Non UK Iceland Tour Group recommendations

Alisonfd

Alisonfd

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Alison
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I want to go to Iceland but as its my first trip I do not want to be going on my own.

Does anyone have any recommendations for tour groups which are worth going with? My main reason for going is photography so ones which are aimed towards photographers would be better, but from what I have found they're also the most expensive.
 
Not photography related as such but still plenty of photo opportunities with the one we recently went with which was Iceland Intro golden circle tour. Gerta is the tour guide - she is an independent and I think she does golden circle and south shore trips. Her rating on trip advisor is 100% 5 stars and I would thoroughly recommend her golden circle. I have a thread in the landscape critique section to show some of the images I was able to take on the golden circle trip we did this weekend. In contrast comparison, we also did a tour with Grayline, the main bus company (for the northern lights) and we were in convoy with about 6 other 70 seaters, and it was half the fun of the smaller private tour. Enjoy.
 
Hi Alison,

These guys dont run photo 'holidays' but they do run photo tours, so might be an option depending on how you organise your holiday

https://www.facebook.com/arcticshots/ - their website is being redone at the moment, but thats their facebook. I did their Snæfellsnes peninsula tour, which is a great area. It's photography based so can guide and give advice etc on that and do all the driving. they have a south shore trip, golden circle trip, nothern lights and i think one or two others. It's run by two guys and they are really really nice and really helpful, they even helped me out with some issues i had with my car hire the day after the day tour i did with them. I don't know what sort of group size they usually have, i only had one other person on mine, but i guess it depends what tour you do.

as @chriscross says above, the big grayline bus tours are not the best option for northern lights if you want to concentrate on photography. i found them VERY frustrating due to dawdling people!

i guess it all depends on your budget. You could book your flight, hotel etc thru expedia or something and try and do that cheapo and then Arctic Shots (or whoever) will pick you up from your accommodation so you dont need a car if you stay in the city.

This blog is EXTREMELY good for tips http://www.iheartreykjavik.net/ and if you search around there is a post specifically about being a lone female - though i know you've mentioned it's your first visit so that wasnt an ideal scenario for you, but just so you know its out there. She runs a great walking tour, which is ideal to do on your first day to get to know the city and also, as they are popular, you could meet new people on that.

There's also an area walking distance (technically) just outside of the city that is dark enough to take NL photos if they showed up. just the backdrop isnt as great as it could be, but the lights are still pretty!! :-)

Don't know if thats much use and know there are lots of others Iceland-philes on here that may have other suggestions. I'm looking to go back in September for a couple of days but hoping to head over East on a whirlwind trip, as long as all the accomodation in Vik doesnt sell out!!

D
 
Have a look in the meeting section there are a few threads about a possible trip
 
Thanks guys. I do want to try and avoid being sat on a bus if possible, I think I would go insane. So definitely want to find a smaller person who does more private tours. I'll check out everything you guys suggested, thanks.

zeb said:
Have a look in the meeting section there are a few threads about a possible trip
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I have been posting in them but sadly we haven't had much traction with this years :(
 
Alisonfd said:
I have been posting in them but sadly we haven't had much traction with this years :(
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i'd be monitoring them too @zeb but nothing really seemed to come of it this year.

@Alisonfd how long were you planning on going? i was planning on heading out east in September for only for a whirlwind trip (only 2 full days) but it probably wouldnt be a very good trip for a first time as it wouldnt take in the 'usual' stuff for a first visit as it would be my 6th visit, but i'm happy to answer any questions - Going on holiday alone hasn't been my ideal, but as a female, i do feel safe there and not sure i'd consider doing it in other places.

The bus trips serve a purpose (did one of the golden circle in march last year as i didnt want to drive in winter weather, but i had done it before in 2006, went with a different friend this time) but not ideal. I'd def recommend Arctic Shots.
 
If safety is a concern - then there is that little crime in Iceland there is only 400 police officers in Iceland and only 20 in Reykjavik - a capital city. That says it all!
 
chriscross said:
If safety is a concern - then there is that little crime in Iceland there is only 400 police officers in Iceland and only 20 in Reykjavik - a capital city. That says it all!
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Absolutely - was directing Alison to i heart reykjavik blog which has a nice post about it, especially for the ladies amongst us :-) http://www.iheartreykjavik.net/2015/06/is-iceland-safe-for-solo-female-travellers.

But in general, its all good too! Their police have an instagram account which is quite fun :-)
 
dan_yell said:
i'd be monitoring them too @zeb but nothing really seemed to come of it this year.

@Alisonfd how long were you planning on going? i was planning on heading out east in September for only for a whirlwind trip (only 2 full days) but it probably wouldnt be a very good trip for a first time as it wouldnt take in the 'usual' stuff for a first visit as it would be my 6th visit, but i'm happy to answer any questions - Going on holiday alone hasn't been my ideal, but as a female, i do feel safe there and not sure i'd consider doing it in other places.

The bus trips serve a purpose (did one of the golden circle in march last year as i didnt want to drive in winter weather, but i had done it before in 2006, went with a different friend this time) but not ideal. I'd def recommend Arctic Shots.
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I am hoping to go for at least a week. Preferably 2. Then I may return at a later point for a shorter visit. Going on my own doesn't seem all that bad anymore after reading some stuff you guys have said and that blog. Plus googling some things.

edit: Oh I'd also like to do 2-3 days in Reykjavik as well. So I am going to hope for at least 10 days for a week on photography and 3 days just doing whatever. Otherwise I'll just have to do them when I go the 2nd time.
 
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Alisonfd said:
edit: Oh I'd also like to do 2-3 days in Reykjavik as well. So I am going to hope for at least 10 days for a week on photography and 3 days just doing whatever. Otherwise I'll just have to do them when I go the 2nd time.
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and what about the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th........ time :p

thats awesome that you might go for 2 weeks if you can, theres less I MUST SEE THIS THIS THIS THIS AND THIS kind of pressure (or maybe thats just me)

The i heart reykjavik blog is fantastic, i reckon it could answer most things you'd need to know! The walking tour is def a great first day thing to do. And i recommend Burger Joint and Icelandic fish and chips near the harbour (if you're not veggie obv). There's an app called Whappy for finding whale friendly restaurants in the city :) http://icewhale.is/whale-friendly-restaurants/.

As i say, i could ramble on forever, so happy to give my thoughts on any other questions. And i've got an air bnb referral link if you down that route ;-)
 
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Thanks for the app, that is useful. Airbnb is something I'm happy to use. PM me your referral link and if i do use them, I will use it.
 
The iceland forum on trip advisor is very good and very helpful
 
HI Alison, hope you dont mind me asking, but did you go to Iceland? I am thinking the very same thing in the next few months, prob end of Sept. wondered if you did and how you found it on your own. thanks
 
thanks, I will do, just reading all the archive threads, as it seems a good many people have been and enjoyed. thank you.
 
Hi @Alisonfd & @Smiffster .....


Not sure if you've been yet Alison but .....travelling as a lone female in Iceland shouldn't hold any fear for you. I did a whirlwind trip last year on my own and never felt concerned at all. Standing on the Black Beach at 2 am, in a little cove at the side of Route 1 at midnight and at 4 am on the beach in Reykjavik .......no problem, felt safer than being in town at home In the middle of the day !
Locals were always friendly and happy to talk.
There was a small group of students on Reykjavik beach that initially I was worried about but a couple of then came over and started talking,just friendly and curious and happy to see everyone a visitor enjoying the views.
It is getting far more tourist orientated which I find a little sad , this year's trip saw more tourists out between 10pm and 5 am ,more visitor centres under construction with coffee and gift shops etc so go for it before it gets totally spoilt.......just my opinion......I loved the solitude and unspoilt naturalness when I went last year.
 
@blondie606 just wondered :-) i'd have no issue with those times in the winter in regards to safety from other people/in general - just in regards to it being pitch black and me having a crap sense of direction and ending up in the sea! :-D
 
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