Weekend trip to Iceland
Discussion
A mate of mine has suggested a weekend trip to Iceland.
I'm well up for it, just because its something different, but I really know nothing about the country other than their economy is even further up s
t creek than ours.
Can anybody make any suggestions as to what to go and see, and what there is to do while we are there ?
Also am I correct assuming its much cheaper to visit now than before the financial collapse ?
I'm well up for it, just because its something different, but I really know nothing about the country other than their economy is even further up s
t creek than ours.Can anybody make any suggestions as to what to go and see, and what there is to do while we are there ?
Also am I correct assuming its much cheaper to visit now than before the financial collapse ?
I went on a 1 day trip from Bristol a few years ago. 6.30am flight, and got home at about 2.00am next day. The trip was organised by a company (forgotton the name) who did that sort of thing. It was a bloody good day - swam in the Blue Lagoon, went to the geysers and boiling mud, Icelandic lunch seved by Vikings (naff but still a laugh) and a trip round the capital. Go for it.
I went on a stag to Iceland last year...great time. We went during the summer so it basically doesn't get darker than dusk....the locals certainly party very late and very hard.
We hired two big Ford 4x4's with massive tyres (and drivers) and did a day's trip which took in seeing some amazing scenery and also stopping and doing a decent trip each with our own Skidoo on a glacier (which was at pretty lairy speeds). I didn't organise it but there are plenty of firms that do this so I'm pretty sure you can find whatever you want.
Great fun and definitely glad I went.
We hired two big Ford 4x4's with massive tyres (and drivers) and did a day's trip which took in seeing some amazing scenery and also stopping and doing a decent trip each with our own Skidoo on a glacier (which was at pretty lairy speeds). I didn't organise it but there are plenty of firms that do this so I'm pretty sure you can find whatever you want.
Great fun and definitely glad I went.
Lots of geological stuff to see - volcanos, lava, geysers, hot springs, glaciers, etc. Northern lights if you're lucky.
www.icelandexpress.com for cheap(ish) flights.
www.icelandexpress.com for cheap(ish) flights.
Went a few years ago near the solstice and quite liked it. Not much around Reykjavik by day but there's some good night life. The most interesting part IMO is the countryside, the geysers, lakes, waterfalls, glaciers etc.
Friends of mine went in winter and saw the northern lights so it might be one those countries that would be great to visit twice - once at the peak of each season.
Friends of mine went in winter and saw the northern lights so it might be one those countries that would be great to visit twice - once at the peak of each season.
If you want to see the Northern lights best to go on a tour, as street lights make it very difficult to see them from the city centre.
I found it insanely expensive (especially drinks!)
Recommended for a weekend: Blue lagoon, northern lights night trip and a day out to see Gullfoss and the geysers.
I found it insanely expensive (especially drinks!)
Recommended for a weekend: Blue lagoon, northern lights night trip and a day out to see Gullfoss and the geysers.
cottonfoo said:
BarnatosGhost said:
don't miss the hotdog shack at the docks in rekjavik, simply stunning.
My suite at the Radisson 1919 overlooked that hot dog stall, nipped out a couple of times to bring a couple back 
I spend a few weeks a year there every year so know the place pretty well.
When are you planning to go, as it makes a difference in what to do? Things to do :
Benne Billa - 800bhp going up vertical sand dunes (summer)
Glacier Trip - in a massive 4x4 , also can do some skidoing
Skiing
Trip to Vatnajokull Glacier where you can walk along a river that's under a glacier also ha a lagoon of Ice, which is rather pretty
Karting - there's a few tracks out there
Golf - some amazing locations
Blue Lagoon - do it when you arrive or when leaving as it's next to the airport
Hire a 4x4 and head inland, summer only. What we would consider off-roading in the UK they consider normal driving once inland. I've done plenty of River Crossings over there.
The Golden Circle - Thingvellir (worlds oldest parliament located on the North Atlantic Ridge), Geyser and Gulfoss (Europe's largest Waterfall)
Whale watching
Swimming - all residential areas have a communal pool. These are of a very high standard and all pools are outdoors and there are usually hotpots to chill out in. We go to the sports centre is Seltjananess, which is nice and a great place for people watching, no matter what the weather.
Swimming in the sea - during the summer they pump hot water into the sea at a beach adjacent to the Perlan Restaurant (domed building on top of water towers as you enter Reykjavik.
New Year is amazing - the whole country sets of fireworks at the same time.
The Icelanders like to party and there's loads of very nice restaurants, bars and clubs. Clbs are open very late at the weekend.
Eating out and drinking is considerably more expensive than the UK so make sure you've got plenty of cash.
It's a fantastic country and you'll have an amazing time. If you have any specific questions just ask me, my wife is Icelandic and all her family are still over there.
When are you planning to go, as it makes a difference in what to do? Things to do :
Benne Billa - 800bhp going up vertical sand dunes (summer)
Glacier Trip - in a massive 4x4 , also can do some skidoing
Skiing
Trip to Vatnajokull Glacier where you can walk along a river that's under a glacier also ha a lagoon of Ice, which is rather pretty
Karting - there's a few tracks out there
Golf - some amazing locations
Blue Lagoon - do it when you arrive or when leaving as it's next to the airport
Hire a 4x4 and head inland, summer only. What we would consider off-roading in the UK they consider normal driving once inland. I've done plenty of River Crossings over there.
The Golden Circle - Thingvellir (worlds oldest parliament located on the North Atlantic Ridge), Geyser and Gulfoss (Europe's largest Waterfall)
Whale watching
Swimming - all residential areas have a communal pool. These are of a very high standard and all pools are outdoors and there are usually hotpots to chill out in. We go to the sports centre is Seltjananess, which is nice and a great place for people watching, no matter what the weather.
Swimming in the sea - during the summer they pump hot water into the sea at a beach adjacent to the Perlan Restaurant (domed building on top of water towers as you enter Reykjavik.
New Year is amazing - the whole country sets of fireworks at the same time.
The Icelanders like to party and there's loads of very nice restaurants, bars and clubs. Clbs are open very late at the weekend.
Eating out and drinking is considerably more expensive than the UK so make sure you've got plenty of cash.
It's a fantastic country and you'll have an amazing time. If you have any specific questions just ask me, my wife is Icelandic and all her family are still over there.
BarnatosGhost said:
probably the best 'crap' food i've ever had. The crunchy onions were to die for. And very inexpensive too, compared to the alternatives. Great stuff.
Try the hot dog stalls in Denmark if you haven't already, they're at least as good, I lived on those at weekends when I lived there For my 40th the OH got me a day trip to Iceland which was great. We did a Whale Watching trip (sadly no whales!) and then a tour of Reykjavik. Really interesting place and I would like to go back for a longer trip.
Photos:-
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/ColinGoldfinch/Icela...
The Cathedral was amazing! If you go Whale watching make sure you have some good warm waterproof clothing - although the boat we went on had extra it was still something else; North Atlantic in April - who would have thought?
Photos:-
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/ColinGoldfinch/Icela...
The Cathedral was amazing! If you go Whale watching make sure you have some good warm waterproof clothing - although the boat we went on had extra it was still something else; North Atlantic in April - who would have thought?
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