Unknown Iceland

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

Please arrive in Reykjavik before 4 pm on Day 1. The welcome meeting and dinner will be from 6 pm onwards starting at the hotel, which is located approximately 45 minutes away from the airport.

On your final day, we recommend booking flights in the afternoon as you might want to relax in the morning. You are required to arrive in airport two to three hours before your flight.

If you arrive on Day 1 of your adventure, or you book pre-tour accommodation with us, your airport arrival transfer will be included. If you book alternative pre-tour accommodation or are arriving by another mode of transport you must arrange your own arrival transfer.

Airport transfers from Keflavik Airport (KEF) are by coach. You’ll be provided with a pre-paid ticket for the ‘Flybus’ before travelling.

Once you have collected your baggage and have passed through immigration, please follow the clear signs for the Flybus.

Flybus will take you into the centre of Reykjavik and within walking distance of your hotel. In most cases you will need to change to a smaller coach at Reykjavík bus station which is the first stop on the way from the airport. You will be advised by the Flybus staff every step of your journey.

The departure transfer is not included, but your Pack Leader can help you arrange this.

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.

You do not normally need a visa if you’re visiting as a tourist from the UK, USA, Australia or Canada. Please check with your local consulate/embassy if the country you are travelling from requires a visa or visit this website: https://island.is/s/utlendingastofnun.

From 2024, ETIAS travel authorization will be an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to European countries https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/what-etias_en.

We recommend that you have at least six months validity remaining on your passport and can show a return ticket.

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

This adventure is fast-paced and the glacier hike will challenge you. However, no specific level of fitness is required. We recommend having a read-through of the itinerary above to make sure you are happy partaking in the activities mentioned. Please get 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

• 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.
• Day bag – This needs to be around 20-25 litres 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.
• Warm winter coat – Having a warm coat is essential as the temperatures in Iceland can be freezing.
• 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 adapters – 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
• High-factor SPF suncream

Due to the changeable nature of Covid-19 entry requirements, we strongly advise Flashpackers to consult the travel advice issued by your local consular services well in advance of your departure date. Some countries do still require travelers to comply with pre-arrival testing and/or vaccination requirements. Links to the key consular services can be found on our Safety page.