I am booked on this trip - anyone else booked for this date?

Would also like to hear from anyone who's been on this trip, particuarly in regard of the best type of warm clothing given the time of year.

Many thanks,

Peter

I did this tour a few years ago pre-pandemic. Iceland is an amazing place and the food is incredible. It is a little pricey but I believe that they still have a scheme where, if you keep your receipts, you can claim a tax refund at the airport before you leave which they will send straight to your bank account.

In terms of clothes - layers are essential. I suggest items that are easy to zip/button on and off quickly because you will be in and out of heated buses, so it will be 'jacket on/jacket off'! It's also one of those places where they say, "If you don't like the weather, just wait 10 minutes". You'll get sun, wind, rain, sleet and probably snow, all within the space of your lunch break!  

As a tip - I would also suggest some clip on snow treads for your shoes - I got some called 'YakTrax' which I think you can buy online from Amazon or similar.

Happy to help if you have any other questions.

Happy Travels

MLB

Thank you for your comprehensive reply. 

My main reason for wanting to do this trip is the geology and volcanic activity. I have booked a independent trip the Lava cave. I will certainly take on board your advice re clothing and the snow/ice walking accessory. The weather looks like it could be interesting subject in itself! 

I had read about the tax reclaim, so will take advantage of that where possible. And yes, the food looks very good. 

One further question - did you get to see the Aurora?

Many thanks, Peter   

Yes, we did see the Aurora - quite a surreal experience!

From memory, all the local tour guides have some kind of tracker, that is updated by their weather centre, so that they know when there is likely to be a display and where the best viewing point will be. Our guide postponed our night tour a couple of times because the skies were cloudy and he knew we would see nothing.

It wasn't looking good for the thrid night either and then we suddenly got advised that we would be leaving in 30 minutes! We were taken to a golf course outside Reykjavik at around midnight and spent around 2-3 hours looking up! (Take a woolly hat and scarf or a face covering snood because it will be several degrees below.... ) Cue very stiff necks the following morning!

The lights are milky to the naked eye but when viewed through a lense, you will see the colours that all the photos show.  The local legend is that the Aurora, which seem to 'dance' in the sky, are Odin's Valkyrie, coming to earth to guide the souls of dead warriors to Valhalla.  Good luck - I hope you get to see as many 'maidens' as we did!

All the best

MLB

Many thanks for the replies. Looking forward to a bad neck!

Peter