September 28th – October 6th, 2023
Citizens of the USA, EU countries, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are allowed to enter Iceland without a visa. Iceland is a part of the Schengen Zone, a European zone consisting of 26 countries. As a citizen of any of the mentioned countries, you are allowed to spend 90 days out of any 180-day period in the Schengen Zone as a whole.
Since most of the group is arriving into Reykjavik at similar times on September 28th, we have been able to arrange a visit to the spectacular Blue Lagoon on this arrival day.
This activity is complimentary, and will include transportation from the airport to the Blue Lagoon, premium admission into the Blue Lagoon and transportation to our hotel in Reykjavik in time for check-in at 3:00pm. For those arriving early, as discussed, we will book you spots on a shuttle from Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon to meet the group and enjoy this excursion
→ Arrivals – September 28th (morning arrivals only)
Please follow the below instructions upon arrival at Keflavík International Airport in Reykjavik:
→ Arrivals – (all other days/times)
If you’re arriving before September 28th, we’ve arranged your FlyBus transfer to the Hilton Nordica.
Your tour leader, Sakai, will be reachable on WhatsApp at all times. You can always call him or send him a Whatsapp message at +1 510-806-5488
Please note: When arriving into Iceland, you are sometimes required to fill out a landing card or tell the immigration officer where you will be staying in Reykjavik. Here are the details:
Hilton Reykjavik Nordica (Suðurlandsbraut 2, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland)
Please note that the arrival and departure airport for this tour is the Keflavík International Airport (KEF) and your flight to/from Iceland should be for this airport only.
We will set up a WhatsApp chat 2 weeks prior to the start of the tour that will include all of the participants as well as your tour leader. This will allow everyone to get to know each other in advance, ask questions and communicate with your tour leader both before and during the tour. It will be very useful for you to have WhatsApp available to you during the tour as this will be the main method of communication.
Your tour leader for this adventure is Sakai Naismith. Backed by over 20 years of travel experience and a decade as a tour leader, Sakai has an in-depth understanding and passion for exploration. He’s not only a veteran in global travel, but he’s also led many of The Women’s Travel Tribe tours, marking him the perfect leader. Sakai will introduce himself and share more details about himself and the trip when we create the WhatsApp group chat approximately 2 weeks prior to the tour..
**Our tour leader will be there to ensure the trip runs smoothly and our local guides are there to share the wonders of their country!
The local currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona (ISK). The current exchange rate is $1 USD = 140 ISK.
Iceland is mainly a cashless society, with credit cards serving as the primary method of payment. As a result, you will be able to use your credit cards almost everywhere. However, it’s always a good idea to carry some cash with you as well. The best method to get local currency is via ATM machines which are abundant in Iceland.
However, check with your bank at home as some banks charge high foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money overseas.
If using an ATM is not an option, or the fees are too high, simply bring USD, Euros or GBP to exchange at money exchange offices that are located all over the country.
Tipping in Iceland is not a big part of the culture, but it is always appreciated. Here’s a general guideline:
➜ Restaurants – 5% – 10% if a service charge is not already added to the bill
➜ Hotel staff – 400 ISK if someone helps you with luggage or anything else
➜ Our drivers – We recommend that each person gives a $50 USD tip that we will split among the 2 drivers that we will use during the tour
➜ Tour leader – If you wish to tip your tour leader, they will always be greatly appreciative
*Tips for waitstaff at included meals are already included.
Iceland has generally strong internet throughout the country and all of our accommodations will have WiFi.
For those who wish to have a data connection on their phone throughout the tour, the easiest way will be to purchase an E-SIM before the trip, as this will allow you to stay connected from the moment you land at the airport.
We can also set up local SIM cards upon arrival for those who wish. Just make sure you have a GSM-enabled unlocked phone in order to use a foreign SIM card.
Another option is to activate your home network’s ‘international plan’ which will allow you to continue using your phone as you would at home, with access to a data connection, for a fee that usually ranges from $5 – $10 per day.
September 28th: Reykjavik / Arrival day
September 29th: Reykjavik
September 30th: Reykjavik ➜ Golden Circle ➜ Reykjavik
October 1st: Reykjavik ➜ South Coast
October 2nd: South Coast ➜ Reykjavik
October 3rd: Reykjavik ➜ Akureyri ➜ Northern Lights ➜ Akyreyri
October 4th: Akureyri ➜ Dettifoss ➜ Lake Myvatn ➜ Akureyri
October 5th: Akureyri ➜ Reykjavik
October 6th: Reykjavik / Departure day
➜ Expert tour leader
➜ Small group (maximum 12 participants)
➜ Accommodation (8 nights – 3* and 4* hotels)
➜ Transportation in Iceland (private Ford Transit and internal flights)
➜ Local guides in each destination
➜ All mentioned activities and entrance fees
➜ Breakfast every day, 5 lunches and 4 dinners
➜ Water throughout the trip
➜ Gratuities at hotels/included meals
➜ All airport transfers (Via FlyBus)
➜ Flights to/from Iceland
➜ Passport/visa fees
➜ Meals and activities not mentioned
➜ Travel insurance (mandatory)
➜ Other gratuities
Please note that in the event of any interruption to your tour experience as a result of your testing positive for Covid-19, our staff will be on hand to assist with making any arrangements that need to be made. This could include accommodation booking, transportation, scheduling additional Covid-19 tests, etc. However, it is important to understand that you would be fully responsible for all expenses incurred related to interruptions to the trip and/or medical treatment needed as a result of a positive Covid-19 test before, during or after the trip. We highly recommend having a travel/health insurance policy that covers Covid-19 related situations. By participating in the tour, you are confirming your understanding of the above.
That’s all for now! If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at team@wanderingearl.com.
