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