Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Please click here to go to our general FAQ, which has essential information that applies to all of our programs.

Resources to Learn & Teach about Iceland

Visit our recommended reading page to see the list of books GEEO recommends reading before your program (this is not required reading). We also have lesson plans and Pinterest boards that may be useful for you as you learn about your destination and prepare to bring lessons back to your classroom.

Terms and Conditions

It is very important for you to visit our Terms and Conditions page before signing up for this program.

Cancellation policy

All cancellations must be submitted to GEEO in written form by emailing your request for cancellation to travel@geeo.org. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your written cancellation request, please call us at 1-877-600-0105. Verbal cancellation requests will not be honored.

• If you cancel 60 days or more prior to departure, all your program fee payments will be refunded besides your $350 deposit which is kept on file for future use
• If you cancel between 30 and 59 days prior to departure, you will receive a 50% refund and your deposit is kept on file for future use
• If you cancel within 30 days of departure, you will receive no refund, but your deposit is kept on file for future use

Trip Notes

1. PACE OF TOUR: Please note that this is a very busy tour, and there are some long drive days.
2. WEATHER: The landscape of Iceland is unique and unlike most things you’ve seen. So is the weather. It is unpredictable and changeable, so be prepared to experience a variety of conditions during your time in Iceland. It’s not uncommon to experience rain, sun, wind, and snow all in the same visit, so please pack accordingly. An Icelandic summer is also not what most people consider as summer temperature, and in the highlands it can get quite cold.
3. BLUE LAGOON: If you wish to visit the Blue Lagoon, please know that this activity must be done before or after your tour. As this activity is very popular and limits admission, we recommend booking it online well in advance.
4. MONEY: Credit Cards (Mastercard and Visa only) are the preferred form of payment. You can use USD for tips. You don't really need to take out much Icelandic Krona as you can use your card for nearly everything. Make sure your credit card does not charge an international transaction fee. If you do not have a card without int transaction fees we recommend getting a new card. Capital One cards do not charge int transaction fees.

Group Leader Description

All GEEO/G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of G Adventure’s group leaders, which they refer to as Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues, and introduce you to our local friends. Our itineraries often have plenty of free time to explore on your own. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting – we think it’s the best of both worlds.

Fitness Level

This trip includes light walking and optional moderate hiking that is suitable for most fitness levels.

Single Travelers

Half of the people that travel with GEEO are traveling by themselves, so please don’t worry if you have no one who can join you on your trip. Our pricing is based on double occupancy or, in other words, two people to a room. You never have to pay for a single room unless you want one. GEEO can find you a roommate of the same gender. Most of our trips have a “My Own Room” option, also known as a “Single Supplement,” which is an extra fee that will allow you to have a room to yourself. If you want to room alone, please email travel@geeo.org. To see the price for the “My Own Room” option, please click here where you can look up your trip in the extra services spreadsheet.

Joining Instructions

Please note that Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned. Upon arrival to the city on Day 1 (or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us), please make your way to the joining hotel. Please note: Check-in time will be in the afternoon. Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note at reception from your tour leader. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on Day 1 (usually between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.), where you will get a chance to meet your tour leader and other travelers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details! If you miss the Welcome Meeting, your tour leader will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need and with instructions for the next morning. Upon arrival at the airport, you will see a big service desk marked BUS TICKETS where you can buy a shuttle ticket to your hotel in Reykjavík. The transfer company is called Iceland Excursions, and they have airport express coaches running frequently from the airport to the city center both day and night. A one-way transfer to the city from the airport costs roughly 2,200 ISK per person and takes about 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can get a taxi located just outside the arrivals exit. The taxi ride from the airport to the city center costs around 16,000-18,000 ISK.

Emergency Contacts

Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call their local G Adventures office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS G Adventures UK office (manned UK 8am – 8pm) +44 (0) 2072439878 If you are unable for any reason to contact the local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with the 24-hour Sales team, who will happily assist you. Toll-free, from calls within North America only: 1 888 800 4100 Calls from within UK: 0844 272 0000 Outside North America and the UK: +1 416 260 0999 For absolute emergencies after office hours please contact +44 7817 262559 If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, and your call will be returned as soon as possible.

Packing List

Please read this article on GEEO’s blog for our staff’s suggestions on the best gear to pack for your upcoming travels. You must be prepared to carry your own bags and be comfortable carrying them up and down stairs, on and off transportation, and to hotels. As a rule we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 minutes with your bags, which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 22-30 lb. Most travelers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size. No XXL bags please! A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person plus a daypack per person.

 Suggested Checklist

• Rain coat or waterproof shell jacket
• Warm fleece top
• Personal clothing for cool weather in the 40’s-60’s F – we recommend packing 6 outfits as you can't do laundry.
• Wool socks
• Synthetic travel pants (Jeans do not dry as quickly)
• Very supportive, water-resistant walking shoes
• Daypack
• Sunblock
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Refillable water bottle (The water in Iceland is great!)
• Toiletries
• Camera
• Insect repellent
• First-aid kit, including: lip salve, aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Dramamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking
• Snacks – packing a dozen granola/protein bars is a good idea; you can buy snacks when you get there too, but Iceland is pretty expensive.

Optional Checklist

• Bathing Suit
• Eye Mask (The hotels typically had really effective blackout curtains)
• Waterproof pants for over regular pants (Not really necessary unless you want to get really close to the waterfalls
• Wool hiking socks
• High ankle top sturdy hiking boots for glacier hike (You can rent for glacier hike for $8.00)
• Long john (thermal underwear) top for layering
• Travel pillow
• Money belt
• Phone/Tablet for internet – most hotels have WiFi
• Chargers for electronics as well converters/adapters, if needed
• Packing cubes
• Shower cap - showerheads come straight down
• Ziplock bag with a few plastic forks & spoons (numerous lunches grocery stores)
• Ear Plugs
• Towel for hair and lagoon - only 1 body and hand towel provided in hotels
• Ziplock bags
• Reading/writing material
• Hand sanitizer/Baby wipes
• Hairdryer - not always available
• Gloves for when you are on the glacier
• Liquor: Purchase maximum duty free at departing airport (beer in shops is 2%, few state liquor stores, bar prices are exorbitant)

Document Checklist

• Passport (with photocopies)
• Travel insurance (with photocopies)
• Airline tickets (with photocopies)
• COVID vaccination certificate
• EUR/USD cash
• Credit or debit card
• G Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information, and dossier
• Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
• GEEO Classroom action plans for your group – this is sent 10-30 days before departure

Laundry

We recommend bringing enough clothes as there will not be a chance to do laundry on this trip. You won’t be sweating much, so it should be pretty easy.

Passports and Visas

All GEEO trips require that the participant have a valid passport.  Please see our general FAQ for information on obtaining a passport. As with all of our trips, we try to provide the most accurate information we can, but governments sometimes change visa rules. It is your responsibility to double-check the information we provide below by searching here. Americans do not need a visa for travel in Iceland. Non-American participants should check with their government or nearest Icelandic Embassy to find out if they need a visa.

Money Exchange

Iceland uses the Icelanddic Krona (ISK) as its currency. As currency exchange rates fluctuate, we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com. ATMs are also widely available that distribute the local currency and this is what we recommend as your primary source of cash while traveling. Please make sure you bring at least $200 USD in cash as emergency money, just in case you have trouble with the ATMs or lose your bank card. Major credit cards are accepted in most shops, but they may charge a 2-4% transaction fee. Visa and MasterCard are useful for cash advances in an emergency situation. Please note that, if you are carrying U.S. Dollars, they should be in good condition (i.e., not torn, wrinkled, or marked on in any way) and printed recently.

Tipping

Tipping in Iceland is not customary. In many cases, a service charge is added to the bill, which means that it is not necessary to add a tip. If you wish to express your satisfaction with the service in a bar or restaurant, then a gratuity of 10% or to round up the amount of the bill is perfectly acceptable. Tipping during the tour program is similarly not expected, but it can be a way to express satisfaction with the persons who have assisted on your tour. Recommendations for tipping local guides would range from the equivalent of $3-5 USD per day depending on the quality and length of the service. Ask your tour leader for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture. At the end of each trip, if you felt your G Adventures Tour Leader did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference. As a guideline, $35-$45 USD per person can be used.

Flights

We often find the best prices for purchasing flights are 60 days before departure, but of course, this varies greatly from route to route and year to year. You must wait until this trip is confirmed with the minimum number of required participants before you book your flights. Typically, we reach the minimum number needed at least 90 days before departure. GEEO and G Adventures bear no responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed. You can find out whether this trip has been confirmed here. Your trip begins and ends in Reykjavík. Please double-check our itinerary for the date on which you must arrive in Reykjavík by. You can arrive at any time of the day you choose, but we strongly urge you to arrive by 6:00 p.m. on Day 1 for our group meeting. You can depart from Reykjavík any time on the final day of the trip.

Plugs and Converters

There are two components to provide external power to your device: adapters and transformers. The adapter is the plug, adapting the prongs on a standard U.S. two to three-pronged power cord to match the prongs required by the local outlets. The transformer changes the local voltage to that required by your device. Iceland uses a European-style two circular prong plug. Their voltage is 220-240 Volts. U.S. outlets are 120V. Most new devices (phones and laptops) can handle the different voltage rates, but some devices only work on the U.S. standard of 120V. Check your device to see what voltage range it handles. Most transformer blocks will have an “Input” line that defines its voltage capacity. For example, “Input: 100-240V” means that it will work on voltages from 100V to 240V. If your transformer can’t handle the different voltage, you’ll need to purchase a voltage converter. You can find world regional voltage converters power packs at various vendors.

Expectations

Before you decide on traveling with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the information about the program you are considering. Remember, our programs are quite adventurous.

• The purpose of the accommodation is to provide a safe, well-located place for you to sleep. Sometimes you will be pleasantly surprised, but do not expect luxury as we are trying to keep these trips as inexpensive as possible.
• You must be able to easily carry or roll your luggage, so do not over-pack.
• Please make sure you have thoroughly read the itinerary and can handle the group activities, which sometime include day hikes with your daypacks.
• We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.
• Please make sure you understand the role of your tour leader on this trip as they are not the traditional “guide” you may be expecting. While our trips are educational, they aren’t study/lecture trips. We want you to learn through exploring and much of your experience will be based on how active you choose to be in acquiring knowledge and interacting with locals.

Hopefully this is the kind of adventure you are interested in!

Itinerary Disclaimer

While it is our intention to adhere to the routes described on our website, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable, to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The information on our website is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

Advice From Past Participants

“I’m glad I came 5 days before the trip, because the jet lag from SF in addition to the 20+ hours of sunlight threw me for a loop. I know a couple of the teachers didn’t bring eye masks for sleeping in, and for me this was a necessity; not all hotels have sufficient black-out curtains.” “They say if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 min., and that is so true! Prepare to bring layers: A warm jacket, a rain jacket, and a fleece/hoodie. Gloves are only helpful on the glacier day, and they can be rented. Waterproof pants would have been nice a couple of days.” “Food prices in more isolated areas can cause sticker shock.” “Gas stations are really like 7-Elevens with fairly large dining rooms included.” “Need to stress that gloves, and warm socks needed for the glacier hike. Also, may need to rent the hiking boots for the glacier hike.” “Eating is expensive. Waterproof pants were taken but not needed. Be prepared for long days, with dinner coming before hotel stops.”

Weather

The weather is cool during the day, mostly in the 50’s F or low 60s' and cold at night, mostly in the 40’s F. It does rain fairly often in Iceland. You will be so far north that the sun will stay above the horizon for around 19-22 hours a day.