If you are looking for a trip to connect with nature, stop looking, your destination is Iceland . This Nordic island country arouses the attention of every traveler for its incredible mountains and waterfalls, volcanoes, icebergs and glaciers. Has it all.
And although there are many possible ways to get to know this country, touring Iceland in a motorhome or camper van is an unforgettable experience and trip, at your own pace, sleeping in idyllic places and with the comfort of carrying your home on your back. For this reason, in today's post we tell you all the keys to organize your camper trip through Iceland and the best tips for touring it
What is the best time to travel to Iceland?
If you want to choose the best time to visit Iceland, the ideal is to schedule your trip to do it between the end of August and the end of October. Although without a doubt, among these months, the month of September is the one that will allow you to enjoy your route with better weather, better price, and less crowds.
It is also important that you take into account that from October the motorhome rental companies tend to put more problems because the weather complicates, and in addition, you may find many roads blocked or with difficult access.
On the other hand, if you want to see the Northern Lights, October is the perfect month, from which they start to appear. But don't forget that as winter approaches, it gets more complicated to drive around Iceland in a motorhome, and better equipped You have to be there to travel around the island.
How many days does it take to travel to Iceland?
If you want to get to know the southern part of Iceland, you will need at least 7 days of travel . But for if what you want is to tour the entire island, including its fjords and the northern area, it is best that you have at least 10 dayss.
What to do in Iceland?
Obviously, the best thing about Iceland is being able to enjoy its landscapes and its incredible views, including the lively atmosphere of Reykjavik. But Iceland offers much more than this to its visitors. There are infinite things you can do during your trip to make it even more unforgettable, and here are just a few:
1. Enjoy its hot springs
Nothing beats a soak in Iceland's natural hot springs during your trip. You will be able to relax in the warmth of its waters like a true Viking, following the Icelandic tradition.
The best-known hot springs are those of the Reykjadalur River, but there are plenty of hot springs in Iceland where you can enjoy a soothing hot bath: Blue Lagoon, Gamla Laugin, Seljavallalaug, Hófsos, among many others!
2. Visit a glacier
Iceland is known for its frozen landscapes, and one of the most fascinating things you can do during your trip is get up close to one of its glaciers , which are accessible year-round, including take a tour to an ice cave
3. Walk the Golden Circle
On your trip to Iceland by motorhome you cannot miss out on seeing the Golden Circle , which leaves from Reykjavik and is formed by three points of interest: Pingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir.
4. Get a closer look at a waterfall
Iceland has numerous waterfalls, such as Skógafoss, Dettifoss or Seljalandsfoss. But one of the most beautiful is Godafoos, located in the north of the island.
This waterfall has a waterfall 12 meters high and about 30 meters wide that is divided into two sections. And you can easily access it from the Ring Road, the main road in Iceland.
5. Feel the force of a geyser
During your trip to Iceland, make a stop at the Haukadalur Valley to enjoy up close the eruption of its Strokkur geyser
In this valley there are 5 other geysers, including Geysir, the oldest known geyser and which gave its name to all the geysers on the planet (it has been at rest since 2000).
6. Visit the East Fjords
If there is a mandatory stop in Iceland it is the East Fjords. They are easily reached by driving along the Ring Road, and their gateway is the small village of Djúpivogur. After it, the first fjord of the route is Berufjördur, about 20 kilometers long, and from there, following the road, you will find the rest of the East Fjords of Iceland and enjoy its unique landscapes.
7. Photograph icelandic horses and whales
In Húsavik you can see whales in their natural habitat, especially in the summer months. You just have to choose some boat excursion and enjoy contemplating them.
In addition, along your route through Iceland in a motorhome, you will find countless Icelandic horses, very similar to ponies, and only breed of horse you will see in this country. They will fall in love for sure. Take the opportunity to photograph them!
8. Enjoy the Northern Lights
If you travelto Iceland in the fall or in the middle of winterrno, maybe you can
9. Dive between two continents
Can you imagine diving between two continents? If you travel to Iceland and make a stop at Silfra, you can dive into the freshwater crevice that separates America from Europe . A unique experience!
10. Behold the midnight sun
If you travel to Iceland in summer, you will be able to contemplate the midnight sun. A phenomenon in which the sun stays in the sky for 24 hours, and that you can see much better on the Island from Grimsey given its latitude.
Renting a motorhome in Iceland
If you want to get to know this country behind the wheel of a camper vehicle, the best formula to carry out your trip is touring Iceland renting a motorhome. And we explain why.
Although you can go by ferry from Denmark to Iceland with your own motorhome or campervan, the price of the trip will end up being higher that if you resort to arriving by plane at one of its airports, such as Reykjavik, and you rent a motorhome when you arrive at your destination. But above all, it will take you many more travel days that you will lose on the way to Iceland.
First you would have to go from Spain to Denmark in your motorhome and then cross by boat to Iceland, repeating this same formula to make the way back home. That is, it would take about 10 days between the round trip . Something that would only compensate you if you are going to be in Iceland for a long time.
Although renting a motorhome in Iceland is a little more expensive than in Spain, it is worth it both for price and for speed and comfort.
There are countless companies with which you can rent a motorhome in Iceland, but it is best to compare prices
What is Iceland's Ring Road?
The Ring Road is the main road in Iceland, and from which all other roads in the country start. This road goes around the island along its coast, so that, starting from Reykjavik, it passes through:
Driving a motorhome in Iceland
The best thing about traveling to Iceland in a motorhome is that you can travel in a circular way through the Ring Road that we have mentioned, and that borders the island passing through its main points of interest. But the truth is that driving on the rest of its roads does not pose any type of inconvenience when traveling in a camper.
The roadss in Iceland are wide and not heavy traffic, so even if you're a real newbie behind the wheel of your motorhome or camper van, you will have no problem driving across the country. And it is that, although it is true that there are certain parts of the Ring Road that are not paved, these are still quite wide and are not at all dangerous if you drive slowly o.
The top speed on the Ring Road is 90km/h, and 50km/h in some stretches. So don't exceed these limits if you don't want to end up with a fine of around €600.
Through this road you can see almost everything. So the only area that you will not be able to access with a motorhome will be the central area of the island, since they are roads with areas of rivers, which are only accessible to off-road vehicles. But if you want to get to know this part of Iceland, you can always do it by hiring a excursion or purchasing a ticket jeep bus that usually goes to the center.
Important websites and apps for traveling around Iceland
If you travel to Iceland by motorhome, it is important that you keep in mind certain apps and websites to make the most of your trip. Among them:
- To contemplate the auroras: My Aurora Forecast (app) and Vedur. is (web). With both, you can always be aware of when is the best time to see the Northern Lights in the sky of Iceland. But also, in Vedur. is also you can check the weather during your route.
- For traffic and road conditions in Iceland: Vegagerdin (app) and Road. is (web). This way you will know at all times if there is any road blocked by snow, if there are ice sheets in some section, or any other possible unforeseen that could hinder your route through Iceland in a motorhome or van.
- To be aware of possible alerts: Safetravel. is (web). On this page you can find information about any type of weather alert, about road conditions, and much more.
Now that you know what to see in Iceland and how to travel around Iceland by motorhome, it's your turn to enjoy your route through its incredible landscapes.
