Is Iceland on Your List?

Posted on January 8, 2022 by Ruth Adams

Is Iceland on your list?  Decisions, decisions….If Iceland is on your list, when are you thinking of going? And are you going on an independent journey, or do you wish to travel with some kind of tour? I first published this post in 2017, and have updated it from year to year. Here is yet another revision.

February/ March- you may find fewer tourists perhaps, lower prices, of course cooler weather, and likely the Northern Lights.

  • June-August, the tourists are out in full force, prices are higher, but the weather is normally warmish and less inclement, and the days are long.
  • September/ October, you are back to fewer tourists, etc. etc.
  • Winter Months in general- fewer tourists, lower prices, and Northern Lights!

Independent Travel

Today I am concentrating on winter travel in this blog post for those you have Iceland on their list. If you wish to travel there in the summer, please see the posts entitled “Off to Iceland” and “Visiting Iceland“.

Icelandair has long had packages for independent travel- self drive tours, day trips from Reykjavik etc. They regularly run advertised specials at various price points…….

By working with a travel advisor, we can find the perfect trip just for you.  Are you going primarily for the Northern Lights?  Always a bit risky given that they are not guaranteed.  Do you want to go into the hinterlands, or stay in the city?  Do you want to book day tours or drive yourself?  What about an actual tour where someone else does the driving on those rough Iceland roads?

Northern Lights

 Group Travel

If travelling independently is not quite what you are looking for- consider travelling on a small group adventure trip- i.e.  with G Adventures or Intrepid Travel……or forming your own group with an itinerary made for your own interests- photography, relaxation, adventures………you would be surprised at how inexpensive this can be!  Four people sharing a vehicle is a great inexpensive option to explore.

I would be more than happy to work with you to form a group with an itinerary of your choosing……

Adventure One with G Adventures

Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle is an option for an adventure winter vacation. Most people that visit Iceland go in the summer, but there’s a whole other side to this place in the winter months. (It is called “Iceland,” after all.)

Exploring Iceland the Classic Style

Iceland’s otherworldly aura seems to heighten at the winter months, when viewing of the Northern Lights is at its peak and the contrast between the cool, crisp air and its steaming geothermic hot springs heightens. Couple that with hiking through Þingvellir National Park, meeting the famous Icelandic horse, exploring lava caves, and chasing waterfalls, and you’ve got yourself a spectacular winter adventure like no other.

See another side of this amazing country. Priced from $1649 plus flights, this is another option if you didn’t feel like exploring Iceland independently.

Adventure Two with Intrepid Travel

For a more comfortable vacation , consider this trip- Premium Iceland in Winter– an 8 day trip with the itinerary below. This trip is for those people hoping to enjoy comfort at night with wonderful accommodations, and  adventure during the day. Priced from $3885 plus flights, etc.

Exploring Iceland with Premium Style

Search the sky for dancing lights by night and discover natural wonders by day on this eight-day Premium adventure. Travel with a local leader who brings the landscape to life as you view the mighty Gullfoss waterfall, drive through hardened lava fields in Skaftafell National Park, see the eerily calm waters of the Glacier Lagoon and wander among Reynisdrangar’s imposing basalt sea stacks. Take in dramatic views from your feature stay hotel and journey from Hvolsvollur to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in pursuit of mother nature’s most spectacular show.

  • Experience the breadth of Iceland’s incredible natural phenomena – ancient volcanic rock formations, black pebble beaches, glacial lakes and geothermal lagoons.
  • Travel with an experienced local leader who will explain geographic features, share stories of Iceland’s history and folklore and narrate your nightly sky watching with the science behind aurora borealis.
  • Stay in the stylish Fosshotel which offers up priceless views of the surrounding landscape, modern comforts and an excellent restaurant that uses the freshest Icelandic produce.
  • Discover the secrets of Icelandic cuisine during a home cooked dinner on a local farm and unleash your appetite on Reykjavik’s exciting food scene.
  • This trip is designed to give you the best chance at seeing the spectacular dancing lights of the aurora borealis in the northern sky.

Adventure Three with Collette Travel

Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights is another option in the world of tours……larger groups then the two above, which often means great economy of scale.

Experience the “land of fire and ice” and chase the aurora borealis across an ethereal wonderland. In the dark of the night, search for the northern lights as you drift along on an evening starlit cruise. Travel the “Golden Circle,” home to renowned natural wonders, and spend time at Thingvellir National Park, gaze at Gullfoss waterfall, and see the explosive geothermal fields at Geysir. Explore Skógar Museum and see traditional turf-built homes. Walk on a black volcanic sand beach. See Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs. Relax in the warm, mineral-rich water of the Blue Lagoon. Spend your days surrounded by natural wonders and your nights in search of the elusive dancing lights.

Exploring Iceland in Winter with Collette

Priced from $2199 plus flights, this also provides a reasonable option for some major exploration.

All this to say, if Iceland is on your list, there are lots of ways of exploring this wonderful country. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact me…….if not this year, why not plan for next?

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I Just Am Not Sure About Travelling with a Small Group…..

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Ruth Adams

Peru RiverMany of you have expressed a certain degree of trepidation about travelling with a small group.  Sometimes it is the cost- sometimes it is the fact that you are not sure if you will get along with everyone…..always it is the uncertainty. In one of my posts I talked about excuses people give for not travelling……

First of all the cost…..and this is one that is incredibly subjective- and a matter of priorities.  If you make just above minimum wage, it is going to be pretty hard to put money towards a trip unless you save long and hard…..not impossible, just difficult.  Some people manage to do it by keeping their eye on the prize, so to speak- that is they specifically look at a trip, then set up a weekly contribution to their trip account.   Trips offered by companies for those with low budgets and the 18-35 crowd meet this criteria…..G Adventures and Intrepid both have inexpensive trips.

Of course- keeping your eye on the prize applies no matter your budget. Perhaps upgrading to a $1000 TV can be put off a year…..or buying a new car.  Eating out a few times a week every week means you won’t be eating in another country for a few weeks……again- a matter of priorities. Does stuff matter- or does experience matter to you?  Only you can answer that question!

Now what about small groups in general?

If you travel on your own, you certainly don’t have to worry about getting along with others on your trip, as you can always up and leave…..on the other hand, you don’t have anyone to share the view of the sunset over the Taj Mahal, or the chance to go on a winery tour in Italy, or ride through Burgundy country in France. You can do it on your own, but with whom else can you compare notes- raving about the blue sky and the white buildings of the Greek Islands….I can go on and on about this aspect.

As well, travelling in a large group may mean heading to places that can only handle large groups.  No heading to a small village and touring homes, playing cricket or soccer with the locals….or any of those experiences that give you a chance to interact with the local people. You will normally have to use chain hotels (usually Western based as opposed to locally owned) with the majority of their profits heading into the corporation coffers- not back into the community. Travelling with large groups means travelling on a local bus or train is out of the question…..and so you miss out of more experiences- and after all, isn’t that why you travel!?

The final question- what if I don’t get along with anyone?

And I only want to travel with people my age…..then this is not for you. You should be a person that travels with an “adventurous spirit”.  Embracing new experiences means embracing variety and all that goes with it.  That means uncertainty, and stepping outside your comfort zone.  On the other hand, you cannot beat the feeling of accomplishment that comes from experiencing something that is so beneficial and restorative in every sense of the word- it does give you perspective on your life.

One other perspective to consider- look at the pace of the trip.  If you are a person that finds it difficult to get moving in the morning, consider that some mornings this will not make you a popular person….. If you don’t want to visit a different place every few days (or even every day), consider some tours that may simply explore an area. Many of these are by foot or bicycle however, so consider what kind of shape you are in physically. And moreover, when considering the pace, remember that small group tours may do more walking to which you may not be accustomed.

Finally, I have had clients use trips as a springboard to getting into better shape! One just needs to be realistic, and consider all of the options available.  One trip may suit you better than others.  And that brings me to my final point- if you don’t see a trip that suits you, send me some specifics, and let me see what I can offer.

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