Car hire or organised trips in Iceland

[Rowdythree]

We're a family of 5 heading to Iceland for a week next month and I was wondering if we should hire a car, or book ourselves onto organised tours for the main tourist parts of the country. I'm assuming car hire will work out more economical for a family, but I'm worried about the weather conditions if we were to drive.

Can anyone offer any insights?

If there is thigh-deep snow on a road it will of course be closed.

Following info is for OP and others who would want to drive in snowy Icelandic winter: Not being able to see road markings is definitely one of the trickiest things, but it's more of an issue in town on dual carriageways and stuff. The roads in the countryside are almost all single carriageways and are lined with yellow posts with reflective bits so you can see where to drive unless it's a real whiteout from blowing snow (don't be driving in those conditions if you can help it, I've tried it going over a mountain pass at 30 kph and it's incredibly stressful). You can also follow other tyre tracks usually. You are very unlikely slip on winter tyres if you slow right down and take it easy. Getting stuck is not likely to be an issue either if the road has been ploughed - if there's been significant fresh snowfall and the ploughs haven't finished yet then it is usually better to wait.

There are always idiots who think they can drive as fast in the snow as they can on clear tarmac or who try risky manoeuvres that they'd get away with in the summer. Most people know there is less traction available and adjust speed/braking/acceleration accordingly and I am sure you know this too because it is common sense!

One random bit of info that many tourists don't know about driving in Iceland that you need to know in town is that inside lane has priority on two lane roundabouts. Meaning if you are passing an exit in the outside lane, somebody from the inside lane has every right to cross in front of you to take the exit. This is very different from UK roundabouts but it's dangerous if you're not aware of it.

In the capital area it hasn't snowed since New Year's Day beyond a few stray flakes so almost everywhere is nicely cleaned up for cars anyway (I could say a lot about the shit job they often do clearing footpaths and bus stops etc.). There will be more snow at some point of course but all nice at the moment. It has though been so cold that the sea is starting to freeze which is an incredible and very uncommon sight to see here!

Regarding the horses, exactly what @TizerorFizz said. They are a common sight especially in South Iceland. If you drive from Reykjavík to Selfoss, for example, you will see hundreds. They tend to be very friendly and gentle and if you stop by their fence they will often come over to say hello. Don't feed them and don't park your car where they can bite it because I have heard that they will do so (something to do with the minerals in the paint?). Icelanders get wound up if you call them ponies because they think you are calling them weak or only suitable for children. They obviously are ponies and many breeds of pony are very tough and strong for their size, but it's just one of those things! If you don't want to upset the Icelanders, play along that they are not ponies 😉

Thanks for the info @Puffinshop ,I don't want to upset anyone, so do I call them horses? DD probably knows the answer to this as she's obsessed!

We're just over a week away from our trip and getting very excited.

Also thank you for the warning re roundabouts. I will pass that info onto DH who will be doing the driving!

We went on an organised 5 day trip a few years ago. Our big wheel minibus came across a British family of 4 stranded on a remote road, stuck in the rocks and volcanic dust. Personally I wouldn't fancy driving, particularly in bad weather - road conditions can change hourly.

Yes, call them horses!

Have you been on your trip now Op?

What were your highlights? What would be your recommendations to others travelling to Iceland?!

Hope you had a wonderful time!

We have, we just landed back in Heathrow and we had the best time!

We did hire a car in the end as it worked out the best for us. Having three pre/teens meant we could go at our own pace, even if it wasn't quite as early in the day as I would liked! I'm trying not to be disappointed about it 😆

Our highlights probably were the beautiful winter landscape, Kerið crater (the snow was so deep!) seeing the volcanoes on the drive down to Vik and stopping at the Lava Centre was very interesting. We stayed in a wooden cabin by the sea in Vik, which was fantastic, unfortunately our horse ride on the beach was cancelled due to heavy rain and high winds (and then our second attempt at horse riding was cancelled due to high winds and snow yesterday) DD was disappointed but the stables very kindly allowed us to visit the horses before we left this morning.

We all loved exploring Reykjavik, the view from Halgrimskirkja, seeing the frozen sea and Garður lighthouse. We also visited the Blue Lagoon, went on the fly over Iceland ride and visited the Saga Museum. Unfortunately we didn't see the Aurora Borealis, but we enjoyed trying to spot it!

We just had the best holiday, and definitely wasn't to return.

I'm so glad you loved it! Despite the dodgy weather

Come back and see the summer one day, it'll blow you away!

Thanks @Puffinshop we will definitely be back, I'd love to drive around the Ring road, there is so much I want to see, a week definitely wasn't long enough!

So glad you had a great time!

Thanks @Houseplantophile (great username buy the way!)