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Original poster

Just booked 4 nights in Iceland - what tours?

35 replies

BackT · 19/09/2022 22:10

We've had a rough year as my daughter has had to have major surgery and it's been tough on her mental health so ive just treated us to 4 nights in Iceland.

We basically have an early flight on day 1 so I won't book anything for that day.

Day 2 I'd like to do the Southern tour, Day 3 maybe just the Northern Lights and Day 4 the Golden Circle.

My main question is about the last day. Our flight isn't till the evening and I keep reading that you can do the Blue Lagoon on the way to the airport. Im worried about it though as my daughter will NOT cope with communal naked showering or changing and will need to be certain that there is a hairdryer and mirror on hand. This is especially the case if we are then going on a flight!

Does anyone have any first hand experience of it? Would it be better to go on a trip there (or to another lagoon) on Day 2 as there would be time before the Northern Lights trip.

Sorry too much info there. I'm tying myself in knots!

OP posts:
ChilliPB · 19/09/2022 22:21

I think the blue lagoon has hair dryers and mirrors from memory. It’s all well organised and quite up market. But you could go on the first day if it’s less stressful.
Also - I know it’s not what you asked - but book the Northern Lights trip on the first night or second night. It’ll be cancelled and moved to the next eve if the weather is bad/there’s no activity so try and book it early on in your trip!

ChilliPB · 19/09/2022 22:25

Oh and I think there are private showers there. I think there’s some private stalls and some communal ones.

Original poster
BackT · 19/09/2022 22:29

Thank you that's really helpful. Maybe going to the lagoon on the last day is a bit too stressful!

Good point about the northern lights too.

OP posts:
Rtmhwales · 19/09/2022 22:34

I'd do as suggested above. Do Blue Lagoon on the first day, you can go straight from the airport and store your luggage. Have a swim around and relax. It's a nice start.

Then lunch and a nap at the hotel and northern lights in the evening. If it's canceled you still have nights 2 and 3 to reschedule.

OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide · 19/09/2022 22:41

I deeply dislike the blue lagoon. There’s a secret lagoon on the golden circle which is much more natural (used by locals/ not as man made) but it’s definitely communal showering there.

whoopwhoo · 19/09/2022 22:50

Make sure you bring a really good conditioner. The water is very hard on the hair.

Yupsuuuure · 19/09/2022 22:57

I wouldn't bother with blue lagoon. It's not a natural hot spring and I'm pretty sure i saw people shagging in the water. Definitely do a golden circle tour. It's the best way to see all the main sights. I did a joint horse riding and whale watching tour - no experience necessary for the horses, I'm a complete beginner and i thought it was great.

Original poster
BackT · 20/09/2022 07:52

Yupsuuuure · 19/09/2022 22:57

I wouldn't bother with blue lagoon. It's not a natural hot spring and I'm pretty sure i saw people shagging in the water. Definitely do a golden circle tour. It's the best way to see all the main sights. I did a joint horse riding and whale watching tour - no experience necessary for the horses, I'm a complete beginner and i thought it was great.

🤢😩
Maybe that's a no then!
I like the idea of the Secret Lagoon though, is that something I have to book separately?

The tours are all pretty expensive so I was sort of hoping I could do local buses to some of the places. Maybe that's naive!

Does anyone have any specific tour company recommendations? I will probably book in advance. Thank you

OP posts:
fireplacetiles · 20/09/2022 08:22

Hi, I would go with the expectation of not seeing the Northern Lights and see it as a bonus if you do! Our tour manager in Iceland said he spent so much time explaining this to disappointed guests! What are you doing in the daytime when you are doing the NL? Why not combine Blue lagoon with that? Our hotel had a little bus that took you out to a dark spot free of charge every evening for NL spotting- yours might offer this as well. Best thing we did was a small group tour out to walk on a glacier with a local guide. We found the rest of the places packed with people, although it is all very beautiful 😍Have a lovely holiday x

OldTinHat · 20/09/2022 08:41

Agree 100% about the northern lights. I had a 4 night stay and booked the lights for thr first night. It got cancelled and pushed back every night, I never did get to see them!

The Golden Circle is a must.

There's a lot to do in Reykjavik. There's a whale museum, viking museum and volcano museum. You can also go up the spire of the church, the views from there are amazing. And don't forget the penis museum depending on the age of your DC, very educational!

CamdenLurker · 20/09/2022 08:58

I visited earlier this year, the Blue Lagoon was good, but there was only one private changing room and one big communal changing room where almost everyone was wandering around naked. They do have hair dryers and supply shampoo and good conditioner as your hair practically turns to straw.

The golden circle tour is a very long day and most of it is spent on the coach, we booked with Viator and some people were dropped off at the Secret Lagoon on the way. Our guide was fantastic and gave a great running commentary as we passed through different parts of Iceland.

We did get to see a good show the of northern lights on our first night, again this was quite far away from the hotel we stayed in in Reykjavik, lots of the boat trips were cancelled and some people on our flight didn't get to see the lights so we felt quite lucky.

The church is beautiful and they were holding an organ recital whilst we visited so that was good to enjoy.

Just booked 4 nights in Iceland - what tours?
babynoname22 · 20/09/2022 09:12

There wasn't communal naked showering when we went to blue lagoon??? It was brilliant. The best but we did I think. Loads of people doing it on way to airport and lockers are massive for cases.

Northern lights on first night incase you don't get lucky.

Download the happy hour app where tells you where has happy hour on drinks etc to try and keep costs down a bit was £8 a pint 6 years ago...

OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide · 20/09/2022 10:56

Secret Lagoon is included on the Gateway to Iceland tours, which are minibuses, not coaches.

We chased the lights for a week over new year. Always in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Went on a transatlanic stopover august bank holiday and couldn’t move for them. They were right over the city.

MistressIggi · 20/09/2022 10:59

No advice but this sounds amazing Smile

CamdenLurker · 20/09/2022 11:49

babynoname22 · 20/09/2022 09:12

There wasn't communal naked showering when we went to blue lagoon??? It was brilliant. The best but we did I think. Loads of people doing it on way to airport and lockers are massive for cases.

Northern lights on first night incase you don't get lucky.

Download the happy hour app where tells you where has happy hour on drinks etc to try and keep costs down a bit was £8 a pint 6 years ago...

The showers were cubicles but the actual changing room was one large area with sinks and hairdryers, there was only one actual private changing room available, this was in March.

maddy68 · 20/09/2022 11:51

Definitely book northern lights early on as if you don't see them they give you another chance.

Golden circle is great

A day in Reykjavik is nice for your last day. There is a northern lights museum and other nice things to visit

Also great restaurants and cool bars

Dinoboymama · 20/09/2022 12:00

I am just back from Iceland.

We did the golden circle with snorkeling between the tectonic plates the first day. This is something I would recommend to everyone who can.

The south coast tour the second and a northern lights tour that night we did see them.

The third day we stayed in the city and went up the church and did a while watching tour. We got amazing northern lights that night in the city it was magical.

The fourth and final day we did the blue lagoon we had the premium package so got robes and used a private shower I loved the blue lagoon.

Dinoboymama · 20/09/2022 12:05

One thing to note everyone uses card payment it makes it easier as they use isk which is like 4000 means £30ish.

We had a fancier meal out and when she said 19000isk I was like wow it was only £118 at a place called the the rok.

Also if wanting a nice meal in the city at night pre book the day before to guarantee a table some places like cafe Loki etc are booked up at night.

Whycanineverever · 20/09/2022 12:10

We did an in and on the glacier tour that was fantastic. Long day but completely worth it. Also if you have a spare couple of hours the Icelandic trolls and fairy walking tour was great fun.

rose69 · 20/09/2022 12:19

The capital has a few outdoor swimming pools that are naturally heated. They are not expensive and a thing the locals go to. We were in one when it was snowing. Can't remember if communal changing rooms or not.

Dinoboymama · 20/09/2022 12:29

Whycanineverever · 20/09/2022 12:10

We did an in and on the glacier tour that was fantastic. Long day but completely worth it. Also if you have a spare couple of hours the Icelandic trolls and fairy walking tour was great fun.

The glacier tour looked awesome to us we are planning to do that next year.

OldYork · 20/09/2022 12:35

Agree with pp that the outdoor swimming pool in the city was great! Proper 50m pool we were swimming outdoors in the snow and it was proper toasty (and super cheap!)

don’t bother with whale watching, especially if you are prone to seasickness…there is like one whale and you just spend your time chasing round in circles after it 🤢

savemeagin · 20/09/2022 12:40

I did the blue lagoon earlier this year and loved it.
The changing rooms are communal but there's loads of them so although 20 people may be getting changed - there was only our small group in our room. Obviously there are completely separate to the male changing rooms. The showers are individual cubical. You're supposed to shower naked but can dress and undress in the cubical. I just showered in my bikini. Loads of hairdryers, shampoo and conditioners to be used all free of charge. Towels are free to use and there's little plastic bags to pop your wet swim gear in. You get a free mud face mask and a free drink. You can buy extra drinks from in the pool. You can pay extra for bathrobes too but I didn't bother with that.
Loved the experience and would definitely recommend it. I would before going though, but a little waterproof bag to allow you to have your camera on you - you'll want pictures! Although phones are now waterproof - I wouldn't trust it with all the natural salts. My skin felt amazing afterwards.

OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide · 20/09/2022 12:51

We did the golden circle with snorkeling between the tectonic plates the first day. This is something I would recommend to everyone who can

my husband did this - it was -7 when he came out and his diving hat got frozen to his head. 😂

Original poster
BackT · 20/09/2022 20:57

Thanks everyone. This is so helpful!
I can't wait now.

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