Iceland Vanlife
21-28 Jun 2024
Overview
Vanlife road trip in the most spectacular scenery on Earth. The ocean view lounge, the volcano view bedroom and the geothermal river in the backyard are parts of the standard equipment. And the best GPS, our tour guide Klaudia with impressive local knowledge navigates you through the wonders of the island.
DURATION
8 days / 7 nights*
MEETING POINT
Reykjavík - Keflavík International Airport (KEF)
LOCATION
A magical roadtrip around Iceland starting and finishing in Reykjavík
ACCOMMODATION
6 nights in fully equipped 2 person campervans, 1 night in Reykjavik in accommodation
VAN LIFE PACKAGE
7 day rental of fully equipped 2 person campervan with heating and complete camping equipment
PRICE
From € 1 990 / person
*The duration of the trip lasts from meeting at Reykjavík - Keflavik Intl. Airport (KEF) until the flight home from the same airport.
Description
Iceland is one of the world’s most incredible destinations, largely due to its jaw-dropping natural landscape. It has everything from lava fields to glaciers.
However, visiting all the sights could take months and cost a fortune. How can you possibly decide what’s worth seeing when there are so many things to choose from like volcanos, geysers, waterfalls, hot water springs, basalt columns, huge crevices, glaciers, lagunes, and mud pools, and when several months wouldn’t be enough to see it all? Where should you book your stay and what should you eat in a country where a bed in a hostel can cost 100 euros a night? What is the best time of year to go so the inclement weather doesn’t ruin your plans? You’ll definitely need some expertise to help you with those questions.
GoBeyond’s answer to these tricky questions is two campervan tours of Iceland; one in autumn, one in summer. Each tour is organized by a local Icelandic tour guide who jam pack the itinerary with both the absolute must-see sights and hidden gems.
The campervan is a transformed minibus with heating, a table, chairs, a basic kitchen, a bed and bedding. By going with a campervan, you’ll get the spontaneity and adventure of backpacking, while also enjoying the comfort of a hotel stay. There’s always a place you can escape to when you need a moment, and you’ll have a warm bed to sleep in at the end of a long and exciting day.
It’s important to be flexible when touring Iceland. Your tour guides will keep an eye on the weather forecasts, and things can always be adapted if rain clouds make the existing plan tricky. In a country where it rains almost every day, the best kind of tour is one that can escape the clouds at a moment’s notice. By keeping an eye on the weather and trying to steer clear of clouds, we have the best chance of seeing the northern lights during the autumn tour. In Iceland, forward thinking and planning are super important, when it comes to keeping the reins on our budget too. One of the ways we keep the cost of our tour affordable is by shopping local ingredients together and cooking meals on our campervan’s grill. Surprisingly, there are some things in Iceland, which are actually cheaper than in other parts of the world. These include world-class lamb hearts, cod, crustaceans, lamb, and beef. Forget that old stereotype of fermented shark meat!
The GoBeyond crew enjoying the sunshine and the amazing landscape of Iceland
Fully equipped vans will meet your every comfort and also take you to the most beautiful places
Amazing city view and unique architecture
Experience first hand the volcanic power of Iceland, there are over 120 active mountains on the island
A dip in a geothermal stream is one of our main highlights of the trip
It's like a spa in the middle of nature, hot thermal water and a volcanic face mask
The iconic icelandic horse, small in size but sturdy by nature
The magnificent Seljalandsfoss waterfall with its everlasting rainbow
The moss is so thick that it can serve as a mattress
Lonely seal looking for lunch between the ice
Morning routine
Campsite grilling vibe, with local lamb specialities
The connection with nature will present itself in many different forms
The mighty Dettifoss is one of the most powerful waterfalls on Earth
Here you will find every type of ice you can imagine
11% of Iceland is permanently covered with ice
Vanlife morning breakfast routine with amazing views
The unique Blue Lagoon, the world's most famous geothermal spa
Details
NICELAND - VANLIFE TRIP
21-28 Jun 2024
The duration of the trip lasts from meeting at Reykjavík - Keflavik Intl. Airport (KEF) until the flight home from the same airport. The flight there and back might take an extra day, depending on where you are travelling from.
For one
€ 1 990
person
Included in the price
- 7 days compact manual 2-person camper van rental
- 1 night in Reykjavik in a central accommodation
- Campervan insurances (CDW, self risk up to € 2 500)
- Full camping equipment
- GoBeyond tour guide with extensive local knowledge
- Camp sites and accommodation throughout the whole trip
Optional extras
- Add extra insurance to travel more safely
- Super CDW + € 80/person (self risk up to € 500)
- Zero liability + € 200/person (self risk up to € 0)
- Upgrade your vehicle to meet your needs
- For a handling fee of € 50, the GoBeyond team can handle your flight tickets and insurance
Further expenses
- Plane tickets to and from the meeting point – Reykjavík – Keflavik Intl. Airport (KEF)
- Travel insurance
- Fuel
- Entrance fees (bath entrance, museum etc.)
- Personal expenses
- Food and drinks
Vanlife
All vans are fully equipped and fit 2 people. They all have the following equipment: gas stove + gas cylinder, cooking and kitchenware, space to store food, linen, duvets and pillows, modern heating system, table + two chairs
Klaudia our tour guide
Although Klaudia is not a natural-born Icelander, but knows the country inside out: a nature enthusiast who reads weather signs and a massive fan of Icelandic history and culture. She is prepared for every question and always has a Plan B if nature changes the plans.
Weather
Changeable, 8-13 ºC during the day, wind, rain, sunshine (anything can happen), 2-8 ºC in the night
Activities & sights
We will visit all the major sights in Iceland and thanks to our seasoned guide Klaudia, we will also see some non touristy hidden gems. Just to mention a few, geysers, bubbling mud-springs, pitch-black beach covered by lava sand, lava tunnels, aurora borealis, seals, puffins in their natural habitat, thermal baths with beautiful blue water, super-active volcanic valleys, full of sulfurous eruptions, local craft beers in Reykjavík are all on the menu.
Travel insurance
You will need travel insurance that is valid in Iceland. You can contact us and we are happy to recommend the most suitable one. You don’t need to worry about the insurance of the vans, this is covered by GoBeyond.
Meals
Besides visiting restaurants and getting a real taste of the Icelandic cuisine, we will go shopping together for local ingredients and cooking meals on our campervan’s grill.
Road conditions
In total we will travel approx. 1650 km with a daily distance ranging from 120-380 km. Iceland has very good quality concrete roads all along the trip.
Group
To one trip we can welcome a maximum of 24 guests at the same time (12 vans). Solo travelers, groups of friends and couples are all welcome.
Photo & Video
All the photos and videos you see are from our previous camps. We produce high-quality content of all our camps, which you will receive after returning home to remember all the amazing memories.
Personal expenses
Depending on spending habits your budget for the trip should range from 500-900 EUR. For reference, a meal in a restaurant is between 40-50 EUR, petrol for the trip will be approx. 250 EUR, entry to thermal bath is ~40 EUR in Mývatn – this is an optional program for the trip.
Program
DAY 1 - ARRIVAL, REYKJAVÍK
Arrival at Keflavík Airport, pick up the cars.
We spend the first night in a hotel in Reykjavík: dinner in a restaurant, trying some local craft beers.
DAY 2 - AKUREYRI (380 KM)
After leaving Reykjavík we drive through the North-west part of the island almost in a single burst, with a stop half way to check out a beautiful canyon and relax for a while.
Later we’ll visit a bit of the second “biggest” city, Akureyri before we spend the evening in a campsite next to it.
DAY 3 - FIELDS OF LAVA (120 KM)
After a short morning visit in Akureyri we head towards the island’s maybe most spectacular waterfall and a surprisingly active volcanic valley, full of sulfurous eruptions, called Hverir. Here the world’s biggest geothermal plant is working close to an already cooled down lava field. During this day we also have the opportunity to go to a thermal bath with beautiful blue water. We finish the day on the shore of the Mývatn Lake.
DAY 4 - FISHING VILLAGE, FJORDS (220 KM)
On the way to the east we visit several more waterfalls while getting to a small fishing village which gives the exact feeling of a Wes Anderson movie. After lunch we go for a short hike to a majestic waterfall among the fjords before spending the night in a campsite in one of the fishing villages.
DAY 5 - FJORDS AND GLACIERS (350 KM)
We have a long drive on beautiful roads acrossthe fjords while getting closer to the glaciers. During the day we visit a small village, Höfn and in the afternoon we continuously reach new and new astonishing spots and witness how the peeled off ice floes move into the ocean, while seals are chasing each other around. We finish the day with a hike to a viewpoint in the Skaftafell National Park, where we stay for the night as well.
DAY 6 - BASALT COLUMNS, BLACK BEACH, WATERFALLS (200KM)
In the southern part we check the most famous sightseeing spots of Iceland such as Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon and the basalt columns at Reynisfjara on a pitch-black beach covered by lava sand. After lunch we stop in Vík and visit a renowned wool manufacturer and store before visiting a few more lesser and well-known waterfalls, like Skógafoss, which we will discover inside out.
DAY 7 - GOLDEN CIRCLE (220 KM)
The last full day of the tour also offers spectacular sightseeing: after a visit to the breathtaking Seljalandsfoss waterfall, we head north to visit the Golden Circle attractions, including Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall and the unique Geysir: the first geyser ever discovered and all the geysers in the world were named after it.
DAY 8 - REYKJAVÍK AND GOODBYE (150 KM)
In the morning we will pass through Reykjavík to buy the essential souvenirs. Depending on the mood of the team and the outbound flights’ departure time we might check out 1-2 spectacular spots while heading to drop off the vans before saying goodbye and going home with everlasting memories.
The program is subject to change at any times.
Application
1
ENQUIRY
Call us, email us or use the form below
2
AVAILABILITY CONFIRMATION
We will get back to you within 48h
3
BOOKING
Secure your spot with a deposit & travel contract
4
PLANE TICKETS & VISA ARRANGEMENT IF NEEDED
Typically 1-2 months before departure
5
SECOND INSTALMENT
30 days before departure
6
GoBeyond ADVENTURE STARTS
We greet you at the meeting point
Get in touch with us
Phone: +43 660 552 2466 | Email: hello@gobeyond.travel
Iceland Vanlife
Q&A
Not at all. There are always people who come alone, so you can be sure that you’ll make new friends!
Every van needs to have one driver with a normal driving license, he needs to have good driving skills. Driving the van is the same as driving a large car also if needed assistance will be provided by our guides in eventual tight spots or when parking.
Very changeable weather, 8-13 ºC during the day, wind, rain, sunshine (anything can happen), 2-8 ºC in the night. We recommend bringing at least 2 sets of outdoor clothing, wind and waterproof clothing and footwear is a must. You should always have extra layers in your backpack during small hikes the weather can change very quickly. Our local guide is a weather specialist, so he will do everything to stay out of rain, but as the Icelandic saying goes “ there is no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate equipment”.
Although our tour guide Klaudia is not a natural-born Icelander, but knows the country inside out: a nature enthusiast who reads weather signs and a massive fan of Icelandic history and culture. She is prepared for every question and always has a Plan B if nature changes the plans.
Fully equipped cozy campervans for 2 people, 4* downtown hotel in Reykjavík.
Depending on spending habits your budget for the trip should range from 500-700 EUR. For reference, a meal in a restaurant is between 40-50 EUR, petrol for the trip will be approx. 250 EUR, entry to thermal bath is ~40 EUR in Mývatn – this is an optional program for the trip.
The local currency is the Icelandic króna (ISK). There is no need to change money at all, there are several ATMS, but in all of Iceland paying by card is the most popular method, actually there will be several places where you can only pay by card.
For Iceland most nationalities don’t need a Visa.
Important parts of Icelandic cuisine are lamb, dairy, and fish. We will eat in some restaurants but mostly we will go shopping and prepare food in the vans and have grill parties at the campsites.
CHECK MORE ADVENTURE TOURS
Although we are passionate skiers, surfers and motorriders, we had to realize that there are other outdoor adventures that cannot be missed.
Just think about dog sledding in the Arctic under the Northern Lights or driving around in motorhomes from hot spring to hot spring in Iceland or Japan.
We are constantly on the lookout for great outdoor adventures, but if you don’t find here what you are looking for, we are happy to organize whatever comes to your mind.
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