FAQs

Iceland is a North Atlantic island and a part of Europe. It lies about 800 km Northwest of Scotland and 970 km west of Norway, and its northern coast is just below the Arctic Circle. We don’t recommend rowing solo across the Atlantic, but that is one way to get here! There are frequent flights operate to Iceland from main cities in Europe and North America.

Each season has its charm Iceland in the winter has the northern lights, the coziness of being at home, knitting and eating winter food. Iceland in the summer has the midnight sun, the friendliness of the outdoors and summer food!  We love this land, any time of the year!

All major credit card are accepted we also accept other means of payment, for example, PayPal. We use the Icelandic króna (ISK). All major currencies can be exchanged at the airport and banks. You can also find ATMs all over the country.

Tourism in Iceland is young and there is no custom for donating tips nor is it mandatory or expected but greatly appreciated if you wish to show your appreciation in that way.

We encourage bringing hiking boots for glacier tours. They have to be hard on the sole and tight around the ankle. If you don’t have them, we have them for rent in all sizes in Skaftafell or Sólheimajökull. You can add them to your reservation at the time of booking or rent them on location pay with cash or card. The price is ISK 1,500 per pair. For ice climbing tours, boots are included in the price.

This is a personal choice. We have had pregnant women on our glacier hikes and we always recommend you read the description of the activity to get a better idea. In any case, feel free to contact our Customer Service Team for further questions and concerns.

Our dry suits are buoyant and float on the water, however, it is mandatory that all participants know how to swim and feel comfortable in water to join the tour. You do not need to be a very strong swimmer, just to be able to swim and feel comfortable in the water.

Due to regulations of Reykjavik City, tour companies are allowed to stop at certain designated bus stop locations in the city center to pick up passengers. It is stated on your voucher whether we will pick you up directly from your accommodation or from the bus stop.

We are probably biased because we have a base camp in Skaftafell, but the truth is that Vatnajökull and all its glacier outlets are of beauty that is hard to find on this planet. However, glacier outlets of Mýrdalsjökull have their charm too, the mixture of ice and ash in Sólheimajökull and Kötlujökull makes you feel like you just landed on the moon.

Yes. As of June 26 2021 all domestic restrictions will be lifted. This includes mandatory mask use, social distancing and mass restrictions. Arriving passengers who provide valid proof of having been vaccinated against COVID-19 or can provide a valid proof of prior infection are not required to provide a PCR-test prior to boarding or being tested at the airport. They can travel freely around Iceland.

Nature is the main attraction on many of our excursions, meaning that some day tours require short to medium long walks. If walking is required on the tour it will be mentioned in the tour description.

We recommend that you find a tour suitable to your needs. Please read the tour descriptions for further information on each tour.

Passengers with disabilities intending to travel with Traverse Iceland are kindly asked to contact us with at least 24 hours’ notice in order for the company to be able to cater for needs, if possible.

Our tours are free-sale but seats cannot be guaranteed unless you have it reserved or booked.

You also do not have to wait in line, once you are in Iceland, to arrange your booking.

Traverse Iceland reserves the rights to alter routes, itineraries or timetables without prior notice, should the necessity arise. No liability is accepted for losses, theft or expenses due to delay of any agent, hotel, coach, operator, airline, guide, restaurant or any other persons or companies, however caused. Traverse Iceland is not responsible for losses in the event of Force Major, such as natural catastrophes, strikes, weather, war or other causes outside of the control of Traverse Iceland. All such losses and expenses are the personal liability of the traveler. We advise all clients to have a travel insurance, as they travel at their own responsibility on tours and transfers.

All cancellations should be in writing and notified at least 24 hours prior to departure. Cancellations received less than 24 hours prior to departure will be charged full price.

Smoking is prohibited on board Reykjavik Excursions coaches.

Traverse Iceland offers pick up at designated bus stops, and selected hotels, guesthouses and hostels at an extra cost. Pick up starts 30 minutes before departure and passengers are requested to be ready in time at your pick up location. Passengers are responsible for being ready and visible for their pick up. If passengers miss their Traverse Iceland pick up they need to arrive at in time for their tour´s departure at their own cost.

Tours and services are subject to currency fluctuation and conditions of cooperative contractors that may provide transportation and other services.

Warm, wind & waterproof jacket

Three layers of clothes as the weather can change quickly

Warm sweater, fleece and thermal layer

Warm trousers – waterproof and breathable

Sturdy water resistant footwear/boots

Woolen socks

Warm hat and scarf

Warm and waterproof gloves

Crampons (advisable during winter) – can be bought on the spot. Some of our beautiful places in nature are protected and cannot be salted to protect the nature. That is why it can get quite icy at Gullfoss and Geysir so we recommend wearing crampons there.

Summer temperatures are around 15°C with the north and east often being the warmest parts in the summer but coldest in winter. Average January temperatures in Reykjavík, at around zero, are actually higher than those in New York.

Exceptionally friendly, highly educated, sophisticated, attractive, honest, and very modest. Our ancestors were predominantly Norwegian, although some came from the British Isles. Most Icelanders speak English fluently. In fact, they welcome the opportunity. So, don’t be shy about approaching an Icelander.

That depends on the location. Flying drones on Iceland National Parks requires a special permit. All tours in glacier outlets of Vatnajökull take place in Vatnajökull National Park, this includes all tours from Skaftafell and from Jökulsárlón. In order to fly your drone, you need to request a permission to the National Park. You can find the information on their website here. Same applies for tours on Thingvellir National Park (such as Golden Circle, Golden Circle and Snorkeling, and Snorkeling in Silfra), information can be found on the National Park website here. Keep in mind there are other areas where done use is also forbidden and/or discouraged by local communities. It is safe to bring a drone to Sólheimajökull glacier without a permit. However, you need to keep in mind that we can’t delay the other members of your tour to accommodate filmmaking.

Weather in Iceland is very unpredictable. For tours during winter: warm clothing as the first layer, waterproof jacket with a hoodie, hiking boots with ankle protection and hard sole, a hat and gloves are ideal. For tours during summer, bringing a light rain jacket or a soft shell with a hoodie is in most cases enough protection. Icelanders often say, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes”. Jeans are not recommended for our trips as they become very heavy, cold and uncomfortable to wear when they get wet.

We offer glacier hiking tours in Skaftafell and one in Sólheimajökull. Both locations either easy or moderate in difficulty. Our tours are considered to be safe for anyone in good physical condition. If you are fit to walk for about an hour on an uneven surface a glacier hike is for you. Longer tours will be more challenging in endurance and some areas of the glacier. We also recommend you remember that we offer all the safety equipment necessary and you will be hiking with a professional and certified glacier guide. If you have specific questions regarding one of our glacier tours, feel free to email us.

It rains a lot in Iceland, but we do not let rain stop us from going out and enjoy nature. All we need to do is choose our clothing wisely, which is why we recommend wearing waterproof clothing as the second layer. Of course, safety is our #1 priority. In case of extreme weather conditions, we will cancel our tours and do our best to reschedule. In these cases, you’ll receive a full refund.

Yes. GoPro photos are included in the price of the tour. Your guide will take photos through your tour, both outside the water and under the water and they will be sent to you via email after the tour.

For tours that state that they pick up from Reykjavík, we ask all our customers to send their pick up location at least 24 hours prior to the departure of their tour. We cannot be responsible if you do not provide your pick up location, we won’t be responsible if you miss your tour. We offer free pick-up from Reykjavik city center. Pick up starts at the scheduled departure time for the tour can take up to 30 minutes. We ask our passenger to be ready in their listed location so they can be easily found.

Yes. Please contact our Marketing and Sales Department at hello@traverseiceland.com for more information about media collaborations.

Very responsibly. The fight has been led by medical professionals and police with a special task force to trace those that have come into contact with infected individuals. A two-week quarantine for anyone who came into contact with someone infected meant that medical resources were kept available for those who fell ill and health services could handle the load. A special Covid-19 ward admitted people with more serious symptoms early, a special medical team checked in on everyone who tested positive via telephone daily, and the ICU wards were reinforced with staff, equipment and beds. As a result, the recovery rate was incredibly high and general support of government measures has been overwhelming

Pets are allowed on tours.

You can buy as many tours as you like online, with one credit card payment. If you are buying multiple tours make sure that they don’t intersect and you have enough time between each. Allow extra time to account for delays caused by road conditions etc.

We understand that your travel plans might change. You can easily change the dates for your booked tours with only one phone call: +354 786 1695 by stopping by at one of our sales offices, or by sending us an email to hello@traverseiceland.com. You will need to quote your confirmation number to change your dates and give us all necessary information.

Please remember: Your date change must be requested at least a day before scheduled departure.

Traverse Iceland reserves the right to alter routes, itineraries or timetables without prior notice, should the necessity arise.

No liability is accepted for losses or expenses due to delays or changes of arrival or departure of flights or other services, injury, sickness, accident, strikes, damage, negligence, weather, war or other causes outside the control of Reykjavik Excursions. All such losses and expenses are the personal liability of the traveler.

You do not need to bring your passport for the day tours. If you are going snowmobiling you do need to bring a driver’s license.

Traverse Iceland offers guidance in most of the tours. Guidance is in English. Our tour guides are professionals with degrees in various languages and/or subjects relating to Icelandic tourism. Your guide tells you about the area you are visiting and leads the way throughout the tour. He will also be able to answer your questions, if you have any. Our aim is to offer quality tours that feature the different aspects of Iceland’s nature, history, culture and modern living.

If a tour is displayed online you can book it and hence guarantee your seat on the tour.

You can expect up to 24 hours to pass before receiving a confirmation via email.

Try looking in your email’s ‘Trash’ or ‘Junk’ folder. Sometimes confirmation emails can get misplaced by your email server and do not reach your inbox.

If more than 24 hours have passed, or if you booked a tour with a short notice, send us an email to hello@traverseiceland.com and we will get back to you. Please provide a phone number where you can be reached.