Jokiretket

I just got back from an 8-day tour with an outstanding set of guides. We had Johann for 6 days and Branimir for 2-days. The trip totally exceeded our expectations. Both guides were so knowledgeable and professional. We learned a great deal about the history of iceland, the geology and wildlife. All the tour sites we visits were spectacular and we couldn’t have gotten better weather. Northern Lights every night! I would highly recommend this tour. All the activities we participated in also had very professional guides and staff, the glacier hike, lava tube, whale watching tour and ice caves were outstanding. A group of us also enjoyed riding the Icelandic horses. Johann was so engaging and played beautiful Icelandic music and brought to the tour such a broad wealth of knowledge, having grown up in northern Iceland. He also knew a lot about where to find the wildlife and birds of Iceland and we were treated to a number of great bird sightings. Branimir was so enthusiastic and shared great information about the geology of iceland and it’s history. And be sure to ask Branimir about his special Lamb Carving tour! Again, this was a superb tour, the guides accommodated our every need, the lodging and breakfasts were great, we always had an option for lunch and dinner that could include eating out or grabbing a more affordable meal from the grocery store. Thank you both for such an outstanding trip. We were absolutely thrilled with our experience and dazzled with the beauty of iceland and it’s people. Tak!

Our trip, which took place Nov 11-18, was Amazing. We had excellent weather with only 1/2 day of rain at most. Our van, which can hold 20, had only 11 travelers including ourselves. We bonded so well - eating together and watching for the Northern Lights - that there was talk of a reunion trip to Italy in 2027. Each row of the van has 3 seats, 2 on one side of the aisle and one on the other. As such we could spread out. We kept the same seats throughout but our guide mentioned that he sometimes rotates seats if the van is full. Please note that there are luggage restrictions that would have been more important if we had a full van. Items can be left overnight in the van, Our guide, Thor, was excellent. He was very flexible with the stops we made, gave us plenty of time, let us know what to expect at all times and made plenty of WC stops. We generally departed between 8:30 and 9:30 - before sunrise and returned to hotels between 5 and 7. The sites are amazing as my 1000+ photos will attest. I note that some of the hotels are in rather remote areas. As such at least 3 had no restaurants on premise or nearby. We accordingly had to stop at convenience stores to either buy sandwiches or something to microwave in the hotels' common areas. It makes sense to have a better lunch as that was generally available. Three hotels had dinner, but two of which offered just two choices. The other hotel's restaurant had plenty of choices and Akureyri, second largest city, had plenty of good restaurants within walking distance. I don’t think any hotel had microwave or refrigerator in the room. Consider buying liquor (best prices at Duty-free as you arrive) to provide some entertainment at night. Accommodations at some locations were very plain - sometimes just a bed, chair and side table. Showers were clean and had plenty of hot water. The remoteness, however, lent itself to seeing the Northern Lights on at least 3 occasions. Note - these are best viewed through your I-phone as it picks up color not that visible to the naked eye. Breakfast was provided each morning and it varied from good to adequate. One hotel offered nothing hot and 1 piece of bread per person - I kid you not. I hope the tour never uses that place again but it did have the more spacious accommodations. I think it was some sort of time share not accustomed to providing breakfast. Please note that we basically drove the Ring Road covering 1400 miles (2250 kilometers). While we typically made frequent stops there were a few times when we drove for 2 or 3 hours, so bring something to read or listen to. Temperatures were slightly above or below freezing as was expected for that time of year. The van was always comfortable even with coats off. We wore hiking boots throughout We had trekking poles but only used them in the ice cave. They probably weren't necessary at all but I used them because I had them along. The poles may have been more useful if there was more snow on the ground. Effort-wise this was generally a very easy trip. The most demanding was the glacier hike. Two people declined. It makes sense to have something along if you don't do the hike to keep you occupied as there is nothing else to do but hang out in the van for 3 hours that day. For other excursions, our guide either took those not participating elsewhere or to our hotel. Note – mobility is a must on this trip for both getting in the van and walking about (did not see many or any ramps). Excursion wise, we did the Lava Cave and Vok baths. Both were worthwhile. The bath was after dark (sun sets early in mid-November). On the whale watch, the vendor provides a one-piece suit that floats (you would have to try hard to go overboard) and provides extra warmth. It can be worn over your winter jacket. And yes, we did see plenty of whales, including flukes but no breaches. Lastly, take notes as you go along as there is much to see and it becomes a little over-whelming as the trip goes on. It doesn't help that Icelandic words or hard to pronounce and remember.

The 8 day Ring Road tour was incredible! It was packed with attractions the entire trip. Some of it was lucky - we had great weather, the whales wanted to visit, and the skies were clear for auroras - but everything within the control of our guide was perfectly handled. Above all, hats off to our guide Jóhann. He created an amazing environment for the group that we traveled with for 8 days. He also shared a good amount of himself and Icelandic culture so that we learned more than just what we would read on a tourist brochure. You can't ask for more in a guide.

We had such an amazing time with Sindri! The tour was enriching, exciting, and full of fun. He’s a great driver and incredibly knowledgeable, always making sure everyone’s needs were understood and taken care of. What stood out most was how comfortable he made us feel—every single day was enjoyable thanks to his effort and care. Sindri went above and beyond, and the connection we built with him made the trip truly special. He definitely made our experience unforgettable!