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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Iceland excursions

53 replies

jelly79 · 25/11/2022 07:35

Apologies I posted about this a while ago and can't find the thread!

I have now booked 4 nights in Iceland for my Boyfriends 40th mid jan!

I am for trip recommendations!

I will book the NLs for the first night so we have the option of moving if we need to. I've seen this by yacht - is this a good idea?

And then I'd like to have a full day planned on his actually birthday! Can we do the golden circle and spas in one? Which spa?

Any advise / bars / restaurants would be great x

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newname12345 · 26/11/2022 09:09

Might be wrong but I think the sea might get a bit rough. So might be a bad idea if you suffer from sea sickness.

Are you planning to get a car? If not and you want to do a golden circle day trip from Reykjavik that includes a 'spa' you are probably limited to either the Blue Lagoon or the Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths. Definitely at the Blue Lagoon you will only have time to go into the main thermal bath rather than the spa part.

horseymum · 26/11/2022 09:16

Horse riding! Icelandic horses are unique and you will be able to find companies who take beginners.

BamBamBilla · 26/11/2022 09:23

Gulfoss falls, the geysers and the Blue Lagoon.

Puffinshop · 28/11/2022 12:01

The Blue Lagoon is quite a detour from the golden circle. You might try the Sky Lagoon in Kópavogur when you get back to the capital. I heard it's quite nice, though I've never been.

January is the coldest month I think and if you go on a boat it will be even colder. Standing around on a boat at night in January looking for the northern lights sounds awful to me, but if you are doing this, dress extremely warmly.

Watch out for storms and icy conditions if you'll be driving yourself.

TizerorFizz · 28/11/2022 18:02

Just book a golden circle tour. Will you get much daylight? Driving could be icy.

tootssweet · 28/11/2022 18:10

You can do trips to Golden Circle and Sky Lagoon that is on the outskirts of Reykjavik in one day (think there are some excursions that include both) or if you are hiring a car it is definitely do-able (weather depending) Sky Lagoon was lovely, even my spa-hating DP was impressed!

Blue Lagoon is better done on the way from/to the airport as it is nearer to there. We went out on a boat for the Northern Lights and didn't see a thing. It was fairly calm as they don't venture too far from the shore, just far enough away for it to be dark. Again lots of trips available if you prefer to go out into the countryside.

You won't have a lot of daylight and the sun will be really low on the horizon. I would also save up as it's £££!

tootssweet · 28/11/2022 18:11

Sorry forgot to add that we went in Mid-October. Had a real mix of weather but it was an amazing place and we both want to go back!

AngelasEyelash · 28/11/2022 18:14

I would recommend the secret lagoon - much nicer than the blue lagoon IMHO secretlagoon.is/

We went on a coach trip there from Reykjavik

Original poster

jelly79 · 28/11/2022 23:20

Oooh thank you! This feels a bit of a minefield!

I will leave the boat idea!

And look at the secret lagoon now!

We are there from Monday a evening to Friday morning so have 3 full days to try and plan!

Maybe we could do the NL one day, GC another and a lagoon another?

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Starlightstarbright1 · 28/11/2022 23:25

We did the secret lagoon and glacier on one day.

All trips run from a central bus station and pick up from hotels.

We went January. Went on a boat and saw nothern lights. We wore overrall suits to keep warm.. we enjoyed it.

We did the golden circle one day.

Wear layers we were fine except feet in the glacier.

Original poster

jelly79 · 28/11/2022 23:31

So many trips are combined in One day, is this to avoid more transfer costs?

What did you wear on your feet?

Is there plenty to do when you are not on trips?

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Starlightstarbright1 · 28/11/2022 23:50

Its because time is limited. Tbh we were shattered after trips essentially ate and slept.

You are out early and all day

TizerorFizz · 29/11/2022 07:16

You only get about 5 hours of good daylight in January so whatever you do, most of the day is dark.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 29/11/2022 07:26

We did the golden circle and the secret lagoon in one day, also take a day to explore Reykjavik

Original poster

jelly79 · 29/11/2022 07:35

I am thinking we have 3 full days there so maybe leaving one free and doing 2 or 3 trips and the northern lights ?

I need to start thinking warm clothes quickly

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Starlightstarbright1 · 29/11/2022 07:55

However you do nothern ights book as soon as trip us running even uf uts after a day trip.

We just went to decathlon for clothing.

I went in ugg type boots.

cptartapp · 29/11/2022 08:01

We did the usual tours but also went quad biking in the lava fields.
Not cheap but really special.

Puffinshop · 29/11/2022 08:20

If you book yourself solid you have to be prepared that you might be unlucky and get a storm that will cancel some of your plans, but it's not that likely.

I wear winter boots a bit like this (mine are Ecco) but if you're moving around then normal hiking boots with warm socks will be fine for out in the countryside and you can wear them in town too tbh. It's standing still that will make you cold which is why northern lights watching is such a chilly activity. Walking around you will keep warm and you don't need to dress for anything so extreme - Iceland is not actually that cold.
s4s.is/ellingsen/vara?ProductId=SOR-1886271-010

Puffinshop · 29/11/2022 08:30

If you already have a good wind- and waterproof jacket, just layer underneath that with jumpers you already have. It is best to have a wind- and waterproof outer layer on your legs as well - the wind is often very strong and bitter cold and that's what will steal your body heat. So if you're going to get one item (if you don't already own) I would get some shell trousers. The second thing I would get is thermal base layers, but I wouldn't say these are essential, they just mean you don't need to bother with so many mid-layers.

On your hands, two layers of wool mittens work better than a single pair of fancy expensive ski gloves.

Wiennetta · 29/11/2022 09:01

For the NL trip, I’d avoid the boat trips. You need to be able to move around to find the lights, and an area where there’s clear skies, so I’d go for a land based trip. We saw them twice when we were there but we had to drive around a lot for them.

TizerorFizz · 29/11/2022 12:12

Also if it’s cloudy, you won’t see a thing (Northetn Lights) The best thing we did was a superjeep trip. Just fantastic. DH and I were allowed to drive it too. Getting really cold under a cloudy sky at night isn’t much fun. The best chance is staying in the middle of nowhere with no light pollution.

Kerfluffle · 29/11/2022 12:16

The restaurant at the Blue Lagoon is very food. I think it is worth it because you can hire nice, warm private lagoon-side changing rooms with showers and go straight from the room into the water. The other lagoons are a more organic experience but once you are in the water, you forget about all of that.

Kerfluffle · 29/11/2022 12:17

You can hire a car and do trips yourself. Vik in the south of Iceland (I think!) was amazing with black beaches and dramatic coastline.

Original poster

jelly79 · 29/11/2022 12:54

I'm knee deep in ideas and links now!

I am swaying towards a snowmobile / golden circle trip!
The sky lagoon in hope of the northern lights or booking the blue lagoon and northern lights as separate trips

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Original poster

jelly79 · 29/11/2022 13:33

I very much appreciate all this advice and the tips! Really helping

So much choice 😂

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