A few suggestions to get the holiday planning process started
The Golden Circle, the South Coast, Skaftafell and Lake Myvatn sum up Iceland's major sites
8 days, from £2,250 to £3,125
Head to the water for an afternoon whale watching off the coast of Húsavík
10 days, from £3,105 to £4,955
Splash, soak and swim in the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon.
7 days, from £2,320 to £3,700
A road trip around Iceland, heading to the secret region of the East Fjords: an enormous expanse that feels like it's at the end of the world
10 days, from £2,815 to £3,930
This trip is good all year round - whether you prefer snuggling up in the winder or the midnight sun, the choice is yours
8 days, from £2,785 to £4,440
Snowmobile across the Eyjafjallajökull glacier for a taste of Icelandic wilderness
8 days, from £2,640 to £4,210
Using a wealth of experience, our team can help you venture off the well-trodden trail of the Golden Circle to areas such as the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, a microcosm of the ‘land of fire and ice’, or to the Highlands in the country’s centre for epic hiking trips. We plan every experience to suit you, whether you want to snowmobile across a glacier or taste freshly caught seafood on the deck of a fishing trawler. In a country where changeable weather conditions and volcanic activity can quickly disrupt plans, our excellent team of local guides and our helpful Concierges offer invaluable support.
ENQUIRE NOW
Discover different ways to explore Iceland
Practical advice and inspiration to help you prepare for your holiday
Practical guide
Travel Advice & Information
Our team of clued-up consultants will ensure you get the most out of Iceland’s otherworldly landscapes, from its thundering waterfalls to its black volcanic shores. Iceland is a notoriously challenging destination to navigate on your own, thanks mostly to its unpredictable climate and limited accommodation. So we'll help you navigate the volcanic landscapes, secure the best rates and only recommend vetted properties, be it rustic, rural farmhouses or handsome hotels in the colourful capital, Reykjavik. In the capable hands of our exceptional in-country team, you'll traverse Iceland's ample natural wonders with peace of mind.
Iceland holidays are ideal for adventurers or those yearning for a taste of beautiful wilderness. It’s also perfect for families who want to appreciate fresh air and long summer days. Spend the long days exploring ice cream farms or travelling round the coast on the hunt for puffins with beaks as orange as the midnight sun and feathers the colour of the black sand beaches they reside on. In winter, Reykjavik’s Christmas lights illuminate the city, a wonder for youngsters who will most likely meet the 13 Yule Lads - festive trolls who are the Icelandic equivalent of Father Christmas. This is also the best time to keep your eyes peeled for the glistening wonder of the the Northern Lights. Iceland holidays are also perfect for teens who can let loose, hiking, snowmobiling or sledding with huskies.
Iceland has a population of 320,000. That's it. That's the same as Nottingham alone. A third of those hardy Icelanders live in the capital, Reykjavik, making the rest of the country one of the emptiest in the world. As well as having one of the lowest population densities, Iceland is pretty much self-sufficient. The country meets most of its energy needs from natural geothermal power, thanks to the sheer power found on this volcanic island. As a result, pristine landscapes of fjords, mountains, glaciers, and moss-covered lava fields still dominate most of the island.
Explore untamed landscapes from dramatic coasts and black-sand beaches to snow-capped volcanoes and steaming hot springs. Cross vast fjord beds in a 4x4, go whale and puffin watching along the rocky coastline or traverse year-round over glistening glaciers. After all that adventure, you can take a long soak in the many steaming geothermal baths or slow the pace down visiting pretty fishing towns with local charm. Then there are the Northern Lights, best seen on a fun super Jeep (4x4s with massive wheels) adventure or tucked up in a cosy cabin in the Icelandic wilderness. Nothing can quite prepare you for this shimmering spectacle lighting up a clear night’s sky, as bright shades of pink, purple and green dance across the midnight sky.
The most obvious starting point on any Iceland holidays should be Reykjavik and after a stint in the capital, we recommend hiring a car to explore the rest of the country at your leisure. We particularly love a Golden Circle or Silver Circle adventure. Where to stay? We have a handful of exciting and unusual hotels, all with wow factor, that are the ultimate base for your explorations. This could be a chic design hotel perfect for a boutique break or an adventure lodge-come-feat-of-architecture with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Or base yourself out of a converted sheep farmhouse in wonderful isolation, from where you can go snowmobiling in the surrounding crisp white snow and afterwards hole up in the spa.
When in Iceland, do as the Icelanders do and take the spa seriously. With saunas and geothermal baths at every turn, it’s almost an injustice not to pamper yourself. Take to a smoke sauna heated by a wood fire and if you’re feeling brave, follow tradition and get your heart pumping by rolling in the snow.
Before you head out into the wild, your first stop will be Reykjavik, the most northerly capital in the world, and a place that looks and feels more like a small fishing village than a capital. The city has a very quirky charm all of its own, with a selection of funky hotels and bustling nightlife. The good news is that Reykjavik is also so small you'll never get FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) as you just wander five minutes around the corner to find another fun place to explore. You may even stumble across the Icelandic Phallological Museum, at which point you might want to cover the youngsters’ eyes. While you wander, it's also worth checking out the statue of explorer Leif Erikson outside the extraordinary Hallgrimskirkja church, which is designed to look like Iceland's basalt lava flows. A gift from the USA, the statue acknowledges that it was a Viking who actually discovered the Americas several hundred years before Christopher Columbus.
Away from the capital, Snæfellsnes is a typical part of Iceland – a starkly beautiful peninsula jutting into the North Atlantic on Iceland’s western coast. Closely connected with the Norse Sagas, this region was also the birthplace of Mr Explorer Erikson himself, and the Snæfellsnes volcano is where Jules Verne’s adventurers journeyed to the centre of the world. Road trip along lava fields and stumble upon tiny red-roofed churches dotted sporadically across the countryside.
Another intriguing place to visit is Southern Iceland, home to yet more spectacular scenery, and the villainous volcano Eyjafjallajokull which caused so much air travel chaos in 2010. Snap an iconic shot of yourself in front of Skogafoss with its double rainbows before venturing along the coast to the infamous black beaches of Vic and Reynisfjara where you will get a feel of just how wild this Nordic country is. Diamond Beach is another otherworldly sight along the south coast. Huge clear-blue diamonds of ice coat the beach having made their way down from the looming Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. Keep your eyes peeled for the bobbing head of an Icelandic seal or the impressive dorsal fin of an Orca emerging from the white, icy waves.
Iceland is one of Europe’s more unique holiday destinations, packed full of natural wonders that are made to be admired. It’s a country that’s continuing to grow in popularity with international tourists – and for good reason.
- The Northern Lights. This part of the world is one of the best destinations to observe the Northern Lights – the inspiration for many a trip to Iceland. You’re most likely to see this spectacular natural light show during the winter months when the shorter days and darker skies provide the perfect canvas for the dancing display.
While it’s difficult to predict with any certainty where they can be seen best, the north of the country generally offers the most favourable conditions (darker skies and less cloud cover).
- The ‘Land of Fire and Ice’. Iceland is affectionately known as the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’ due to its fascinating geological makeup. It’s one of the most volcanically active countries in the world, with around 30 active volcanic systems spread across the landscape. It’s also home to Europe’s largest glacier outside of the polar regions – Vatnajökull – which covers an area of approximately 9,000 square kilometres.
- The Golden Circle. Dramatic landscapes and picturesque natural hotspots aren’t hard to come by in Iceland. The highest concentration of magnificent sites can be found in the ‘Golden Circle’. This scenic tourism route comprises some of the most popular natural attractions, from Gullfoss waterfall to the Great Geysir. Starting in the capital, the route can be driven in just a few hours, but many choose to extend the journey to savour the sights along the way.
The best way to get around Iceland is by car. A popular route is the Ring Road which circles the entire island (except the Westfjords), passing through the main towns and cities along the way. Most of the road is paved and well-maintained, but parts of the eastern stretch have a gravel surface, which can be slightly more difficult to navigate.
There’s no passenger railway system in Iceland, so hiring a car is the best way to explore different parts of the country.
If you’re staying in the compact capital of Reykjavik, you can manage without a car; bike and electric scooter rentals offer a convenient way to get around, while the city is also connected by a public bus service.
For more information, read our guide on transport in Iceland.
Iceland has four distinct seasons, but the weather is prone to change suddenly, meaning you need to be prepared for all eventualities no matter when you visit. The summer is generally quite mild, with temperatures reaching 20ºC on a warm day. In the winter, you can expect average temperatures to sit around 0ºC and drop below freezing on chillier days.
Most of the country’s snowfall occurs in the north; you’ll likely get some snowfall in December and January in Reykjavik, but it rarely settles for longer than a couple of days, with the capital getting far more rain than snow.
With the longer days and milder temperatures, summer is the busiest time for tourism in Iceland. However, if you can brave the cold, there are plenty of reasons to visit at other times of the year, too.
Iceland is an island situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. Its closest neighbours are Greenland to the west and the Faroe Islands to the east – Scotland lies around 500 miles away from the southeastern tip.
The best time to visit Iceland to see the Northern Lights is between September and April. In the middle of winter, there are only four or five hours of daylight, giving you more opportunities to spot the phenomenon – the darkest months are November to January. But the Northern Lights can appear at any time of the year, and even visiting in midwinter doesn’t guarantee a sighting.
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland. It’s located on the southwestern coast and is home to approximately two-thirds of the entire Icelandic population.
Icelandic is the country’s only official language, but other European languages like English, Spanish, German, Danish and French are also widely spoken. Icelandic belongs to the North Germanic language group, so speakers of languages like Norwegian and Faroese will be more familiar with the local tongue.
Iceland observes Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) all year round – there is no Daylight Saving, so they are one hour behind the UK during the summer.
The official currency of Iceland is the Icelandic króna (ISK). Credit cards are widely accepted across the country and most vendors will actually favour card payments. However, it’s always worth carrying a small amount of cash in case of any payment issues.
The approximate flight time from London to Keflavik International Airport is 3 hours 10 minutes. Keflavik is Iceland’s main airport and sits around 30 miles west of Reykjavik.
Since Iceland is part of the Schengen area, British citizens can travel here without a visa for up to 90 days in a six-month period.
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
