Have just returned from an amazing independent trip to Iceland (back with JY on 22nd to Namibia0

Blue lagoon.

A must do, I think it is included in JY trip, but when we went, actually getting into the lagoon was a bit messy.

 Towel hire is 700 ISK and robe hire is 1400 ISK (1,000 ISK approx £8.00) BUT all towels were brown and all robes were  white. On entering lagoon area there was no hooks left to put our towels and robes on. Nothing to distinguish our towels and robes from anyone elses. So we left our towels and robes on a specific table which had nothing on it. When we returned our belongings had been put on the floor with loads of others, so whether we picked our own towels and robes up remains to be seen.

Therefore if we go again we will take our own coloured towels.

Communal changing rooms BUT there are a few individual individual ones. It took us 15 minutes to find an empty locker.

Separate shower cubicles, conditioner for hair provided-need to leave on hair whilst in lagoon. Showers mandatory before entering lagoon.

I took and wore my spare glasses whilst in water.

Not necessary to be able to swim as front part of lagoon approx 3ft only ( you do need to bend your knees though so the water comes up to your shoulders and so you don't get cold.) Sorry, this may be obvious to most people but not necessarily everyone.

Viewpoints

The views from the new boardwalk high up and around the outside of the Perlan are far superior to the views from the Hallgrimskirkja.  So much easier for photography.

Northern Lights

we saw them on our second trip out. We had a free rebook as we didn't see them on our first trip.

If JY's optional to see them is on the last night and they are on your bucket list,  see if the TM can change the evening to the beginning of the tour  so that you can perhaps get a second chance to see them. These lights tours are cancelled if there is no chance of a sighting.

Most hotels, if you ask, will give you a wake up call if the Lights appear in the middle of the night.

I found my Yaktrax, as Bob has previously spoken about them,invaluable as i am not fleet of foot,on the snow and ice on the excellent Golden Circle.

I might upset some people now BUT although our Lights show was on a scale of 8 out of 10 according to our local guide I found the show underwhelming rather than overwhelming!

Regards 

Di

Have been twice now to Iceland with JY. In relation to the Northern Lights trip, you need to be very well dressed! Plenty of thermal layers, good boots, gloves etc and be prepared to be out on the trip very late. Was on the trip over new year. Some folk not suitably dressed, despite being told, also when local guide said it was an excellent night to see the lights, the sky very clear, but it would be around midnight for the best viewing, there was some groaning on the bus! Don't know how, but a decision was made to abandon the trip! The tour manager announced we were returning to the hotel. No explanation given. If you are going to the arctic mid winter, you need clothes on that are suitable for the arctic. Our trip had been rearranged from the night before to try and ensure that we saw the lights. The previous time with JY and with the same local guide, we were out till well after  midnight, but got to see the lights, stood deep in snow in a field in the middle of no where. They do keep the coach there to shelter in while waiting.

I went to Iceland with JY in March 2015 and absolutely loved it - I would strongly consider going back and doing the week long TS tour.  We were very lucky to see a fantastic viewing of the Northern Lights - I think the local guide August said they were a 9/10, certainly he said they were the best for a number of years.  We saw swirling patterns of mainly green lights, with a yellow glow at times.  They moved slowly across the sky and were so beautiful and relaxing to watch, despite craning my neck to be able to see them properly!  We must have stayed out until around 1am to see them and it was definitely worth it.  One of the group (Sally) got fantastic photos of them - and they showed all the colours we couldn't see with the naked eye - reds, purples and other shades.  Utterly amazing!

Cheers,

Bob

I loved Iceland and would love to return in summer for a longer holiday.  Come on JY - you said you would consider this 2 years ago. 

As regards the Northern Lights many people expect to see the reds, blues, purples etc.  You cannot see these with the naked eye only with a good camera etc.  However I found the experience magical - at one point it was like standing under a cathedral roof which was a ghostly green and swirling, changing all the time.  I will never forget that experience.

The Perlan does have a good view but as it was blowing a gale when we were there you could not go outside - at least the church has a viewing platform which has some shelter from the elements.

Hi Charley..

Thank you for your response, happy to hear that you too managed to see the Lights. Now I have been once to Iceland and have the appropriate thermal wear I will try and do the JY New Year trip there in a couple of years time.

Yes, we could also go in and out of the coach whenever we wanted whilst waiting for the show.

Kind regards and happy travelling

Di

Hi Charley..

Thank you for your response, happy to hear that you too managed to see the Lights. Now I have been once to Iceland and have the appropriate thermal wear I will try and do the JY New Year trip there in a couple of years time.

Yes, we could also go in and out of the coach whenever we wanted whilst waiting for the show.

Kind regards and happy travelling

Di

Hi Di

Glad you had a good time, it was very interesting reading your review.  Look forward to some photos via e-mail when have the time?

Best regards

Sue 

Hi Bob and Jonah

Yes, I think our problem was that we expected to see the other colours. Both of our outings to see the Lights were magical anyway. On our first outing we were out til 1 am, albeit the last hour was dropping everyone off at their various hotels-the problem on a  DIY holiday. We watched and waited at two different places in the middle of nowhere, at the second place we climbed  a very snowy hill, thank goodness for yak trax. That was a great adventure in  itself and the stargazing with a very knowledgeable guide was awesome.

We had the same guide both nights and he took individual photos of everyone on both evenings. On the first evening, when it was classed as a "no show" we could just see a shade of green on  the photos but the green hadn't been visible to the naked eye. The photos when we had 8 out of 10 rating,   were obviously much, much better.

Even I managed to get a couple of decent pictures!

If I remember correctly I read your review Bob and saw Sally's photos.

I would love a longer trip now with JY!

Enjoy Burma 

Jonah, it does help that the church is enclosed. When we were there our sunny afternoon was when we were at the Perlan. It was wet and windy whilst we were at the church and could only take photos from two sides as the rain and wind were coming through the other two sides.

As for weather we were lucky last week, in Reykjavik itself it wasn't particularly cold it was just rainy and no snow to be seen in town.

Enjoy Kerala

Best wishes

Di

Hi Sue

Thank you for kind comment!

I will have my photos sorted over the next couple of days, so I will e-mail you in a couple of days time, too.

Hope all well with you!

Best wishes

Di

Thanks Dina - getting excited now.

Best wishes