Iceland Explorer

Catherine D   -  Traveled, May 2024

Winter wonderland Going in winter one gets to see Iceland in all its Winter Wonderland glory. The frozen waterfalls, good chance of seeing the northern lights, once you’re away from the golden circle sights its much quieter. We were Very lucky with the weather until last couple of days when the strong winds and closed roads altered the itinerary, but there are other things to see. The tour covers a lot of ground, with a fair bit of driving, but there are lots of stops along the way and the scenery is lovely! Most Inspirational Moment I loved the glacier lagoon that went to the sea where the beach was covered in chunks of smooth ice, with seals popping up along the way. Frozen waterfalls were so picturesque. All the opportunities to soak in the thermal baths were well received. I could've spent all day at the natural springs near lake Myvatn, so relaxing. Thoughts on Group Leader Jon was a brilliant leader, full of enthusiasm and energy and obviously has a great love of his country, entertaining us with his stories from trolls to eurovision! Always cheery and when weather stopped us visiting somewhere, he found something else for us to see. Advice for Potential Travellers If visiting in winter, be prepared for cold, biting wind, a glove you can use a phone without taking it off would be handy! I'm very glad I had a thermos flask. Some rooms don't have kettles, but hot water and tea/coffee are freely available in hotels restaurant. Cards taken everywhere, so no need to take spending money.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 05/20/2024

Helen Kelly   -  Traveled, February 2024

Excellent guide and tour Fantastic tour, and our guide was excellent (Jon – spelling?). Only thing is that it would have been preferable to have more weather specific guidance regarding gear that would be helpful – such as crampons with ice spike etc. Thoughts on Group Leader Fantastic.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 02/28/2024

Mervyn Wilcox   -  Traveled, September 2023

Amazing landscapes, relaxed culture, lots of horses! A great experience and quite different to our previous trips with Exodus. A good itinerary which allowed us to see amazing diverse landscapes from spectacular waterfalls to glaciers, icebergs and rugged coastlines. We also really enjoyed hearing about Icelandic culture, both new and old, with stories of trolls and Vikings. Most Inspirational Moment The fact that Icelanders were very resilient and have caring, close communities with a relaxed way of life. This is very refreshing, coming from a pressured western lifestyle. A small example is that cars are very likely to stop if they see you looking to cross the road. Thoughts on Group Leader Jon was well-organised and very caring, looking to the needs of each individual. He had a great sense of humour and relaxed delivery. He was very enthusiastic, obviously enjoys guiding and shared a wealth of knowledge about Iceland, the country and its people. It was lovely how he shared snippets of his own family life to illustrate how life is like for people living in Iceland. He told endless entertaining stories relevant to where we were travelling at the time. He saved me from eating fermented shark from a buffet and shattering my taste buds at the start of the meal! We really enjoyed his company. Advice for Potential Travellers Take walking shoes/boots as the terrain is quite rough in places and don't be afraid to use walking poles. We did use waterproof trousers, especially near waterfalls. As you move on every day, clothes that easily dry out are handy and also small laundry bags to group stuff in your suitcase. A waterproof cover for the back pack would have been handy and plastic or waterproof carrier bags. A large refillable water bottle is essential for the journeys. Keep your window shut at the Hotel near Lake Myvatn to keep out gnats. Suggestions If you want to see Reykjavik book an extra day there.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/21/2023

Ray Hems   -  Traveled, June 2023

Iceland Explorer Iceland is a fascinating country with a wealth of scenic attractions and this tour seemed to include all of them. It was busy every day, sometimes with long drives between the sights, but the landscape during these travels was always interesting and I was never bored. Weather was sadly unkind – but that is Iceland – with often rain and low cloud obscuring the mountainous views. On one day the wind was so fierce that the main circular road (Route1) was closed for 8 hours which disrupted plans for the day but Jon the guide created alternative sights for us to visit. Choice of hotels was generally good, with the guest houses occasionally a bit spartan (if you like tea in the mornings, pack a travel kettle). Food was good also, at twice the price of English restaurants Most Inspirational Moment Jokulsarlon lagoon with its icebergs and the associated Diamond Beach is unique whatever the weather. The many huge waterfalls never failed to impress, while a long soak one afternoon in a 30c-40c geothermal pool was delightful. Walking the basalt column cliffs on the Snaefellsnes Peninsular was particularly enjoyable as there was at last warm sunshine and plenty of unusual birds for the bird watchers in the group to appreciate. The whale watching trip from Akureyi was successful as we saw several humpbacks, probably the same whale repeatedly diving but still exciting to see their blows and flukes Thoughts on Group Leader Jon was an excellent leader, always attentive to our needs, ensuring that there were plenty of toilet and photo opportunity breaks during our travels. He educated us with many stories of folklore and life in Iceland, with his constant chatter and humour during the day always welcome. The few changes of itinerary due to the weather were made without drama, and we were always kept informed. Advice for Potential Travellers Be prepared for rain and wind and pack accordingly. Overtrousers are advisable (probably essential) with a rainproof coat, plus layers for clothing to easily remove if/when warm or put on on colder, windier days. Cash is not necessary, everything was paid for by credit card Suggestions Iceland is a fascinating country with a unique landscape and attractions, and is highly recommended to visit. This tour covers a lot of ground and is an excellent introduction. It was sufficiently inspiring that several of the group were planning to revisit in Winter on a shorter, more selective, trip

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 07/15/2023

Stewart Halkett   -  Traveled, June 2023

Iceland Adventure I had researched about Iceland and the places to be visited but had not anticipated the scale of the island and the grandeur of the scenery. The weather was not as rainy as was forecast but it was windier than I expected, the weather suited the landscape and the experiences on the trip. Our guide was excellent – full of information and stories – never a dull moment. Most Inspirational Moment The volcanic geology and associated landscape and the glaciers. These showed the power of nature and that people settling and living in Iceland have had to adapt to the environment and make use of it where possible, but not conquer it. Thoughts on Group Leader He was excellent. He was full of information about Iceland and its people, I learnt as much about modern day Iceland as I did about the the attractions summarised in the Trip Notes. He was resourceful, adaptable, humorous and looked after the group and individuals. Advice for Potential Travellers Be prepared for any weather, the group motto was have layers of good clothing, some days were warm, most days were cloudy, it was windy most days. Wear sturdy walking shoes or boots, walks were usually short but often on uneven ground and there were some steep steps. The food was very good and catered well for vegetarians, restaurants were also very accommodating for customers with food allergies or intolerances. Iceland is bigger than I expected so be prepared for long journeys in the bus. Accommodation was different each night on this trip but the standard of food, customer service and was good throughout. Suggestions I was not able to see the sights in Reykjavik because of my flight times to and from the UK, so check this before you finalise your booking in case you need to add some time before or after the set dates for the trip.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/28/2023

Juan Moly   -  Traveled, April 2023

It’s great - when the sun shine Iceland is a clean, safe, ( subject to volcanic action), and beautiful place to visit, but in between the places of interest there is a lot of lava. Green, black or white, it becomes tedious, and particularly when visibility is limited. The journeys between the sites can be rather dull, long and boring. If and when the sunshines, everything looks brighter including the numerous waterfalls and beautiful beaches, but Iceland this May was fairly wet and cloudy. The accommodation we experienced was absolutely fine. Food is expensive but by the end of the tour we got used to the cost and even splashed out on a beer each. Prior to that, we shared a glass! The fish at The Grillhuise in Reykjavik was excellent. Most Inspirational Moment The glacier lagoon and diamond beach. Seeing icebergs and hearing them crack was a first for me. The sun was shining on this occasion, so added to the beautiful spectacle. Thoughts on Group Leader Sadly, our group leader was not as good as others we’ve experienced. He was rather repetitive, especially about being a vegan, and spoke too much. Moments without his voice were rather nice. He was inclined to “bloody » too much and by the end of the tour, the group all expressed the same sentiments. He was, though, very helpful and quite informative. Advice for Potential Travellers ICELAND - the clue is in the name. It’s cold …. and windy, so windchill makes it colder still. Do take your thermals, even in May. It’s a big island so if you circumnavigate, like us, be prepared for some long, tedious journeys. Having said that, Icelandic roads are very good. If you use Flybus for airport transfer, you must wait OUTSIDE your hotel ( no matter how cold it is) or the bus won’t stop - as happened to us. The taxi fare to airport was 20,000 Kr ( £115). Suggestions We’re very pleased we visited this beautiful country. Exodus has it pretty well organised. Probably wouldn’t go again though.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 05/15/2023

Alan Taylor   -  Traveled, March 2023

Spectacular scenery, Bitingly cold, Eye-watering prices First holiday in three years for us and a different style too – we usually go on trekking/activity type holidays so a ‘tour’ was all a bit different. Had a great time, Iceland in March is impressive and the tour covers the whole island and visits all the ‘classic’ sites. Most Inspirational Moment Just the scenery, different all around the island. Thoughts on Group Leader Jon was hugely knowledgeable about every corner of Iceland and went out of his way to make everyone happy. Even awkward sods like us who wanted to disappear off and look for plastic tubs under rocks (If you know, you know!) Advice for Potential Travellers If you're going in March, dress warm. Really warm. Really really warm. I've never been so cold in my life, and I've done a weeks dogsledding in Sweden which included camping when it was -45C. Don't know what other seasons are like but the clue's in the name - Iceland. Be prepared to spend lots of dosh on lunch, dinner and beer. For two of us, food + drink was another £750 on the price of the holiday, Take cards, no one uses cash. WiFi is good at all hotels and mobile reception was consistently better then we've got in Surrey. Suggestions I was surprised at how crowded the sites were - especially in the 'Golden circle' area. Some places were just teeming with people. I would guess that in 'high season' it would be really uncomfortable. Getting a coffee or visiting the toilet meant getting on the end of a long queue. Food was always good - no problems there. Group members with special requirements (e.g. Gluten-free meals) were easily coped with. Hotels varied from 'basic' to 'excellent'. You only stayed one night in each so it didn't really matter. There were no real problems anywhere. The 'flybus' service to/from the airport works very well.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 03/21/2023

Sue Woolman   -  Traveled, March 2022

Magical Iceland Iceland in March is a challenge…..ice and snow underfoot (boot chains provided!) high winds, intermittent torrential rain, bad road conditions. But the beauty of the country more than makes up for any discomfort. Travelling around the whole island, the scenery is constantly changing….wild coasts, snowy mountains, sparkling fjords, black lava flows and of course, wonderful waterfalls. For any lover of the great outdoors, this trip is a must Most Inspirational Moment Walking among the icebergs on the black beach. Entering Hallgrimskirkja and being blown away by its beauty. Thoughts on Group Leader Jon is amazing, singlehandedly driving, portering, organizing, commentating......always full of energy and enthusiasm. I loved that, as well as information about Iceland, he also treated us to tales from the sagas, norse mythology and folklore. Advice for Potential Travellers Bring lots of clothes and be prepared for all weather types in one day. Suggestions Maybe the itinerary needs reviewing. We struggled to fulfill the schedule on some days because of road/weather conditions, resulting in very long days and late hotel arrivals. That's why I gave this tour 4 stars, not 5.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 03/25/2022

Andrew Walsh   -  Traveled, December 2021

The light What a fantastic place , so beautiful especially all dressed in white with snow and ice. The scenery is truly stunning. Waterfalls like you’ve never seen them before, fantastic coastline with the iconic black sand. Food … best fish we have ever tasted. Acc’n .. excellent.. a couple of the hotels were very modern and quite luxurious. Most Inspirational Moment not easy to pick one ... the ice from the glacial lagoon on the black beach was pretty amazing... so was Dettifoss with ice clinging to it.. The mountains / volcanoes covered in snow and blushing with the alpine glow Thoughts on Group Leader Oskar - fantastic bloke .. unparalleled driving skills.... the roads are ice this time of year.. the snow is bonus. Great local knowledge. Friendly and considerate. Would go on a trip with him again no hesitation. Advice for Potential Travellers The kit list is pretty good dont ignore it. If you are a large person I would take a good pair of boot spikes - ones that are metal underneath and up the sides and have actual spikes. They're not expensive and you can use them ad infinitum. The yaktrac ones aren't tough enough.. Some people broke theirs. As usual exodus had thought of this and had a some spares, thanks Exodus. Suggestions The Light is crazy... we were the last group of the season.. the sun never really got up. Sun rise was about 11 - 11:30 depending on terrain and crept low across the ski to disappear about 15 -15:30. There was some twilight at each end of this but not much. The itinerary needs some careful tinkering to take this into account (a long chat with Oskar).. In the western world retail is the same wherever you go.. they're shops - get over it... Iceland is about the beauty not about bargains. To see Iceland you really need the light so to squander it on a morning walking round a small town (Akureyri) is a waste and should be taken off the itinerary. Travelling can be done in the dark seeing vistas you cant find anywhere else needs the light. Add the price of the hot pools near Myvatn into the trip. Maybe here rather than Hofsos.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 01/05/2022

Anthony Teperek   -  Traveled, October 2021

Great Overview of Iceland As with all Exodus holidays – read the detailed itinerary carefully and you should not be disappointed if you choose to go. We had yet another superb Exodus guide in Kristian (I have probably mis-spelled that!) who was also the bus driver for the 16 in the group which I think is the maximum. Inevitably you spend a good deal of time on the bus but no surprises there, that’s why I stress to read the itinerary. The views are constantly excellent and Kristian would stop regular to stretch legs and admire the view. This holiday gives a good overview of the entire island. Although a good deal of the driving is on gravel roads do not expect to be taken deep into the interior where the really rough roads are that need specialised transport. Just one night in each place but all the hotels were fine with the possible exception of the one in Akureyri. Our room was adequate but some had tiny rooms with poor showers. Some of the more remote places offer very limited menus, if you like lamb and fish you’ll be okay! We had a vegan in the group who had very limited options at one place. Highlight was undoubtedly the last day when Kristian rejigged the itinerary (with our permission) so that we could trek to the Fagradalsfjall volcano, which Kristian had heard was ramping up activity. Wow! We were treated to specular displays of erupting lava and Kristian told us that in 25 years of guiding we were the first group of his to witness such a thing. Weather was mixed as you would expect in early September. Two very wet days – one with a gale – and 4 days of blue skies and flat calm, the other days being between those extremes. Most Inspirational Moment Witnessing the volcanic eruptions of the Fagradalsfjall volcano. Thoughts on Group Leader Kristian was excellent. Kept us informed and amused! Advice for Potential Travellers Clothing wise, you need layers and waterproof over trousers are useful. Currency: I took no Icelandic money and never needed any. Everywhere accepts a card - even the pay toilets. On the first meeting I said to Kristian "I have no local currency, do I need to get some?". His reply was "Most Icelanders have no local currency either!" Suggestions As with all Scandinavian countries food and especially drink is expensive.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/14/2021

Mike Frampton   -  Traveled, February 2023

A Thoroughly Enjoyable Tour Of This Majestic Island A thoroughly enjoyable tour of this majestic island. Our first day out took us to some of the tourist hotspots – the huge Gullfoss waterfall, geysers, the growing fault line between the North American and Eurasian continental plates and the site of their 1100-year-old parliament. Thereafter our 1000-mile journey around the island was largely free of other tourists (it was February). The snow conditions were good (it covered the island, but wasn’t too deep for walking), with little rain (probably lucky for the time of year). Our only challenge was the wind, which did curtail our itinerary when we got to the west of the island. Most Inspirational Moment Many. The views as we travelled around this snow-covered isle were magnificent. As the road wound its way along the south coast, mountains were on one side and the sea with its black sand beaches on the other. The lightening at the Valley of Thor was just on-cue. Next the road wound round the eastern fjords, with the sun-lit sky gleaming off the snow-white mountains and deep blue water. Then it was through our first tunnel to Egilsstadir and, that night, our first and best view of the Northern Lights. The next day we journeyed across the plateau to Lake Myvatn, with its complete range of geological wonders – mudpots, steaming vents, lava towers, volcanic craters, psedo-craters and a thermal swimming pool. Thoughts on Group Leader Jon was an excellent group leader, as well as being the driver of our minibus. He always had a story to tell and alternative sites to visit when necessary. His restaurant recommendations were always excellent (I was very impressed by the quality of food at all our stops). Jon regularly monitored the weather and Northern Lights conditions, so that we missed the worst weather and got to see the Lights. He kept us safe when we ventured out, ensuring we wore the chains provided on our boots. And being February, all vehicles had studded tyres, making driving safe on snow covered roads Advice for Potential Travellers Dress for the weather you may incur, with lots of layers in winter. Waterproof over trousers and jacket are essential in February, as are a sturdy pair of walking boots. The chains provided are excellent, they have a rubber surround that fits them to your boots. A couple of the people brough anti-slip grips which proved to be inadequate. The day length obviously varies depending on when you go. Sunrise was nearly 10am in early February. The weather and temperature is also very variable. Check these out before deciding when to go. You might also want to check out the midge situation, if you don’t want to be bitten. Going in February did provide the possibility to see the Northern Lights and we were lucky. The Northern Lights are dependent on the solar activity, a cloudless sky and little light pollution from local lighting or the moon. For photographs, you need long exposure (15 seconds on my camera), which needs a tripod or something similar. Check your requirements before you go. The best photos on our trip were taken by someone with an iPhone. Also get a water cover for your camera, others have reported their cameras being damaged by the rain or spray from the waterfalls. A Pro camera, as used by cyclist or cars, may be an alternative if fitted with a waterproof container. Suggestions None of the days was too onerous, so recent changes to the itinerary must have solved a criticism made by a previous traveller. Iceland is on UK time, although geographically it is one and a half hours west of London. However, as it is very much a European community, they are discussing moving Iceland onto the same time as much of the EU, adding a further hour to the difference.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 03/04/2024

Graham Higley   -  Traveled, December 2022

Safety issues Overall, this was a very disappointing trip. Some things were not controllable eg the weather, but others were not good including some serious safety issues. 1 There were things in the itinerary which did not happen, and indeed the guide said they would be taken out of the itinerary shortly! 2 Driving for 4-6 hours each day when there was only 5 hours of daylight meant that we visited many sites in near or complete darkness. 3 Snow grips were supposed to be provided, but they had not been put on the van. I slipped and twisted my knee and a number of people fell over. Thus, several of us did not make it to the waterfall. Much more serious injuries could have easily occurred. 4 The guide had to drive for long periods on dark, icy roads. When he was driving he was sometimes giving commentary to us – not ideal. More critically, he was having to phone ahead to organise logistics of food and optional trips whilst driving. This would be illegal in the UK! 5 Several accommodations were pretty low standard, but I recognise that the logistical issues are great in such isolated communities. Thoughts on Group Leader He was a good guy, but he was working alone - doing logistics, driving and guiding - and was clearly very tired by the end of the trip. Advice for Potential Travellers Check on safety issues and the time of year - some things don't happen in November despite what it says in the itinerary.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 01/12/2023

Nicola Peers   -  Traveled, September 2021

A journey around Iceland This trip exceeded my expectations. The ever changing landscape was stunning, the food was excellent (although vegetarians are less well catered for, and it helps to like fish), and all the accommodation was clean and comfortable. Most Inspirational Moment Every day had at least one "wow" moment but the highlight for me from the published itinerary was the time we spent in the Krafla area, seeing the crater lake and walking over the lava fields. The Glacier Lagoon was also breath taking. To fit in our pre departure lateral flow tests, the itinerary was amended to arrive early in Reykjavik, which gave us the opportunity to hike to the active Fagradalsfjall volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula. This was without doubt the overall highlight - never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined seeing red hot lava flowing, and fire bursting out of the earth. Thoughts on Group Leader Kristjan was one of the best guides we have had on an Exodus trip. He is very experienced, knowledgeable and professional. He kept calm through every challenge - for example when one hotel could not accommodate the group at the last moment he made alternative arrangements without giving any indication that this had been difficult or stressful. He worked incredibly hard every day, as he was on his own to both drive and guide. The bus was spotless each morning and he was quietly aware of different needs within the group. Thank you Kristjan! Advice for Potential Travellers If you are vegetarian, take some snacks. The trip was a little more active than we had expected (which suited us very well) - be prepared for some walks on rugged terrain, and some lengthy steps to climb.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/20/2021

neil tallant   -  Traveled, May 2024

24 05 05 Excellent leisurely trip around Iceland to give a real flavour of the country and what it has to offer Most Inspirational Moment Glacial ice flows Thoughts on Group Leader Orri, was excellent. Probably one of the best guides we have had on many trips. Kept the interest going for the full 9 days. Advice for Potential Travellers Take wind proof clothing and layers for warmth. Expect to pay something like £40-£50 per day on food / beverages.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 05/21/2024