September 28th – October 6th, 2024
Your exciting trip to Iceland is just around the corner, promising to be a truly memorable experience! Please read the next document carefully, as it has important information to help you get ready for the journey ahead. Soon you’ll be wandering the streets of Reykjavik, staring in awe at waterfalls, eating unique cuisine, visiting all kinds of local businesses, and of course, (hopefully) enjoying the Northern Lights.
You will need a passport to travel to Iceland. Your passport should be valid until at least April 2025 and it should have 2 full empty pages.
If you don’t have empty pages, please contact us and we will send you instructions for getting a new passport in time for the tour.
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 27 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.
Arrival / Departure Airport
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.
Currently, Iceland doesn’t have any immunization requirements. However, as is the case when traveling to any country, it is always good to speak to a medical professional about what immunizations might be right for you and to ensure you are up-to-date with standard immunizations such as Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus.
Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through the striking beauty of Iceland. Our journey will take us from the lively city of Reykjavik, filled with colorful streets and vibrant culture, to the natural wonders of the Golden Circle and the stunning landscapes of the South Coast. You’ll have the chance to see geysers burst to life, waterfalls rush over rocky cliffs and glaciers that stretch as far as the eye can see. And, if luck is on our side, we might even catch a glimpse of the elusive Northern Lights dancing in the night sky.
Our adventure continues up north to the charming town of Akureyri and the incredible sights of Dettifoss and Lake Myvatn, where you’ll be amazed by the pure beauty of these natural regions. Throughout our journey, you’ll get a taste of local foods, meet interesting locals and experience the rich culture and history that makes Iceland so unique.
We’ll be staying in comfortable, centrally-located 3.5* and 4* hotels in Reykjavik and Akureyri. We will also spend two nights in a highly-rated hotel along the south coast of Iceland. All accommodations provide a comfortable experience with private bathrooms.
We’ll use a comfortable, private van to travel around the country. This van ensures everyone will have plenty of space as we move between destinations. We’ll also be taking internal flights to travel from Reykjavik to Akureyri and back. Flights will take less than 1 hour each way.
Iceland’s tap water is not only safe to drink, but it’s also among the best in the world. About 95% of it comes from local springs and is free of chlorine, calcium, and nitrate, so you can enjoy it straight from the tap!
Just like the water, the food in Iceland is safe and fresh. The country’s fruits and vegetables, although largely imported due to the local climate, are meticulously selected to meet high standards.
The local currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona (ISK). The current exchange rate is $1 USD = 140 ISK.
In terms of spending money, you should estimate an average of $40 – $50 USD per day for all of your needs. This would be for meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, snacks, etc) as well as any activities you choose to do on your own.
Iceland is mainly a cashless society, with credit cards serving as the primary method of payment. Regardless, it’s always a good idea to carry some cash with you in case of emergency.
As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which are everywhere in country. This is the easiest so that you don’t need to carry around large amounts of cash.
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:
*Tips for local guides and waitstaff at included meals are already included.
Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world and you really won’t find anything to be worried about. Crime is extremely low and scams aimed at tourists are basically unheard of. As always when traveling, it’s just a good idea to always be aware of your surroundings and use the same common sense you would use at home.
During this trip, you can expect cool but pleasant weather, making it an ideal time to visit this country. Also, traveling at this time of year provides the best opportunity to see the Northern Lights because of the long nights!
Here are the average temperatures of each region we will visit:
For the most part, taking comfortable clothing is important. It’s also a good idea to prepare for all kinds of conditions as Iceland’s weather can be unpredictable at times. As a result, taking clothes that you can use as layers is definitely worth doing!
➜ Laundry – It is easy but expensive to have your laundry washed while in Iceland. Most hotels offer this service and it usually costs about $40 USD per load.
We recommend packing the following items:
The most important thing is that you don’t overpack as moving around country with your luggage can be tiresome and the less stuff you have, the more thankful you’ll be once the tour begins.
If you have any questions about other items you were thinking about bringing or not bringing, just send us an email and we’ll be happy to let you know if such an item is necessary for this trip.
➜ Luggage For all of the internal flights, the maximum weight for checked luggage is capped at 23kg (50 lbs). Please note that the maximum dimensions for checked-in luggage 62″ in total. For your carry-on, make sure that it’s no heavier than 6kg (13 lbs), and that it measures no more than 21.6″ long x 13.7″ width x 7.8″ high. You can also bring along an extra personal item that fits under the seat.
You may bring your camera bodies and lenses into Iceland as a tourist. Please note that drone usage is regulated in Iceland, so you should throughly read the local regulations to prevent any issues, like your drone being seized at the airport. You can find the full drone usage laws under this document.
Iceland uses the same plug outlet that you will find in most parts of Europe. You will need Type C and/or Type E plug adapters (European type) as these are both used throughout the country. It is highly recommended to purchase these adapters in advance.
As for electricity, check your chargers to see if they say 110 – 230V If they do, you will not have any problems charging your device while on the tour.
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.
Yes! Some days will include time together as well as free time for you to enjoy a destination at your own pace. With that said, your tour leader will always be available to offer personal recommendations and suggestions as to things you might want to do or see, places to eat and other interesting activities that you might want to check out when there is free time.
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.
That’s it for now and we hope you are continuing to get more and more excited about this incredible adventure, just as we are!
If you have any questions about anything, please reach out to team@wanderingearl.com
