Last Updated: 1/20/20 | January 20th, 2020
Iceland is an utterly special country, with glaciers varying in color from white to blue to gray, waterfalls the size of skyscrapers plummeting down sheer rock cliffs, and bumpy lava fields covered in moss in every shade of green you can imagine. and you’ll hear fantastical tales from history and folklore from people who still believe that elves might exist.
It’s one of my favorite countries in the world, one I fell in love with the first time I visited. I’ve been back multiple times considering that then during various seasons.
But Iceland isn’t always easy to get around, especially in the off-season, when lots of bus routes shut down because of weather.
One of the ways to get around that problem is by joining an organized tour. You’ll get to experience places that can be inaccessible without a four-wheel drive, and you’ll have local knowledge to help make the most of your day, depending on the ever-changing and often extreme weather.
I’ve put together a list of my favorite excursion companies in Iceland, from short city walking excursions to multiday adventure hikes. A lot of excursion companies aren’t cheap there, and you’ll absolutely pay a lot more than if you were to do the same route solo, but here are the seven that supply extraordinary experiences at the ideal price:
1. follow Me – complimentary walking excursion Reykjavik
A complimentary walking excursion is always a great way to introduce yourself to a new city, and the guides from follow Me can give you a good introduction of Iceland’s capital on this 90-minute stroll. It runs three city walking excursions a day in height season (June to September) and one a day the rest of the year; it also now uses an Old Harbour and Brewery excursion every afternoon.
The Reykjavik walking excursions have been running considering that 2012, and the guides are all local comedians and entertainers who love the city and want to make you laugh while you’re exploring it. They’ll show you some a lot more overlooked parts of town and also give you some ideas for saving money in this expensive country. like lots of complimentary walking tours, a lot of guests idea the guide what they feel the excursion was worth at the end.
—-> Click here to learn a lot more about follow Me – complimentary walking excursion Reykjavik!
2. ride with Locals
Ride with Locals is a motorcycle excursion company that will take you to the middle of nowhere on trails you wouldn’t access any other way, indicating you’ll see volcanoes, craters, and mountains that very few visitors to Iceland do, making your Iceland experience particularly unique. Its trips last between three days and a week and normally head inland, rather than hugging the coast like a lot of tours.
The motorcycles are KTM 690R and Husqvarna 701 dual sport bikes, and all guides are really experienced with riding through Iceland’s highlands. Some trips use sleeping bags in mountain huts for accommodations (and include all the meals), while others include hotel stays with breakfast.
Costs range between about $2,800 and $5,000, including motorbike hire and fuel, depending on the length of the trip.
—-> Click here to learn a lot more about ride with Locals!
3. Intrepid
Intrepid’s excursion offerings are always solid, using small groups and local guides, and they don’t rush you from sight to sight. It uses a number of options in Iceland, including the classic ring road trip, where you circumnavigate the island and get to visit some of the best-known sights, from the glacier lagoon at Jökulsárlón on the south coast to the volcanic lake at Mývatn in the north. There’s also a six-day camping trip along the southern coast.
Intrepid excursions start at $1,000 and go up to $4,600 for the ten-day comfort tour.
—-> Click here to learn a lot more about Intrepid!
4. Arctic Adventures/Trek Iceland/Extreme Iceland
Arctic Adventures is a big player in the Iceland excursion market these days and uses a huge range of one-day and multiday tours, as well as helping you out with self-drive excursion arrangements. It’s owned by the same people who run trek Iceland and extreme Iceland (two other excursion companies that essentially run all the same excursions as Arctic Adventures).
Its one-day excursion options include all the main Icelandic sightseeing activities, like ice caves, snorkeling, glacier tours, and the popular golden Circle route to Thingvellir national Park, the Geysir hot springs, and Gullfoss Waterfall. They have mutli-day trips as well.
Arctic Adventures’ full-day trips range in price from around $100 to $160, depending on the need for equipment or smaller groups (for the a lot more adventurous activities).
—-> Click here to learn a lot more about Arctic Adventures!
5. Icelandic Mountains Guides
For 25 years, Icelandic mountain Guides has focused on true adventure travel with very small groups. Its multiday excursions include a lot more special routes, like a five-day backpacking trek from Núpsstaðaskógur to Skaftafell, or a ten-day expedition across the Highlands starting from the northern town of Akureyri; these longer trips will set you back upwards of $4,000.
It also runs one-day excursions to ice caves and glacier walk experiences, among others, leaving from Reykjavík, along with similar one-day adventures on the Sólheimajökull glacier on the south coast if you’re in the area and can meet them there. The half-day and one-day excursions are normally pricier than other companies (from $100 and up for half-day excursions) but often include specialist equipment or ride on quad bikes or snowmobiles.
Icelandic mountain Guides has a genuine conservation focus and holds a twice-yearly event where guides spend time planting trees. Its current goal is to increase its carbon-offset programs so that its multiday excursions are also carbon neutral.
—-> Click here to learn a lot more about Icelandic Mountains Guides!
6. Iceland Horizon
Iceland horizon uses a huge ariety of single-day excursions all around the country. They’re a good choice for travelers who want to see the main sights and do fun activities but who don’t have access to their own vehicle. They run their small-group excursions (always under 19 people) from a mini-bus (which has Wi-Fi), making it a comfortable way to see the sights without having to bother with renting your own car.
They also run multi-day trips ranging from 3-7 days that cover all the best highlights of the country, including northern Lights excursions and excursions around the Snaefellsness peninsula. expect to pay around 11,000 ISK per person for a day trip and upwards of 30,000 ISK per person for a three-day tour.
—-> Click here to learn a lot more about Iceland Horizon!
7. Midgard Adventures
Based in southern Iceland, Midgard Adventures is a family-owned company that uses all sorts of fun and adventurous tours. Offroading with jeeps, fat bike tours, hiking, snowmobiling, and glacier walks are all on offer here with excursions led by family friends and local guides.
Midgard also has its own hotel in Hvolsöllur that you can base yourself from, complete with restaurant, bar, hot tubs, and a sauna (Hvolsöllur is around 90 minutes southeast of Reykjavik). They have both single-day excursions as well as multi-day excursions that stretch from 2-8 days (including seasonally-exclusive excursions such as offroading in the Highlands during winter).
Prices start around 30,000 ISK for a day excursion and stretch upwards of 390,000 ISK for an 8-day tour. While not cheap, Midgard excursions are high-quality and tons of fun. You won’t find the same cookie-cutter experiences here.
—-> Click here to learn a lot more about Midgard Adventures!
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From challenging multiday hikes through some of the most picturesque landscapes you’ll ever see, to gently exploring a glacier lagoon by boat or checking out puffin colonies, to wandering the streets of the quirky capital of Reykjavik, there’s an Icelandic excursion company for you!
Get the thorough budget guide to Iceland!
Want to plan the best trip to Iceland? check out my detailed guide to Iceland written for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the functional information you need. You’ll find suggested itineraries, tips, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, and my favorite non-touristy restaurants, markets, bars, transportation tips, and much more! Click here to learn a lot more and get your copy today.
Book Your trip to Iceland: Logistical ideas and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search web sites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. start with Skyscanner first though because they have the greatest reach!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the greatest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the least expensive rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. My favorite places to stay are:
Hlemmur Square (Reykjavik)
Kex Hostel (Reykjavik)
Akureyri Backpackers (Akureyri)
Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will secure you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s detailed protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it lots of times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)
Insure My trip (for those over 70)
Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Looking for the best companies to save money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
Want a lot more information on Iceland?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide to Iceland for even a lot more planning tips!