Iceland/Reykjavik MUST DOs?

[Cruisebird]

On 1/25/2020 at 1:22 PM, lynncarol said:

Been to Iceland twice: once in 2005 for a week on our own with a rental car, and several years ago for 4 days on a transatlantic cruise. Iceland is gorgeous, but has certainly become a lot more crowded with tourists since our first trip. With kids, and a lot of time in Reykjavik,  maybe consider the first day taking a full day high-wheel jeep tour into Porsmork, part of the rugged interior of Iceland. That's what we did in 2005 and it was amazing. In addition to guided hiking up Mt. Valahnukar, and a cave in Stallholtsgjer we got to walk behind a waterfall (Seljalandsfoss). Some of those tours even offer an opportunity to walk on a glacier. Your kids would love it.  On the second day, take a half-day Golden Circle tour.  Skip Blue Lagoon (mobbed) and opt for the Nature Baths/Lake Myvatin tour out of Akureyri. Much less touristy.

Do you remember who you used for the tour into Porsmork?  We would love all those activities!

[Nitemare]

We were in Iceland for a week last fall, and we love hotdogs.  Mrs. doesn't eat pork, so we always asked the ingredients.  Out of 5 or 6 stops, not one had horse, although most had pork (her loss).

[lynncarol]

cruisebird- sorry for the delay in response but we were out of state with no access to that info for several weeks.  Anyway, we used Mountaineers of Iceland. I googled them and they are still in business but seem to have moved in the 14 years since we took their tour to offering snowmobile experiences with their jeep tour in Porsmork.  Anyway, you can look them up and see if something they offer will fit your need. Hope this helps. Carol

[jantoby]

On 2/4/2020 at 6:07 PM, mahi mahi said:

We were in Iceland in May last year, with an overnight in Reykjavik.  We did a Golden Circle tour in a small mini bus for $92 US per person.  The driver/guide was wonderful and we learned so much on the tour.  She was flexible about itinerary and very well versed in history.  At one point she asked if any of us would like to visit a farm - that was great as we got to see Icelandic horses close up as well as sheep that had just given birth or were about to.  The horses are stunning!  The second day we had booked  horse riding at a small stable and that was awesome!  Icelandic horses have a unique gait that we were able to experience and are so friendly and calm.  The price of that was 11,900 ISK (sorry, can't remember the conversion).  Well worth it.  We were dropped off after the ride at a hot dog stand in town that they recommended, one that did not have horsemeat in the hotdogs!

 

Another vote for Saga Travel in Akureyri, again a minibus with an amazing driver/guide.  The 2 ports are very different and each is stunning in their own right.  The cost for 2 of us was $311 and worth every penny.  The waterfalls everywhere are incredible and very different, we never felt like 'oh no, not another waterfall'.

 

 

Your descriptions were so good I just tried to find Saga Travel to see what I might do with them in June, only to find they've gone bust.  What a pity.   Did you use them for the Golden Circle?

[mahi mahi]

That tour was booked through Your Day Tours (www.yourdaytours.is).  The guide's name was Addy.  You can find them on Trip Advisor as well.

[TYTY]

I think FAB Tours has gone bankrupt also, I cancelled 3 months before our tours and its 8 months later and I'm still waiting for my $300 refund.