Hello!
I'm starting to plan my trip to Iceland. I've never gone on a 'tour' before (mostly gone w/ my adult children on various adventures to East Africa, or driving trips with my spouse through Europe), and I'm not sure I want to do this on my own. I know I could, but would rather be with other interesting people.
There are tours out there, but not one that includes some of the things I would like to do. For instance, I do want to do the traditional ring road and golden circle, however, want to add in seeing the puffins, potentially kayaking in one of the glacial lakes, zodiac to glaciers, seeing the whales, etc, etc. Today I was thinking that maybe I sign up for a traditional tour (if you have recommendations let me know) and when I get back to Reykjavik getting on a tour designed just for the puffins or kayaking, etc. Perhaps I will do the shorter trips before the 'traditional' tour..
My questions are-
What small group tour companies do you recommend (under 20 people) and why did you like them
What 'add on' reputable tour companies do you recommend (for instance, ones that do 2-3 days to the Westman Islands to see the puffins or kayaking a glacial lake or perhaps snorkeling between the two plates/continential divide)? I don't want to get on one of those bigger buses with 50 people.
Getting an individual Icelander and a private tour is also intriguing for me.. Any suggestions? Maybe hire this person to fill in the trips that the traditional tours don't do
Another intriguing trip is along these lines: I did see a trip through my husband's university that goes out with a geophysicists and explains what is going on in Iceland - are there tours like that out there? (this trip is not happening this year)
I'm open to ideas and am thinking about spending about 12-14 days in Iceland over the summer. I am not into food or what kind of place I stay in, but value experiences over food and lodging..
THANK YOU and apologies for the long post
(not that it matters, but I'm an active (but not a super woman) 60 something woman (ie back roads tours does not interest me, nor do I think I could keep up with them)