Iceland

[Matt..]

I am staring to think about 2012 travel options and one place I've always wanted to visit is Iceland. My main travel interest is impressive and ideally big, scenery. I enjoy photography, and this is what I will spend the majority of time doing. What would be the best time for Iceland that gives a chance of good weather and enough available light? Also, is it easy to travel around without a car? As rentals are not cheap!

Any other advice and ideas on Iceland would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[andrew311]

Can't help you with specifics but surely you have to go between now and April for a chance to see this:

[Roger645]

Iceland air are doing a special 3 day northern lights deal at the moment. It's on their website

[Beardy10]

Trouble is if you go now the light and weather could be rubbish for all the other great photo opportunities!

I went a couple of years ago on a stag weekend and spent a day seeing some of the scenery....it's a fascinating place. I'd do one of the 4x4 day excursions to get you to some of the more remote places.

[Matt..]

Beardy10 said:

Trouble is if you go now the light and weather could be rubbish for all the other great photo opportunities!

I went a couple of years ago on a stag weekend and spent a day seeing some of the scenery....it's a fascinating place. I'd do one of the 4x4 day excursions to get you to some of the more remote places.

This is planning for next year... i'm still paying off the last trip, so can't go yet

[Tebbers]

Make sure you go to the blue lagoon...amazing place, the highlight of my trip!

[Hugo a Gogo]

Tebbers said:

Make sure you go to the blue lagoon...amazing place, the highlight of my trip!

don't reach down and pull some of the mud up with your hand

the realisation that it's full of pubes might spoil the experience

[NewNameNeeded]

Matt.. said:

What would be the best time for Iceland that gives a chance of good weather and enough available light?

Depends what you mean by "good". I went in February (so winter, as opposed to summer) and the days were short but the regular snowfall and very cold temperatures meant the whole place had a magical feel to it. Plenty of beautiful white landscapes, frozen waterfalls, etc. Bathing in the warmth of the blue lagoon with snow falling on my shoulders and hair frozen solid was amazing. Also the people are used to shorter daylight hours and the whole of Reykjavik was decorated with lights - it made it very beautiful.

A friend of mine went the same year but in summer and whilst they took some amazing photos (it was all very sunny, lush and green) I didn't think it was as nice as the wintery versions we'd taken.

[LuS1fer]

Take a photo of the two chicken pies for a £1 to go with my Kerry Katona photo please.

[Tebbers]

Hugo a Gogo said:

don't reach down and pull some of the mud up with your hand

the realisation that it's full of pubes might spoil the experience

Don't say that, I rubbed the mud all over my face when I was there

[Hugo a Gogo]

Tebbers said:

Hugo a Gogo said:

don't reach down and pull some of the mud up with your hand

the realisation that it's full of pubes might spoil the experience

Don't say that, I rubbed the mud all over my face when I was there

hey, nice beard

[LuS1fer]

Having pubes rubbed in your face is under-rated anyway.

[Matt..]

Can anyone give any route ideas around Iceland for a one week trip? I mostly care about impressive scenery, so am not too worried about spending a lot of time in Reykjavik.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Good place for a long weekend. Any longer than that might be a bit dull.

[toxgobbler]

Matt.. said:

I am staring to think about 2012 travel options and one place I've always wanted to visit is Iceland. My main travel interest is impressive and ideally big, scenery. I enjoy photography, and this is what I will spend the majority of time doing. What would be the best time for Iceland that gives a chance of good weather and enough available light? Also, is it easy to travel around without a car? As rentals are not cheap!

Any other advice and ideas on Iceland would be much appreciated.

Thanks

When we went we used http://www.superjeep.is and had a few excursions (Golden triangle, Landmanalauger & Hekla & Northern Lights), Ragnar was superb (spoke english) and toom us to places you cannot get to otherwise. I would 100% recommend him and he will make your trip, we intend to go back and do some more excusrions.

Also Northern lights from late September to spring, but no garuntees, we saw it for 40 mins, never seen the night sky dance for me before it was amazing.

[Matt..]

toxgobbler said:

When we went we used http://www.superjeep.is and had a few excursions (Golden triangle, Landmanalauger & Hekla & Northern Lights), Ragnar was superb (spoke english) and toom us to places you cannot get to otherwise. I would 100% recommend him and he will make your trip, we intend to go back and do some more excusrions.

Also Northern lights from late September to spring, but no garuntees, we saw it for 40 mins, never seen the night sky dance for me before it was amazing.

When did you go? and did you just stay in Reykjavik and do day trips?

[Stephanie Plum]

Matt.. said:

Can anyone give any route ideas around Iceland for a one week trip? I mostly care about impressive scenery, so am not too worried about spending a lot of time in Reykjavik.

Hi Matt
I spent a month travelling around Iceland a few years ago, driving the whole way round in the process. If I'm honest I can't face trying to type a whole load of thoughts out, but I am very happy to talk through what we did on the phone, the highlights and general experiences. In 20 minutes on the phone I can talk you through what would take ma a couple of hours to try and formulate on paper.

If you want to, drop me a pm, and we can find a time that fits one evening this week.

Cheers
jo

[JQ]

Matt.. said:

Can anyone give any route ideas around Iceland for a one week trip? I mostly care about impressive scenery, so am not too worried about spending a lot of time in Reykjavik.

In that time you can circumnavigate the island - we actually managed it in 3 days, but would be better done over a week. Plenty of places to see on the coast - waterfall just past Selfoss, Jokullsarlon (glacial lagoon), Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Plant, Dettifoss, Godafoss, Hofn, Akureyri and lots of other exciting places in between.

A day trip to Landmanalaugar can be spread over a couple of days with some camping or a night in a B&B - very impressive scenery. Took the kids there earlier this year and they loved the river crossings in the 4x4 and also getting to swim in a glacial river.

Last year we spent a week camping around the North Western Fjords which had some amazing scenery, really quite breathtaking.

Realistically, you need a 4x4 to get around as you never know what you'll come across and certainly when heading inland there can be a few river crossings and lots of snow and ice in the winter. The inland roads will be closed in winter.

In the summer renting a Summer House inland can be a very cost effective holiday and gives you a base to explore. Summer Houses are quite cheap to rent.

We head over there twice a year - if you need any advice just let me know.