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  #1  
Old May 12th, 2015, 01:35 PM posted to rec.travel.europe,rec.travel
[email protected]
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Posts: 1
Default Iceland

Planning a trip to Iceland this year. Can anyone recommend travel books or
websites they found helpful? Also if you anyone has copies of itneraries
that would also be appreciated.

TIA!
  #3  
Old May 14th, 2015, 08:11 PM posted to rec.travel.europe,rec.travel
tim.....
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Posts: 1,591
Default Iceland


wrote in message
...
Planning a trip to Iceland this year. Can anyone recommend travel books
or
websites they found helpful? Also if you anyone has copies of itneraries
that would also be appreciated.

TIA!


By car or bus?

If going by car, unless you're renting a 4x4 your only choice is a trip
around the ring road (or less), almost all the rest of the island is
inaccessible.

That's not to say that the sights on the ring road aren't great, just that
there's little to prepare in terms of the route

  #4  
Old May 17th, 2015, 07:14 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
Dan Stephenson
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Posts: 591
Default Iceland

On 2015-05-14 19:11:45 +0000, tim..... said:

wrote in message
...
Planning a trip to Iceland this year. Can anyone recommend travel books or
websites they found helpful? Also if you anyone has copies of itneraries
that would also be appreciated.

TIA!


By car or bus?

If going by car, unless you're renting a 4x4 your only choice is a trip
around the ring road (or less), almost all the rest of the island is
inaccessible.

That's not to say that the sights on the ring road aren't great, just
that there's little to prepare in terms of the route


That ring trip seems attractive to me, too. I've looked at the map and
there seem to be numerous side trips along the coast. I loved my
coastal trips around the north of Scotland, western Ireland, and along
Norway. Is there a similar effect with glaciation down to the sea?
About how long would this all take, practically?

I presume I should also avoid the heart of winter, but if it is like
e.g. Ireland, I want to avoid midge swarms. Thoughts for time of year?

--
Dan Stephenson
http://stepheda.com
Travel pages for Europe and the U.S.A. (and New Zealand too)

  #5  
Old May 18th, 2015, 09:37 AM posted to rec.travel.europe
Giovanni Drogo
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Posts: 811
Default Iceland

On Sun, 17 May 2015, Dan Stephenson wrote:

That ring trip seems attractive to me, too.


I did it a few years ago with an organized (coach) tour from Italy and
enjoyed it.

I want to avoid midge swarms. Thoughts for time of year?


We did it in July-August. There are caps with nets for sale against
mosquitos. We had brought homemade ones with us, but had barely no need
for them. A bit at the Parliament Plain (Thingvellir), none at the
Mosquito Lake (Myvatn).

About how long would this all take, practically?


Let me see if I recall correctly. Count the days yourself.

We flew in rather late in the evening and drove to Rejkyavik.
Next day, if I recall well, was half a day to see the city, and half a
day to the main Geyser site and Gullfoss.

Next day in the morning we went to Thingvellir, than turned slightly
inland and to the south coast near Vik. We stopped to see the birds near
Dirholaey.

Another day with stop at Kirkjubaejarklaustur (spelling by heart),
Svartifoss, the ice lagoon at Jokulsarlon (definitely worth seeing)
and up to Hofn.

Then from Hofn to Egilstadir (where we slept in a school) with various
stops on the coast, birds, mineral museum, glacier, whaling station.

From Egilstadir to area of lake Myvatn via Modrudalur.

One day touring lake Myvatn.

Next day to the northern coast to see a waterfall, a sort of escarpment,
and arrival at Akureyri.

Then from Akureyri we visited Glaumbaer (also worth seeing) and all the
way to Rejkiavik (unfortunately no Snaefell peninsula !)

Last day from Rejkiavik to the Blue Lagoon spa (rather touristy) and
departure late at evening.


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  #6  
Old May 18th, 2015, 10:16 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
tim.....
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Posts: 1,591
Default Iceland


"Dan Stephenson" wrote in message
...
On 2015-05-14 19:11:45 +0000, tim..... said:

wrote in message
...
Planning a trip to Iceland this year. Can anyone recommend travel books
or
websites they found helpful? Also if you anyone has copies of
itneraries
that would also be appreciated.

TIA!


By car or bus?

If going by car, unless you're renting a 4x4 your only choice is a trip
around the ring road (or less), almost all the rest of the island is
inaccessible.

That's not to say that the sights on the ring road aren't great, just
that there's little to prepare in terms of the route


That ring trip seems attractive to me, too. I've looked at the map and
there seem to be numerous side trips along the coast. I loved my coastal
trips around the north of Scotland, western Ireland, and along Norway. Is
there a similar effect with glaciation down to the sea?


yep

About how long would this all take, practically?


I did a 7 day tour

There's a lot of driving each day but provided you have pre-booked
accommodation and go in the summer it never gets dark and you can carry on
sight-seeing until midnight. Apart from Akureyri in the North, none of the
towns you might lodge in offer anything to make you want to wander around,
some of them don't even have any restaurants (I had to have at least one
evening meal in the petrol station cafe)

12-14 days enables you to add on some more side trips, including the Island
of Flately (though looking at the pictures it's not clear what is so special
about it!)

I presume I should also avoid the heart of winter,


If for no other reason than it's going to be dark for 22 hours a day, even
if you don't get stuck in the snow.

Winter is the time for the Northern lights, but realistically you need to
remain in the Reykjavik/Golden Circle area, Driving the ring is likely to
be impractical.

but if it is like e.g. Ireland, I want to avoid midge swarms.


Didn't have any problems here

Thoughts for time of year?


I, unknowingly, booked the week of the Höfn festival, which meant that there
wasn't any accommodation available there and I had drive an extra 100 miles
for my accommodation that night. It seems that it's the last week in June
this year

tim



  #7  
Old May 21st, 2015, 02:57 AM posted to rec.travel.europe
Dan Stephenson
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 591
Default Iceland

On 2015-05-18 08:37:50 +0000, Giovanni Drogo said:

On Sun, 17 May 2015, Dan Stephenson wrote:

That ring trip seems attractive to me, too.


I did it a few years ago with an organized (coach) tour from Italy and
enjoyed it.

I want to avoid midge swarms. Thoughts for time of year?


We did it in July-August. There are caps with nets for sale against
mosquitos. We had brought homemade ones with us, but had barely no need
for them. A bit at the Parliament Plain (Thingvellir), none at the
Mosquito Lake (Myvatn).

About how long would this all take, practically?


Let me see if I recall correctly. Count the days yourself.


[...]

Thank you! This is definitely on The List!

--
Dan Stephenson
http://stepheda.com
Travel pages for Europe and the U.S.A. (and New Zealand too)

 




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