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Hi All. OH and I are looking at travelling to Iceland for 8 days in November.
We know it’s going to be cold, but we are the outdoors/adventurous sorts. We are looking to hire a van to tour the island and potentially stay in. Is it better to hire a car and stay at hotels/inns along the route, or hire a van? Does anyone have any recommendations for van hire companies?
I’m not sure about van companies. We stayed at hotels/inns. Everything is pretty basic outside Reykjavik. Don’t expect much. Public areas are usually really done well, but rooms and bathrooms are 2-star or 3 star at best.
Must try is lunch at the Marriott Edition Reykjavik, incredible value 3 course lunch for only £30. Even if you’re not staying, you can just walk in or make a reservation.
I wouldn’t do it in November, it’s not just cold but dark. May to July is the time for living out of a campervan
Hi All – thank-you. I have done a bit more research since I originally posted, and yes, I am a bit mad to even consider sleeping in a van in November!
We are still keen to go in November, whilst appreciating the days are not as long. I think we will keep to the southern side of the Island.
Thank-you Meta for the tip on the Marriott lunch.
Pack wet weather gear including waterproof over-trousers and boots. You are likely to have plenty of rain. Still a beautiful place in the rain – just needs the right clothing.
Other than that my only suggestion would be to go in summer when the roads through the highlands are open but you are clearly set on November.
If you go in winter then you have a much better chance to see the Northern Lights compared to summer when the night sky is often too light. We went in February a few years ago and had lots of warm and waterproof clothing. We did day trips from Reykjavik via a company that took us everywhere in a LR discovery. There’s something really amazing about sitting in the Blue Lagoon while it’s snowing and the steam in the sub-zero air makes you feel like you’re on your own. So we enjoyed winter but would also love to go back in summer at some point and explore more of the island
I’d alsp highly recomend february, great time of year to go! Good chance to see a good set of northern lights too
Very torn about when to go now. I do like what you said @RCHammer re. day trips, however I have romantisced about taking my own wheels out! This just now sounds ridiculous in November! Nevertheless, I also really like the idea of sitting in the blue lagoon whilst it is raining/snowing… this too sounds pretty cool!
Decisions Decisions. Thank you for all the tips everyone! Will have more of a think before we start booking flights.
Reigniting this thread as we are now booked to go to Iceland this November for 8 days. We are hiring a 4×4 and staying in hotels/b&bs along the way. The loose itinerary is to spend the first 5 days heading towards the Diamond Beach and then back towards Reykjavik from there.
We are catching the 7.30(ish) BA flight from LHR, which means we get the first “full day” of daylight – all 5 hours of it. First 2 nights will be spent near Selfoss. Then a night near Vik, then 2 nights near the Diamond Beach. Then last 2 nights in Reykjavik.
We are first timers to Iceland. Very excited. I will report back after. Any tips in the meantime, please let me know. We haven’t booked the Blue Lagoon, but plan to for the journey back to the airport. We also plan to do at least one ice cave hike, as we are in to our hiking.
I can remember a trip when we travelled via Iceland on our way to the US for Christmas. It was great and can’t wait to return, and to be honest better than the next part of our hols Stateside!
Clearly the hardest part was the lack of day light. It actually made us feel very jet lagged. We booked organised tours which made sure we did the inside “stuff” before sunrise and then outdoor activities for the few hours it was light.
The food was hearty but delicious but also I seem to recall it was expensive. Delicious soups and stews as they clearly know what they’re doing.
Finally – and unlike European or US destinations over winter – I seem to remember iced up snow all over the ground in Reykjavik, ie no real effort to clear up snow from pavements and very slippy underfoot. Take decent footwear! It really was freezing on the tours around the geysers, like two hats / long john type freezing.
I have retained Reykjavik on my list of apple weather destinations just to see what it’s like there (temperature and extent of daylight or nighttime) and it’s already hovering around 0C! Summer seems to max out at 15C or so. Enjoy!
Reigniting this thread as we are now booked to go to Iceland this November for 8 days. We are hiring a 4×4 and staying in hotels/b&bs along the way. The loose itinerary is to spend the first 5 days heading towards the Diamond Beach and then back towards Reykjavik from there.
We are catching the 7.30(ish) BA flight from LHR, which means we get the first “full day” of daylight – all 5 hours of it. First 2 nights will be spent near Selfoss. Then a night near Vik, then 2 nights near the Diamond Beach. Then last 2 nights in Reykjavik.
We are first timers to Iceland. Very excited. I will report back after. Any tips in the meantime, please let me know. We haven’t booked the Blue Lagoon, but plan to for the journey back to the airport. We also plan to do at least one ice cave hike, as we are in to our hiking.
If you’re into hiking and staying near Vik – I highly recommend looking at the Fimmvorduhals trail starts next to Skogafoss only 20 mins from Vik. Not sure you will be able to do the whole hike in November due to snow or ice, but the first few miles could be doable.
Also worth looking at the Secret Lagoon instead of/in addition to the Blue Lagoon – much cheaper and not as fancy, but seems to be where a lot of the locals go.
It’s an amazing country.
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