Our Iceland vacations
Our Iceland vacations might take in parts of the iconic Golden Circle route, but they also introduce you to aspects of nature and culture in this spectacular land of fire and ice that most tours miss. Small group and tailor made tours, as well as wonderfully adventurous self drive vacations, take you beyond the busy destinations to trekking routes, waterfalls, and hot springs where you can experience Iceland’s elemental power with a sense of isolation. The Northern Lights will amaze you but so will the knowledge of local guides, who introduce you to lifestyles in remote communities far off the tourist trail.
Our top Iceland vacations
Northern Lights tour in Iceland
From
US $1972 to US $2805
6 days
ex flights
Springs, waterfalls, volcanoes and Europe’s biggest glacier
Small group2023: 24 Nov, 25 Nov, 26 Nov, 28 Nov, 30 Nov, 3 Dec, 6 Dec, 8 Dec, 10 Dec, 12 Dec, 13 Dec, 14 Dec, 15 Dec, 16 Dec, 17 Dec, 19 Dec, 2024: 3 Jan, 4 Jan, 6 Jan, 7 Jan, 9 Jan, 10 Jan, 11 Jan, 13 Jan, 14 Jan, 16 Jan, 20 Jan, 23 Jan, 30 Jan, 3 Feb, 4 Feb, 9 Feb, 11 Feb, 13 Feb, 16 Feb, 17 Feb, 18 Feb, 20 Feb, 22 Feb, 23 Feb, 24 Feb, 27 Feb, 1 Mar, 2 Mar, 3 Mar, 6 Mar, 7 Mar, 9 Mar, 10 Mar, 13 Mar, 15 Mar, 17 Mar, 20 Mar, 22 Mar ...
Iceland circumnavigation cruise
From
£3771 to £7105
9 days
ex flights
A thrilling, complete Iceland experience!
Small group2024: 16 May, 24 May, 1 Jun
Tailor made
Tailor made
Northern Lights photography vacation in Iceland, coast & ice
From
£3750
10 days
ex flights
Photographic trip in the stunning west and southeast Iceland
Small group2024: 18 Feb, 27 Sep, 25 Oct, 2025: 19 Feb, 19 Mar, 1 Oct
Iceland vacation, small group
From
US $3740 to US $4370
8 days
ex flights
Delve into the ancient land of Vikings and volcanoes
Small group2024: 15 Apr, 19 Apr, 22 Apr, 26 Apr, 29 Apr, 3 May, 5 May, 6 May, 10 May, 13 May, 15 May, 17 May, 20 May, 24 May, 27 May, 29 May, 31 May, 3 Jun, 5 Jun, 7 Jun, 8 Jun, 10 Jun, 12 Jun, 14 Jun, 15 Jun, 17 Jun, 19 Jun, 21 Jun, 24 Jun, 26 Jun, 28 Jun, 3 Jul, 5 Jul, 8 Jul, 10 Jul, 12 Jul, 15 Jul, 17 Jul, 19 Jul, 22 Jul, 24 Jul, 26 Jul, 29 Jul, 31 Jul, 2 Aug, 5 Aug, 7 Aug, 9 Aug, 10 Aug, 12 Aug, 14 Aug, 16 Aug, 19 Aug, 21 Aug, 23 Aug ...
Iceland highlights self drive vacation
From
£2455
14 days
ex flights
A road trip adventure full of Iceland's highlights.
Tailor made
Iceland Southern Highlands photography vacation
From
£5200
11 days
ex flights
Photography & hiking in Iceland's striking remote landscapes
Small group2024: 18 Aug
Midnight sun photography vacation in Iceland
From
£3950
12 days
ex flights
Photograph amazing landscapes in Iceland's midsummer light
Small group2025: 13 Jul
About our Iceland vacations
Self drive vacations in Iceland
Iceland’s Ring Road is the road trip to rule them all. J.R.R. Tolkien himself would agree – these epic, fantastical landscapes inspired The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Route 1, as it’s officially known, follows the whole coast for 1,339km. You’ll need a couple of weeks to explore it all, especially if you’re not one to resist that hot spring simmering to your right, the track heading to the waterfall on the horizon, or stopping for a warming bowl of fresh plokkfiskur stew. Most self drive vacations in Iceland are tailor made, with experts creating a route that suits you.
Northern Lights in Iceland
Why do so many people see the Northern Lights in Iceland? It’s simply one of the best canvases in the world, with unpolluted skies beyond Reykjavik, a long and dark winter, and glass-walled cabins designed for maximising viewing opportunities. Chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland is like going on safari and, as with safaris, viewings are never guaranteed – but you’ll get your best chance by traveling with a guide who knows the best and most peaceful viewing points. Many vacations sweeten the pot with aurora borealis photography workshops or whale watching trips on the North Atlantic Ocean.
Walking vacations in Iceland
Walking in Iceland is wild. You’ll thread past burping hot springs and steaming lakes, and camp with the sounds of rushing waterfalls and the snorts of whales breaching. The best walking vacations in Iceland match you up with a guide who’ll teach you how to pick your way across invisible footpaths and teach you a huge respect for the landscape you’re hiking through. And if there’s anything that Icelanders are good for, it’s telling a tale. You’ll learn which weird rock formations are petrified trolls and where the huldufolk (hidden people) reside.
Small ship cruising in Iceland
Some of the Icelandic coast is so inaccessible and the cliffs so sheer that the best way to see them is by boat. A small ship is best – certainly not one of the leviathans that spew out 2,500 passengers at a time in the summer. The skippers of small ship cruises in Iceland can sneak you into silent fjords and drop anchor at villages that other travelers don’t often see. They’re quieter, too, so you can follow whale pods and sit at the root of tumultuous puffin cliffs without disturbing the colony. Read our Iceland cruising guide to find out more.
Whaling in Iceland
Minke is all over menus in Reykjavik, so it’s easy to think that it’s a beloved foodstuff in Iceland. But only one percent of Icelanders eat whale regularly. Tourists after a traditional dish are far more likely to eat whale than Icelanders. Until 2019, most of the whale meat was shipped to Japan, but when Japan restarted hunting in its own waters, Icelandic whalers lost profits – together with their appetite for whaling. Instead of propping up the industry’s dying days, go on a whale watching tour that gives you a taste of the wonder of wild whales. Read more about whaling in Iceland.
Types of tours & vacations in Iceland
From small ship cruises and walking trips to Northern Lights photography tours and whale watching voyages – trips to Iceland are often small group vacations. Adventuring with new friends makes for a great atmosphere, interesting tales, and reduces costs if you’re keeping an eye on your wallet. Most people are here for an adventure vacation. In fact, it’s hard not to have an adventure in Iceland. Even capital city Reykjavik feels like a wild outpost gripped by snow-striped mountains and lava fields.
[Self drive vacations in Iceland: Jon Flobrant]
[Northern Lights in Iceland: Landon Arnold]
[Walking: Davide Cantelli]
[Small ship cruising: James Brooks]
[Whaling in Iceland: Michael Behrens]
[Types of vacations: © Wild Photography Vacations]
