Iceland Aurora self drive vacation

Planet

We encourage our clients to be responsible tourists and take the ‘Icelandic pledge’ promoted by Inspired by Iceland on www.visiticeland.com/pledge: 1. I pledge to be a responsible tourist; 2. When I explore new places, I will leave them as I found them; 3. I will take photos to die for, without dying for them; 4. I will follow the road into the unknown, nut never venture off road; 5. I will only park where I am supposed to; 6. When I sleep out under the stars, I’ll stay within a campsite; 7. When nature calls, I won’t answer the call on nature; 8. I will be prepared for all weathers, all possibilities and all adventures. All hotels/guesthouses seek to recycle any waste products – plastics, metals, paper and water. Due to the climate water is plentiful in Iceland, with tap-water not needing to be treated. However waste water is recycled for agriculture. All energy used is renewable – principally geothermally heated water and wind and water-generated electricity. All hot water is drawn from geothermally heated reserves for both bathrooms as well as any hot tubs. Farms use the geothermal heat for greenhouses to grow vegetables rather than gas/electricity.

People

Wherever possible locally-owned and family-run hotels/guesthouses are used and visitors are encouraged to visit locally-owned and run attractions, such as the Skogar Folk Museum or the Herring Museum in Siglufjordur. Visitors are encouraged to go on trips where the sustainability of the environment is emphasised, such as whale watching trips where the emphasis is to “meet” and not “eat” the animals. We do not recommend restaurants where eating whale is advertised and encourage clients to respect and preserve the environment. We pay our office staff a fair wage and encourage clients to stay in locally-owned and run accommodation supporting the local economy. Our trip notes include details of many locally-owned and run craft shops and museums and encourage clients to visit them. We emphasise the natural beauty and purity of the Icelandic countryside, stressing the importance of treating both the countryside and the locals with respect. Clients are told not to drive off-road which would damage the countryside and only to walk along marked trails.