Iceland (NOT the supermarket ;)

[Gill635]

Hi All

I’m currently doing some forward planning (actually, is there any other kind of travel planning now), and I’m looking at Iceland, as it’s been a bucket list for myself and my parents for a long while.

Anyhow, I’m literally just starting the planning, but I could do with some information / help if anyone has any?

We would like to whale watch, see the Northern Lights, visit the Beluga sanctuary, and whatever else there is worth seeing really.

Is it now becoming the type of place where you need a weeks holiday rather than a few days? Are there any must do’s or must see’s? How are transport links there? I don’t even know where to begin really.

Any and all advice is more than helpful!

Thanks in Advance

Gill x

[aqualiv]

We loved Iceland! Such a unique place
We went in may and it didn’t get fully dark enough to see the northern lights
So you will need to go before then if you want to see them
It’s so cold - we thought we took good clothes but you couldn’t stand outside for too long, it just went through anything we were wearing!
Blue lagoon is stunning and def worth going on the way to or from the airport as it’s so close
Whale watching - we saw a few minkes at a distance, tbh wouldn’t do that again
Very expensive to eat out
We hired an SUV which was great for seeing more of the island
We drove the golden circle route
But not sure it’s passable if you go in winter

[Gill635]

Originally Posted by aqualiv

We loved Iceland! Such a unique place
We went in may and it didn’t get fully dark enough to see the northern lights
So you will need to go before then if you want to see them
It’s so cold - we thought we took good clothes but you couldn’t stand outside for too long it’s just went through anything we were wearing!
Blue lagoon is stunning and def worth going on the way to or from the airport as it’s so close
Whale watching - we saw a few minkes at a distance, tbh wouldn’t do that again
Very expensive to eat out
We hired an SUV which was great for seeing more of the island
We drove the golden circle route
But not sure it’s passable if you go in winter

See more...

Thank you so much for the reply!

Yeah, the time of year to go is one of the big issues we have at the minute. If we want to go to the Beluga sanctuary, then it’s basically Summer months only. Same for the driving from what I can grasp on the Tripadvisor forums. Problem is, Northern Lights are best in Winter. My Dad is desperate to see them, and has been since his Dad told him about them as a child.

I don’t think we’re going to be able to do everything the 3 of us want to do in 1 trip, but I don’t think I would go more than once

[aqualiv]

Originally Posted by Gill635

Thank you so much for the reply!

Yeah, the time of year to go is one of the big issues we have at the minute. If we want to go to the Beluga sanctuary, then it’s basically Summer months only. Same for the driving from what I can grasp on the Tripadvisor forums. Problem is, Northern Lights are best in Winter. My Dad is desperate to see them, and has been since his Dad told him about them as a child.

I don’t think we’re going to be able to do everything the 3 of us want to do in 1 trip, but I don’t think I would go more than once

See more...

I think summer would be best for everything else
Winter necessary for northern lights but you’re still not guaranteed so it is a risk


Also we really enjoyed the whale museum in Reykjavík

[Geordieprincess]

We went a few years ago, also in May.
Drove the ring road over 8 days. It was fantastic.
I wrote some notes at the time, scroll further down through the thread and I add photos.

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sho... php?t=1083542

[MrsBC]

DB and SiL should have flown there today! They bought all the padded clothes etc ready for it and booked everything they wanted to do - they are planning on rearranging asap.

[Gill635]

Thanks so much guys, I’ll definitely have a read of the trippie too!

I better find a way to break it to him about going in Winter. I wouldn’t mind going then, I just wouldn’t be able to do my bits. I don’t think him and Mum would like it though

[Princess Alison]

We went for three nights in February a few years ago
And cannot wait to return. We booked a package with BA but would be very easy to do tailor made. Rejkjavik was lovely especially the big church. We went on organised tours as was winter - circle tour, northern lights, blue lagoon, hot springs
And also a trip up the mountain in superjeep

I wouldn't have Felt happy driving in winter and the tours are so easy to arrange:

Cannot recommend enough

[wdw-wanderer]

I’ve been lucky enough to go in October and also August - much preferred October (it was cold & wet in August!). The Northern Lights put in an appearance in October and they were magical. As others have said, the Blue Lagoon is a must, Golden Circle, the geysers, Reykjavik (there used to be a huge scale model of the island in the Town Hall - worth seeing if it’s still there); Jokulsarlon & the waterfalls of Skogafoss and Gullfoss. We also took a ferry across to the Westmann Islands and on Heimaey you can visit ‘the Pompeii of the north’ - a settlement covered in black volcanic ash after the 1973 eruption of Eldfell. It’s partially excavated and the houses are frozen in time as the owners left so hurriedly. Some just have chimney pots poking above the ash with a picture of what the house used to look like pinned to a post. A dusting of snow just adds to the magic!

[P&S]

We went in March a few years ago and we were lucky enough to see the northern lights (quite weak though) but still saw them

We did tours in a minibus and it was fantastic, the drivers were locals and wonderful, long tiring days but so worth it

It's a beautiful unique place and the scenery is amazing.

Very expensive to eat out but we went prepared and you can get stuff from the duty free shop when you land