Any damages will be SUPER expensive, so get all the insurance you can. A thumbnail-sized scratch on my group’s car was $1,530 which doubled our rental cost
Parking in the city is usually free on Sundays. Parking lots are usually labeled P1, P2, etc and the higher the number the cheaper the rate is
(Our trusty Mitsubishi SUV, which was covered in mud and bug splatters at the end of our journey. )
Tours and Activities
These were the highlights of my trip! They are all outdoors so your experience will vary depending on the weather. I also went on a glacier tour and horseback-riding activity but they weren’t as enjoyable due to low visibility(on the glacier) and rain(for the horse riding).
Athletics: Be prepared for a 20–30 minute hike through bumpy lava fields to get to the cave opening. Once you get there, you’ll be donning rubber boots with metal studs on the bottom for grip and a helmet with a headlamp. You’ll be wading through ice water, climbing through narrow holes and sliding down ice slopes, it’s like an obstacle course! Gloves and water-proof clothing is a must here.
Why it’s great: Bo, our tour guide, was fun and light-hearted. To get to the lava fields, we rode a jeep for about 30 minutes through very bumpy terrain, which was really fun. On the way back, he did some more extreme off-roading at our request. Apparently this particular vehicle is illegal in some countries for being so dangerous to drive!
Mountain Excursions super truck tour and glacier walk
Athletics: For the first tour, it’s mostly walking. The glacier walk is more strenuous and you’ll be putting on crampons and carrying an ice pick.
Why it’s great: Our guide Johann is a panorama photo pro! Really nice small tour group sizes, great narration and story-telling from Johann, and stunning landscapes. This was by far the most educational tour our group went on!
Silfras snorkeling
Location: SW Iceland near Thingvellir national park
Athletics: It will take a while to put on the dry suits(the water is freezing cold), which are very tight fitting and cumbersome. I think it took our whole group nearly an hour to just suit-up and then waddle over to the entry point into the river. I had a great time since I’m comfortable with snorkeling, but some people in my group ran into trouble when they were unable to get into standing position with the suits(it takes some coordination and core strength) and when their goggles came loose. Icelandic tours are more of the“at your own risk” mentality and there was almost no safety instruction before we jumped in. So, be cautious!
Why it’s great: Unreal underwater scenery! The water is crystal clear and the rocks are covered with this alien-like plant life. The dry suits keep you nice and warm and you can just bob along at your own pace.
Reykjavik food tour
Location: Reykjavik, meeting at Harpa concert hall
Weather
Driving and Car Rental
Tours and Activities