Iceland Explorer

• Nine nights in hotels and guesthouses
• Travel by air-conditioned minibus
• Group normally 7 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16

Summer departures

Iceland is on the northern edge of the temperate zone, meaning it has cool summers. Daytime temperatures in the summer months can be anything from 10C to 20C (50F to 68F). In mountain areas, be prepared for some days of poor weather with strong winds and rain, but usually the weather is quite pleasant, though cool. There is constant daylight, but not midnight sun, in May, June and July.

Winter departures

On any winter day, you may experience periods of sunshine alternating with short or long showers of snow, sleet or rain. Away from the coast, in most winters, there is good snow cover for much of the season, particularly in the north. Average daytime temperatures in Reykjavik are between 0C and -5C (32F and 23F). In the interior, it can be several degrees colder with significant wind chill. The Northern Lights visibility depends on a combination of solar activity and clear skies. The two can combine to produce a visible display anytime between late August and April.

This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

Much of this trip is touring by small bus, with plenty of stops. Iceland is bigger than many people expect, so there are some significant distances to travel. Overall, the trip covers around 1,550mi (2,500km) with an average of five hours per day travelling by bus. Days are long and busy with travel or site visits.

Many of the site explorations are completed on foot, often on uneven ground. There are sometimes steep and slippery slopes to reach the sites, plus steps and stiles. Some sites have walkways, however many do not. In winter, ice on the ground can be common; however, if required, snow grips are provided to fit over regular shoes.

We use a comfortable bus, ruggedly built to Icelandic standards and able to cope with most terrain types. Most roads we travel on this trip are paved, providing a reasonably smooth ride.

Daylight hours vary enormously throughout the year in Iceland. In winter, we will depart before sunrise (though this isn’t a particularly early start) to maximise the daylight, meaning we’ll see the sun rise every day.

In May, June and the first half of July, we will experience 24-hour daylight, before a few hours of darkness around midnight (and the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights) returns.

From October to April, roads can be closed with little or no notice due to ice or snow. Even if some roads are open, our tour leader may not deem them safe enough for driving (particularly the road from Egilsstadir to Myvatn via Dettifoss), in which case they will take an alternative route. Itinerary alterations due to adverse weather are at the discretion of the tour leader, who will always prioritise health and safety over all else.