| Having lived in and worked in Iceland for a | | | | hotel or guesthouse. |
| couple years, I have had the privilege of | | | | |
| many memorable trips, events and excursions | | | | Another fun adventure-type tour is jeep |
| which may help you to cut through the clutter | | | | tours. There are several tour companies that |
| and plan your Iceland vacation. | | | | offer these. They are mostly day tours. These |
| | | | jeeps are locally called "super jeeps" and |
| Iceland is certainly and exciting and unique | | | | they are specially outfitted to handle just |
| vacation destination and is worth visiting. | | | | about anything from crossing rivers to |
| This is especially true if you love the | | | | driving on glaciers. This is a fun way of |
| outdoors and crave wilderness and wide open | | | | getting a guided tour well beyond the reach |
| spaces. Iceland is also a fun destination for | | | | of the bus tours. Most of these companies |
| its nightlife. But that won't be the focus of | | | | offer themed tours that cater to different |
| this article as that was never something I | | | | tastes and interests, some even provide |
| got into. | | | | lunch. |
| | | | |
| First, I would recommend going during the | | | | I am not a huge fan of bus tours because they |
| summer months which are between late May and | | | | are not very personal but, I can see the |
| August, give or take a few weeks. Don't | | | | appeal of being able to see some of the |
| expect warm temperatures though, the average | | | | countries highlights in a few hours. |
| temperature during the summer months is | | | | Bus tours are probably the cheapest option |
| somewhere in the high 50s. Every once | | | | and they will usually even come pick you up |
| and awhile the temperature can get into the | | | | at you hotel or guesthouse. Many people |
| 70s but those days are few and far | | | | choose the golden circle tour which will take |
| between. That said global warming has | | | | you to Thingvellir national park, Geysir, and |
| been good to this island nation below the | | | | Gullfoss and very large and famous waterfall. |
| Arctic Circle. People I still maintain | | | | |
| contact with tell me that they often go weeks | | | | In my opinion, one of the funnest things to |
| without rain and that it is warmer than it | | | | do in Iceland is to go on a hiking tour. The |
| used to be. | | | | nature and scenery of Iceland is truly world |
| | | | class and what better way to experience this |
| Second, you should be prepared for an | | | | than on foot, up close and personal. There |
| expensive vacation. Iceland is very | | | | are several well-established hiking tour |
| pricy. Food, gas, lodging, car rentals, | | | | companies that offer all kinds of tours from |
| alcohol and just about everything in between | | | | day hikes to overnight backpacking trips and |
| is anywhere from double to even triple the | | | | even longer expedition style tours. I |
| price of goods and services in America. | | | | realize that not everyone is interested in |
| There are ways of saving money and I | | | | this but once you get out in nature, you'll |
| recommend taking advantage of every discount, | | | | be glad you're there. |
| including staying in guesthouses, shopping | | | | |
| for and cooking your own food where possible, | | | | The fishing in Iceland is excellent, |
| using pubic transportation or tour buses, and | | | | especially the salmon fishing. The season for |
| buying your alcohol in the duty free shops | | | | salmon fishing roughly coincides with the |
| when you arrive. Ok, with that information | | | | summer season. There are numerous rivers and |
| out of the way, here are some fun things to | | | | streams all over the country some of which |
| consider: | | | | are right in the capital city of Reykjavik. |
| | | | However salmon fishing is very pricey. |
| Iceland has numerous glaciers and there are | | | | So this kind of activity may not be for |
| all kinds of tours offered that allow you to | | | | everyone. Many celebrities and wealthy |
| explore and experience these. You can book | | | | individuals come back to Iceland every year |
| glacier hiking tours, jeep tours that will | | | | just to fish for salmon. |
| drive right onto the glacier, ice climbing | | | | |
| for the more adventurous and snowmobiling | | | | Rounding up the list of things to do is whale |
| tours. | | | | watching, and white water river rafting. I |
| | | | have never done these personally but know |
| Pony Trekking in Iceland is very popular. | | | | that they are popular activities. Whale |
| Icelandic horses are a unique breed in fact | | | | watching is a day tour. There are one or two |
| they are the only horse species with five | | | | main tour operators in Reykjavik that will |
| different gates. These horses are short | | | | pick you up and take you down to the harbor |
| and stocky and quite easy to ride. | | | | where you will board a boat and spend a few |
| There are many tour companies that offer | | | | hours. White water river rafting in Iceland |
| everything from day tours to longer tours | | | | is not for the faint of heart. The rivers are |
| into the countryside. Many of these companies | | | | extremely cold which requires the use of dry |
| will even come and pick you up from your | | | | suits. |