Tours to Iceland from the UK

Iceland is a dream destination for breaks long or short, thanks to its compact size and the fact that its star attractions are within easy reach of the capital.

Because it’s less than 3 hours from the UK by plane, you can escape for weekend city breaks or full-blown holidays, the choice is yours.

For example, you could join a multi-day tour from Reykjavík. These range from 3 to 6 days. On this type of holiday, you’ll be based in the city and join expert-led excursions every day.

Multi-day trips are ideal for a winter getaway, especially if you want to see the Northern Lights on a guided tour. They’re also a great option if you want a summer trip without the driving.

On a 7-day to 10-day Iceland trip, you could tour the Ring Road on a self-drive holiday. This would give you the freedom to stop as often as you like, wherever you like. And with longer to explore you’ll be able to venture further into the countryside from Reykjavík.

Find out more in this article: How long do you need in Iceland?

The best month for travelling to Iceland depends on what you want to see and do. There are two main seasons: summer and winter.

Summer spans the months of June, July, and August. Visit then and you’ll experience Iceland’s famous long evenings, see the country in bloom, and enjoy mild temperatures. Get inspo on things to see and do in summer.

Winter runs from October to March. This the perfect time to go Northern Lights hunting, thanks to longer hours of darkness. The deeper in winter you visit, the greater your chances of seeing snow. Find out all there is to see and do in winter.

The shoulder seasons in spring and autumn are a quieter time to visit. Ideal if you want to enjoy even some of the top attractions with fewer visitors around.

Definitely! Iceland is a go-to destination for chasing down the Northern Lights. These glowing ribbons of light in the sky are truly a magical sight. It’s incredible to think that they’re a completely natural phenomenon.

In order to see them, you’ll need to visit Iceland in winter. This is the only time of year when there’s enough darkness for you to see them. If you get a clear sky and good levels of solar activity, you might be lucky enough to spot them yourself.

Many of the packages featured here include a Northern Lights excursion, or the chance to drive to a dark patch of the countryside so you can spot them.

On a holiday to Iceland from the UK, you can tick a lot of things off your bucket list. Here’s some ideas to get your imagination going:

• Roam black sand beaches on Iceland’s south coast
• Unwind in the warm, turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon
• See natural gems on the famous Golden Circle route
• Join a whale watching tour by boat in North Iceland
• Explore inside an ice cave underneath a glacier
• Discover ‘Iceland in Miniature’ on the Snæfellsnes peninsula
• Snorkel between tectonic plates in the Silfra gorge
• Spot Arctic foxes in the remote Westfjords region
• Eat delicious local produce in Reykjavík’s best restaurants & food halls
• Soak up Icelandic culture at museums and galleries

Want even more inspiration? Check out this complete guide to Iceland.

Iceland has a reputation as a higher-cost destination, but there are loads of ways you can see the country on a budget. For example, you could visit during the quieter shoulder seasons or try camping in the summer.

Holidays from Iceland Tours give you excellent value for money. Every package includes:

• Accommodation
• Local transport, including airport transfers
• Breakfast every day
• Detailed itinerary
• 24/7 helpline whilst you’re in Iceland

With breakfast covered, that’s one less thing you need to budget for in your spending money.

Another tip: you can save on mobile roaming charges by using free Wi-Fi. This is available at many hotels and attractions, as well as on board most tour coaches.

The official language of Iceland, and mother tongue of most Icelanders, is Icelandic. This beautiful language evolved from Old Norse, the language of the Vikings.

That said, you’ll find that most Icelanders speak excellent English. This means you will be able to communicate in bars, restaurants and hotels with no problems.

If you want to try out out the local lingo though, here’s some Icelandic phrases for you:

• Góðan daginn (GO-than DIE-in) – Hello
• Einn bjór, takk (EYT-n byoer, tahk) – One beer, please
• Skál! (scowl) – Cheers!

Takk fyrir (TAHK fee-reer) – Thank you

The best way to get to from the UK to Iceland is to fly. You can find direct flights to the Land of Fire and Ice from lots of UK airports, including:

• Bristol
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• London (Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted)
• Manchester

From the south of England, your flight time would be about 3 hours. If you’re flying from Scotland, the journey normally takes around 2 hours 30 minutes.

There are a number of direct routes to Iceland, and you can choose from airlines, including British Airways, easyJet, Icelandair, Jet2, Play and WizzAir.

Flights aren’t included in your Iceland Tours package, so make sure to check which airline offers the best fares from your airport of choice.

Get more tips and tricks about visiting Iceland from the UK on the blog.

Iceland is in the Schengen travel area. This means you need to have at least 3 months left on your passport before it expires from the date you plan to return to the UK from Iceland. Your passport also needs to be issued less than 10 years ago.

You can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days for leisure travel. If you’re starting your trip in another Schengen country, then the time you spent there will count towards your 90 days.

Get more info on Iceland entry requirements for British citizens from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

If you have a full valid UK driving licence, you can drive in Iceland without any additional permits. Just make sure to bring your licence with you when you pick up your car.

Good to know: You need to be at least 20 years old to rent a car in Iceland and 23 for some larger vehicles like 4x4s.

In Iceland, they drive on the right-hand side of the road. If you’re not used to driving on the other side, or you’d prefer not to drive, you could take a multi-day or guided group tour. On these types of trip, you’ll travel by coach and let someone else do the driving.

At Iceland Tours, we always recommend travel insurance for any trip abroad. That way, you’re financially protected if anything happens.

One thing to bear in mind is that it’s no longer possible to use an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) as a British citizen if you need medical care abroad. To avoid worrying about unexpected healthcare costs, you should take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

You can use comparison sites to find a good deal. For most people, travel insurance won’t add much expense to your trip, but you do get peace of mind.

Booking holiday packages to Iceland is easy to do on our website. Use the filters above to narrow down your search. It’s a good idea to decide whether you want a summer or winter trip, before picking a travel style.

For most types of package, you can pick your desired level of accommodation. And for self-drive trips, you can choose what kind of rental car you want too.

At the checkout, there’s the option to extend your trip with extra days. Fill these days with small group tours or escorted tours in Reykjavík.

You only need to pay a 5% deposit to secure your booking today. Once you’ve done this, we’ll email you your booking details, and job done!

As Iceland is an island nation just like the UK, it’s known for its changeable weather. It can be chilly, but maybe not as cold as you’re expecting.

The best thing is go prepared for a varied forecast, so here’s a suggested Iceland packing list:

• Waterproof jacket
• Jumpers and fleeces
• Thick, insulated coat (in the winter)
• Thermal undies
• Sturdy walking boots
• Swimwear, for hot springs
• Sunglasses, for sun, snow or ice
• Moisturiser and lip balm

Get more tips on what to bring in this winter packing and weather guide.