get great value for money. All of our vacations to Iceland include:

• Transport and accommodation
• Detailed itinerary made by local travel experts
• Free Wi-Fi in your car or on your bus
• Access to our 24/7 helpline when you’re in Iceland
• Breakfast every day (excluding camping trips)

If you choose an Iceland adventure package , you’ll also get activities like ice cave tours and lava caving built into the price. And Christmas and New Year packages even include some evening meals.

For more tips on how to save money on your trip, see this Iceland budgeting guide .

How many days do you need for an Iceland trip?

There’s no set number of days for a vacation to Iceland. Trips of different lengths will give you totally different experiences!

With 3–5 days in Iceland, you can base yourself in Reykjavík and join day tours to the Golden Circle or south coast . You’ll be able to see the top highlights of Icelandic nature and explore the city in the evenings.

If you spend around a week in Iceland, you could focus on touring a specific region in depth. For example, follow the south coast all the way to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon . Or head over to West Iceland and the Snæfellsnes peninsula .

This amount of time would also be enough for a Ring Road tour . That said, with 10–14 days in Iceland, you have the time to go slower and see more. As well as the Ring Road, you might want to include the lesser-visited Westfjords region .

With 2 weeks or more, you’ll have the time to see every part of the country, including the Westman Islands and highland interior.

What is the best month to visit Iceland?

The answer to this question depends on what you want to see! Iceland has tons to offer in summer and winter .

In the summer months of June , July , and August , days are longer and you can pack more into your itinerary. At the start of the season, you can see the midnight sun. Summer is the most popular time to visit, as the majority of attractions, as well as the highlands region, are open.

There’s more darkness in the winter months of November , December , January , and February . This provides the perfect backdrop for chasing down the Northern Lights . Winter’s also great for seeing Iceland’s frosty beauty.

If you want to visit at a quieter time of year, the spring shoulder season of March , April , and May is ideal. There’ll be fewer travelers about then, but still plenty to see! Toward the end of the season, Iceland is starting to turn green again.

The autumn shoulder season is September to October . While not as quiet as spring, it’s still more laid back than the summer. Winter hasn’t truly set in either, so most attractions are still fully open.

What kind of Iceland trips do you offer?

With Iceland Tours, you can choose from a whole bunch of travel styles. Our most popular are self-drive tours of Iceland , where you take the wheel of your own rental car. On a road trip, you can stop as often as you like and go wherever your heart takes you.

If you’d rather skip the driving, you can join a multi-day tour . You’ll stay in Reykjavík and take day trips by bus to different attractions out of town. If you want to take it up a level, you could go for a guided group tour . A dedicated local guide will lead your group around the country. A great way to make new travel buddies!

Alternatively, you could go for a private guided tour . Your very own driver-guide will use their expert knowledge of Iceland to show you all sorts of hidden gems.

At the other end of the scale are camping trips . You get a rental car and camping gear included, and you’ll sleep under the midnight sun. It’s harder to get much closer to nature than that.

Then there are day trips if you’re already in Iceland and want to add another experience to your itinerary.

Can I rent a car in Iceland?

To hire a rental car in Iceland, you’ll need to be at least 20 years old, or 23 years old for jeeps or vans. You’ll also need to have held your driver’s license for at least 1 year. To confirm the booking and pay your holding deposit, you’ll also need a credit card.

If you’re from the EU, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, you can drive in Iceland with your driver’s license from home.

For all the details, see our car rental page . And see our Travel Guide if you’re after tips on how to drive in Iceland .

What kind of accommodation do you offer?

For most travel styles, you can choose from 3 levels of accommodation:

• Budget – Guesthouses and country hotels, with shared bathrooms
• Comfort – Hotels or guesthouses of around 3 stars, with private bathrooms
• Quality – Hotels or guesthouses of around 4 stars, with private bathrooms

With some travel styles, you might have more limited options available. For example, we only offer Comfort or Quality accommodation on our private tours of Iceland .

If you go for a camping trip , guesthouse or hotel accommodation is included for the nights you spend in Reykjavík. For the nights when you’ll camp, we provide you with a tent, sleeping bags, and all the other gear you need.

For all our guesthouse and hotel stays, breakfast is always included no matter which level you pick. Get more info about places to stay on this Iceland accommodation guide .

Are flights included with your packages?

So that you get the best deal and most flexibility, we don’t include flights with our packages. Once you have a rough idea of when you want to travel, you can start searching for flights to Iceland.

Thanks to its location in the North Atlantic, Iceland is well served by direct flights from lots of European countries and North America. If you’re coming from further afield, you’ll probably need a connecting flight.

How do I book with Iceland Tours?

Start your booking by checking out the Iceland vacation packages on this page. To narrow your search, filter by your preferred season, travel style, budget, and any attractions you want to see.

Click the heart icon to favorite any packages you’d like to come back to later. That way, you can compare itineraries to firm up your Iceland travel plans.

Once you’ve found the vacation for you, simply follow the steps on the package page to book online. On our website you can:

• Choose your dates and add more days
• Select your rental car* and accommodation level
• Add extra activities and day trips
• Pay a 5% deposit to secure your trip

If you need help with your booking, use the live chat option on our website.

*Applies to self-drive and camping trips only.

Can I choose my travel dates?

For the following travel styles, you’re free to choose any start date you like:

• Self-drive tours
• Camping tours
• Multi-day tours
• Private tours

The itineraries for these tours are of a fixed length, but you can add extra days in Reykjavík at the start or end of your trip at checkout. That way you can make your Iceland vacation last even longer!

Guided group tours have fixed departures. That said, we have a large number of dates on offer, both in summer and winter. So you’re bound to find one that works for you.

Can I customize my Iceland vacation?

Absolutely! Depending on which travel style you choose, you have different customization options.

For self-drive Iceland trips, you can pick your accommodation type and rental car. You can also add bonus activities to fill up your spare time, and more nights in Reykjavík to the start or end of your trip.

For Iceland multi-day tours, you can pick your accommodation level and add some extra activities such as a trip to the Blue Lagoon (if it’s not already included in your package). Extra nights in Reykjavík are an option here too.

Other travel styles, like guided group tours of Iceland, might have more limited customization options due to the nature of the trip. You’ll be able to see all the options available to you at checkout.

Good to know: Although we can’t guarantee stays at specific hotels or guesthouses, we’ll always make sure that you get the standard of accommodation that you pay for. Read more about accommodation types .

If you’d like to make further customizations than those that are available to you at checkout, get in touch and we’d be happy to help. The additional charge for this service is €150. Just so you know, it might not be possible to accommodate further customizations during the summer season. See our terms and conditions for full details.

When should I book?

As a rule of thumb, it’s best to book at least a few weeks before you plan to travel. For availability reasons, we’re unable to book trips with less than 1 week’s notice.

For the summer season, it’s a good idea to book a few months ahead of when you plan to travel. This is the most popular time of year to visit Iceland and places to stay can be limited in more remote areas.

If you’re planning to join a guided group tour, we recommend booking a few months in advance. Departures are on fixed dates and the most popular ones can get booked up.

Do I need a passport or visa to travel to Iceland?

If you’re a citizen of the EEA, you can travel to Iceland using your passport or national identity card visa-free. Otherwise, you’ll need a valid passport with at least 3 months left on it before expiry.

Citizens of many countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can travel to Iceland for up to 90 days visa-free. Check the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration’s visa-free travel list to find out if you’re eligible.

If you do need a visa, let us know once we’ve confirmed your booking and we can send you a confirmation letter for your visa application.

What should I pack for my trip to Iceland?

As its name suggests, Iceland can be quite a chilly country! That said, it’s warmer than many parts of the world on a similar latitude.

Of course, it pays to come prepared. So here’s a list of everything you should pack for an Iceland trip:

• Sturdy, comfortable hiking boots
• Thermal underlayers
• Fleece or sweater
• Waterproof rainjacket
• Warm winter coat
• Gloves, hat, and scarf
• Sunglasses (both in winter and summer)
• Swimming gear
• Moisturizer and lip balm

The main thing to keep in mind is the wind. Although it’s milder in the summer, wind is a constant fixture of the Icelandic weather. With plenty of layers and skincare products though, it shouldn’t get in the way of adventure!

See this Iceland winter packing guide for more tips.

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Beyond the Ordinary

Uncover Iceland’s Best-Kept Secrets

Where Luxury Meets Adventure

Welcome to a world of extraordinary Icelandic experiences tailored to your desires, steeped in luxury, and unmatched in its dedication to client satisfaction. Our carefully curated experiences offer a unique blend of exclusivity and adventure, transporting you beyond the ordinary.  We understand that every traveller is unique, and hence, we offer a suite of services tailored to your specific needs and preferences.  Your desires are our blueprint, your dreams our inspiration.

Join Us: Embrace Exclusivity—Immerse in the Extraordinary. 

Featured day Tours

Private South Coast & Ice Cave Tour

Experience the exclusive Iceland South Coast & Ice Cave Adventure, a private tour showcasing Iceland's dramatic natural landscapes. Visit majestic waterfalls, explore an abandoned plane wreck in the black desert, marvel at a stunning glacier, and discover a mystical ice cave, all from the comfort of a luxurious Super Jeep. 

Availability

Golden Circle and Glacier Super Jeep Tour

Visit the stunning sights of the famous Golden Circle in a luxury Super Jeep and head off into the ice-covered Langjokull, the second-largest glacier in Iceland with an optional snowmobile ride.

Private South Coast Tour

Black sand beaches, volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, and much more. Witness all that the South Coast has to offer from the comfort of your own luxury SUV or Superjeep on this private tour. With extra options available for the bolder adventurers, our personalized tour is the best choice for you and those you are traveling with.

Thorsmork – Valley of Thor Super Jeep Tour

Experience exhilarating off-road adventures in a luxury Super Jeep when exploring Thorsmork, a hidden valley and nature reserve in the highlands on Iceland surrounded by moss-covered mountains. Visit graceful waterfalls, hidden canyons and an outlet glacier of Eyjafjallajokull.

Private Golden Circle Tour

Customize your visit to the Golden Circle with this private escorted tour. Make the most of your visit to this magical corner of the land of ice and fire, all while avoiding the crowds! This private tour is the perfect option for those who want to explore the Golden Circle without renting their own car or boarding a bus full of tourists.

Inside the Volcano Tour

Go on a journey to the center of the earth, on this lava caving trip inside Thrihnukagigur volcano, a breathtaking and truly unique experience! This tour literally takes you inside a dormant volcano, through the top crater and to the bottom of its magma chamber that once was filled with red-hot molten lava.

Best selling vacation packages

Adventure-packed carbon neutral premium self-drive iceland tour – 8 day, sustainable iceland family adventure – 8-day co2 neutral self-drive tour, activity-filled co2 neutral self-drive tour – 5 days, action-filled luxury summer adventure, activity-filled family holiday in iceland, wonders of iceland – 8-day private vacation, what our clients say.

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REYKJAVIK EXCURSIONS BLOG

Get inspired! Information and tips and must see places in Iceland, fun facts, customs and more.

Litli-Hrútur Eruption 2023 - The New Eruption near Fagradalsfjall on the Reykjanes Peninsula

Once again, the enthralling spectacle of Iceland's Reykjanes volcano is back in the limelight! After 11 months of peaceful dormancy, the volcano is now alive and kicking, treating locals and tourists to another captivating visual performance. If you've been yearning for an adventure that's truly out of this world, this might just be your calling!

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Fully Guided Tours & Trips in Iceland

Find the right fully guided tour for you in Iceland. There are 226 trips to choose from, that range from one day in length, up to 23 days. The month with the most departures is August, making it the most popular time to visit Iceland.

226 Fully Guided tour packages in Iceland with 3,781 reviews

• In-depth Cultural

Best of Iceland

The scenery was fantastic! The weather was cold but ok......I come from Canada( Ottawa- the coldest capital city in the world).The level of activity was fine for me.Overall, I loved everything !!

• Northern Lights
• Christmas & New Year

5 Day - Snaefellsnes, South Coast and Northern Lights

Overall very professional team. The most effiecient way to know that beutifull country. Hotels of Artic Adventures very neat and confy. Pitty when weather dont help. And refund will not cover your expectations. But despite this highly recomended.

• Coach / Bus

Iceland Express

The tour was great! Our tour guide Jonas went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed, safe, and comfortable. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to have a quick glimpse of key spots in Iceland in a short time. We were also very lucky to get a wonderful group of fellow travelers. People matter!

6 Day - Around Iceland Adventure

Arctic adventure is strongly recommended, lots of bonus stops and get to enjoy the best local cruisin

Iceland Discovery

Good Itinerary and great guide. Overall a well organized and run trip. Enjoyed every bit of it.

8 Day Around Iceland Summer Minibus Tour

Fabulous trip and I’ll recommend the mini bus tour with Troll to everyone! Our tour guide, Johann Kari was excellent and I can’t recommend him and Troll Expeditions enough!

Premium Iceland

• Health, Spa & Wellness
• Hiking & Trekking

Wellness Iceland

Great ceo and great trip! Would definitley reccomend!

7 Day - Iceland Ring Road & Snæfellsnes Peninsula Small-Group Tour

We had the best time on our ring road tour (6 days) and then the additional 1 day Snaefellsnes Peninsula tour! Our driver & guide for the 6 day tour, Arndís, was incredible. She was extremely knowledgeable & also a very capable driver too (even on some very snowy/icy roads). We had a wonderful small group and loved exploring Iceland on this tour! 😊

6 Day - Iceland Ring Road Small-Group Tour

It was great. I was in a small group of nice travellers. Guide was very nice and he even helped us to see northern lights! (Which is not included in the tour). We were on time everytime and i was in amazing places. I recomend it!

Iceland Circle - 8 Days

What a fantastic experience! You can definitely get the feel of this breathtaking country in 8 days. The guide was very knowledgeable and funny and happy to answer all our questions. The booking process was very smooth and easy. Thank you Terri for recommending this tour to us, it was definitely a highlight of our honeymoon :)

10 day Guided tour | Iceland Complete

Great tour. Highly recommend it.

Natural Wonders of Iceland (Classic, 9 Days)

We really enjoyed 10 days and met very nice people in the tour group. This was our first rip to Iceland. We would like to come back again to visit missed places. Very good experiences to learn history, culture, and see people, unique landscape, powerful waterfalls, hot springs, even horses and sheep. Iceland is simply great nature.

Classic Iceland Adventure

Iceland Adventure

What people love about fully guided tours in iceland.

I can't say enough good things about our Best of Iceland Tour. Gisli Anton Bjarnason was the best tour guide we've ever experienced! We thoroughly enjoyed our week!

Overall the guides and drivers were excellent - in their knowledge, driving safety, preparing the group for activities that were next on the list. The only down time during the day was some of the distances between stops. But not an issue as we were well aware of that before hand. A good value for the cost!!

It was very informative. The sites spectacular.

Regions in Iceland

• South Iceland (107)
• Iceland South Coast (81)
• West Iceland (33)
• Reykjanes (14)
• North Iceland (10)
• East Iceland (7)
• Iceland Westfjords (5)
• Thingvellir National Park (5)

Travel Styles

• Fully Guided
• Iceland Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• Best 7 Day Iceland Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)
• Best 10 Day Iceland Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)
• What is the best time to visit Iceland in 2024/2025?
• Weather in Iceland in 2024/2025

International Versions

• Deutsch: Geführte Rundreisen in Island
• Français: Islande : Circuits entièrement guidés 2024/2025
• Español: Totalmente guidado Circuitos en Islandia
• Nederlands: Volledig begeleid Rondreizen in Ijsland

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NORTHERN LIGHTS TOUR TONIGHT

Why you should travel with us, pick up & drop off in reykjavík, guaranteed departures, wifi in the bus, unique experience, popular private tours.

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Iceland Tours & Holidays

Greenland’s the icy one; Iceland’s the green one. But remember this: they don’t call part of it the Golden Circle for nothing.

Calling all nature lovers, adventure seekers and fearless travellers. Iceland may be cold, but that’s the point—you’ll get to see all the glaciers, geysers and geothermal wonders you can handle. Discover a land of natural colour: hues of azure at the  Blue Lagoon  and the icy Jokulsarlon, shades of green on the rolling hills framing Skogafoss, and the striking black sand beaches hugging the coast. Not to mention the magical  aurora borealis  dancing across the sky! From uncovering Viking tales and bathing in steamy springs to cruising past icebergs and exploring quirky farm towns,  Iceland  is island life like no other.

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Articles of Iceland

Why 2024 is the best year to see the northern lights

How the Icelandic hot dog became an international icon 

Iceland’s Folklore: 4 mythical creatures that make the scenery come alive

Top 12 things to do in Iceland

6 of the best hikes in Iceland

10 ways to get closer to nature with Intrepid  

In sickness and in health: How I ended up getting married on an Intrepid Iceland trip 

Iceland or Greenland? Which country should be next on your travel list? 

We also travel to

Iceland at a glance, capital city.

Reykjavik (population approximately 123,000)

Approximately 372,520

(GMT) Monrovia, Reykjavik

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type C (European 2-pin) Type F (German 2-pin, side clip earth)

Learn more about Iceland

Culture and customs.

Similar to many other parts of Europe , Iceland has rules in place to help preserve its culture and geographic isolation is also a factor in developing and preserving the country’s cultural qualities. Independence, self-sufficiency and a strong work ethic – traits that allowed this northern island to flourish in challenging conditions – continue to be highly valued today.

Icelandic culture and customs are full of myths and legends, many with a connection to Christian and pagan values. Folk tales of elves, gnomes, fairies and trolls still circulate, and whether or not the locals continue telling these to unlock the secrets of the past, or simply in jest, they’re definitely worth listening to. But when news outlets report on road plans being changed to avoid disrupting an elfin church, it’s easy to believe that this unusual country and its magical landscapes are a product of what lies ‘hidden’ in its mysterious depths.

Today, Iceland is a highly modern and progressive society. It is consistently rated as having the smallest gender pay gap and strong LGBTQIA+ rights representation in the parliament and media. It’s also one of the greenest countries in the world, with almost all energy coming from renewable resources such as hydropower and geothermal.

Read more about Iceland's History and Folklore

History and government

Pre-modern history.

This island nation was settled by Vikings in the ninth century, with much of the early literature recognising Norse sailor Ingolfur Arnason as the first settler of Iceland, founding Reykjavik in AD874 along with his wife and brother. Icelanders remain proud to this day of their Viking heritage. The Icelandic language, for example, is so similar to the Old Norse spoken during Viking times that Icelanders can still read and understand the original Icelandic sagas.

A book of settlements titled Landnamabok, compiled in the 12th century, documents the names and other details of nearly 400 original settlers of Iceland who arrived in the ninth and tenth centuries. The document tells of a Norse Viking called Floki who sailed to Iceland for fishing and farming, however, due to his livestock not surviving in the conditions, had to return to his home in Norway. After heading up a mountain and looking over a fjord full of sea ice, he named this land Iceland.

In AD930, an Icelandic General Assembly was established and was deemed a Christian settlement less than a century later. Settlers and slaves brought to Iceland by Scandinavians were of Irish and Norse descent, and although some still debate which communities influenced the identity we now know to be Icelandic, the first distinctive text documenting ‘Icelandic-ness’ is said to be a rule book of sorts – the First Grammatical Treatise.

20th century and today

After long periods under Norwegian and Danish rule, Iceland was recognized as a sovereign state in 1918. On 17 June 1944, Iceland became an independent republic. It has a multi-party parliamentary system and a written constitution. The parliament is still called Althingi after its medieval General Assembly.

Many of Iceland’s major industries stem from its location and surrounding natural resources. Tourism aside, fishing and seafood products make up much of the country’s exports and employ a majority of the workforce along with agriculture and farming. Recent investment in greenhouses and geothermal energy has seen Iceland become increasingly self-sufficient, growing products that usually do not fare well in icy climates, such as potatoes, tomatoes and potted plants. Other food is imported along with many consumer goods.

Eating and drinking

Flanked by the ocean and inhabited by almost twice the amount of sheep as humans, Iceland understandably boasts a cuisine dominated by seafood and local lamb.

The country’s diet relies on plenty of potatoes and lamb, but seafood trumps all – sourced fresh year-round from the waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic and prepared in a variety of ways. Be sure to try Hardfiskur – a salty fish jerky, best enjoyed buttered.

Sheep and cows are free-range and fed chemical-free diets, making lamb and dairy products exceptionally good here. One of the best ways to enjoy the produce on offer is to warm yourself up from the inside out with a hearty meat soup: a mixture of lamb, root vegetables, herbs and rice.

Skyr, a popular yogurt that is technically a cheese, is also a must-try in all its variety of flavours. Eat it like the locals do at any time of the day – for breakfast, as a snack, as a dipping sauce, in drink form (called drykkur) or as a dessert topping.

Surprisingly, hot dogs are Iceland’s most iconic fast food. Widely available, a hot dog is probably the cheapest meal you’ll have in Iceland. Order one with all the toppings – sweet mustard, ketchup, raw onions, deep-fried onions and aioli.

Rye bread (also known as rugbraud) and butter is a common side to most meals in Iceland, but the preferred way of cooking the loaves are quite unique. Traditionally, the bread is buried near a natural hot spring, sprinkled with sugar and left to gently steam for up to 24 hours. The end result is dense, cake-like bread that has a slightly sweet taste. Enjoy it with a traditional Icelandic soup, smoked lamb or, of course, fish.

Name a food and chances are Icelanders have tried to add licorice to it. Black licorice is beloved by locals and found in a wide range of desserts and candy bars. During your time here, head to Valdis in Reykjavik to test out a cone filled with salted black licorice ice cream. Even if the weather’s cold, the ice cream joints will be open!

The weird and wacky

Icelanders have a reputation for serving up some of the most unusual food in the world – boiled sheep’s head, fermented shark known as harkarl, ram testicles and smoked puffin to name a few. Although the country’s isolation and harsh winters once meant these foods were eaten out of necessity, today most of these ‘delicacies’ are only prepared to shock tourists. Try if you dare, but we suggest sticking to the common foods that locals eat.

Alcohol can be expensive in Iceland and is best bought at the duty-free shop. Although forms of prohibition existed until 1989, alcohol is now widely available all over the country in state-run liquor stores. If you’re feeling brave, try the local brew, Brennivin – a potent, traditional caraway-flavoured schnapps nicknamed ‘black death’.

Read more about what to eat in Iceland

Read more about what to drink in Iceland

Iceland travel highlights

1. explore reykjavik.

Iceland's capital city is totally beguiling, surrounded by volcanic peaks and boasting a vibrant art and nightlife scene. Browse the city’s galleries, explore the colourful street art, dine on fresh lox (traditionally cured salmon),   or cycle to the striking cathedral of Hallgrimskirkja – trying to say that after a tipple or two of Brennivin (Iceland's signature spirit) might be tricky!

Get stuck into Icelandic culture on our 6 day Northern Lights Escape .

2. Discover the Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is the holy trinity of southern Iceland. This 186-mile (300 km) route is brimming with natural wonders that showcase why so many travellers fall under Iceland's spell. Marvel at the layered cascades of Gullfoss Waterfall, explore the dramatic rift valley in Thingvellir National Park and witness the unpredictable eruptions in Geysir Geothermal Area.

Marvel at breathtaking natural landscapes on our 5 day Iceland Express tour.

3. Cruise along Jokulsarlon

It's impossible not to be amazed by the sheer size and beauty of Jokulsarlon, Iceland’s famous glacial lagoon. Enjoy a boat tour along the icy waters where you'll cruise past towering glaciers and witness icebergs of all shapes, sizes and shades of blue drifting into the Atlantic Ocean.

Cool down on our 8 day Iceland Discovery tour.

4. Experience life in Akureyri

Soak up the charm of this northern port city – the second-largest city in Iceland. Better described as a big town with lots of character, you'll be won over by its quaint turf homes, rich history and folklore, and the imposing Mount Súlur that looms over the town. Akureyri is also an ideal Northern Lights viewing location between September and April.

Explore the streets of Akureyri on our 9 day Premium Iceland tour.

5. Be wowed by Westfjords

Venture off course to the unspoiled, untamed reaches of the Westfjords – without the big crowds. This is a land where mountains meet the sea most dramatically, where waterfalls tumble down into the inky fjords and puffins live along the towering cliffs. If you’re lucky and conditions allow, we might cruise along Látrabjarg (Europe’s largest bird cliff) to see puffins, razorbills, guillemots and more.

Adventure through the Westfjords on our 14 day East Greenland and Iceland Northern Lights tour.

6. Bathe in the Blue Lagoon

There's no need to worry about being cold all the time in Iceland when you can slip into the famous Blue Lagoon just out of Reykjavik. Surrounded by black volcanic rock, a soak in the mineral-rich, milk-blue waters of this geothermal spa is the perfect way to relax and unwind after a big day of walking. 

Geography and environment

Iceland possesses some of the world’s most incredible natural wonders and unique landscapes. From active volcanoes to vast ice fields, bubbling hot springs and enormous glaciers, these dramatic contrasts have earned Iceland the nickname of the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’.

Many of these geological features are products of geographical location – on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates intersect and their movements away from each other create volcanic activity. The country is covered by moss-carpeted lava fields, soaring fjords, incredible waterfalls and dramatic geysers, all of which add to Iceland’s otherworldly look.

The country is also the perfect spot to see the Northern Lights. From September to March, you’ll have the best chance to view this spectacular natural light show when the skies are clear and auroral activity is high. But don’t let that stop you from visiting in other seasons – Iceland’s natural wonders are truly year-round attractions.

Top 4 natural phenomena of Iceland

1. Northern Lights

The Northern Hemisphere's Aurora Borealis has captivated and intrigued travellers for years. Any winter tour of Iceland absolutely must include a chance to see the Northern Lights. This natural light display that runs along magnetic fields often brings hypnotic green, yellow and red shades to the night sky in Iceland from September to March. As one of nature's most magnificent triumphs, this is one unforgettable spectacle.

2. Gullfoss

Otherwise known as Golden Falls, this spectacular three-tiered waterfall drops suddenly into a deep cavern. The falls are surrounded by lush, green countryside, and the rainbows created by the mist and spray provide brilliant photo opportunities.

3. Lake Myvatn

This part of northern Iceland was born from volcanic eruptions millions of years ago and continues to be shaped by volcanic activity to this day. The combination of strange lava formations, thermal caves and a sprawling lake dotted with craters and rising rocks makes for an eerie yet beautiful landscape.

4. Jokulsarlon

Literally translating to ‘glacial river lagoon’, this monumental glacier lake is the largest in Iceland. Featuring a parade of large and small blue icebergs floating on and under the pure, icy water, this lagoon is so beautiful that it has been used as a backdrop for Hollywood films, a set for reality television shows and in a starring role on a postage stamp!

Iceland is notorious for being an expensive destination. Travelling on a budget here is difficult but can be done. Head to Bonus – Iceland’s discount grocery store – so you can cook rather than eat out for each meal. The duty-free store at Keflavik International Airport is the best place to pick up a bottle of Icelandic alcohol such as Brennivin liquor, Reyka vodka or Viking Gold beer for a fraction of the price you’d find elsewhere. It’s also a good idea to travel as a group, as operators can get better rates than a single traveller at hotels and restaurants, plus they know all the local hotspots.

If you’d like to take home Icelandic local specialties, Reykjavik is the best place to shop. Some of the country’s coolest retailers can be found on Laugavegur, one of the oldest shopping streets. Here you can browse clothing from quirky local designers alongside traditional lambswool sweaters, as well as tourist shops selling plastic Viking hats and puffin magnets. For smaller boutiques selling local art, head to Skolavordustigur.

Festival and events

Despite the long and dark winters, Icelanders are among the happiest people in the world. Why? One reason is that they understand the importance of getting together and having a good time, even if it’s pitch black outside. There are many celebrations to join in on throughout the year, but here are a few to look out for:

Winter Lights Festival

Every year, buildings around Reykjavik light up at night to celebrate both the winter world and the growing light after a long period of darkness. The Winter Lights Festival uses many public buildings and all major museums and thermal pools to illuminate the city with lighting designs and art installations as a way to get people thawed out after a long winter.

This annual mid-winter feast in January or February is one of Iceland’s oldest festivals, dating back to Viking days. Fearless eaters can find restaurants in Reykjavik offering special Thorrablot dinners of boiled sheep’s head, rotten shark’s meat and cured ram testicles. If you can, try to snag an invitation to a local’s house, where celebrations tend to be more festive and involve lots of singing, dancing and drinking.

Viking Festival

Modern-day Vikings in traditional garb flock to Hafnarfjorour each June for a festival Leif Erikson would approve of. Swordfights, archery, axe throwing, a traditional market, concerts and a proper Viking feast are all part of the festivities.

National Day

1944 marks the year that Iceland became a republic after an overwhelming majority of the citizens voted for independence. The deciding referendum took place between May 20 and 23 that year; however, Iceland’s National day is celebrated on June 17th – the birthday of the man who originally led the movement in the late 19th century, Jon Sigurdsson. There are parades all around the country, usually with brass bands and marching horses. Music food, fireworks and street parties – you get it, they’re a patriotic bunch.

Dalvik Fiskidagurinn Mikli (The Great Fish Day)

Each August, the northern fishing village of Dalvik invites you to a free, all-you-can-eat fish and seafood buffet – held for no reason other than to get people together over a delicious meal. You might come for the free food, but you’ll stay for the company.

Read more about festivals in Iceland

Further reading

For inspiring stories to prepare you for your Iceland adventure, check out these resources:

• Independent People  – Halldor Laxness
• Jar City  – Arnaldur Indridason
• The Little Book of Tourists in Iceland  – Alda Sigmundsdottir
• Waking Up in Iceland  – Paul Sullivan
• The Tricking of Freya  – Christina Sunley
• Viking Age Iceland  – Jesse L Bycock
• The Far Traveler: Voyages of a Viking Woman  – Nancy Marie Brown
• Burial Rites  – Hannah Kent
• The Book of Settlements: Landnamabok  – Herman Palsson (trans.)

Discover more about visiting Iceland from our travel experts in our Complete Guide to Iceland.

Similar destinations

We have a variety of similar destinations, trips and routes that you could consider! Tie another trip into your holiday, or, see how we can help you get from A to B. We have tours departing from a variety of locations around Iceland. The options below may be of interest:

Tours to Reykjavik 

Northern Lights Tours

Iceland or Greenland

Iceland travel FAQs

Do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

When is the best time to visit Iceland?

Deciding what you want to see in Iceland will give you a better idea of when is the best time to travel. Wanting to get active around the countryside and see waterfalls and wildlife? The warmer spring and summer months are probably ideal. Prefer to soak in the geothermal lagoons and get a chance to see the Northern Lights? Well, likely the cooler months – with their longer nights – are best for you.

Spring and summer are considered optimal times to visit Iceland if green landscapes and balmy days are your thing. The early spring months bring warmer days, while summer offers long daylight hours with only short nights. In the summer season, July and August are the warmest months and the busiest time for tourists.

In September, tourism tends to slow down as the weather becomes unpredictable and the countryside is usually less accessible. However, there are plenty of attractions for the off-peak traveller, including the beauty of fall colours and, of course, the awe-inspiring Northern Lights.

As you might expect, winters in Iceland can be challenging. During late December there are about four-and-a-half hours of daylight and it's often cloudy. In January, there are on average three sunny days in Reykjavík, with temperatures hovering around freezing point, often with chilling winds.

Do I need a visa to travel to Iceland?

Iceland is a member of the Schengen Convention, which means that if you travel to an EU member country or countries, like Iceland, for a total of less than 90 days, a visa is not required. Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US, the UK and other member countries of the EU and Schengen area are included under this arrangement. Other countries do require a visa to visit Iceland, including citizens of South Africa.

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. Please visit the relevant consular website of the country or countries you’re visiting for detailed and up-to-date visa information specific to your country of origin. Check the Essential Trip Information section of your tour itinerary for more information.

Is tipping customary in Iceland?

Tipping isn't expected in Iceland. Hotels, restaurants and cafes already include a service fee and consumption taxes (VAT) in the bill, so tipping extra isn't necessary. However, feel free to leave a small amount if your experience has been particularly good, especially for assistance provided by drivers, tour leaders or service workers.

What is the internet access like in Iceland?

Travellers will be able to access the internet in cybercafes and at wi-fi hotspots in Iceland's cities and large towns. Rural and remote areas may have less internet access, so be prepared when travelling away from the city.

Most accommodation and eateries in Iceland offer wi-fi access, which is usually free to use with a code. If you wish to stay connected for the majority of your trip, it may be wise to purchase a prepaid SIM card with a data package.

Many Icelandic libraries and tourist information offices have shared computers for public internet access if you are without a device to connect to wi-fi. Sometimes a small fee is charged for this service.

Can I use my mobile phone while in Iceland?

Travellers can use their mobile phones in Iceland's main cities and towns, though remote and isolated areas may have inferior cell reception.

If you wish to stay connected for the majority of your trip, it may be wise to purchase a prepaid SIM card for the duration of your journey. This will likely be the cheapest way to use your phone in Iceland.

For EU citizens, depending on who you have your mobile phone plan with, you may be able to use your current SIM in Iceland – your service provider will be able to provide more details.

Global roaming can also be activated, but check with your service provider to find out about any fees you may incur, as sometimes this can be expensive.

What are the toilets like in Iceland?

Modern, flushable toilets are the standard in Iceland.

In terms of public toilets, Reykjavik and other major towns and cities have some, but along highways and at many tourist destinations – especially campgrounds and natural attractions – there is a lack of facilities. Expect to pay a small fee when visiting public toilets and, in busy months, expect queues in main tourist areas.

There have been recent occurrences of tourists resorting to other means in remote places and near tourist sites. We recommend being prepared and talking to your group leader if you have any concerns.

What will it cost for a…?

Iceland's unit of currency is the krona. Here's what you can expect to pay for a:

• Hotdog = ISK 400-600
• Glass of beer = ISK 1,100-1,500
• Simple lunch at a cafe = ISK 2,100-3.700
• Dinner in a restaurant = ISK 2.600-4.200

Can I drink the water in Iceland?

Tap water is considered safe to drink in Iceland unless marked otherwise. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water instead.

Are credit cards widely accepted in Iceland?

Credit cards are widely accepted in Iceland and are used frequently by locals to pay for just about anything. Paying with a credit card at shops, guesthouses, supermarkets, restaurants, cafes and on taxi rides shouldn't present a problem. Iceland is almost a cashless society, so cards are the best option; however, a lot of payments will require your four-digit PIN, so be sure to know this before you leave home.

What is ATM access like in Iceland?

ATMs are usually easy to find in Iceland's cities and villages and generally accept most foreign cards.

What public holidays are celebrated in Iceland?

• 1 Jan: New Year's Day
• Mar/Apr: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday*
• 1 May: Labour Day
• May/Jun: Ascension Day*
• May/Jun: Whit Sunday and Whit Monday*
• 17 Jun: National Day
• First Monday in August Commerce Day*
• 24 Dec: Christmas Eve
• 25 Dec: Christmas Day
• 26 Dec: Boxing Day
• 31 Dec: New Year's Eve

*Please note, Iceland public holidays may vary.

What is the weather like in Iceland?

Iceland’s temperatures are cool and do vary throughout the year. In winter months, minimum temperatures plummet to below freezing. In Reykjavik, summer temperatures average at around 11°C, while winter maximums are approximately 0°C. Rainfall is quite consistent throughout the year; between 25–50 mm per month, with most days experiencing some rainfall.

Is it safe to travel to Iceland?

Iceland is a very safe country to travel to and is one of the safest countries in the world.

Is Iceland safe for LGBTQIA+ travellers?

The people of Iceland have an open and accepting attitude to LGBTQIA+ communities, and Iceland is considered one of the world’s most LGBTQIA+ friendly countries. Since 2006, same-sex couples have had equal access to adoption and IVF, and in 2010 the Icelandic Parliament made a unanimous decision to define marriage as between two individuals. As might be expected in a small country, however, the gay scene is quite low-key, even in Reykjavik.

In 2012, more legislation was passed to formalize the name and identity-changing process for the needs of trans and genderqueer individuals. There is still a way to go to achieve full equality, but Iceland is, in many regards, leading the way globally.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or ILGA before you travel and reading more about the LGBTQIA+ culture in Iceland .

If you are travelling solo on an Intrepid group tour, you will share accommodation with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at the time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly. A single supplement is available on some tours for travellers who do not wish to share a room.

Is Iceland accessible for travellers with disabilities?

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Because of its remote location and size, Iceland can prove difficult when it comes to accessibility for individuals with mobility issues. Some of the main sights, such as the Blue Lagoon, are wheelchair accessible, but many of the natural attractions have unpaved paths and unsteady terrain. Iceland has a dedicated information centre, Thekkingarmidstod Sjalfsbjorg , that provides up-to-date information on accessibility and accessible facilities in Iceland, as well as other related information.

If you do live with a visual, hearing or other impairment, let your booking agent or group leader know early on so they’re aware and suitable arrangements can be made. As a general rule, knowing some common words in the local language, carrying a written itinerary with you and taking to the streets in a group, rather than solo, can help make your travel experience the best it can be.

What to wear in Iceland

In summer, Iceland experiences cool but mild weather throughout the country, with maximum temperatures averaging around 13°C. It’s still important, however, to pack some warm clothing at this time, as temperatures at night can drop quite dramatically. In winter, some days barely reach over 0°C, so preparing for this is crucial. It can be wet and windy, and roads may be iced over, so thermal gear, a waterproof jacket and pants and sturdy walking boots are all highly recommended.

How do I stay safe and healthy while travelling?

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before travelling?

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

How will I be travelling around Iceland?

Intrepid believes half the fun of experiencing a new country is getting there, and getting around once there! Where possible, Intrepid uses local transport options and traditional modes of transport – which usually have less of an environmental impact, support small local operators and are heaps more fun.

Depending on what trip you're on in Iceland, you may find yourself travelling by:

All-terrain Unimog

To see all of Iceland, you’ll need some heavy-duty transport. This super-sized van will take you on glacier visits to admire these almighty ice caps up close.

Amphibian boat

Part truck, part boat, all adventure ­– cruise the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon in a small group aboard one of these vessels, on land and lake.

What is it like travelling on a small group tour?

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or you’re about to embark on your first trip, travelling can be as intimidating as it is exciting. That's the beauty of a small group tour. From handling the logistics and organising amazing cultural activities to local leaders who know each destination like the back of their hand (like which street has the best markets and where to get the most authentic food), travelling on a small group tour with Intrepid will give you unforgettable travel experiences without the hassle that comes with exploring a new place. Plus, you'll have ready-made friends to share the journey with. All you have to do is turn up with a healthy sense of adventure and we’ll take care of the rest.

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilise school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

Best Summer Tours & Packages in Iceland

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Summer Tours & Packages

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10-Day Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland with Top Attractions & Snaefellsnes

Amazing 5-Day Summer Vacation Package in Iceland with Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon & Golden Circle

Unforgettable 7-Day Self-Drive Tour of West & South Iceland with the Golden Circle

Unforgettable 6-Day Summer Vacation Package with Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Small Group 8-Day Guided Summer Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland & Snaefellsnes

10-Day Guided Tour Package of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland with Reykjavik

Best 1-week Summer Self-Drive Tour of the Ring Road of Iceland & Golden Circle

Customizable 7 Day Summer Holiday Vacation Package of Icelandic Wonders

Epic 14 Day Self Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland & the Westfjords

7-Day Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland

Scenic 4-Day Summer Vacation Package in Iceland with the Golden Circle

One Week Summer Self-Drive Tour of Iceland’s West & South Coasts with Waterfalls & Glaciers

6-Day Self-Drive Holiday in Iceland with the Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon & Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Iceland Full Circle 10-Day Self Drive Tour

Amazing 2-Week Summer Self-Drive Tour with Hot Springs & the Golden Circle

Epic 7-Day Summer Vacation Package with the Inside the Volcano Tour & Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Extraordinary 12-Day Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland with National Parks

Stunning 9-Day Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland & Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Scenic 4-Day Summer Self-Drive Tour with Iceland's Golden Circle & Vik

8-Day Summer Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road with the South Coast In-Depth

Action-Packed 8-Day Summer Vacation Package in Iceland with a Guided Tour of the Complete Ring Road

9-Day Summer Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland with a Focus on the South Coast

8-Day Summer Vacation Package Tour of the Best Attractions in Iceland

Express 6-Day Summer Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland

Explore an unequalled wealth of tours and packages

Vacation Packages in Iceland

Self drive tours in iceland, tour calendar, nature tours in iceland, adventure tours in iceland, cheap bus tours in iceland, top tour destinations in iceland, verified customer reviews.

Read first-hand reviews by customers from across the world

Susan Mehringer

Great tour! The guide was very entertaining and knowledgeable. He kept us safe on a really treacherous driving day

Laura Widdice

Our trip was amazing. The lodgings were diverse in style, well-located, and a pleasure to stay in. The itinerary was well-paced with great suggestions for activities. We had a fantastic time and have encouraged many friends to book this trip. The Guide to Iceland staff were always helpful.

Kezia Bukarz

Unsere Reise ist perfekt gelaufen! Alles wurde wie besprochen gebucht, jede Tour, jedes Hotel und die Autovermietung wussten direkt Bescheid und die Auswahl der Hotels war super! Wir hatten die mittlere Hotelkategorie und waren sehr zufrieden. Der Service von Guidetoiceland ist stets erreichbar gewesen und wir konnten die Zahlung des Gesamtpreises sogar in 2 Schritte aufteilen. Wir würden jederzeit wieder buchen, Danke für die einmaligen Erlebnisse!

Geovanna Chavez

The trip was amazing! Guide to Iceland took care of everything, including the accommodations and the car rental. They were very responsive and helped us add activities even after we booked with them. They also helped resolve an issue with the car rental the day before we landed to ensure the car we got was automatic. My favorite thing was that they had daily recommendations for things to see and places to go depending on where we were. Highly recommend booking with them!

Summer travel in Iceland

Iceland is a country of beautiful extremes, and the summer is no exception. Although temperatures remain mild rather than hot, the all-night sun casts a bewitching glow over the mossy landscapes and rugged coastlines, and wildlife fills the green lowlands.

Stunning locations that are inaccessible during winter become exciting destinations to visit as part of our all-accommodating summer packages.

There is a unique quality to the summer sunlight which has earned Iceland its reputation as a photographer’s dream. With the ‘golden hour’ extending over several hours and sunsets that can stretch on through the evening, it’s important sometimes to remember to put down your camera, take a breath, and simply enjoy the fantastic scenery and natural wonders around you.

Although your tour is in the middle of summer, you can still experience Iceland’s icy wonders by going on a glacial hike or taking a snowmobile ride across the ice caps.

If you are not feeling quite so adventurous, many packages are more conducive to comfortable sightseeing with guided tours and drivers who make sure that you’re never far from a warm and relaxing environment. Whatever your preference, there will be a summer package suitable for you.

Bear in mind that Iceland is not the limit. We also offer packages that include visits to our neighbor Greenland for an authentic summertime Arctic experience. Both Iceland and Greenland are home to a fantastic wealth of wildlife.

Notably, the summer months herald the arrival of puffins, flocking to Icelandic shores to nest alongside gannets, guillemots, and an abundance of arctic terns.

Although our winter is dark and icy, when summer comes to Iceland, it is something to behold. You can genuinely feel the warmth of the midnight sun in the plants, animals, and the attitude of the people. Come feel summer inside and out and book a summer package today.

Frequently asked questions

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Belching Volcano and Flowing Lava Dent Tourism in Icelandic Region

In a country that relies heavily on visitors, hotels faced repeated evacuations, and one resort was temporarily shut.

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By Emma Bubola

Reporting from London

The Blue Lagoon resort in the south of Iceland is a scenic network of steaming azure pools surrounded by dark rocks, where tourists dip in the geothermal water, have spa treatments and enjoy what the resort advertises as “a universe of radiant well-being.”

But last week, a stream of radiant lava burst from a crater a few miles from the resort, forcing it to evacuate hundreds of guests, in yet another eruption of a volcano system in the Reykjanes Peninsula that had been dormant for 800 years.

The outbursts began in 2021, and the eruptions and earthquakes in the peninsula have destroyed some houses and forced villagers from their homes. One construction worker went missing in the town of Grindavik after falling down a crack caused by an earthquake.

The effects of the volcanic eruptions have rippled out beyond the peninsula, disrupting the tourism operations of a country that relies heavily on visitors.

Arnar Már Ólafsson, director general of the Icelandic Tourist Board, said that when a looming volcanic eruption led to the evacuation of Grindavik in November, it resulted in global anxiety that brought a drop in tourists.

“A spouting volcano doesn’t sound very inviting,” he said.

Icelandair, the country’s national airline, said it also saw a “significant negative impact on bookings” in the last months of 2023. And the low-cost Icelandic airline Play said that news of the eruption “cooled demand for Iceland as a destination.”

The tourism board did not release an estimate for the financial losses, and the airlines, while saying they experienced significantly slowed sales, did not quantify them.

Airline officials and the tourism board director stated emphatically in interviews and in the national news media that the reaction was unwarranted because the eruptions did not represent a direct threat to visitors or flights. They accused the news media of “alarmism.”

“In the international press, it just looks as if Iceland is ruined,” Birgir Jónsson, then Play’s chief executive, said in an interview published in December by a financial magazine.

Tourists used to flock to the Reykjanes Peninsula to watch the northern lights or bathe in the waters of the Blue Lagoon resort. But since the November earthquakes, the Blue Lagoon has had to close for some days . It said in a statement on Wednesday that it had also shut down from March 16 until at least Thursday and would continue to follow the authorities’ safety guidelines.

The Northern Light Inn, a family-run hotel, has also had to evacuate its guests four times since January and close for weeks, said Fridrik Einarsson, the inn’s owner. Now, they are compensating for the drop in tourists by serving lunches to the construction workers building protection walls in the area.

“If this continues for a long period of time, it will eventually be very, very challenging for us ,” Mr. Einarsson said.

Mr. Ólafsson said that any threat to the Blue Lagoon geothermal resort undermined a key component of Iceland’s tourism sector.

“Without the Blue Lagoon, it would be a different destination,” he said, “like Egypt without the pyramids or Paris without the Eiffel Tower.”

The resort is particularly popular with visitors from the United States, and every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit the spa, according to the Blue Lagoon’s website. The spa is now protected by barriers.

The resort owes its existence to the geothermal energy generated by the volcanic system, which heats up its waters. But that same system is also now its main threat.

That paradox, many say, is at the heart of Iceland’s identity as an adventure travel destination where tourists seek out untamed nature in the form of waterfalls, glaciers and hot springs. And 130 volcanoes.

During the volcanic eruptions last year, as tourists flocked to sites where they could see the glowing river of lava, the government had to warn people to steer clear of the area since the situation could turn dangerous.

Now, Icelandic tourism operators say, the anxiety has eased somewhat, and tourism demand has gone up again since January. But for those remaining in the peninsula, there seems to be no immediate end in sight to the disruption of their businesses.

Last week, as Mr. Einarsson, the inn owner, evacuated his guests to another hotel because of the volcanic eruption, he said they could see lava from the parking lot.

“It’s quite a magnificent experience, to see a volcano,” he said.

Mr. Einarsson called his relationship to volcanoes a “tricky love and hate situation.”

On one hand, he said, “people are understandably concerned to stay in a hotel next to an eruption site.” On the other, he said, people come to Iceland for its nature, and the nature would not be the same without the country’s volcanoes.

“And I would not be in the business,” he said.

Egill Bjarnason contributed reporting from Gran Canaria, Spain.

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in London, covering news across Europe and around the world. More about Emma Bubola