Suggested companies

Arctic adventures, getyourguide, nordic visitor.

travel department iceland reviews

Guide to Iceland   Reviews

In the Travel Agency category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Your profile picture

Write a review

Reviews 4.5.

Most relevant

Amazing & Stress-Free Experience

So glad I booked this Self-Drive Tour with Guide to Iceland. They quickly helped me with last-minute changes prior to our trip and we didn't have any issues with our bookings during the trip, we just had to show up and enjoy ourselves. It made the whole process so much less stressful and I will definitely be booking with them in the future. Also, this tour hit a lot, if not all of the primary tourist destinations. There is a good bit of driving, but honestly, Iceland is so beautiful my husband and I didn't mind at all. Thank you, Guide To Iceland!

Date of experience : April 25, 2024

Wonderful self drive experience!

Booking everything through guide to Iceland made my first trip very easy to plan. I had a wonderful self drive experience. All of the hotels I booked were great. I emailed to extend my rental car for a couple more days and that was easy. I would recommend guide to Iceland as well as the self drive trip. This was my first self drive travel experience, and I’ll probably try to travel this way from now on! It’s a wonderful way to see so much of the country and booking through Guide to Iceland made it easier to navigate places to see.

Date of experience : April 08, 2024

Whole journey was totally well planned

My whole journey was planned super well. At first I was a little bit concerned if everything will be fine because I've booked quite some additional tours. But everything went well. The transport from the airport worked, my car was ready, every hotel was prepared for my stay and every booked tour was informed about my participation. I'm very happy I've booked with Guide to Iceland - I think they have truly helped me to make the absolut best out of my one week stay. Next year I'll book another one week tour!

Date of experience : April 16, 2024

It’s my first time traveling around…

It’s my first time traveling around Iceland. I’m glad that I chose Guide To Iceland for arranging my trip. Although some accidents happened, it’s still a good experience. Also, they always reply to me quickly and patiently.

Date of experience : April 13, 2024

Iceland is a stunningly beautiful…

Iceland is a stunningly beautiful place. As far as our journey, everything worked flawlessly. Accommodations were all very good. Meals at hotel restaurants were all excellent. People in Iceland are uniformly friendly and helpful. A bit more information on the weather would have been helpful. It was mid-April, and we ran into some challenging weather in the north. Be advised that Iceland can be expensive. Food, wine and petrol are all a bit pricy by American standards. But well worth it. We will be back.

Date of experience : April 19, 2024

better communication

Hotel (Sand) was great. Need better information on tours/pickups/bus types and coordination. It doesn't work to go to Blue Lagoon at 7:30 am and have a bus back at 13:15. The restaurant doesn't open until 11:30 and 3+ hours in the water is too much for most people. If no bus scheduled would be good to have an add option for a private. As it was, I spent 25,000 K for a taxi. I think if someone went to the but stop at pickup time and saw the confusion of buses pulling up and 8 groups of people trying to figure out if each bus/van is there ride, you could figure out some sort of system that would be less confusing. Matching bus itinerary to exact bus label would be very helpful. I did snowmobile which was a nice tour but didn't have any idea where we would stop or lunch options.

Date of experience : April 14, 2024

Guide to Iceland made it easy!

Guide to Iceland made traveling through Iceland a breeze, setting up a full itinerary and taking care of all the lodging. I had to reschedule a few activities along the way and their customer support was very helpful and quick. A great experience overall!

Amazing ring road trip!

We had all the details for our trip. The hotels were a great option and check-ins were all ok. It was a perfect option so we could follow along without stress.

Iceland 3 days trip review

I like how helpful the assistant and the websites are. The prompt reply is really a plus for the journey. The only thing that I think has to inprove is the information of the pickup. It is somehow little bit unclear but overall is nice.

Date of experience : April 18, 2024

Self-Driving Tour - Highly Recommended

I would consider myself a hands-on traveler. I'd much rather prefer doing things on my own, per my own schedule than booking tours and such. Visiting a foreign country, that can be very daunting. Luckily Guide to Iceland had a wealth of knowledge and options that perfectly matched my needs. They were very attentive to all my needs and very communicative and available throughout the process. I will add, I opted to stay a few extra days because I assumed the itinerary made for me wouldn't quite cover everything I wanted to see. I was wrong. I did the self-driving 7 day tour of the South Coast and it was absolutely jam-packed. I got to see so many amazing sights. Also appreciated the write-ups about each location to help me make decisions on what were MUST stops and what were "nice-to-have". The only word of caution, do your own homework in advance to make sure all stops will be available. We had the misfortune of basically missing out on a fully planned day because one of the national parks was closed due to the snow. We made the most of it but definitely could have benefitted from knowing that in advance.

Date of experience : April 11, 2024

The tours were great

The tours were great, the guides personable and knowledgeable, and they happened on schedule.

Date of experience : April 12, 2024

Book with Troll

Hadrian from Troll expeditions was the best guide ever!! I learn so much about Islandic culture, history and even pop music! She was very helpful and friendly even though we had lots of questions, she was always there to answer. Not so happy with Reykjavik excursions, the guide was old man, struggling to remember what he started to explain on first place. The bus transfers were flawless. Everyone was kind and helpful. My refund for Blue lagoon closure came in minutes. Great choice to book with Guide to Iceland!

Date of experience : April 04, 2024

Awesome trip

We didn’t worry about picking out lodging. All of our rooms were clean and comfortable. We enjoyed every second of our trip.

Date of experience : April 21, 2024

Money taken taken but cottage not booked

Booked a cottage through GuidetoIceland (that we've stayed in before). Received confirmation of booking and the money has been debited from my credit card. However a week later I can see the cottage is still available to book for the same week through the booking platform GTI have used (Bungalo.com) as well as other platforms. Emails to GTI are being ignored (as are those to Bungalo) leaving my Iceland holiday in limbo - leaving me with no other option than to claim back via my credit card for non-delivery of services.

Date of experience : April 01, 2024

Amazing company!

Using Guide to Iceland was the best decision I made! Everything from our excursions to our accommodations went like clockwork. All were top notch! They were on top of every detail and answered each of my questions immediately and completely. Very easy to contact. I couldn’t have asked for a more efficient company to work with and I would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone planning the trip of a lifetime in Iceland!

Date of experience : March 30, 2024

The perfect vacation

The perfect vacation. Took all the stress and worry and left me just having a good time. Everything worked seamlessly from arrival to departure. Already planning next trip!

8-day self-drive trip to Iceland, winter version (south and west)

The organisation of the trip was very efficient and they were available to personalise it basing on my travel needs. Recommended if you need to figure out your stay in a quick and easy way. And of course the trip was absolutely amazing!

Date of experience : March 18, 2024

very good hotels but bad communication

Hi! Accommodations were perfect!!! and all the process, very easy. But, we had some difficulties with Car rental, as different insurances weren't offered, neither second driver. After this, We had some issues with the closure of Blue lagoon and change to Sky lagoon and mechanic problems with our car during our trip..GUIDE TO ICELAND took even more than 24 hours to answer to requirements. Good thing the rental car company (LAVA) answered promptly and sended us a new car immediately.

Date of experience : March 28, 2024

Interesting itinerary and well priced…

Interesting itinerary and well priced five day self driving tour. We achieved our goals of seeing the northern lights and many of the key sights in south western Iceland. Some of the details that need work include better instructions on how to connect with the car rental company, or switch to one of the more well known companies that have in airport staff to get you to your car. Our reservation at one of the hotels had been cancelled. Fortunately they did have a room available and were able to accommodate.

Date of experience : March 25, 2024

Extremely helpful and very concise experience

Based on the trip plan I had set, the team was amazing in constructing a plan that fit me and my partner's needs and detailed an efficient plan that allowed us to maximize our experience while we were there.

Iceland Travel

travel department iceland reviews

  • See all photos

travel department iceland reviews

Similar Experiences

travel department iceland reviews

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Galina K

Iceland Travel - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Traveling to Iceland during the coronavirus pandemic — the complete guide

Andrew Kunesh

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Last week, I traveled to Reykjavik, Iceland, as a vaccinated traveler with an American passport.

The country briefly opened to tourists in late March . Then, in response to a growing number of coronavirus cases, paused entry again. That said, the country plans to reopen to tourists on April 6.

So in other words: a trip to Iceland is likely possible for vaccinated Americans in the coming weeks. This is a huge deal as most European countries have remained closed throughout the pandemic , making Iceland one of a few possible European options for a spring vacation.

But before you book a ticket, you should be aware of the current situation in Iceland. This includes what you need to show for entry at the Iceland border and when checking in to a hotel, restrictions on what's currently allowed to be open in the country and how to get a COVID test before you return back to the U.S.

These guidelines change frequently and the country is likely to open up more as vaccines are distributed, but if you're planning a trip in April or May, chances are you'll still be subject to some restrictions.

In this article, I'll walk you through the current situation in Iceland and what I experienced on my recent trip. You can use this to help decide if a trip to Iceland is right for you during the coronavirus pandemic. There's also information on how to get a COVID-19 test in Iceland — something that's required for Americans returning home from abroad .

Let's get started!

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

Iceland entry requirements for Americans

travel department iceland reviews

Iceland is currently planning on reopening to Americans on Apr. 6, 2021. Eligible travelers include those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who can prove that they've already recovered from the virus. You'll need proof of vaccination or prior infection to show the border agent upon arrival in Iceland and when checking into your hotel. Having these documents also lets you skip the mandatory testing and quarantine imposed on other travelers.

Required documents for entry

At this time, Iceland is recognizing four vaccines for entry. These include the three vaccines approved for emergency use in the U.S. — here's the full list:

  • AstraZeneca
  • Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
  • Pfizer-BioNTech

You must bring your CDC-issued vaccination card with you to the border. Your card must have the following information:

  • First name and last name
  • Date of birth
  • Name of the vaccinated disease (COVID-19)
  • Where and when the vaccinations took place
  • List of the number of doses required to complete
  • Information on the issuer of the certificate
  • Name of the vaccine
  • Manufacturer of vaccine and batch number
  • Written in Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English or French

Alternatively, those who've recovered from COVID-19 can skip quarantine with the proper documentation. According to the Icelandic government's COVID-19 website , you can skip quarantine if you bring a positive PCR test taken 14+ days ago or if you have a positive antibody test. Your documentation must include the following:

  • First and last names
  • When the test took place
  • Where the test took place
  • Name of testing facility
  • Telephone number of testing facility
  • Type of test (PCR test or antibody)
  • Test result (positive PCR test or proof of the presence of antibodies)

Thankfully, the CDC vaccine card and most COVID PCR and antibody tests have this information by default. If for some reason yours doesn't, contact your vaccination site or healthcare provider and see if it's possible to have your documentation re-issued. Otherwise, you could be forced to quarantine or be turned away at the border.

What to expect at the Iceland border

I wrote a full article on my experience at the Iceland border at Keflavik airport, but here's the recap. After I deplaned, I went to a pre-border arrivals line and was asked by an agent if I was already vaccinated. When I said yes, I was told to walk to the immigration counter. After waiting for a few minutes, I showed my passport and vaccine card to the border control agent who looked over the card and asked me a few questions. Not completely satisfied, she talked with another agent, asked me more questions and then finally scanned my passport and let me through the border. The process was a bit disorganized and there were long lines, but I made it through without issue.

Related: Iceland is finally ready to welcome eligible Americans — for real this time

Getting to (and around) Iceland

One of the hardest parts about traveling to Iceland during the pandemic is actually getting there. Flights to Iceland were cut during the pandemic, and Iceland's popular budget carrier WOW Air went out of business in 2019 . At the time of writing this article, Icelandair — the flag carrier of Iceland — is only operating twice-weekly flights from Boston (BOS) to Reykjavik (KEF), which is how I got to Iceland.

So with that in mind, if you're traveling immediately, you'll either need to live in Boston or position yourself there in order to travel. I live in New York City, so I booked a Delta Shuttle flight to and from Boston to connect to my Icelandair flight. The total cost of my round-trip Icelandair flight from Boston to Reykjavik (KEF) was just under $630 in standard economy class .

Flight options are slowly increasing

travel department iceland reviews

Thankfully, Icelandair is resuming service to many of its U.S. destinations over the coming months, and fares are reasonable. For example, I found this round-trip ticket from New York-JFK to Reykjavik (KEF) for just $417 in basic economy in mid-May. Business-class tickets on the same day cost $1,706 round-trip.

travel department iceland reviews

We will see Icelandair restart service to the following U.S. cities this April:

  • Chicago-O'Hare (ORD)
  • Denver (DEN)
  • Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP)
  • Newark (EWR)
  • New York-JFK
  • Orlando (MCO)
  • Seattle (SEA)
  • Washington-Dulles (IAD)

Related: How to fly Icelandair using points and miles

Other U.S. airlines are restarting service to Iceland this spring too. Delta Air Lines will restart daily service from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) and New York-JFK on May 27 and May 1 respectively. We'll also see Delta start Boston to Reykjavik on May 20, giving Icelandair a new competitor on the route.

travel department iceland reviews

These tickets can be booked with Delta SkyMiles, too. The program prices awards dynamically, but I'm finding round-trip award tickets from 54,000 SkyMiles in Main Cabin economy this June.

travel department iceland reviews

United Airlines will also restart service from Newark to Reykjavik on June 4. At the time of writing, it hasn't scheduled service to Iceland from its other hubs.

travel department iceland reviews

United charges 60,000 MileagePlus miles for a round-trip economy class award this June.

travel department iceland reviews

These are all great options for flying to Iceland and show that airlines are optimistic about Iceland becoming a travel hotspot for Americans. We'd love to see American Airlines also restart service to the island as it previously operated flights from Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) to Reykjavik.

Related: Iceland is open to Americans: Here's how to get there on points and miles

Public transit is operating as usual (with one exception)

travel department iceland reviews

One of the not-so-fun parts of landing in Reyjkavik is that the international airport is actually located 45 minutes away in the town of Keflavík. Taxis from the airport to the city can be quite expensive, so your best option is to take the Flybus. This is a private bus company that operates — during normal times — frequent bus service from the airport to the Reyjkavik bus terminal for roughly $26 one-way.

Unfortunately, the service is running on a reduced schedule through the pandemic. Further, it's only operating from the airport to Reykjavik and not making the return trip. You'll need to take the local bus service — Strætó — in order to return to the airport if you're not taking a taxi or renting a car. Bus 55 runs from Reykjavik to the airport and costs $15 after currency conversion. You can buy tickets in the Strætó mobile app.

Just note that bus 55 doesn't run from Reykjavik to the airport every day. I took the bus on a Sunday morning and needed to take bus 1 out of the city to connect to bus 55 at a terminal in the Reyjavik suburbs. The journey was easy enough but took longer than the Flybus due to extra stops along the route.

travel department iceland reviews

Reykjavik is very walkable, but you can use Strætó buses to get around quickly. Local tickets cost roughly $4 after currency conversion and can be purchased through the Strætó mobile app. There are also buses that can take you around Iceland from Reykjavik, though these will cost more money. I didn't have any issues with the buses during my trip.

You can rent a car without issue

Rental cars are also operating as normal in Iceland during the pandemic. You can rent cars at the airport or at rental locations in Reykjavik. Major rental companies like Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz and Payless operate in Iceland, so shop around to find the best price. Having a rental car is a huge help if you plan to drive around Iceland to go on hikes, see waterfalls and go on other nature experiences.

Rentals aren't horribly expensive when you book in advance. For example, a week-long economy car rental costs roughly $347 with Hertz in mid-June. Of course, make sure to pay with a credit card that offers a rental car damage waiver so you're not on the hook for paying damages if the car is stolen or damaged.

travel department iceland reviews

While U.S. driver's licenses are accepted in Iceland, make sure to read up on the requirements for renting a car before you book.

Related: How to never pay full price for a rental car

What's open in Iceland

Since I was traveling for work, I spent most of my time in Reyjkavik but did take a bus out of the city one day. Most things were open on my first night in Reykjavik — even bars. However, the government imposed new restrictions the day after I landed, which shuttered things like bars, swimming pools, gyms and schools. These closures are expected to last for a few weeks and may be lifted if the coronavirus spread is slowed in Iceland.

Many things remained open though, and I still had a great time on my visit. Here's a quick look at what to expect.

Dining in Reykjavik

travel department iceland reviews

I'm a foodie, so checking out Reykjavik's top eateries was at the top of my list. Thankfully, restaurants were still allowed to be open under the new restrictions but had to close by 10 pm. Make sure to arrive earlier than 10 though — restaurants must stop admitting new customers at 9 pm. During my stay, I ate at plenty of interesting restaurants, with two of my favorites being Food Cellar and the Frederiksen Ale House .

One of my favorite meals was the Icelandic Meat Soup at Frederiksen Ale House — I highly recommend it if you're in the area!

travel department iceland reviews

Iceland is also known for its famous hot dog stands. You can find these all over the country, and grab a cheap (and delicious) hot dog to go. These were all open during my visit and are a great way to get a quick snack if you miss the 9 pm cutoff for restaurants. I highly recommend trying an Icelandic hot dog — they're delicious and — in my mind — are only beat by Chicago-style dogs.

travel department iceland reviews

Many bars remain open for table seating too. If you're into craft beer, make sure to sample some of Iceland's local breweries like Einstök, Egils and Borg Brugghús. You can find these ales at Frederiksen Ale House and other bars including Microbar and Aldamót Bar . Keep an eye out for happy hour deals as alcohol in Iceland is far from cheap.

travel department iceland reviews

Those working while in Iceland will be pleased to know that coffee shops are open and have indoor seating, fast Wi-Fi and power outlets. I spent plenty of time at cafes during my stay and was a huge fan of Reykjavik Roasters , Kaktus Espressobar and Te & Kaffi . I'm a self-proclaimed espresso nerd and was blown away by each coffee shop; if you're a coffee fan make sure to check them out.

travel department iceland reviews

You're required to leave your name and phone number at the entrance to all dining establishments for contact tracing. Some places also had temperature checks at the entrance, so it's a very similar experience to dining in New York City during the pandemic.

Natural parks, volcanos and outdoor activities

travel department iceland reviews

One nice thing about Iceland is that, outside of Reykjavik, most of your activities will be outside. Whether that's hiking, camping or white water rafting, you're able to do these things without going inside. Hiking trails and most other outdoor activities are open without major restrictions. Plus, you can even visit the Fagradalsfjall volcano that's currently erupting (as long as it's safe).

Outdoor tours of Reykjavik and other tourist centers are running, too. You can use the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal to pay for these with your points, so do some research and see which is best for your travel style.

Note, though, that spas and swimming pools are currently closed due to the most recent COVID restrictions. This means spots such as the famous Blue Lagoon spa are currently closed until April 16, 2021. As a rule of thumb, make sure to check if the attraction you're hoping to visit is open before you arrive.

Museums and cultural sights

travel department iceland reviews

Most museums have remained open in Reyjkavik and the rest of Iceland, but hours may be reduced. For example, the Árbær Open Air Museum is only open between 1 pm and 5 pm on all days. Again, make sure to check with the museum before you visit.

Related: Iceland trip-planning from A to Z: Glaciers, geothermal spas and lava caves

Reykjavik during the COVID-19 pandemic

travel department iceland reviews

Beyond things to do, there are a few things to keep in mind when in the city of Reykjavik. Here's a quick overview of things you might want to know.

Mask compliance is enforced

Yes, you need to wear a mask in Reykjavik.

You're required to wear a mask whenever you're inside a restaurant, shop or other establishment. That said, you can take your mask off when eating, drinking or seated at a restaurant. I found that mask compliance was enforced at these indoor settings. At the same time, I didn't see people wearing masks outside.

Related: TPG's 9 favorite face masks and where to buy them

My experience checking-in to a hotel

One quick word about hotels. When you check-in, you're required to show proof of vaccination, prior infection or completed quarantine. I stayed at three different hotels and each wanted to see my CDC-issued vaccination card. One of the hotels made a copy of it, while others simply wanted to see it. This leads me to believe that this is a requirement for check-in.

My hotel experiences were largely positive during my time in Iceland. Each hotel was clean and modern, and the staff was great. Housekeeping was standard at each hotel too — something that can't be said for most U.S. hotels during the pandemic. You can notify the front desk if you'd rather not have housekeeping during your stay.

Related: Second Cities: Destinations to add onto a trip to Reykjavik

Getting a COVID test in Reykjavik

travel department iceland reviews

At press time, all travelers heading to the U.S. are required to have a negative COVID-19 test in order to check-in to their flight. Unfortunately, this includes travelers who are vaccinated, so you'll need to budget time and money for a COVID test during your trip.

Thankfully, the testing process was extremely easy.

I made my appointment for a COVID test in Reykjavik using this form on the Iceland COVID website . You can schedule next-day appointments, and all are administered in Reykjavik (unless otherwise noted). You're prompted to pre-pay for the COVID-19 PCR test ($56 after conversion) and are emailed a barcode to bring to the testing facility.

travel department iceland reviews

I showed up to the testing facility 15 minutes before my noon appointment. The line was long but moved quickly. Once inside the testing facility, the desk clerk scanned my barcode and handed me a vial. Then, I was paired with a nurse who took the nose and mouth sample for the PCR test. I was in and out in less than 10 minutes.

Make sure to show up early though. After I left the facility, I noticed the line to get into the testing center was over a block long.

travel department iceland reviews

The facility promised results in 12 hours, but I had mine back in just under 7 hours. The U.S. requires a test no more than 72 hours old when you check-in to your flight, so you shouldn't have an issue getting your results back in time.

Related: Here's where you can quickly get a COVID-19 PCR test for travel

Bottom line

I had an incredible time in Iceland and am excited to return in the near future. Once the borders reopen on April 6, I expect Iceland to be a huge destination for American tourists; it's close to North America and is one of the first major European countries to reopen its borders. So once you're vaccinated, start planning a trip if you're interested.

Feature photo by Ververidis Vasilis/Shutterstock

Stay up-to-date by getting the latest post by email

Email Address

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Kate's Travel Tips

Advice from one traveler to another

An honest review of our roadtrip with Guide to Iceland

April 7, 2018 2 Comments

We’ve just returned from our 8 day road trip around Iceland. The itinerary was planned and organized through Guide to Iceland, an online platform where you can book tours, accommodation, and transport for your trip. They also offer all-in-one packages which are customizable based on the length of your visit. This March my parents, Javi, and I completed our 8 Day Winter Self Drive Package and the experience was unforgettable! We did experience a few mishaps on the trip so if you’re on the fence about organizing a trip yourself or getting a tour package you may find this review helpful. 😉

travel department iceland reviews

Things to consider before booking with Guide to Iceland

There are a few things to consider when booking a full itinerary package—specifically the advantages and disadvantages of letting someone else organize your schedule and accommodation. Here are the main takeaways from our experience:  

  • Booking the entire trip with Guide to Iceland saved me hours of research and making reservations. We received exact GPS coordinates for each attraction and interesting information about each stop.  
  • We were able to purchase trip insurance (section 6.5.5) in case any last minute issues prevented us from making the trip. This is an option you won’t have if organizing the trip yourself.
  • The itinerary provided by Guide to Iceland was great; we had the perfect amount of time to see all of the main attractions and the driving distances between each stop was ideal.
  • When you book the package you can choose your “level” of accommodation and transport; your options are budget, comfort, or luxury/quality. My family chose “comfort” for both options. We were very happy with the rental car, but I think there were some inconsistencies as far as accommodation. We stayed at some very nice hotels, but a few nights our accomodation was sub-par and I don’t know if we got the full value of what we paid for.  Keep in mind if you choose quality accommodation you can hand-pick your hotels.
  • We had a disappointing experience with Guide to Iceland’s customer support when faced with a mix up regarding our ice cave tour . I’ll paste the screenshot below so you can read the full review. I had stopped by the Guide to Iceland office earlier in the week and the staff was super nice, so I was surprised we had such a negative response when I called for help….I’m hoping our experience was a one-off fluke.

Should you use Guide to Iceland to book your trip?

The short answer is yes. Despite a few hiccups we were happy with our road trip overall. Having everything planned and reserved by their team enabled me to relax and enjoy the experience. I found their itinerary concise and well planned—it would have been difficult for me to gage the amount of time to spend in each spot (they give you sightseeing estimates in your itinerary) and how many attractions to fit into each day.

iceland guide to iceland

Therefore, I would recommend checking out Guide to Iceland’s packages and itineraries to anyone planning their first trip to Iceland. We loved our visit so much we want to return to see the northern part of the country. After this experience and with the additional resources provided by Guide to Iceland (when you visit their office in Reykjavik they give you lots of great maps and info) I feel comfortable planning our next trip myself.

I hope you found this review helpful. Please note this review is 100% my opinion based on my personal experience using Guide to Iceland. This post is not sponsored. If you’ve used Guide to Iceland too let us know about your experience in the comments below!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Reader Interactions

' src=

September 22, 2023 at 8:07 am

Guide to Iceland abandoned us at the pier. We were on the Carnival Pride which was late getting into port due to the MSC Fantasia docking before us. Guide to Iceland were aware that we were arriving on the Pride and they had recommended this tour. When we got to the meeting point, they had left without us. We called them immediately and asked to be on a later tour. We were denied. We then asked to be allowed to catch up to our tour at a stopping point and were denied. We asked that they ask another tour company to provide our tour. Again we were denied. Finally we asked for a refund and were denied once more!

' src=

December 16, 2023 at 3:57 pm

Oh that sucks! 🙁 Yes we had a similar experience with their staff at HQ, luckily their tour guides are super nice.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

  • Disclosure Policy
  • 1 800 970 7299
  • Live Chat (Online) Live Chat (Offline)
  • My Wishlist
  • Find a Trip

Your browser 'Internet Explorer' is out of date. Update your browser for more security, comfort and the best experience on this site.

Glacier and iceberg in Iceland

  • Intrepid Travel Iceland Reviews

This sub-Arctic island, perched high on the globe beneath a blanket of crystal-fresh air and privy to regular performances from the northern lights, is home to more volcanoes, geysers and glaciers than anywhere else on earth. But a holiday in Iceland will offer more than epic tundra landscapes alone: this is the country that was brought up on fishing but has evolved into one of the most advanced cultures in the world, where buildings are serviced by the world’s largest geothermic heating system, and people conduct meetings in steamy public baths the same way workers might congregate inside a London pub after-hours. Icelanders have long been labeled the happiest nation on earth, and as they arise from recent deep economic depression, the insatiable thirst for travel to Iceland continues to drive their recovery. 

Find an Iceland holiday

Top reviews on Iceland tours

A holiday in Iceland provides travellers with an epic escape to witness one of the planet’s geothermal and astronomical hotspots. Take a look below at the Iceland holiday reviews from Intrepid travellers who have experienced this frozen region for themselves:

Blogs on Iceland

travel department iceland reviews

Apr 19, 2023

In sickness and in health: how i....

Intrepid travellers Sara and Nick have said ‘I do’ all over the world, after a...

travel department iceland reviews

Mar 05, 2024

Why 2024 is the best year to see the....

Scientists say 2024 will be the best year yet.

travel department iceland reviews

Feb 28, 2018

What to pack for a trip to iceland:....

No matter what time of year, no matter how clueless you are, no matter whether you...

travel department iceland reviews

Iceland Tour & Trip Reviews

513 reviews Average rating 4.6 332 trips

  • Ask a question
  • Write a Review

Iceland Tour & Trip Ratings

Tour Reviews

Our trip to Iceland was absolutely stunning and Charlie the Traveler curated an amazing and adventurous trip for us that kept in mind all of the attractions that were on our list and many other gems this beautiful country has to offer.

Our trip to Iceland was absolutely stunning and Charlie the Traveler curated an amazing and adventurous trip for us that kept in mind all of the attractions that wer...

Laurie Nelson

My husband and I had an excellent trip to Iceland this January.

My husband and I had an excellent trip to Iceland this January. Our hotels, itineraries, and travel were all taken care of, which made our vacation so much more enjo...

Due to the tour guide that CharlieTheTraveler provided was well-versed in the country, I easily felt immersed in the culture of the country.

I did not know much about Iceland before booking this trip. However, the itinerary was very detailed and I felt comfortable booking since it was through a reputable ...

This was all highlighted in my trip through CharlieTheTraveler.

Iceland is a unique destination for a vacation, but if anything, it is a hidden gem. It isn’t too infiltrated with tourism so much of the authentic culture stands ou...

Meredith Allison Smith

This was an amazing tour package.

This was an amazing tour package. Perfectly curated to see everything in an efficient amount of time. The experiences were amazing and wide-ranging from adventures t...

Iceland Reviews

Benjamin L.

CharlieTheTraveler did an excellent job planning all of the sites.

Most people might think Iceland and think cold, frozen tundra. However, it is the opposite of what this country’s natural environment is like. I enjoyed seeing every...

Our tour guide was great in knowing when to let me explore and when to stay for support and explanations of the sites.

When I went on the Iceland trip from CharlieTheTraveler, I didn’t want to leave. The beauty of the natural landscapes was highlighted in this tour, most of which I d...

Linda Keira

This trip to Iceland perfectly captured all the natural wonders of the country.

This trip to Iceland perfectly captured all the natural wonders of the country. I am so glad I went with CharlieTheTraveler, as they were organized and planned a var...

I appreciated that the tour guide provided by CharlieTheTraveler knew about the areas we were visiting in Iceland.

I appreciated that the tour guide provided by CharlieTheTraveler knew about the areas we were visiting in Iceland. This made me be able to understand the country and...

I could not have asked for a better vacation!

My fear of booking through a company like this was that I would just be a number in a large group of tourists. However, this is far from the reality. CharlieTheTrave...

Top Iceland Tours

Iceland: See & Experience it ALL in 9 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours

Iceland: See & Experience it ALL in 9 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours

Under the Northern Lights: Iceland & East Greenland

Under the Northern Lights: Iceland & East Greenland

Iceland & Copenhagen Deluxe

Iceland & Copenhagen Deluxe

Iceland Discovery

Iceland Discovery

Iceland Winter Adventure

Iceland Winter Adventure

Iceland Northern Lights

Iceland Northern Lights

Best of Iceland

Best of Iceland

Northern Lights Escape

Northern Lights Escape

Iceland - Land of the Midnight Sun

Iceland - Land of the Midnight Sun

Explore Iceland

Explore Iceland

Natural Wonders of Iceland (Summer, Classic)

Natural Wonders of Iceland (Summer, Classic)

Iceland & Denmark in 11 days - Golden Circle & Canals of Copenhagen - EXOTICCA GROUP CHARM

Iceland & Denmark in 11 days - Golden Circle & Canals of Copenhagen - EXOTICCA GROUP CHARM

7 Day Iceland Adventure

7 Day Iceland Adventure

Premium Iceland

Premium Iceland

Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle

Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle

Iceland in 8 days - Land of Ice & Fire - PRIVATE TOUR CHARM

Iceland in 8 days - Land of Ice & Fire - PRIVATE TOUR CHARM

This is such a beautiful country and i am happy i got the opportunity to experience it..

I like vacations with a lot of activity, so when I came across the Iceland trip offered by CharlieTheTraveler, I knew it would be perfect. There was so much to do in...

Mike Hussein

I will definitely recommend your company! Thank you for a sensational trip!

Charles, thank for setting up our trip to Iceland. You made this arrangement the way we had expected. Especially at a time of pandemic....we felt very safe because o...

The company-provided tour guide took over and made Iceland the most ideal place for me to be.

I didn’t think Iceland was the ideal vacation spot. However, I read what this trip through CharlieTheTraveler included. After reading all the good reviews about thei...

Patricia S.

CharlieTheTraveler did the impossible for me—convinced a cold climate country was the ideal vacation destination.

CharlieTheTraveler did the impossible for me—convinced a cold climate country was the ideal vacation destination. I would have never thought I would go there for a g...

Jennifer H.

I never thought there was much in Iceland to visit.

I never thought there was much in Iceland to visit. As I did research and found CharlieTheTraveler had a whole sightseeing trip planned out for this destination, I w...

The trip to Iceland through CharlieTheTraveler was filled with activities.

The trip to Iceland through CharlieTheTraveler was filled with activities. I enjoyed every second of this trip. The company made every part of the trip painless and ...

Nicholas R.

This was a one-of-a-kind trip that I would have never been able to plan on my own.

After having the same kind of vacations year after year, I wanted a unique vacation. I booked the Iceland trip through CharlieTheTraveler and was not disappointed. T...

Francine R.

Booking a tour with CharlieTheTraveler was very easy.

Booking a tour with CharlieTheTraveler was very easy. My trip to Iceland went off without any issues and that’s all to the company’s organization. The tour guide the...

I knew Iceland was beautiful, but pictures online do not do it justice.

I knew Iceland was beautiful, but pictures online do not do it justice. This is one place I needed to experience in order to understand its beauty. My trip that was ...

1 - 20 of 513 Reviews shown

Editor’s Take

What to Look For in Iceland Travel Reviews

Most trip reviews tend to focus on some or all of these 5 key areas, not all of which may be relevant to you: the tour guide, travel company, service level, country or countries traveled in, and the trip itinerary.  Remember, just because you see a 1 star review doesn’t necessarily mean that person disliked the country.

Reviews for tours in Iceland are mainly positive, in the 4 and 5 star range.

Iceland has grown rapidly in popularity, so the crowds are almost unavoidable unless you travel in the middle of shoulder season. Traveling with a guide is one of the best ways to help the crowds feel less intense.

Your Iceland tour guide may not be a local every time, but positive reviews almost always comment on the their guide’s expert knowledge and ability to expand on the unique landscapes and natural phenomena in Iceland.

Safety is another primary concern when traveling in Iceland, as this is a very popular destination for adventure travel. In particular you will probably have 1 or 2 quite long drives and depending on the time of year the roads could be wet or icy. 

Another important thing to bear in mind is that Iceland is very expensive . Be sure to go prepared for this, as not all meals or activities may be included in your tour price.

The service level   on your Iceland tour will depend on the tour theme, but most Iceland tours have an active focus. Accommodations are mainly value or premium, comfortable and clean, yet relatively basic amenities.

Some negative Iceland tour reviews comment on the sights that weren’t included on the itinerary. Due to Iceland’s popularity, some travelers may have been under the impression that all the major sites on listicles and from inspiring photographs would be included on the tour.

While it’s true that a number of Iceland’s main attractions can be seen on a short trip, some other are much farther away from the main tourist track. So depending on your tours duration, be sure to look closely at the itinerary to make sure everything you want to see is included.

If you want a professional take on traveling in Iceland, see the Travelstride Iceland Guide »

Top Iceland Travel Packages

Tours, Cruises & Private Trips

Related categories

Win a trip to Iceland

Welcome to iceland review’s travel page here you will find the very best information on travel in iceland. we operate independently of any travel services, and since 1963 have made it our mission to dig deep into what the country has to offer, bringing the country’s finest destinations direct to you., latest in travel.

BSÍ Bus station in Reykjavík Iceland

BSÍ: Reykjavík’s Main Bus Terminal

Into the Glacier, Langjökull, photo by: Alina Maurer

Journey to the Centre of the Glacier: Into The Glacier Langjökull

travel department iceland reviews

Lake Mývatn in North Iceland

A couple at the Sky Lagoon in Iceland

The Sky Lagoon in Reykjavík

Reykjavík Airport.

A Guide to Reykjavík Airport

Northern Lights in Iceland

Iceland for Photographers: 10 Hidden Locations

kukucampers

The Golden Circle | Iceland’s Favourite Sightseeing Route  

Bewitched / From the Start

Laufey: From Icelandic Sensation to Global Fame

A group of people hiking in Landmannalaugar.

A Quick Guide to Hiking in Iceland

A lake on top of Bárðarbunga on Vatnajökull glacier.

A Guide to Glaciers in Iceland

Population of Iceland

The Icelandic Population: A Historical and Demographic Overview

travel department iceland reviews

Bird Watching in Iceland – Where to go?

glaciers iceland

Exploring Iceland’s Glaciers – South Coast

Our favourite tours.

travel department iceland reviews

Enjoying Iceland as a Couple

Skiing resort Bláfjöll, skiing in Iceland

Skiing in Iceland: Bláfjöll Ski Resort

Kirkjufell mountain on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula

The Land of Fire and Ice – Where is Iceland?

A group of people hiking in Landmannalaugar.

How To Travel Around Reykjavík 

Þingvellir National Park in Iceland

A Guide to Þingvellir National Park

Gullfoss Iceland, Golden Circle

A Guide to Gullfoss: Iceland’s Most Iconic Waterfall

A happy couple at the Secret Lagoon in Iceland

The Secret Lagoon in South Iceland

Harpa concert hall in RYK

All About Harpa Concert Hall in Iceland

travel department iceland reviews

Skógafoss, Iceland – Popular for a Reason

Miðborg Reykjavíkur - tekið úr byggingakrana

Reykjavík – Iceland’s Amazing Capital City 

Geysir Iceland tourism

The Imagine Peace Tower in Viðey, Iceland

iceland tourism private land

Kerið: A Volcanic Crater Lake in South Iceland

A group of people by Skógafoss.

Fimmvörðuháls: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide

travel department iceland reviews

Hidden Hot Pools Around Iceland

Enjoying Icelandic hot dogs

Food Festivals in Iceland – From Traditional Feasts to Street Food

Boats in a museum

Interesting Museums Around Iceland

travel department iceland reviews

The Best Restaurants in Iceland by Region

travel department iceland reviews

Driving The Ring Road in Three Days

A helicopter on top of a glacier in Iceland

Take Flight with Helicopter Tours in Iceland

Skógafoss waterfall on the South Coast in Iceland

Discover Iceland’s Scenic South Coast 

A close-up of an Icelandic horse

All About Horse Riding Tours in Iceland

Jökulsárlón glacier lake in South Iceland

Visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in South East Iceland 

Waterfall in Iceland.

The Silver Circle in Iceland: Driving Itinerary

nightlife in Reykjavík

Bar Guide: The 10 Best Happy Hours in Reykjavík

Children playing in Ægissíða, Reykjavík

12 Things to do With Kids in Reykjavík City

To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.

Suggested companies

Arctic adventures, getyourguide, nordic visitor.

travel department iceland reviews

Guide to Iceland   Reviews

In the Travel agent category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Your profile picture

Write a review

Reviews 4.5.

Most relevant

Amazing & Stress-Free Experience

So glad I booked this Self-Drive Tour with Guide to Iceland. They quickly helped me with last-minute changes prior to our trip and we didn't have any issues with our bookings during the trip, we just had to show up and enjoy ourselves. It made the whole process so much less stressful and I will definitely be booking with them in the future. Also, this tour hit a lot, if not all of the primary tourist destinations. There is a good bit of driving, but honestly, Iceland is so beautiful my husband and I didn't mind at all. Thank you, Guide To Iceland!

Date of experience : 25 April 2024

Wonderful self drive experience!

Booking everything through guide to Iceland made my first trip very easy to plan. I had a wonderful self drive experience. All of the hotels I booked were great. I emailed to extend my rental car for a couple more days and that was easy. I would recommend guide to Iceland as well as the self drive trip. This was my first self drive travel experience, and I’ll probably try to travel this way from now on! It’s a wonderful way to see so much of the country and booking through Guide to Iceland made it easier to navigate places to see.

Date of experience : 08 April 2024

Whole journey was totally well planned

My whole journey was planned super well. At first I was a little bit concerned if everything will be fine because I've booked quite some additional tours. But everything went well. The transport from the airport worked, my car was ready, every hotel was prepared for my stay and every booked tour was informed about my participation. I'm very happy I've booked with Guide to Iceland - I think they have truly helped me to make the absolut best out of my one week stay. Next year I'll book another one week tour!

Date of experience : 16 April 2024

It’s my first time traveling around…

It’s my first time traveling around Iceland. I’m glad that I chose Guide To Iceland for arranging my trip. Although some accidents happened, it’s still a good experience. Also, they always reply to me quickly and patiently.

Date of experience : 13 April 2024

Iceland is a stunningly beautiful…

Iceland is a stunningly beautiful place. As far as our journey, everything worked flawlessly. Accommodations were all very good. Meals at hotel restaurants were all excellent. People in Iceland are uniformly friendly and helpful. A bit more information on the weather would have been helpful. It was mid-April, and we ran into some challenging weather in the north. Be advised that Iceland can be expensive. Food, wine and petrol are all a bit pricy by American standards. But well worth it. We will be back.

Date of experience : 19 April 2024

better communication

Hotel (Sand) was great. Need better information on tours/pickups/bus types and coordination. It doesn't work to go to Blue Lagoon at 7:30 am and have a bus back at 13:15. The restaurant doesn't open until 11:30 and 3+ hours in the water is too much for most people. If no bus scheduled would be good to have an add option for a private. As it was, I spent 25,000 K for a taxi. I think if someone went to the but stop at pickup time and saw the confusion of buses pulling up and 8 groups of people trying to figure out if each bus/van is there ride, you could figure out some sort of system that would be less confusing. Matching bus itinerary to exact bus label would be very helpful. I did snowmobile which was a nice tour but didn't have any idea where we would stop or lunch options.

Date of experience : 14 April 2024

Guide to Iceland made it easy!

Guide to Iceland made traveling through Iceland a breeze, setting up a full itinerary and taking care of all the lodging. I had to reschedule a few activities along the way and their customer support was very helpful and quick. A great experience overall!

Amazing ring road trip!

We had all the details for our trip. The hotels were a great option and check-ins were all ok. It was a perfect option so we could follow along without stress.

Iceland 3 days trip review

I like how helpful the assistant and the websites are. The prompt reply is really a plus for the journey. The only thing that I think has to inprove is the information of the pickup. It is somehow little bit unclear but overall is nice.

Date of experience : 18 April 2024

Self-Driving Tour - Highly Recommended

I would consider myself a hands-on traveler. I'd much rather prefer doing things on my own, per my own schedule than booking tours and such. Visiting a foreign country, that can be very daunting. Luckily Guide to Iceland had a wealth of knowledge and options that perfectly matched my needs. They were very attentive to all my needs and very communicative and available throughout the process. I will add, I opted to stay a few extra days because I assumed the itinerary made for me wouldn't quite cover everything I wanted to see. I was wrong. I did the self-driving 7 day tour of the South Coast and it was absolutely jam-packed. I got to see so many amazing sights. Also appreciated the write-ups about each location to help me make decisions on what were MUST stops and what were "nice-to-have". The only word of caution, do your own homework in advance to make sure all stops will be available. We had the misfortune of basically missing out on a fully planned day because one of the national parks was closed due to the snow. We made the most of it but definitely could have benefitted from knowing that in advance.

Date of experience : 11 April 2024

The tours were great

The tours were great, the guides personable and knowledgeable, and they happened on schedule.

Date of experience : 12 April 2024

Book with Troll

Hadrian from Troll expeditions was the best guide ever!! I learn so much about Islandic culture, history and even pop music! She was very helpful and friendly even though we had lots of questions, she was always there to answer. Not so happy with Reykjavik excursions, the guide was old man, struggling to remember what he started to explain on first place. The bus transfers were flawless. Everyone was kind and helpful. My refund for Blue lagoon closure came in minutes. Great choice to book with Guide to Iceland!

Date of experience : 04 April 2024

Awesome trip

We didn’t worry about picking out lodging. All of our rooms were clean and comfortable. We enjoyed every second of our trip.

Date of experience : 21 April 2024

Money taken taken but cottage not booked

Booked a cottage through GuidetoIceland (that we've stayed in before). Received confirmation of booking and the money has been debited from my credit card. However a week later I can see the cottage is still available to book for the same week through the booking platform GTI have used (Bungalo.com) as well as other platforms. Emails to GTI are being ignored (as are those to Bungalo) leaving my Iceland holiday in limbo - leaving me with no other option than to claim back via my credit card for non-delivery of services.

Date of experience : 01 April 2024

Amazing company!

Using Guide to Iceland was the best decision I made! Everything from our excursions to our accommodations went like clockwork. All were top notch! They were on top of every detail and answered each of my questions immediately and completely. Very easy to contact. I couldn’t have asked for a more efficient company to work with and I would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone planning the trip of a lifetime in Iceland!

Date of experience : 30 March 2024

The perfect vacation

The perfect vacation. Took all the stress and worry and left me just having a good time. Everything worked seamlessly from arrival to departure. Already planning next trip!

8-day self-drive trip to Iceland, winter version (south and west)

The organisation of the trip was very efficient and they were available to personalise it basing on my travel needs. Recommended if you need to figure out your stay in a quick and easy way. And of course the trip was absolutely amazing!

Date of experience : 18 March 2024

very good hotels but bad communication

Hi! Accommodations were perfect!!! and all the process, very easy. But, we had some difficulties with Car rental, as different insurances weren't offered, neither second driver. After this, We had some issues with the closure of Blue lagoon and change to Sky lagoon and mechanic problems with our car during our trip..GUIDE TO ICELAND took even more than 24 hours to answer to requirements. Good thing the rental car company (LAVA) answered promptly and sended us a new car immediately.

Date of experience : 28 March 2024

Interesting itinerary and well priced…

Interesting itinerary and well priced five day self driving tour. We achieved our goals of seeing the northern lights and many of the key sights in south western Iceland. Some of the details that need work include better instructions on how to connect with the car rental company, or switch to one of the more well known companies that have in airport staff to get you to your car. Our reservation at one of the hotels had been cancelled. Fortunately they did have a room available and were able to accommodate.

Date of experience : 25 March 2024

Extremely helpful and very concise experience

Based on the trip plan I had set, the team was amazing in constructing a plan that fit me and my partner's needs and detailed an efficient plan that allowed us to maximize our experience while we were there.

Suggested companies

Loveholidays, cassidy travel, tdactive holidays.

travel department iceland reviews

Travel Department   Reviews

In the Tour Operator category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Your profile picture

Write a review

Reviews 4.7.

4,036 total

Most relevant

Thoroughly enjoyable trip to Greece

Lovely commradare in the group. The guide had a thorough knowledge & shared her information in a pleasant manner. Bus driver was friendly & competent. Appreciated the choice of places chosen & nice hotels with pleasant staff. There were long queues with Aer Lingus check in on return. Lots of people couldn't book in on the app as it was a group booking. Random of allocation of seats in some cases. Check in was available on web-site. Maybe group boarding passes could be issued to tour guide in advance??? Otherwise I would have rated 5 star

Date of experience : 26 April 2024

Ship to Heaven

Oh my goodness where do I start. Had a chat with Travel Department Agent. Discussed the in and outs of our river cruise. But they forgot to mention that as Travel Department guests we received extremely high standard service. Staff are amazing and tour guides are attentive and friendly.

Date of experience : 18 April 2024

Japan, an experience.

Our visit to Japan was exceptional in ever aspect. Hotels were first class, transport was perfect and not one glitch occurred in the entire experience. The tour guides were knowledgeable and friendly. The tour was full on and much was learned about this fabulous country.

Date of experience : 23 April 2024

I am sitting at home in Wexford…

I am sitting at home in Wexford devastated that my trip of a life time to India was cancelled by this company 3 hours before my flight to Dubai with a connecting flight to New Delhi . I was actually queuing up at check in when I got the call. I obviously was aware of the adverse weather conditions in Dubai 4 days ago but received an email from this company on 18th of April saying that they thought all was well with this trip. There has been no empathy or caring towards the customer-me. I was left alone in an airport at 7 at night in total shock. Please please avoid this company.

Date of experience : 19 April 2024

Reply from Travel Department

Hi Jane, The circumstances surrounding the cancellation of this tour were unfortunate and due to the adverse weather conditions in Dubai. We totally understand the level of disappointment for such a bucket list destination and our team tried every avenue to avoid cancellation but unfortunately it was unavoidable. Our team did their very best to convey our own disappointment at the eventual cancellation of your trip and on the many calls and communications they had with you and others throughout the day. Kind regards, Travel Department

Our tour to Tuscany was well organised…

Our tour to Tuscany was well organised and good value for money. The free days in between city visits were welcome otherwise it can become a bit wearing. Montecatini is an excellent base. It is a lovely town and Montecatini Alto which can be reached by the funicular is a gem. Our only criticism would be the city tours by local guides which are hard to follow with many of the cities being very crowded and noisy. The time would be better spent with self exploration.

Date of experience : 10 April 2024

First time travelling with Travel Dept

First time travelling with Travel Dept. and a wonderful holiday in Tuscany. The choice of hotel (Grand hotel plaza) location ( Montecatini Terme) and itinerary all superb. Our local guide Laura completed the package with her friendly, knowledgeable and dependable service. A big thank you to her , the lovely hotel staff and travel dept. for a great experience, we hope to have more holidays with them in the future.

Date of experience : 17 April 2024

We had a wonderful guide he spoke…

We had a wonderful guide he spoke excellent English and was very knowagable on every area we visited. Most enjoyable

India - Splendours of Delhi, The Taj Mahal & Rajasthan Trip

Excellent Trip I highly recommend travelling with Travel Department- hotels,food & transport were excellent. India is such a vast country but what we saw was magical and enlightening, India is so exciting & fast pacing country, but our trip was made stress free due Anurag our excellent guide, with his great sense of humour with the group we put at ease straight away.He has great knowledge of Indian history and was very patient in answering our questions.He introduce us to local culture, customs, cuisines and traditions which helped us to get easily immersed in local culture and feel at ease. He was also very mindful of the guests wellbeing, always kept us safe , during this hot climate whether it was talking to us in the shade or providing bottled water after a hot tour checking we had all we needed for every tour .Every evening he took the time to explain the beautiful foods that was provided to us so we could experience more of India, Over all Anurag planned every day with such precision that we never needed to worry or think,he did it for us. Anurag is a great ambassador for India.Also a big thank to Ram , the bus boy who took care of us on the bus and Our excellent driver Sham who always had a cooled bus for us after our hot tours .Overall excellent trip and experience with a lovely group of people. A trip I never forget. Thank you, Travel Department!

Montenegro experience

Our Guide Da Da was amazing, she was fun and full of knowledge. Our hotel was 5* , food, entertainment, staff, cleanliness all wonderful! Our itinerary was excellent, full and enjoyable. Once again, thank you for looking after us, looking forward to my next adventure with Travel Department!

Date of experience : 20 April 2024

Highlights of Vietnam - March 2024

March 2024 - Travel Department Highlights of Vietnam. Fabulous trip - great bunch of people - great tour guide - Jimmy Chung. He was so attentive, informative, patient and always cheery - we were so lucky to have him for the 12 days. Ha long Bay hotel was disappointing - the outside disco noise was unbelievably loud - even with noise cancelling headphones in. The Hoi An hotel was amazing - our hotel room opened on to grass - which led to pool - which led to sea - just bliss. We saw so much of Vietnam and totally enjoyed having 35 buddies to chat to - we really missed them when we got home. Jimmy made the trip - we felt in such safe hands.

Date of experience : 24 March 2024

7 th trip with Travel Dept

7 th trip with Travel Dept - never a fault but Tuscany was just amazing - Hotel Staff - rooms - food - excellent - tours very interesting - optional tour to Farm House was brilliant - Laura the Guide an excellent bonus. The group we travelled with were just lovely - 42 os us and I think we really got on great + sad it over but thank you all. One and only suggestion is for bus drivers - a small basket top of bus for people that would like to tip !! Every day different driver so might be nice to have a basket and not broadcast ! aAlso meeting Clare and James from Travel Dept was a pleasure

Bella Italia.

Our guide/rep Laura was amazing and made us all feel,safe,secure and welcome to Bella Italia.It was our first trip with Travel Dept and it has whetted our appetite for more.Hotel was great and the location so convenient in beautiful Montecasino.Well done to all for wonderful taste of Italy.

Fantastic Experience

Great tour and a fantastic experience with one of the best guides we have ever had.

Booked on the spur of the moment

Booked on the spur of the moment, and very glad that I did. Very well organised,from start to finish. Hotel was a good 3 star,very clean and comfortable with friendly, helpful staff. Tour guide(Enis) was brilliant - knows and loves his country and it's history. Will definitely use this company again.

Highlights of Vietnam

If Vietnam is the country, Chung is your man. An extraordinary and exceptional tour guide. He showed us around his fascinating and beautiful country as if we were his visiting relatives. He looked after our every need with good humour, grace and kindness. The hotels were generally excellent. (One exception, our room in Novotel in Halong Bay was musty, and noisy due to adjacent outdoor DJ. Hotel supplied ear plugs!) The places we visited were amazing. In Vietnam your camera will constantly be out to try capture the stunning sights and scenery. The Vietnamese people were very welcoming. And as friendly and fun as the group with which we travelled. A Fabulous experience.

Date of experience : 25 March 2024

High lights of Japan

Collected from airport.. check in already by tour guide so no delay getting to room. Coach trips each day to see all of Japan. Fab Different cities to visit. Free time and assistance for what to do. Great meals and loved flower arrangement and hubbie loved tea ceremony. Government building tour could be done on first day to help orientation. While hearing “whispers” are on tour guide made plans at each visiting site after we got off the bus suggest a change -before we get off the bus (as time delay at sites when doing it after we get off the bus) and we could have done it while travelling and bus system easier to hear.

Date of experience : 26 March 2024

A very professional travel company

A very professional travel company. I would have no hesitation in recommending The Travel Department to my family and friends. Really good value for money and their holidays are exactly what they describe them to be.

For my booking to the end of my holiday…

For my booking to the end of my holiday I felt excited about it. Everything was explained well,and they delivered the same. The tour guide was very well versed and explained were to go and what to see brilliantly.The hotel was lovely. Food was excellent. Excursion great also.All in all I'd recommended it

Date of experience : 08 April 2024

Travel department is a great company, Shame about the hotel.

Travel department is a great company to travel with. They look after everything so well! My recent solo trip to Dubrovnik was really great, the guide Enis was excellent, very knowledgeable, friendly, witty and Intuned to peoples needs. He always had time for everyone, very reassuring man. I was a bit dissapointed in the hotel, food was dreadful, same dishes almost every night, so much so that I ate out 3 times. Staff are friendly when approached but don't put much effort into creating a good atmosphere. My room was damp and musty so I had to insist on a move, they were not too forthcoming or even apologetic about it. There are no frills in this basic hotel, no shower cap, no flannel in bathroom, worn and threadbare towels and just a squeezey soap container in shower. No fridge either. Prices are high with a glass of wine at €6.50 and a small bottle of water €3.50!!! Bar snacks also expensive, Greek salad €11 and club sandwich €15. This is an hours walk to the Old Town or 15mins on the local bus, 10 min walk away. It's a dated, basic hotel with bad food and no comfort really. If you have kids, keep in mind there are no chips available at dinner and no ice cream. I think TD should consider a different hotel in future. I would definitely recommend the trip without hesitation but not this hotel.

Date of experience : 09 April 2024

Great holiday in lake como

Great holiday in lake como, brilliant guide Carol.Hotel lovely, food so so but plenty of lovely restaurants locally.

Update April 12, 2024

Information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

  • Travel Advisories |
  • Contact Us |
  • MyTravelGov |

Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates

Travel.state.gov, congressional liaison, special issuance agency, u.s. passports, international travel, intercountry adoption, international parental child abduction, records and authentications, popular links, travel advisories, mytravelgov, stay connected, legal resources, legal information, info for u.s. law enforcement, replace or certify documents.

Share this page:

Iceland Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 26, 2023, iceland - level 1: exercise normal precautions.

Last Update: Reissued with updates to health information.

Exercise normal precautions in Iceland.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Iceland.

If you decide to travel to Iceland: 

  • Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 
  • Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
  • Review the  Country Security Report  for Iceland. 
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist . 

Travel Advisory Levels

Assistance for u.s. citizens, iceland map, search for travel advisories, external link.

You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.

Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.

You are about to visit:

Last Chance To SAVE Up To €100pp*

  • Destinations
  • Holiday Types
  • Get Inspired

travel department iceland reviews

Our Best Ever 7-Night Offer - Ends Monday

SAVE up to €100pp*

travel department iceland reviews

Expertly led guided group holidays

travel department iceland reviews

Rated excellent on Trustpilot

travel department iceland reviews

Irish owned & operated

travel department iceland reviews

25+ years experience

travel department iceland reviews

It's all included flights, excursions & much more

travel department iceland reviews

Travel with Like Minded People

travel department iceland reviews

It's Easy - We Plan Everything for You

travel department iceland reviews

Licensed & Bonded

Experts in guided group holidays, escorted tours & cruises.

icon

Last Minute Deals

It's never too late to get away.

icon

Brand New Holidays

Relax and enjoy every moment.

icon

2025 Holidays

Plan next year's travels now, request our brochure.

Get your top holiday choice before they sell out.

This Week's Top Holiday Recommendations

Highlights of Madeira

Highlights of Madeira

Fully Guided

Flights & Transfers

Lake Garda, Venice & Verona

Lake Garda, Venice & Verona

Costa Brava & Barcelona

Costa Brava & Barcelona

Discover Dubrovnik

Discover Dubrovnik

4.5 Stars on Trustpilot

Top Destinations For Your 2024 Guided Group Travel

Italy Holidays

South Africa

Portugal Holidays

Useful Links

View our blog url, request a brochure url, buy a gift voucher url, travel advice url.

  • You get more: more experiences, more value, more memories, and more to talk about for a lifetime.
  • We’ve been providing dream holidays all over the world for over 25 years...  and counting .
  • 100s of destinations to choose from, our holidays include flights, accommodation, transfers, guided tours and much more.
  • We carefully plan your trip, so you experience the best highlights accompanied by a friendly local guide.

Browse By Holiday Type

Worldwide Tours

Worldwide Tours

City Breaks

City Breaks

Brand New Holidays

Solo Holidays

River Cruise

River Cruise

Sun Holidays

Sun Holidays

Small Group Tours

Small Group Tours

Tailored Groups

Tailored Groups

Lakeside Holidays

Lakeside Holidays

Our favourite 2024 holidays.

Sorrento Coast, Pompeii & Capri

€1,349pp €1,279 pp

Sorrento Coast, Pompeii & Capri

The Algarve Coast & Country

€849pp €819 pp

The Algarve Coast & Country

Tenerife Coast & Country

€829pp €799 pp

Tenerife Coast & Country

Croatia's Dalmatian Coast

Croatia's Dalmatian Coast

TD active Holidays is a collection of adventure holidays full of amazing activities. Holidays range from walking, yoga and photography to our Explore range of exciting small group tours. We take all the stress out of planning your adventure, taking care of everything from flights, transfers and accommodation to providing expertly guided excursions. Every holiday is accompanied by a passionate local guide and designed to offer authentic, unique experiences.

Yoga Retreats

Be the first to know about our holiday updates, travel tips and special offers.

IAA

Sign up to our newsletter and don't miss out on our latest holiday updates, travel tips and special offers.

Terms & Conditions Apply

You will now be redirected to our sister website TD active. Click on the link below to proceed or close this window to cancel.

Proceed to TD active

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

IMAGES

  1. Iceland Travel Guide

    travel department iceland reviews

  2. 20 Iceland Travel Tips to Know BEFORE You Go

    travel department iceland reviews

  3. 5 Days in Iceland

    travel department iceland reviews

  4. A Travel Review of The Blue Lagoon in Iceland: The Complete Guide

    travel department iceland reviews

  5. 30+ Iceland Travel Tips

    travel department iceland reviews

  6. 20 Helpful Iceland Travel Tips to Know Before You Go

    travel department iceland reviews

COMMENTS

  1. Iceland & the Northern Lights

    Relax in the healing waters of the famous Blue Lagoon on a half day trip. Take a full day tour of Iceland's Golden Circle & see impressive waterfalls & eruptive geysers. Spend a full day of free time in Reykjavík. Enjoy an evening excursion to experience the Northern Lights, subject to weather conditions. From €1199pp.

  2. Iceland Holidays 2024

    Iceland Holidays. Explore unbelievable landscapes on one of our 3 or 4-night Iceland Holidays. Truly unforgettable, the Land of Fire and Ice is home to some of the most enchanting natural wonders. Join us on a guided group holiday to make the most of your time here. Rated Excellent 4.7 out of 5.

  3. Guide to Iceland Reviews

    Guide to Iceland is Iceland's leading travel agency and largest industry collaboration. Visit https://guidetoiceland.is to discover all the best tours and vacation packages in Iceland. You can find flights, book hotels, read and write reviews, talk to local people, learn about Iceland, watch videos, documentaries, and listen to local music.

  4. Travel Department Reviews

    Our holidays typically include flights, accommodation, transfers and guided excursions. We carefully plan your trip, so you experience the best holiday highlights accompanied by an expert local guide. [email protected]. (+353) 01 637 1650.

  5. Everywhere we looked in Iceland was breathtaking!

    Nordic Visitor Tours: Everywhere we looked in Iceland was breathtaking! - See 1,696 traveler reviews, 1,930 candid photos, and great deals for Reykjavik, Iceland, at Tripadvisor.

  6. Iceland Travel

    Iceland Travel. Every day, Iceland Travel's local experts craft once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences and take guests on extraordinary Icelandic journeys. We take pride in our diverse product portfolio, high-level services, and deep connections to our community of businesses and suppliers here in Iceland. Our longstanding history is built on ...

  7. 757 Verified Reviews for Iceland by Travelers

    Kimkim Trip Reviews for Iceland. 4.8. Based on 757 ratings. Read 757 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip to Iceland on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google , TrustPilot and Yelp . Great Trip to Iceland!

  8. Traveling to Iceland during the coronavirus pandemic

    Last week, I traveled to Reykjavik, Iceland, as a vaccinated traveler with an American passport. The country briefly opened to tourists in late March. Then, in response to a growing number of coronavirus cases, paused entry again. That said, the country plans to reopen to tourists on April 6.

  9. An honest review of our roadtrip with Guide to Iceland

    The itinerary provided by Guide to Iceland was great; we had the perfect amount of time to see all of the main attractions and the driving distances between each stop was ideal. Cons. When you book the package you can choose your "level" of accommodation and transport; your options are budget, comfort, or luxury/quality.

  10. Intrepid Travel Iceland Reviews

    Intrepid Travel Iceland Reviews. This sub-Arctic island, perched high on the globe beneath a blanket of crystal-fresh air and privy to regular performances from the northern lights, is home to more volcanoes, geysers and glaciers than anywhere else on earth. But a holiday in Iceland will offer more than epic tundra landscapes alone: this is the ...

  11. Iceland Travel

    Read 87 tour reviews and get the best prices on all tours by Iceland Travel. Real reviews from past travellers.

  12. Iceland Tour & Trip Reviews

    Reviews for tours in Iceland are mainly positive, in the 4 and 5 star range. Iceland has grown rapidly in popularity, so the crowds are almost unavoidable unless you travel in the middle of shoulder season. Traveling with a guide is one of the best ways to help the crowds feel less intense. Your Iceland tour guide may not be a local every time ...

  13. Iceland Travel: Should You Visit Amid Volcano Drama?

    The U.S. State Department's travel advisory for Iceland remains at the lowest level, although it has issued a volcano alert advising people to monitor the situation. The United Kingdom's ...

  14. Travel

    Welcome to Iceland Review's Travel page! Here you will find the very best information on travel in Iceland. We operate independently of any travel services, and since 1963 have made it our mission to dig deep into what the country has to offer, bringing the country's finest destinations direct to you.

  15. Guide to Iceland Reviews

    Guide to Iceland is Iceland's leading travel agency and largest industry collaboration. Visit https://guidetoiceland.is to discover all the best tours and vacation packages in Iceland. You can find flights, book hotels, read and write reviews, talk to local people, learn about Iceland, watch videos, documentaries, and listen to local music.

  16. Travel Department Reviews

    A very professional travel company. I would have no hesitation in recommending The Travel Department to my family and friends. Really good value for money and their holidays are exactly what they describe them to be. Date of experience: 18 April 2024. Useful. Share. JO. James O Sullivan. 1 review.

  17. Covid-19 Information About Traveling to Iceland

    ICELAND IS OPEN! After two years of COVID-19-related safety measures, the Icelandic Ministry of Health removed all restrictions on February 25th, 2022. Travelers to Iceland may now cross the border through the same process in place before the pandemic. You'll no longer need to present test results or stay in quarantine after your flight.

  18. Iceland International Travel Information

    Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Iceland. If you decide to travel to Iceland: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. Review the Country Security Report for Iceland.

  19. Iceland Travel Advisory

    Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Iceland. If you decide to travel to Iceland: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. Review the Country Security Report for Iceland.

  20. Iceland Is Open and Safe to Visit

    18. December 2023. Eruption started in Reykjanes Peninsula. Keflavík airport is still open and the eruption does not affect air traffic. Iceland is still open and safe to visit. 1. November 2023. Since earthquakes began Iceland in October 2023, you might be wondering whether it's safe to visit Iceland. We understand that you might be nervous ...

  21. Travel Department

    Every holiday is accompanied by a passionate local guide and designed to offer authentic, unique experiences. Visit TD active Holidays. Yoga Retreats. Active Holidays. Photography Holidays. Walking Holidays. Tailored Groups. Camino Tours. With over 25 years' experience designing holidays for the curious, we are Travel Experts in guided group ...

  22. Airlines Must Now Pay Automatic Refunds for Canceled Flights

    April 24, 2024 at 10:09 AM PDT. Listen. 3:41. Airlines will now have to provide automatic refunds to travelers if flights are canceled or significantly altered under new US Department of ...