Unknown Iceland

Fly into and out of Reykjavik-Keflavík International Airport (KEF).

Please arrive in Reykjavik before 5pm on day 1. We suggest arranging a flight home after 4:30pm on day 4, to ensure that you don’t miss out on the Blue Lagoon experience.

You can see the Northern Lights from late August to May, but it’s best to visit between October and April.

The night skies will be much darker, improving your chances but please note that sightings are never guaranteed.

We offer one arrival transfer which is private to Flash Pack. Sometimes this means waiting in the airport for a short while until other flights have arrived so you can make your own way to the first hotel if you wish.

We don’t include a departure transfer however as the airport is approximately 20 minutes away from the Blue Lagoon, with the cost in a taxi being around 9,000 Icelandic Króna for 1-4 people, the equivalent of approximately £55/$70.

If you and some other Flashpackers are all getting the same flight, we recommend splitting the taxi journey. Or, you can make use of the convenient SmartBus coaches located nearby which will take you directly to the airport and are much cheaper if traveling alone.

You’ll need a driving licence from your home country to ride a snowmobile. If you don’t have one, you can still participate in this experience by riding pillion (you just won’t be able to drive ).

Before going on the snowmobiling excursion, you’ll be asked to sign a disclaimer to confirm you understand that there’s a degree of risk involved, but that you’re physically fit and able to take part in the activity. Snowmobiles are expensive machines and the form also explains that in the unlikely event you damage a snowmobile, you’ll be required to pay for repairs. Your guide will talk you through everything before the excursion to ensure you’re comfortable, but if you would like to see a copy of the disclaimer prior to travel, please feel free to get in touch with us.

This trip is nearly fully inclusive and guide and driver tips are included in the cost.

We recommend budgeting 7,000 ISK, the equivalent of 40 GBP / 55 USD per day.

This adventure is fast-paced and it will challenge you during the glacier hike especially. However, no specific level of fitness is required, we just want to ensure you are happy partaking in the activities like the glacier hike and the cold water therapy session. We recommend having a read-through of the itinerary above, and getting in touch if you have specific questions on fitness.

Please be aware that the itinerary, activities, and hotels are subject to change. These changes can happen with little notice due to availability, poor weather, seasonal changes, or other circumstances beyond our control – but we’ll always do our best to ensure it has little impact on your experience. From time to time, we may also make changes to your itinerary to try out new ideas and keep things fresh and exciting.

There’s a lot to think about when packing for your Icelandic adventure. You’ll need a range of clothes for the wide variety of activities and the cold weather conditions. The key is to bring plenty of layers to stay warm.

What you pack is personal to you and our list is certainly not exhaustive. If you have any questions about what to pack for your trip to Iceland, please get in touch with one of our friendly Trip Experts.

Baggage

• A large backpack or suitcase. It’s up to you whether you bring a backpack or a suitcase, but either way, a soft-sided bag is best for packing into transfer vehicles.
• A day bag. This needs to be around 20-25L to fit your daily essentials in, such as water and your camera.

Clothing

• Layers. Breathable thermal materials are best as a base layer for activities. You will need additional warm layers because the weather can drop very quickly.
• A warm winter coat. Having a warm coat is essential as the temperatures in Iceland can be freezing.
• A waterproof jacket. It could rain at any time of the year, so you’ll need to bring a waterproof jacket.
• Fleeces/sweaters. You’ll need to bring lots of warm sweaters/fleeces with you.
• Windproof clothing. This is essential as wind chill can make the temperature feel a lot lower than it is.
• Outdoor trousers. Outdoor trousers that you don’t mind getting dirty will be perfect for hiking.
• Evening clothes. What you wear in the evening is up to you, but you might want some nicer clothes for going to bars and restaurants.
• Sunglasses. The sun can reflect brightly off the glacier, so we recommend protecting yourself with sunglasses.
• Warm scarf/hat/gloves. It can get very cold in Iceland, especially at night, so we suggest bringing a warm scarf and a hat, along with some gloves.
• Swimwear. For the hotels’ sauna and hot tub as well as your cold water therapy experience.

Shoes

• Waterproof hiking shoes and warm socks. You’ll need a comfortable pair of waterproof hiking boots for glacier hiking. Thick socks are also essential.
• Comfortable, breathable shoes (trainers/sneakers). A pair of trainers/sneakers are perfect for general wear.
• Evening shoes. Some people might want to bring a pair of shoes to wear out to restaurants and bars.

Accessories

• Your phone, camera, chargers etc.
• Plug socket adaptors. The standard plug socket in Iceland is type C, which is the standard European plug and has two round prongs.
• Refillable water bottle. Refilling a bottle instead of buying single-use bottles will help to reduce our plastic footprint.
• Eye mask and earplugs. If you’re a light sleeper, you may feel more comfortable bringing an eye mask and earplugs.
• Pocket warmer. If you feel the cold, a pocket warmer may be useful.
• Driving licence. If you would like to drive a snowmobile, you will need to bring your driving licence. If you do not have a driving licence, you’ll be able to ride as a passenger.

Toiletries/medical

• Any personal medication you require.
• Personal toiletries.
• Shampoo and conditioner. Most hotels will provide these, but we recommend bringing your own to reduce plastic usage.
• Painkillers.
• Anti-bacterial gel.
• Lip balm with SPF.
• Moisturiser.