General Information

The warmest months are from June to early September, though a visit at other times of the year can also be rewarding, and takes advantage of lower air fares and competitive rates at hotels. From mid-May to late July it is light all night, with the sun hardly setting at all.

From late August until March, the spectacular northern lights can often be observed. In winter, November, December and January are the darkest months, but the sun still shines and, especially when there is snow on the ground, there can be four to five hours of daylight.

May and June are the best months for wild flowers and birds, but if you want to travel through the uninhabited interior of Iceland, you should plan your visit for mid-July to early September as most of the highland tracks are only open during this period.

We use the scheduled services of Icelandair, with a choice of flights from London Heathrow or Glasgow. Please click here for flight information.

For a summer visit, touring by coach or car, comfortable and casual clothing in layers in best. Include a good quality breathable wind and rainproof jacket and trousers, a light and thick sweater or 'fleece' jacket and sturdy walking shoes or boots.

For hikers and campers, thermal underwear, gloves, hat and proper walking boots are a must. A three-season sleeping bag is advisable. For winter visits, warm over trousers and a thick jacket or coat are essential. Bring swimwear and a towel for the many naturally heated bathing pools - whatever the time of year!

After booking your holiday with us, you will receive further information on what clothing and other items to take, tips for photography and much more.

After centuries of Danish rule, Iceland became an independent Republic in 1944. The Icelanders of today number around 285,000 of whom about half live in the capital area and surrounds. The remainder are distributed around the coastal plains, valleys and fjords, where fishing and farming are the main economic activities.

The Icelanders are a friendly and welcoming nations, enormously proud of their country and eager to show it to visitors. The Icelandic language has changed little in the last 700 years, but English is widely understood and spoken, especially by younger people.

Geologically, Iceland is a young country, still in the making. Most active volcanoes and geothermal areas are within the main volcanic zone, which runs SW-NE through the island. The uninhabited interior is a mountainous plateau with ice caps, bordered by vast glacial outwash plains. The main farming areas are around the coast, particularly, in the south and west, while the northern and eastern fjords, sculpted by Ice Age glaciers, are more suited to fishing.