So much to do and see in Iceland but how to choose?
The further you get in your Iceland trip planning the more you will begin to realize that there is so much to see and do that your not going to be able to do it all in one trip. Some people like to base themselves in Reykjavik and do day tours with local companies, while others like to rent a car and drive the Ring Road that circles the entire country and conveniently takes you near to some of Iceland's top sights. We decided to do both. In 12 nights we did the Ring Road and its most popular attractions as well as 10 different tours/excursions. It was a very ambitious action packed trip. Listed below are the excursion we did and how I rank them. This may help someone else if their time or budget is more limited and they can only choose a few. I do not regret doing any of these tours, but some were better than others.
I used 5 categories to rank each one of these tours on a scale of 1-5
1. Uniqueness - How unique is this activity to Iceland? Is this an activity that could be done on a trip to another location? The higher this number is the more likely it is to be bucketlist worthy.
2. Fun/Excitement Factor - This one is pretty self explanatory. Interaction and hands on experiences are key to a high score in this category
3. Ease of Access - I have hiked several miles with a lot of elevation gains to get to some pretty incredible places, but would rather not have to. If a tour can take you to an other worldly place without much effort then it gets a higher score.
4. Photographic - Does the particular activity render great photo opportunities. Being able to capture youir experience is a high priority for me.
5. Value - Bang for your buck. How worth it was it compared to the cost
#10 - Ice Climbing on the Falljokul Glacier outlet with "Glacier Guides" in the Skaftafell area
Summary - I love glaciers and I love climbing them, so the fact that I have done this before and have something to compare it to may make my score seem a little jaded. I enjoyed this tour and the great scenery but Ice climbing in Alaska was better. I felt like this specific climb spent too much time and effort actually getting to the glacier and once we got there everything felt a little rushed. Our guide was good and he for sure had safety as his top priority, but there were times where it felt a little too restrictive. Instead of taking pictures while he was setting up the climbs, he made me sit down in the middle of the ice.....Alaska was nothing like that. In Alaska our guides warned us of the dangers, but didnt treat us like children. If you have never ice climbed before, I still would highly recommend going on this tour...but maybe skip it if you have been Ice climbing somewhere else before. Even though this was a private tour, it still did not carry a very high value compared to how much it cost.
Uniqueness - 3
Fun/Excitement - 4
Ease of access - 2
Photographic - 3
Value - 2
Total score - 14
#9 - Kayaking in Heinabergslon Lagoon with "IceGuide"
Summary - IceGuide offers two really good Kayaking opportunities in the Jokulsarlon area and I had a really hard time deciding which one to choose, so I chose both! Heinabergslon was a reasonably priced kayaking trip in a scenic lagoon away from the crowds of Jokulsarlon. It was fun making our way through the icebergs and landing on a glacier. Everything about this tour was good, but the kayaking at Jokulsarlon (reviewed further down the page) was a little bit better in almost every category in my opinion, but you cant go wrong with either one.
Uniqueness - 3
Fun/Excitement - 4
Ease of access - 3
Photographic - 3
Value - 4
Total score - 17
#8 - Jokulsarlon Boat Tour
Summary - Probably the most popular tour in this region of Iceland and for good reason. Jokulsarlon is as awesome as advertised and this boat ride does give you a different perspective of the lagoon. I enjoyed Kayaking the lagoon better, but if your not comfortable kayaking then the boat tour is a "can't miss." Tours sell out weeks in advance, so don't forget to book ahead of time.
Uniqueness - 4
Fun/Excitement - 3
Ease of access - 4
Photographic - 4
Value - 3
Total score - 18
#7 - Whale Watching in Husavik with "Husavik Adventures"
Summary - A trip whale watching will always vary greatly depending on the experience. Ours was great because we had great weather, calm seas, and many great sightings. Aside from several Humpback Whales we also seen a Blue Whale! I have been whale watching before, but never on a speed boat. The speed boat really makes all the difference and is a no brainer when choosing. Nothing else gives a better view
Uniqueness - 3
Fun/Excitement - 4
Ease of access - 4
Photographic - 4
Value - 3
Total score - 18
#6 - The Blue Lagoon
Summary - Yes, its a tourist trap. Yes, its extremely commercialized and Yes its a must do while in Iceland. The Blue Lagoon is very unique to Iceland and unlike any other place. Now that I have experienced it, im not sure that I would do it again, but I would have regret at least not going once.
Uniqueness - 4
Fun/Excitement - 3
Ease of access - 5
Photographic - 4
Value - 3
Total score - 19
#5 - Inside the Volcano
Summary - Nowhere else in the world can you go inside a volcano. That alone makes this tour spectacular. The hike in is part of the adventure but it does get kind of boring as the scenery never changes. The price tag for this tour is a splurge, but the final result is pretty awesome. I really wish the time spent inside could have been longer, because the time really flies by when you are inside looking up in amazement. When people ask you "What did you do in Iceland" One of the first things you will say is "Went inside a volcano"
Uniqueness - 5
Fun/Excitement - 4
Ease of access - 3
Photographic - 4
Value - 3
Total score - 19
#4 - Kayaking Jokulsarlon with "IceGuide"
Summary - There is no better way to experience Iceland's best attraction than kayaking it. The crowds of people in this location take nothing away from the serenity of paddling among massive ice bergs. The passing tourist boats actually give you a sense of scale which makes this a perfect excursion for photography. This activity is also reasonable priced, easily accessible and doesn't take up too much of your day. This is a tour I would even do again.
Uniqueness - 4
Fun/Excitement - 3
Ease of access - 4
Photographic - 5
Value - 4
Total score - 20
#3 - Ice Cave Under the Volcano with "KatlaTrack"
Summary - It's a well known fact that ice caves are only accessible in the winter months, right? Wrong. This specific tour takes you to one near Vik that is accessible year round. This Ice Cave may not be quite as spectacular as some of the larger ones found in winter, but for an ice cave in summer you really cant beat it. The tour was fun and the scenery that this specific place is set in is quite spectacular.
Uniqueness - 4
Fun/Excitement - 4
Ease of access - 4
Photographic - 4
Value - 4
Total score - 20
#2 Super Jeep tour to Landmannalaugar with "Try Iceland Tours"
Summary - If you think Iceland is out of this world, just wait until you see the highlands. When I first seen a picture of Landmannalaugar, I knew that I had to go there. I have never seen anywhere in the world like it. Its a place where glaciers and volcanoes meet to form landscapes so dramatic that they look like something out of Lord of the Rings. To get here you need to have a 4 wheel drive vehicle and some experience crossing rivers. A safer bet is to hire a company like "TryIceland" to take you there. A private tour is pricey, but its totally worth it. Our guide Adam, took us around the area for almost 10 hours showing us incredible sights that we would have never been able to see anywhere else. We were never rushed anywhere that we stopped. To see some shots from some of the locations we went, check them out in the video below. I cannot wait to go back to Iceland and go on another tour with "TryIceland"
Uniqueness - 5
Fun/Excitement - 4
Ease of access - 4
Photographic - 5
Value - 3
Total score - 21
#1 - Snorkeling Silfra with "Troll Expeditions"
Summary - Snorkeling was not typically one of the first things that came to mind when I thought of Iceland, but it is now. Just the thought of snorkeling Iceland sent chills down my spine. This was not an activity that I was really looking forward to, but the price and the weirdness of it made it a must try for me. The rave reviews were right, this is a must-do tour for any adventurer in Iceland. Its truly a one of kind experience to snorkel in the clear water between continents and it was not only comfortable, but also fun and exciting. The guides with Troll Expeditions were also fun and even provided photos of the trip at no extra charge. I wish I would have done more tours with this great company.
Uniqueness - 5
Fun/Excitement - 4
Ease of access - 4
Photographic - 3
Value -5
Total score - 21
Conclusion - From my experience you cant really go wrong with guided tours in Iceland. The guides are excellent and depending on the tour they can take you places that you cant experience on your own. In addition to these 10 tours I had the opportunity to do a lot of unguided exploring all along the ring road including the Golden Circle, Snaefellsness Peninsula, Lake Myvatn, Westman Islands and highlights of the south coast just to name a few. If travelling in summer my advice would be to do self guided tours with a rental car to places that are easily accessible and spend your time and money on tours that take you places that you cant get to as easily on your own.
If I went on a 2nd trip.......Here's the other tours I would try
1. Northern Lights Tour (Fall-Winter)
2. Winter Ice Cave Tour
3. Super Jeep to Thorsmork
4. Paragliding out of Vik
5. Into the Glacier
6. Snaefellsjokul Glacier Tour
7. Kerlingarfjöll Highlands Tour
8. Vidgelmir Lava Cave Tour
If the "Land of Fire and Ice" isn't on your bucket list, then your bucket has a hole in it. I have proclaimed Iceland the "mile for mile most beautiful country in the world" I cant think of anywhere else with so much diverse scenery packed into a relatively small location (Its about the same size as the state of Kentucky in the US) Iceland's combination of wild remote undeveloped lands mixed with great accessibility and a well organized tourism industry makes it a truly remarkable destination.
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