Does anyone know anything about going to Iceland?

[Lamona]

The country not the orangutan loving supermarket...
When is the best time to go?
3 priorities are

1. Chance we might see the Northern Lights
2. Whales
3. Puffins

Went last September and drove the ring road round the whole country - was brilliant!
I’d definitely recommend doing that and getting out of the South - it’s so much quieter away from the golden circle / tour buses and the landscape is even more varied in the north and east. Really easy to drive, we just planned our route and booked accommodation ourselves. Self catering was great so we could keep costs down.

Saw northern lights twice although they weren’t that strong, was still exciting.

We went whale watching from Dalvik near Akureyri. Was the most incredible experience, we saw 3 humpbacks continually jumping out the water, as well as minky whale and dolphins. We were the only boat there! Brilliant trip, gave you thermal overalls to wear so you didn’t get cold and you got to fish if you wanted on the way back - they then bbq’d the fish for lunch Friends who had done the whale watching from Reykjavik were all disappointed - either no whales or the ones there were swamped by boats getting too close.

Didn’t see puffins but we live in the North East so see them at the Farne Islands each summer!

I have been to Iceland twice.

There are no guarantees about seeing the northern lights or big blue whales, but one is in winter and the other summer so you won't see them both on one trip.

We went early in June for our honeymoon. We decided not to do the full big blue whale trip as it was so early in the season and dh gets travel sick. We were on a trip with some others that did and didn't get to see any whales. We did do a 3 hour trip from Reykjavik harbour to see minke whales and saw loads.

We also did the golden circle tour (includes gulfoss waterfalls, the geizers, the national park and other stops), a trip up the coast, a trip down the coast and the blue lagoon. The weather was fine as long as you were wearing a coat.

The second time we went in early February. We did a trip to see just gulfoss and the geizers (they were very different in the winter), and a trip to see the northern lights (there was a good showing). It was absolutely freezing even wearing thermals and multiple layers. The bus driver looked at us as if we were mad when we asked for two adult tickets to the zoo. There were no problems with crowds though as we were the only ones there!

Whatelsewouldibecalled - the showing we saw the northern lights were green and dancing.

I think you will have to decide what you want to see/do and use that to determine the time of year that you go.

We hope to go back in a few years with out daughter.

I went in August many years ago - we missed the puffins by a couple of days but certainly saw plenty of whales. Lucky enough to do an almost fully catered camping / activity trip around the whole island which kept the costs down, but that company seems to no longer exist.

Whale watching, white water rafting, glaciers, pony trekking, hiking, fishing, snowmobiling, a flight over Hekla, Blue Lagoon, geysers, waterfalls, museums - it felt eye wateringly expensive at the time but with hindsight it was a bargain!

I recommend avoiding the fermented shark though.

Went for our 25th wedding anniversary at the end of February. We loved it. Stayed in a boutique hotel on the main street in Reykjavik as it was a special occasion. Did a night time boat trip to see the northern lights and we had a great display. Blue Lagoon was amazing. We had sun and bright blue skies while there was heavy snow at home!

I went in summer, a long time ago. I loved it, but the best bit was going by ferry - catch it from Denmark, takes three days, stops off for lunch in the Faroes and it's pretty magical.

This website tells you how to do it all by train to Denmark and then the ferry to Iceland: www.seat61.com/Iceland.htm