Iceland Tours

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Everyone we spoke with at Nordic Visitor was friendly and helpful as were all the Icelanders we encountered. I am already telling everyone who asks about it to go visit Iceland! Overall we were very pleased with the quality of the accommodations.

The itinerary that was built for our trip was very well planned leaving enough time to explore the areas we were travelling as well as having sufficient time to find our nightly accommodations. For the most part we ate in restaurants located in the local areas as opposed to the hotels as some of the menus were very restrictive in selection. Breakfasts provided at the accommodations were fresh and lots of variety. Visited local museums but did not book any extra activities whale watching, guided tours as we prefer to explore on our own.

Excellent communication with our advisor. All the documents were very professionally produced and extremely helpful in providing us with the best advice regarding routes and attractions. Generally a seamless experience. I would highly recommend Nordic Visitor for those planning self drive tours in Iceland. Helga, our tour consultant, went above and beyond with her service. We really appreciated the detailed maps she had for us in our package. She gave us lots of options and ideas for things to do as we traveled - even marking places where we could get homemade ice cream along the way.

We enjoyed our trip so much that we stopped in to the office at the end of the trip to thank Helga again. We even made a video clip, telling about some of our great experiences. My stay in Iceland was wonderful. Klara was very helpful and gave me great suggestions about excursions I may have been interested in participating in on free time. She was a great help and responded to my emails promptly. Everything was well organized and I had a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend your company.

Thank you so much for the great trip with everything working so smoothly! The tour was well thought so we can enjoy at maximum the beauty and diversity of Iceland. We really enjoy our trip and we will definitely come back and recommend your company to all our friends in Vancouver! I travelled with my children and grandchildren, comprising a party of seven in total. There was remarkable consensus: The guesthouses were exceptional. They exceeded our expectations since we had booked "budget" accommodations. Everything was clean and comfortable. Breakfasts provided were very good. We were often treated to homemade bread and jams.

We were overall very pleased with everything. Our package of materials was very well organized and thorough. Our consultant, Hilmar, was very professional and prompt when we asked him for anything We would highly recommend Nordic Visitor to anyone interested in travelling to the Nordic countries. Thank you so much for your attention to every detail. Providing us with a mobile phone was great as it meant we did not have to buy SIM cards for our own phones and could get by using wifi at our destinations.

We were very happy with our trip and hope to return to Iceland, such a beautiful country! The services provided by Sjofn exceeded our expectations in all respects! The organization and travel materials provided were excellent and easy to follow. We would not hesitate to recommend Nordic Visitor! We cannot wait to visit Iceland again! Over all the tour was amazing. We were able to modify the 7 day tour to 9 day tour. At our face to face meeting, we discussed the Blue Lagoon and decided it was best to go there on the last day on the way to the airport.

Overall the whole experience was perfect. You took the stress away of laying out out route and suggested options. We used the map, the GPS and the road guides often. We reviewed them each night to plan the next day. Having a car and a place to stay looked after made it very easy and flexible for us. We loved all the places booked for us. It was fantastic they offered breakfast for us. We would definitely use your services again some day and recommend to anyone considering a relaxing self drive vacation in Iceland.

The roads in Iceland were far better than I had envisioned. The overall organization was very well executed. We had our reservations made everywhere we went, with pre-booked departures on the tours we wanted to take. This eliminated the deception of showing up at the counter and being told that the tour is full and not able to register. It allowed us to benefit from every hour we were in Iceland.

The small car was in good condition Ford Focus. Great service, great suggestions. We were extremely satisfied with the services provided. Nordic visitor supplied us with everything and more needed to make our vacation in Iceland a dream come true. We have already recommended them to our family planning a trip next year! From start to finish, it was a very easy experience and we got from the trip exactly what we were expecting and more in most cases. Special thanks to our agent Gudrun who provided us with the package details and answered my questions prior to booking and during our trip.

We then stayed on in Reykjavik for a few days. Our tour was arranged by Jelena. She was very helpful. We were very pleased with the tour. All of the arrangements were perfect. We enjoyed the inns where we stayed and the various tours that we took. Iceland is a beautiful country. Would highly recommend Nordic Visitor. Hafdis really understood what we were looking for, and booked our accommodations perfectly! Booking through Nordic Visitor made our trip so much more enjoyable! It took out all the time and confusion with planning an adventure in another country, and allowed us to enjoy it all so much more!

It was recommended to us from a co-worker, and we were so thankful. The cost was so reasonable for how beneficial it was. And yes it was coming up to a year ago, but the memories are still strong as I am currently making a photo book of our trip. From the initial reservation, to the superb welcome at the airport, and the transfers, tours and hotels, this was a very memorable experience. I am looking forward to another trip with Nordic Visitor. The quality of the accommodations and food was consistently high.

We were very impressed. Our hosts, wherever we stayed, were friendly, helpful and made us feel at home right away. We have already recommended your services to friends and will do so again. We hope to return to Iceland someday and we will be using your services again. I found the process incredibly easy and informative. The map provided to us with areas of interest was used often and I found all of the documentation to be extremely helpful but easy to process. Me and my girlfriend drove around the country 12 days because we added some extra nights to the base trip on a self drive tour booked through Nordic Visitor.

We chose budget accommodation throughout and it was beyond excellent. The tour was flawlessly orchestrated by our NV agent. Wholeheartedly an amazing, unforgettable trip. The agent you are assigned is a local, ie. It was brilliantly simple and well detailed each voucher had contact numbers and addresses to your destinations.

Put the information into the GPS you are provided with, and off you go. Need to call your accommodation or activity for more info or because you're arriving late? NV provides a pre-paid cell phone to get in touch. We even used ours to just call taxis when we needed. NV flawlessly took care of the core details for us, the rest was our own adventure to do as we pleased. If you want to see Iceland, even on shorter routes, NV knows what they are doing. Highly recommended because I would have wasted hours online trying to figure out each days accommodation, activity, etc on my own especially in the more remote areas.

Iceland lives in my heart now. Booking through NV allowed me to spend more time enjoying this beautiful country, and its wonderful people, without worrying about all the background booking details. My 7 year old son and I thoroughly enjoyed a self drive family tour on the Ring Road right around Iceland in July We highly recommend the service provided by Nordic Visitor who provided excellent front end service by email as my son and I worked with their staff to construct a customized version of the trip.

Maria at the Reykjavik office provided quick and thorough responses to our many questions. She constructed a 12 day vacation that was a trip of a lifetime for us. She made sure that we stayed in kid friendly lodging that provided unique and interesting glimpses of Icelandic life in small guest houses and farm stays. Airport pickup and drop off as well as car rental were worry free and exceeded expectations. Excellent information and maps allowed us to plan our days easily and see Iceland as we wanted to see it.

All of the included tours and attractions were thoroughly enjoyable. We received excellent value by booking with Nordic Visitor. I believe we had a much better vacation using their services and I believe we probably saved some money by packaging while receiving the many benefits of having a local expert help build our trip. I am convinced that they made sure that we had the most interesting places to stay in beautiful places and the best tour operators. The trip was extremely well organized while providing us with the flexibility to do things that my son and I enjoy. We arrived home safely after a 2-week stay in Iceland.

I was so happy to be able to chat with you before I left Iceland. Let me thank you again for making all these arrangements for us and for answering all my questions before and after I made my booking. Your quick response to my email during my planning stage for this vacation made me trust your service and go with Nordic Visitor. This trip to Iceland is truly a memorable vacation to us.

Although we had to skip some places you suggested due to the tight schedule, we enjoyed the trip very much and everything went so smoothly. All people we met during our 2-week stay made me feel like being home in Iceland. I appreciate how well the government of Iceland, people working in the tourism industry and the local people welcome the visitors. I can tell you this is not my last trip to Iceland. I will come again. I am sure more and more people will start to discover how beautiful your country is. If any of my friends are interested in visiting Iceland, I will definitely recommend you and Nordic Visitor to them I wish all the best.

I could not be happier with this company and would highly recommend it.

When we first starting seeking help from local travel agencies in Canada, we were not getting anywhere and no one seemed to want to put in the time to help us plan. Upon finding Nordic Visitor, we were immediately put in touch with Helga, who made the process easy and fun, answering questions within 24 hours and offering great suggestions throughout our planning. When arriving in Iceland everything went very smoothly.

Nordic Visitor did it all correctly and can't wait to book with them again. We are two busy professionals who love to travel. Without a doubt, we will be in touch with Nordic Visitor again. We have nothing but fond memories of our trip. The information provided was very useful. We were happy with everything and had a great experience in beautiful Iceland. The extensive information you have on your website was very helpful in deciding how we wanted to approach our vacation and which tour to select. The materials provided and the telephone assistance were both invaluable during our visit.

I'm confident our adventure would not have been nearly the success it was without your assistance. Everything went very smoothly and we highly recommend to friends and family that you are the place to go for their Nordic travel. Thank you so much! The trip was superb and the redoing of our itinerary because of the weather was seamless which we appreciated greatly.

I was pleased with our accommodation, in particular the deluxe rooms, but it was a good experience to stay in different levels of accommodation depending on the location. The service and friendliness of all our hosts, servers, tourist info staff, etc was one of the highlights of this Icelandic experience. Everyone we met was so helpful and kind. I will definitely recommend Iceland and Nordic Visitor to my friends. Worry free holiday, we were able to enjoy the self drive tour knowing every detail had been taken care of by Nordic Visitor.

We were very impressed with how smoothly everything went. Nordic Visitor did an excellent job of organising our trip. We just gave them our dates of arrival and departure and everything else was handled for us. This allowed us to focus on sight-seeing rather than worrying about routes or accommodations.

You can only see so much in a week though, so I guess we'll have to come back to this amazing destination! Although we have travelled a fair bit in various parts of the world, never have we had a vacation where, each night we sat down and listed off all of the things we'd never seen before-glaciers, geysers, volcanoes-hot springs- each day was filled with marvellous sights. This was an amazing trip. We really appreciated the highlighted map with all of our hotels and tours written in. We were very happy with our tour of the Golden Circle. It was a pleasure dealing with Arnor and all the information sent previous to our departure was most helpful.

We were thrilled with the Iceland Road Atlas and it is now part of our collection of travel books. The pickup driver at the airport was more than pleasant despite being kept waiting for an hour. The car rental went smoothly and the car fit our needs very well. Travelled via the planning services of Nordic Visitor 15JulAug The booking process was easy and our representative Sigfus was helpful and professional.

We received our literature early enough to research and plan our trip. The itinerary was well thought out and helped us ensure we weren't missing anything. An pleasant add on were som hand written notes on the map with some "extras" such as good places for ice cream and off the track sights. Accommodations were excellent and in the right places to enjoy the places we stayed. I could go on much further but will simply state that this company is top notch, we would highly recommend their services, and thanks to them, our Iceland experience was a trip of a lifetime.

It was the perfect blend of independence, comforts through great accommodations in easy locations, and the help of getting to and from the airport was super. Just enough to take away the hassles and give me time to enjoy the location and adventure. Would not change a single thing! We specifically requested guesthouses rather than hotels for our stay as we felt it would be a better way to meet Icelanders. We were not disappointed. The hosts were all friendly, engaging, and a delight to talk with.

The accommodations ranged from newly constructed to buildings more than years old. Many buildings were re-purposed from their original use to accommodations for travellers which was rewarding to see. All the the accommodations were licenced which is a measure of ensured quality. All were clean, quiet and provided excellent breakfasts. The car rental was without hitches.

When booking the tour we upgraded the car from economy to compact a Citroen Cactus as from our driving experience in northern Canada we knew a larger car is better on some roads. We made the right choice and our overall experience with the car was very positive. The vouchers supplied by Nordic Visitor were all recognised by the service providers. Our reservations had all been made and no difficulties were encountered. We really enjoyed our stay in all of the accommodations! Everything was very clean and comfortable!

All of the tours we participated in were well run. The staff were very friendly and professional! His email replies were always timely and informative! Thanks for making our trip to Iceland so unforgettable! We both hope to return! Excellent customer service that had every detail covered. Mid-way on my trip my travel consultant, Larus, called me on the cell they had provided just to see how things were going and to make sure I was aware of the weather warning that had been issued. I never had a minute's concern or disappointment in any of the arrangements.

If I'm ever in need of travel assistance in the areas they service, Nordic Visitor will be my 1 choice! The continental breakfasts were fresh and we were able to sample many of the traditional Icelandic foods such as Skyr, lamb and Lax.

5-Day Tours in Iceland

We enjoyed our evening meals tremendously. Key highlights were the Icelandic people, the power of the waterfalls and ocean waves, the duality of hot and cold: We felt at home and look forward to returning soon. Due to the unique nature of the trip there has been a lot of interest from family and friends in our Icelandic experience. I have not only told everyone that they really should travel to Iceland to experience the country and culture for themselves, but when they do so, to book through Nordic Visitor for the ultimate travel experience.

Thanks for making this a trip to remember! Booking with Nordic Visitor took out a lot of the stress with traveling, such as booking hotels and which routes to take. Having a trusted company that is in the country takes the guess work out of accommodations. When you have never been to a location, it is hard to tell what areas are good and which to stay away from. So, it was great to have that organized by Nordic Visitor. My husband and I had the pleasure of visiting Iceland last May !! I am usually one to plan my own vacations with my very detailed brain, but in this case I was so glad I hired Nordic Visitor to do the planning for me.

Being such an unknown place with a unique and exotic language, NV made everything easy. We chose to do a self-guided trip, so I advised them of the type of holiday we would like, and they planned us a perfect holiday. The communication from Hafdis leading up to the trip was exceptional, and it didn't stop until the trip was over. We were greeted at the airport with a driver to take us to our first hotel, and he presented us with all our trip confirmations, and even a local phone to use during our stay. Our rental car, and every hotel was ready and waiting for us, and suited us perfectly. It was especially handy to have the hotels booked with suggested daily itineraries given to us, since driving distances are hard to predict and we wanted to make sure we got around the ring road in one week.

The experience truly made us feel very privileged, and yet the extra cost was so minimal and reasonable. I promise you if you are able to get to Iceland, you will maximize the experience by using Nordic Visitor and no they didn't pay me ;-. My family children aged 11 and 13 visited Iceland with Nordic Visitor and did their Traditional Christmas in the North tour. It was a wonderful way to get away for Christmas, and was great for my family to see Iceland's Christmas traditions. The tour was a great balance of rest and exploration, which was exactly what I was looking for. Christmas is a wonderful time to visit Iceland, and Iceland is a wonderful place to spend Christmas with a young family.

If you're looking for something different to do with your family then I highly recommend the Traditional Christmas in the North tour. My 13 year-old wants to do it again! The entire holiday was perfect from the moment I booked the tour with Nordic Visitor up to the time we left. All the information was very helpful and the car and guesthouses were all perfect.

There was only one small issue during the trip that was resolved very quickly and did not take away from the wonderful experience. It was a perfect holiday! My daughter and I loved your country and it was enhanced by a well thought out and planned holiday by Nordic Visitor! I already provided your contact information to three other people, so far. Wonderful experience and I plan on coming back one day and seeking assistance from Nordic Visitor. Thank you for providing an excellent holiday with every detail planned out and anticipated.

Erla Sonja was wonderful to work with and was always available to answer questions and make changes quickly. Even when she went on holiday, Thordis took over and assisted me the same day I requested a change. This is the best holiday I have been on so far and it was definitely because of the excellent service and attention to detail that Nordic Visitor provided.

This was a trip of a lifetime for us.

All of the accommodations were great! There was enough time in each day that we were never rushed to get to the next place. We were not quite sure what to expect, but everything went according to plan. Before our arrival we received a fairly comprehensive information package in the mail including a large map of Iceland and detailed itinerary. On our arrival at the airport we were picked up by a taxi driver who had our vouchers for the hotels, car rental and ferry.

The next day we were driven to the car rental agency, and with our GPS powered-up, away we went! It turned out to be two weeks of incredible scenery, learning and great food. We recommend this trip and company. Amazing trip, from airport pick-up to drop-off. Alexandra was amazingly helpful. Your country is wonderful. Just wish we had seen the Lights! Very impressed with the tour and service from Nordic Visitor from start to finish. Would not hesitate to recommend your company to family and friends. Our vacation exceeded our expectations, I have recommended Nordic visitor to many friends already who would like to travel to Iceland, we did not have any worries even though the East received a lot of rain during our visit we were able to continue on our journey with the assistance of our travel consultant.

Thank you for your wonderful services. It made our honeymoon stay very enjoyable. We hope to book again soon. We were blown away by the service. The champagne and chocolates was a nice touch, too! Everything was communicated very efficiently, and with total transparency! Nothing to regret, even if we had to cut it short by a day of driving, we wouldn't have changed a thing about our visit. This was my second time to Iceland, first time with Nordic Visitor, and it most definitely won't be our last on both accounts!

We were actually looking at other tours from Nordic Visitor, while driving back into Reykjavik. We both want to do the ring road, eventually, and we will definitely be booking with Nordic Visitor again! Truly believe the best way to see and experience your lovely country is to do it with a guide.

It's the best way to get to learn cultures, traditions etc. We were so fortunate to have all that and more with our lovely guide. We very much enjoyed having the West Fjords included with a circle tour, and suspect that it will draw new customers for you. We wish you all the best in the exploding world of Iceland tourism. We were thrilled with the accommodations and really everything about the tour. We're planning on writing a more detailed email to share how much we enjoyed this trip thanks to Arnar's arrangements.

Thank you very much for helping us to explore Iceland. If we do - we will definitely use your services again. We have used Nordic Visitor before and were once again impressed by the quality of the rental car and hotels. The service from Helga was termendous! Again, very happy with the service. I travel around the world and have been in every continent and used many travel agencies. Nightlife in Iceland Make the most of it! As with most places across the world, the later the night goes on, the more debauched the general atmosphere of downtown will become. Thankfully, most hotels and guesthouses are within walking distance, meaning only the shortest of stumbles home after the gulp has been swallowed.

Whatever it is the Blue Lagoon is selling—a surefire way to beat jet lag? The Ultimate Guide to the Blue Lagoon. Dettifoss is accessible by Route and makes just up one part of the Diamond Circle, the northern counterpart of the more famed Golden Circle sightseeing route.

Known for a rich history steeped in folklore, mysticism and magic, the Westfjords is as beautiful as it is culturally fascinating. From the towering bird cliffs of Hornstrandir to the tumbling Dynjandi waterfalls , the Westfjords has something for everybody. Whilst some visitors choose to partake in a Zodiac boat tour , others are content to sit on the shoreline and watch as the playful seal colony dips and dives around the heaving chunks of ice.

In a century, it is thought that the spot of the lagoon will instead be overcome with an entirely new fjord. The 5 Best Hot Springs in Iceland. Iceland is a young country, geologically speaking, meaning much of the landscape is still geothermally active. Guests here have popularised the pursuit of churning mud pools, steaming volcanic vents and erupting hot strings, such as Strokkur , on the Golden Circle sightseeing tour. Thankfully, not all of this activity is quite so dramatic.

ICELAND TOURS FROM CANADA

In fact, one of the incredible by-products of living in a geothermally active country is the abundance of natural hot pools found dotted in the landscape. Hot spring tours make for fantastic getaways and are the number one way to counter jet lag or a hangover. Simultaneously, they are also an excellent place to kick back with a beer as long as you tidy up after yourself , having a friendly chat with fellow bathers and, if lucky, can also serve as a fantastic vantage point from which to view the Northern Lights dancing overhead.

Many visitors choose to undertake the Golden Circle in a morning, while others spread the route out over a single day, even adding a snorkelling or snowmobiling tour for added excitement. National Parks in Iceland. Haukadalur is home to the hot springs, Geysir and Strokkur, the latter of which erupts to over twenty metres high every five minutes or so, as well as numerous steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud pools.

Ten kilometres to the north, visitors will find the third and final stop of the Golden Circle, Gullfoss waterfall. Dancing in ribbon-like waves of purple, green and gold, this incredible phenomenon must be experienced for itself. Conditions must be perfect; limited to no cloud cover, flaring activity in the magnetosphere, no light pollution—then they have to show up. When they do, there is no knowing exactly when, where or for how long the Lights will be dancing for, but there are handy steps you can take in advance in order to help better maximise your chances.

Find Northern Lights Tours here First of all, partaking in a tour with a Northern Lights guide is one of the sure-fire ways of seeing the Aurora in their full glory. Not only are such guides experienced when it comes to knowing the best and darkest vantage points, they are also able to provide a wealth of scientific information to add even more colour to the experience.

So too are they able to dispense handy technical hints when it comes to photographing this spectacular cosmic show. Whilst many decry Iceland as not being quite frozen enough to warrant the name, this is, in fact, a country of floating icebergs, sweeping glacier tongues and dazzling blue glacier ice caves. Find Ice Cave Tours here With that being said, most are surprised to find the country temperate and mild, at least during the warm days of the summer.

It is during the winter, however, that Iceland truly lives up to its name. It is an environment trapped perpetually between darkness and glittering white snow. This is good news for those visitors looking to see these mighty giants up close, and even better for those willing to slip on a pair of crampons and take to hiking the ice cap itself. What did you manage to experience from our list, and is there any particular activity you feel we left out? Feel free to leave your thoughts and queries in the Facebook's comments box below.

Why did the producers choose Iceland and how did the cast and crew get on filming here? Winter is coming, so read on and get to know the ins and outs of Game of Thrones in Iceland. Since its inception, the show has experienced unbridled success, culminating in a devoted audience of over million tuning in to each highly anticipated new episode. Scouted initially as a location for snowy shots Beyond the Wall , Iceland has served as a backdrop for many poignant scenes in the show since Season 2 and is confirmed to feature in the keenly-awaited final instalment to be aired in —at least so it appears as stars Kit Harrington Jon Snow and Emilia Clark Daenerys Targaryen were spotted here in February Movie Locations in Iceland The ambition and sheer scale of the show have expanded the boundaries of television and, understandably, accrued a broad and fiercely loyal fan base to boot.

There is no middle ground. An enticing combination for any film-maker. The unique and varied landscapes Iceland has to offer are widely described as otherworldly and many of its natural features are associated with native mythologies and folklore. In this land of legends, dragons and White Walkers are, by Icelandic standards, not too bold a leap of the imagination.

Instead of ploughing these funds into VFX visual effects , the producers sought to invest in authentic locations that would naturally evoke the world they were trying to create. Boasting the largest ice caps in Europe as well as harsh winter weather conditions, Iceland lends elemental realism to scenes played out on screen. Since Season 2, some of the best-known attractions in Iceland have doubled for locations on either side of the wall. The uninterrupted Icelandic nature offers endless possibilities for visions of pre-industrial fantasies and the stark, severe beauty of the land tell the brutal story of Game of Thrones as if it were its own history.

This article serves as a comprehensive guide for all Game of Thrones filming spots in Iceland to date and how you can find them. You do not need to be a Game of Thrones fan to appreciate the vast and untarnished beauty of Iceland, however, in the guide that follows, we explore the country closely through the lens of the show and there will be inevitable spoilers should you not be up-to-date. As you walk in your heroes' footsteps, through the mossy walls of this ridge, there is the extra novelty that you are in fact walking between two continents. This marks the boundary of the Mid-Atlantic Rift on which Iceland is formed, and it's the only place on earth this natural phenomenon is visible above sea-level.

You can easily rent a car and explore the area for yourself at your own leisure; the route is well-maintained and manageable any time of year. The cast and crew shot for three days in the summer, keeping the tourists at bay and making the most of this epic landmark. The natural ridges of the exposed tectonic plates tower above the characters and lend to the impenetrable quality and imagined history of this renowned fictional passageway.

The same area is shrewdly used for a scene just South of the Wall in which the newly betrayed Ygritte and Tormund Giantsbane are introduced to the cannibal Thenns. The scene opens with Ygritte fletching arrows under a precarious balancing rock; as you walk down the trail towards the waterfall , keep your eyes peeled to the North American plate to your left, and you might be able to spot it!

Filming in the summertime does not come without its challenges. On top of blocking off the area to large numbers of tourists, it was particularly warm during the days of filming, especially in the sheltered walls of the trench. Upon realising Arya's identity, Brienne begs her to join her so as to fulfil her oath to Catelyn Stark. What follows is arguably one of the most gruelling and intense altercations in the show to date, culminating in Brienne's victory as she kicks the Hound over a cliff. Seven separate locations in the Nesjavellir area were chosen to film this gruesome custody battle.

If you find yourself in the area during the milder months, go for a hike around the stunning Hengill mountain and see if you can spot any familiar backdrops. Although Brienne is victorious in battle, she fails to win over Arya who steals away on a horse to eventually make her way to Braavos. Several of the scenes North of the Wall are filmed on these icy giants as they well represent the harsh and unforgiving nature of the region described in the books.

The first season of Game of Thrones was shot using a huge amount of fake snow, however, armed with an increased budget and a larger number of scenes Beyond the Wall, fake snow just wasn't going to cut it in later seasons. The glaciers of Iceland offered an irresistible yet often challenging alternative.

At the end of the day, all of the gear would have to be taken off the glacier once again. As they bunker down to prepare for an attack from Mance Rayder's army, they are taken unawares by an unexpected enemy: There is no need to fear wildlings or wights atop this glacial mass, only Katla , the volcano brewing underneath it, which also happens to be long overdue for an eruption. Located in Skaftafell Nature Reserve, it is a popular destination for glacial hiking. A few of these sights sparked the imagination of the show's producers and are listed below.

You could spend a day or a week in this part of the country as there's always more to see! There was a fair amount of controversy during the filming of Season 7 at this location when vehicles transporting the cast, crew and equipment scarred the beach with tire tracks without the necessary permissions from The Environmental Agency of Iceland. It is a popular sightseeing destination as it boasts many diverse and impressive natural features and it is one of the key stops on the popular Diamond Circle route. Up until the s, local Icelanders used to bathe in the geothermal pool that floods the floor of the cave.

After a series of eruptions in the nearby Krafla volcanic system, the water in the cave began to warm, eventually rendering it unsafe for human use. Unfortunately, due to the inappropriate treatment of the cave by visitors, it is now closed off. This is a terrible shame but serves as a cautionary tale to encourage respectful behaviour while visiting Iceland.

Actor, John Bradley, may not have been completely acting his distress as he was probably experiencing a fair degree of discomfort, spending hours in hot, wet sulphurous clouds. Later, in Season 7, the Hound, Sandor Clegane, guided by Beric Dondarrion , envisions this elevation in the flames ultimately leading these characters to accompany Jon Snow to retrieve a Wight from Beyond the Wall. Some fans have speculated that the "Mountain Shaped Like an Arrowhead" may have a future role to play in the final season's climax as this was the setting for the White Walker's creation.

Guide to Iceland

One of the great benefits of flight-seeing, however, is its ability to cover so much ground in such a short space of time. The main obstacles to whale watching in Iceland are the sheer age of some of the ships, many of which were built in the s. The unique and varied landscapes Iceland has to offer are widely described as otherworldly and many of its natural features are associated with native mythologies and folklore. For the most part we ate in restaurants located in the local areas as opposed to the hotels as some of the menus were very restrictive in selection. Helga, our tour consultant, went above and beyond with her service. Not only are such guides experienced when it comes to knowing the best and darkest vantage points, they are also able to provide a wealth of scientific information to add even more colour to the experience.

Could it be the locus for the destruction of the Night King's undead army and the salvation of Westeros? Pegasus is the Icelandic film production company that facilitated filming in the many of the locations listed above and has only received praise from the producers. The Mountain, a not so honourable character Iceland's relationship with Game of Thrones goes further than physical filming locations; one of the country's own portrays a significant role in the show.

He has co-founded his own brand vodka company, The Mountain Vodka. Icelanders have a long-running relationship with strongmen and he is not the first and will most likely not be the last to win the title. You can spot the Hound and Arya Stark on the back of these noble creatures and the Night's Watch makes good use of their shaggy coats Beyond the Wall. Icelanders are very fond of their horses and you can opt for a horse riding tour in almost any area of the country. Just watch out for dragons.

One thousand people applied to appear as extras in the second season of the show and only fifty were selected, most of them exhibiting Viking heritage as bearded with and with long-hair. Did you find this article useful? Make sure to leave your thoughts and queries in the Facebook comments box below. First, however, you will pick up your rental car from the airport booth, then depart out on the volcanic, black Reykjanes Peninsula. As an introduction to the wild and untempered landscapes of Iceland, there really can be no better place to start than Reykjanes.

It also just so happens to contain one of the country's biggest attractions—the Blue Lagoon. Aside from the traditional bathing, guests can enjoy face masks and massages using the lagoon's rich silica mud, known to contain countless minerals that are excellent for skin conditions such as psoriasis. With a flurry of bars and restaurants, cultural exhibitions and live performances, be it music or comedy, there is always something to wet the cultural appetites of those wandering the twilight city streets.

Taking unscheduled stops, and the time spent appreciating each site into consideration, traversing the Golden Circle is expected to take approximately 6 to 8 hours. Geysir, while no longer active, is still looked fondly upon for lending its Icelandic name to geysers across the planet, whilst Strokkur is routine entertainment, firing jets of water over twenty metres 65 ft into the air every five to ten minutes.

Gullfoss is one of the most beloved waterfalls in Iceland, and also constitutes the starting location for this country's first environmental movement.

This affair brought the conservation of nature into the public eye in Iceland, and cemented the importance of preservation in the psyche of its people. In , Gullfoss was finally made a protected nature reserve. Once your time on the Golden Circle is over, you will return back to the capital city where, again, you will have the opportunity to sample Iceland's fine restaurants and bars, or merely take a stroll around the twilight city streets. While it is possible to discover the South Coast in a single day, it is advised to split the journey into two, allowing you far more freedom and flexibility when it comes to how much time to spend at each site.

This rare perspective makes for some unique photographs, though it is not advised to trek this pathway during the winter when the footing becomes covered in slippery ice. In , Reynisfjara was voted as one of the top 10 most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world by National Geographic magazine. During this ride, you could make a small detour to the famed US Navy DC Plane wreck , which crashed in the area in thankfully, there were no casualties.

However, the most majestic and memorable sites of the day still lay ahead. The lagoon is home to resident seals and numerous kinds of birds, which also make it a fantastic spot to experience Icelandic wildlife. The contrast of colour and substance makes for fantastic photographs, with the icebergs laid out in all number of shapes and sizes. During the winter, looking out to sea will resemble the wildest of Arctic panoramas, the icebergs appearing as clouds on a still grey ocean.

All of these reasons and more fully justify taking five minutes out to see this beach yourself. Afterwards, you would do well to retire to your accommodation. Tomorrow's a big day. The east is famed for its majestic landscapes. It is also the only part of the island where it is possible to see herds of wild reindeer in their natural habitat. One particularly notable attraction is the mountain, Vestrahorn. Instantly recognisable for its dramatic, sharpened peaks and the adjacent shoreline, Vestrahorn has become a favourite destination for photographers and filmmakers, showcasing just how majestic Iceland's nature can be in this quiet and isolated region.

The area is particularly popular among Icelanders as a camping destination, and boasts a wide variety of hiking and cycling trails, as well as a number of picnic areas. As Iceland's answer to the Loch Ness monster, this strange creature has even been caught on video footage Having featured in the Ridley Scott sci-fi epic, Prometheus , it is no wonder Dettifoss is often considered somewhat otherworldly. There are a number of observation decks at the waterfall, allowing unique perspectives and photographs that are sure to stay with you for a lifetime.

Because of these reasons and more, the lake's surroundings have become one of the most popular regions for exploration in Iceland. Summer Self Drive Tours Another potential option for your day in Akureyri is to check out a whale watching tour. The north is known for its whale watching and for being one of the best places to see Humpback whales in Iceland. The region is renown for its majestic coastlines, volcanic craters and expansive plateaus of dried lava, making it an excellent area to explore for a day. Because of the peninsula's variation, there's no end to where you could choose to stop.

In all likelihood, you'll be tired from a day of driving, sightseeing and adventure, so will by all accounts rest up. Thankfully, Reykjavik boasts all that's great about a modern city, from fascinating landmarks to museums, restaurants and picturesque downtown neighbourhoods. Did you our find our article useful?

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How long did you spend in Iceland, and would you have spent more time here if you could? What activities did you get up to, and what was your favourite attraction? What are some attractions that only the few get to see, and how can you ensure your luxury holiday in Iceland will exceed the quality of trips elsewhere? Read on to find out all you need to know about Luxury and Business Travel in Iceland.

For starters, Luxury Travel describes a trip that is customised and catered to near-enough exactly the wishes of the traveller. This is also sometimes known as Private Travel. Those working within tourism will often debate what is meant by luxury; on the one hand, it is argued that luxury connotes location, quality and privilege , whilst others state it refers to the authenticity of the product ie. In all honesty, luxury travel packages incorporate both world views, making it one of the most specialist areas in the industry.

It could involve nights in the finest restaurants, partaking on unforgettable tours, meeting friends or escaping on multi-day excursions. It could include such special occasions as a wedding or family reunion, or even prove the perfect foundation from which to propose to the loved one. Business travel , on the other hand, is just as its name suggests—travel for the intended purpose of doing business. The iconic Harpa Concert Hall, whilst most famous as a venue for various musical performances, also serves as a conference centre, and thus stands as a continuing reminder of this city's growing place in the world of commerce.

Iceland's major airlines have jumped on this trend, offering free stopovers in Iceland for those making the transatlantic journey. To read more about the benefits of stopping over in Iceland, make sure to read: But what are some of the most notable differences between travelling in luxury, and travelling for business? The Diamond Helicopter Tour Private Luxury travel in Iceland means seeing the country in the exact way that you have imagined it. Arrive to Iceland in Style! This journey of just under forty minutes is usually taken either by rental car, or by the public FlyBus , an airport transfer that leaves the terminal every fifteen minutes.

One reason why a private transfer overshadows the Flybus is, quite naturally, the isolation from other holiday-makers, meaning there is no reason to stop at any accommodation save your own. This can save value time for those with appointments, or simply for those who wish to maximise every single moment of their time in the country.

This geothermal spa is renown for its healing silica mud, tasteful bistro and cafe, and range of massage treatments. Nothing quite beats the jet-lag like soaking those tired muscles in steamy azure waters, closing your eyes as the face-mask begins to take hold. Due to its close proximity to the airport roughly fifteen minutes and the capital roughly thirty minutes , most travellers to Iceland choose to visit the Blue Lagoon on either their arrival or departure day.

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Obviously, being luxury travellers, we will be expecting a level of quality quite unlike that experienced by the average holiday-maker. Understand, Iceland boasts a wide range of accommodation options, of which more can be found here. With a snazzy, futuristic interior design and current facilities, ION City Hotel is a great choice for smaller parties looking to spend their time strolling the capital's quaint streets.

Two minutes walk from the hotel, one can engage in whale watching and birdwatching tours, take a stroll downtown, or try out some of the finest eateries in the city. Set away in the majesty of Iceland's nature, this hotel provides the perfect getaway for couples, families and even business associates. One example would be Snaps Bistro , an airy and well-lit restaurant bar that summons up such delicious delicacies as oysters, cheese platters and garlic shrimp, as well as a varied list of champagnes.

If you're looking to find the most golden of Iceland's nectar, this is the best place to start. Helicopter flights will normally make a landing at chosen sites check with your tour provider beforehand , allowing one to gain a closer perspective, often away from the crowds of onlooking tourists.

Alternatively, one could take to the skies in a private airplane tour , offering the same aerial view over Iceland's visceral landscapes, without the capability of landing. One of the great benefits of flight-seeing, however, is its ability to cover so much ground in such a short space of time. For instance, take Iceland's most popular sightseeing route, the Golden Circle , which will usually take eight hours or so on a guided tour by minibus. By taking to the skies, you can cover the route's three main sites, and more, in little under a hour. This allows you to tick off Iceland's biggest tourist attractions from the list, allowing you to spend the remaining time as you see fit.

Naturally, all of Iceland's most popular tour activities can be undertaken in private. This covers such tours as snorkelling , scuba diving , glacier hiking , ice caving , Northern Lights and hot spring hunting , horse riding and even whale watching. Though private tours are obviously going to ratchet up the price, they do have the great benefit of providing a guide who can solely attend to your experience, whilst also keeping the group setting intimate and familial.

When it comes down to 'luxury attractions', one must rely on the knowledge of your specialist guides. After all, Icelandic nature is open and available to everyone—save the Highlands during the winter. Contrary to that point, however, is the knowledge that private tours invest significant time in locating hidden attractions, be they waterfalls, glacial tongues or hot springs. These are found knowing the promise of unseen locations is a strong draw for travellers, especially for those on a repeat visit who have already visited the most recognised sites.

Of course, looking back to the financial meltdown of , one could be forgiven for disbelieving an economy could recover so quickly economically. As previously mentioned, Iceland is the ideal stopover destination for business people travelling between North America and Europe. The country, in fact, will often be utilised as a meeting point, saving both parties from travelling unnecessary distances.

Business travellers are unlikely to have a large amount of free time around their appointments, meaning the sights, sounds and experiences they are exposed to is quite in a contrast to a traveller whose sole purpose in the country is to sightsee, discover and immerse themselves in culture.

What these appointments are exactly could take any number of forms: The list goes on, but no doubt, such intentions also come with their own beneficial realities, namely, experiencing Iceland , be you a tourist or not. Another differentiation between luxury travel and business travel is who ends up paying the bill. Usually, luxury packages are purchased by the person partaking, whilst business packages are paid for out of the business itself. Business travellers, in this light, will often have less choice as to where they are staying, for how long, and exactly what to do with their free time.

In all likelihood, they will also be made to take receipts so that expenses may be repaid at a later —unless you have your hands on the company credit card, you lucky thing! It is common place, for instance, for a number of employees to make a business trip in order to achieve the company's desired goal. This is one of the major reasons as to why as to why business travel is split into two separate categories of activities; business, being the primary motivator, and leisure, being the second.

Such travellers usually expect a level of quality to their hotel rooms, as well as easy access to the inner-city and travel routes. Naturally, one works in business to make in money, money for the finer things in life—business travel should, by no means, untether itself from this foundation. One integral thought, for instance, is how your style of dress, your vehicle, your choice of hotel and restaurant, all come off to potential clients, partners and investors.

This, more often than not, can be the breaking point when it comes to making a deal, and so is of vital importance to the business traveller, and the business itself. Grand Hotel Reykjavik As before, only a spattering of potential options will be recommended here, given the sheer number of hotels that cater to business people travelling in Iceland.

Those mentioned, however, are among the top-tier business hotels in the country the majority of business here, quite naturally, takes place in the capital. Downtown, one can find another Radisson Blu, this time the Hotel. Wherever you choose to stay for your business dealings in Iceland, you will find the accommodation well suited to your needs. The city too will offer its fair share of variety for the time off available, making this country one of the cleanest and most naturally dramatic destinations in which to do business. Did you enjoy our article about Luxury and Business Travel in Iceland?

Are you planning on a luxury trip here, and if so, what are your plans? Do you have business meeting arranged to take place in Iceland, and what kind of benefits did you find available to you? Read on to find out all you need to know about fitness in Iceland. Biking in the Westfjords Tour from Isafjordur. And yet, many Icelanders are able to resist the cozy confines of their cotton duvet, waking up early to meet the day head-on with a burst of physical exertion. No, these people work it, hammering it out each week to maximise the potential of their body and mind.

But what are some other examples of health and fitness in Iceland? But football is just one of the many sports that has achieved the heights of popularity and burgeoning talent in Iceland. So, back to the sport at hand Now that's dedication for a sport widely overlooked by the rest of the world. Through a number of youth schemes and the construction of indoor pitches, Icelanders have improved their skills on the ball in record time, achieving heights that no one abroad expected.

Icelanders' biggest sporting stars are from the world of football. Other popular sports in Iceland include the likes of basketball, tennis, volleyball and, naturally, horseback riding. After all, one important facet of fitness is discipline, the need to keep at it lest the health benefits begin to slip. Thankfully for the health conscious, Iceland boasts some incredible gymnasiums, almost all of which offer one day passes.

Let's delve into some of the most notable examples in Iceland. Extended gym membership is, naturally, possible, but for those with only a short time in the country, World Class also offer one-time entrances. Stepping into this highly modern facility, visitors will be grateful to discover an enormous range of options for working those muscles.

There are rows upon rows of treadmills and rowing machines, a designated weights area, spots for stretching and warming up, rooms for specialist classes and, naturally, the swimming complex. Don't worry, the clientele is a friendly bunch, despite their gargantuanism. With an ever increasing number of international CrossFitters passing through their doors, a larger location was soon needed. Proven to be an incredibly efficient means of skimming fat and increasing muscle tone, CrossFit has become a dominant force in the exercise industry.

Thankfully, Iceland is in on the action, with CrossFit the fastest growing sport in the country. Four out of the last seven international CrossFit games have been won by Icelandic women. The Forests of Iceland Foresting a treeless land This picturesque setting makes for a fantastic spot to stroll, cycle or jog, allowing you to gain a deeper connection with nature while exercising. On any given day, visitors will spot numerous individuals exercising amid the garden sculptures, trees and birdlife.

A mere bus ride from downtown, this area of luscious green vegetation and trickling salmon rivers is a must see for all those looking to exercise somewhere scenic. Boasting numerous hiking and cycling trails, this area is a true wonderland for fanciers of fitness. A visit to the swimming pool is often a daily stop for Icelanders looking to de-stress after a long working day; the clean and geothermally heated water is the perfect relaxant, the optimum antidote.

Yoga in Iceland There are a variety of options for yoga enthusiasts in Iceland. One can attend classes in both English and Icelandic, at varying levels of experience difficulty. These classes also take on different styles and approaches, such as Hot Yoga yoga in a deliberately boiling room—sweat it out! Making the most of Iceland's pristine water, many Icelanders choose to practise yoga in one of the country's geothermally heated pools. Exercising, or simply bathing in warm water, has long been known to relax and soften the muscles; yoga, in this respect, draws equally on one of Iceland's staple cultural practises as it does the original techniques that herald from the east.

Anyway, if you're a visitor looking to pick a fight with the locals, be pre-warned—these peace-loving people are more than capable of scattering your teeth across the capital's streets. Best not provoke, yeah? Utilising floating tanks, otherwise known as isolation tanks or sensory deprivation chambers, Hydra Floatation Spa is the latest health trend to spark Iceland's fascination with health and mental wellbeing. Time in Iceland A Land of Here and Now Using Epsom salts and body-temperature water, floatation tanks deprive their guests of sensory stimulation, allowing one to focus their attention on their breathing and mind.

The results are profoundly similar to that of meditation and yoga. Many users have even drawn comparisons to Kundalini Yoga , a method of yoga that often fills its practitioners with a psychedelic sense of enlightenment, a near tangible shift in consciousness that will often lead to new revelatory ways of thinking. Hydra Flotation Spa Floatation tanks are known to provide relief from anxiety and stress and can even provide their users with breakthroughs in their thinking.

It is thought that floating for just an hour can help relieve muscle tension, stimulate creativity, lower blood pressure and even aid with insomnia. With a wide number of routes and varying levels of difficulty, both amateurs and experienced climbers alike are invited to test their mettle at this entertaining venue. Routes change every couple of weeks, adding variability to those staying in the country for an extended period of time.

The walls are not overly high, meaning there is no need for a contact line, and large soft mattresses stretch underneath each route for those who fall. All one needs to begin bouldering at the gym is bring a pair of gym shoes and clothes, though these can also be rented out for ISK. Which gymnasiums and recreational areas did you visit while in Iceland, and which would you recommend? Make sure to leave your thoughts and queries in the Facebook's comments box below.

Where are the most accessible geothermal areas, and what geological features can be found there? Read on to find out all you need to know about geothermal areas in Iceland. The land has continued to flame and form since its birth—the southern island of Surtsey only appeared above the surface in following a calamitous underwater eruption that lasted until ! A famous firsthand account of the formation of Surtsey beautifully encapsulates the changing landscape: Many ancient cultures who had access to geothermal springs used them for bathing and socialising.

But what exactly do these places look like? Iceland's geothermal sites are many and varied; they range from geysers to hot springs. For the time being, we're only going to focus on geothermal sites in Iceland where bathing is not an option. Those with only a short stopover in Iceland who want to learn about the country's fascinating geology might benefit from a visit to these centres rather than a day trip. In theory, these supercritical conditions could potentially produce 10x more energy out of every well than a typical well. Hotspots are independent of the position and movement of the tectonic plates, though Iceland sits at a noteworthy point regarding both features.

Harnessing geothermal energy in Iceland is not without its obstacles, however. Many recent proposals to invest in and construct new hydro dams in the Icelandic Highlands has been met with widespread opposition from environmental groups who fear nature is being squandered at the expense of economic process. Visitors will also observe striking black rivers and bubbling pools, creating a strange ambience that the area is both dead and alive, all at once. This pungent, eggy stench strengthens the closer one steps towards the numerous mud pools and solfataras, proving almost immediately as to why no vegetation could possible grow here.