Cool Iceland Tours from Reykjavik

So, you are planning a trip to Iceland. Congratulations, you’ve made a great choice. Iceland has emerged, over the last few years, as a hot tourist destination. And, for good reason.  What with it’s amazing and unspoiled nature, unforgettable, exotic attractions and vibrant culture, it is truly a singular destination.  

Orders of business are flight plans, accommodation, what to bring and, of course, which tours to  take!  This post will help you choose the right tour for you. Here’s a list of popular tours available out of Reykjavik, where you will most likely be staying.

Before we get into the list, a little bit about Iceland tour operators. Iceland has many excellent and  reputable tour companies.  You can expect a high-level of quality and safety standards.  Most Iceland tour companies belong to Icelandic Travel Industry (locally SAF), which is an oversight body; look for this on websites. Another travel standards company is called Vakinn, they are the official quality and environmental system within Icelandic tourism, and they certify companies working within tourism.  Look for their seal of approval too.

The following tours are some of the most popular in Iceland, and all can or do depart from Reykjavik. Most tour companies have a pick-up system wherein they will pick you up from your hotel, or guesthouse. If you know in advance where you are staying, ask your tour provider if they pick up from that location.  If you don’t know in advance, contact them as soon as you know where you are staying to avoid any last minute scrambling.

Glacier walks - are one of the most popular activities in Iceland and there are numerous companies that offer these tours. One of the most common tours from Reykjavik will take you south to Solheimajokull glacier. Getting there will take is about a 2.5 hr drive.  If that seems long, trust us, it won’t feel like a drag with all the amazing scenery along the way.

The Golden Circle - arguably Iceland’s most famous tour. It consists of three main attractions: Gullfoss (waterfall), Geysir and Thingvellir National Park. Most tours offer other things in addition to these attractions, but these three places are core to the tour.  This tour is basically a big loop.

Horseback riding - If you are a fan of horseback riding, or have always wanted to try, you’ll love Icelandic horses. They are a smaller breed, and friendly too. And, Iceland as a backdrop for a ride is, in a word, “amazing”.

Northern lights - given Iceland’s high latitude, it enjoys the aurora borealis starting in about September and ending in early May.  This is when the night sky is dark enough for them to be visible.  Tour companies generally offer Northern lights tours as a package tour; meaning the tour is comprised of more than just a ride out into the country to view the lights.  Tours may include all kinds of things, like dinner, horseback riding, glacier walks, etc. This makes the tour more interesting and robust, and gives you more to do when the Northern lights are not visible, which CAN happen. They are a natural phenomena, and the tour companies cannot guarantee you’ll see them - be aware of that.

Blue Lagoon - Iceland’s most famous “hot spring”.  It is located near the Keflavik International airport on the Reykjanes peninsula - you drive by it on your way in from the airport to Reykjavik.  As an less-busy alternative to the Blue Lagoon, we suggest the Fontana Geothermal Spa which is located in the middle of the Golden Circle loop.

Hiking - there are many great hiking tours within reasonable driving distance of Reykjavik. The most popular are in an area called Fimmvorduhals, which includes places like Skogar and Thorsmork.  Please note that these are ‘summer season’ tours because areas of Iceland’s interior close due to snow.

Jeep tours - are a fun way to get off the beaten path. In Iceland, the tours are called super jeep tours even though they are usually not jeeps. In Iceland, they modify off road trucks for extreme conditions, like fording rivers, driving on rough tracks, even driving on glaciers. If you want to experience Iceland’s unpopulated highlands, check out a jeep tour.

Well, there you go. A list of some of the best tours available from Reykjavik.  There are of course others, but they are mostly the things you’d expect are available within the the capital city, like bus tours and whale watching. We hope you enjoy your trip, and found this post useful!

From Berjaya Hotels, Iceland’s premier hotel chain, with nine locations around Iceland to serve you!  Cheers.