Iceland - A Summer Spectacular

We sent great friends Janet and Sandy on a customized tour of Iceland - They had a blast!

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Why Iceland?

Iceland is an island country of Scandinavian heritage located in the North Atlantic Ocean.  Breathtaking natural beauty and otherworldly landscapes are what attracted Janet and Sandy, and they weren't disappointed!

• Wildlife, especially birds
• Glaciers
• Glacial valleys and rivers
• Countless and varied waterfalls at every turn
• Mountains
• Lava fields
• Volcanic black sand beaches
• Geothermal hot springs
• Abundant hiking
• A culture of outdoor exploration

Puffin on a coastal cliff

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Tips for Your Iceland Summer Adventure

Here are a few notes that the girls passed along for anyone headed to Iceland in the summer.

Money

• Don't bother getting cash/local currency at the airport
• Use credit cards for everything

Car

• Get a small SUV due to all the gravel roads, steep hills and small stream crossings encountered
• Don't purchase the prepaid gas cards as they don't save you any money or time at the pump

Clothing

• Dress comfortably and to stay warm and dry
• All the locals dress like they just stepped out of an REI and are always ready to go for a walk or hike
• Coastal weather is consistently mostly cloudy, damp and cool with light drizzle (not rain) being common
• Inland weather is similar, but very unpredictable with sudden storms and rapidly falling temperatures possible

Food

• ​Amazing fish and lamb are staples
• ​Vegetables while available are uncommon other than potatoes
• Food is relatively expensive with prices equivalent to what you'd pay in an airport ($8 for a hotdog or sandwich in a gas station)

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Sleeping

• Over 23 hours of daylight at summer solstice in June
• Take an eye mask to block out all light as most lodging rooms do not completely block it out around windows

Alcohol

• Liquor stores are only open for a few select hours per day and hours vary depending on your location
• Friday seems to be the exception with very extended hours ahead of the weekend

Flying Home

• KEF - Keflavik International Airport is about 45 minutes west of Reykjavik
• Arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure as it is very small and gets packed during the summer tourist season
  

Glacial valley with a rainbow

How They Did It

The ladies wanted to do a lot of hiking on a self-guided adventure on their own leisurely schedule away from large tour groups and crowds.  

​We mapped out the key sights of each area they wanted to explore, completed drive time estimates and reserved their flights, car and lodging throughout.

• Dates:  24 May to 4 June 2017
• Flights:  Minneapolis > Reykjavik (6 hours)
• Car:  Toyota RAV4
• Four Destinations (West & North Central):
  • Reykjavik
  • Snaefellsnes Peninsula
  • Westfjords
  • Akureyri

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Some TV and Films Shot in Iceland

Many television shows and cinematic films are shot in Iceland due to its stunning landscapes that are often larger than life or stark.

• ​Game of Thrones
• Rogue One:  A Star Wars Story
• Fast & Furious 8
• Justice League
• Star Trek:  Into Darkness
• Batman Begins
• Interstellar
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
• Thor:  The Dark World
• Lara Croft:  Tomb Raider
• Oblivion
• Journey to the Center of the Earth
• Die Another Day
• Noah
• Star Wars:  The Force Awakens
• Captain America:  Civil War
• The Tree of Life
• Prometheus

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Geothermal Pool

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Contact Us to Plan Your Customized Adventure!

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Coastal Highway

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Berserker Lava Field

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Leave the work to us.  You simply dream, pack and enjoy!℠

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