Iceland : Has anybody driven in Iceland before?

[denser]

On 8/17/2023 at 10:23 AM, Spidey10 said:

go both....won't regret ler 

may add in Tromso, Norway hahaaa...

[Spidey10]

On 8/18/2023 at 10:02 AM, denser said:

may add in Tromso, Norway hahaaa...

Indeed....go go go 

[denser]

On 8/18/2023 at 10:18 AM, Spidey10 said:

Indeed....go go go 

any suggestion how the routes

[Spidey10]

On 8/18/2023 at 10:26 AM, denser said:

any suggestion how the routes

Where to? which country? 

you need to do yr own homework - where are the iconic places and how long the drive is required - if winter, daylight is short so need to plan and i mean really plan! 

Best fren is goggle, my fren....really depends on what, where you want to go and experience....

My trip, I normally start planning at least 4 mths in advance..

[teomingern]

On 8/18/2023 at 11:40 AM, Spidey10 said:

Where to? which country? 

you need to do yr own homework - where are the iconic places and how long the drive is required - if winter, daylight is short so need to plan and i mean really plan! 

Best fren is goggle, my fren....really depends on what, where you want to go and experience....

My trip, I normally start planning at least 4 mths in advance..

For winter and more than 10 days and driving more than 300 km a day - confirm plus  chop must plan so far in advance... if he just wants to stay in the city areas, can just do it a month before lar... or just follow fixed itinerary available online - a good starting point...

[denser]

On 8/18/2023 at 11:40 AM, Spidey10 said:

Where to? which country? 

you need to do yr own homework - where are the iconic places and how long the drive is required - if winter, daylight is short so need to plan and i mean really plan! 

Best fren is goggle, my fren....really depends on what, where you want to go and experience....

My trip, I normally start planning at least 4 mths in advance..

Yeah I am planning for end Feb 2024. 

A rough plans yet, still undecided whether going Finland and Norway but Iceland is firm

Singapore>Helsinki>Rovaniemi - Santa Village/Arctic Circle/Glass Igloo/King Crab Safari

Rovaniemi>Helsinki>Tromso - Husky Sledding/Reindeer visit/Whale watching

Tromso>Oslo>Iceland - 8 days self-drive

[denser]

On 8/18/2023 at 1:21 PM, teomingern said:

For winter and more than 10 days and driving more than 300 km a day - confirm plus  chop must plan so far in advance... if he just wants to stay in the city areas, can just do it a month before lar... or just follow fixed itinerary available online - a good starting point...

I went Natas Fair recently to collect itineraries. My wife was tempting to sign a Finland/Norway package, given covered all activities priced $5K+ quite ok, but i prefer self plan trip, now i found the activities quite costly

Also I want to go Iceland instead

[teomingern]

On 8/18/2023 at 5:06 PM, denser said:

I went Natas Fair recently to collect itineraries. My wife was tempting to sign a Finland/Norway package, given covered all activities priced $5K+ quite ok, but i prefer self plan trip, now i found the activities quite costly

Also I want to go Iceland instead

Bro... there are trade-offs lar... first of all, your proposed places and activities are both far apart and expensive... so if you're doing a conducted tour, you must be prepared to spend most of the day in the tour bus... cos the tour company will take you from A to B and there's no fuss for you... but you do 'waste' time on the bus, whereas if you plan yourself, you might just stop in between for something interesting and off the beaten path that a tour company won't do...

Secondly, a lot of the activities will be carried out in a large group setting... so you got to queue and take turns etc... you may end up wasting time... especially meal times... if you plan yourself, you control your time... you can choose the best timing to avoid crowds... and in a tour, many activities cost extra, not included hor... so end up cost may be the same or more cos of inflated prices... cos the tour company is the middle man you need to pay for too...

Given the vast distances and limited time, I would suggest you just stick to Iceland or Norway... I think Norway has the most to see and most easily accessible ... a good mix of scenery, adventure type activities, laidback country vibes but not so ulu... for a first timer, I think it's a pretty good choice...  (driving an overland route between Oslo & Bergen will take you through the Hardangervida Plateau which will in itself will already give you a good mix of Nordic holiday activities) whereas Iceland, you got to be prepared for basically the same activity type once you leave the city... it's endless waterfalls, mountains, ice and glaciers and in winter much of it is closed for safety... so you've got to make a choice... Iceland is appealing cos of the many people vlogging and promoting it especially the camper van lifestyle but it isn't a walk in the park unlike Norway... 

[Spidey10]

On 8/18/2023 at 4:59 PM, denser said:

Yeah I am planning for end Feb 2024. 

A rough plans yet, still undecided whether going Finland and Norway but Iceland is firm

Singapore>Helsinki>Rovaniemi - Santa Village/Arctic Circle/Glass Igloo/King Crab Safari

Rovaniemi>Helsinki>Tromso - Husky Sledding/Reindeer visit/Whale watching

Tromso>Oslo>Iceland - 8 days self-drive

i think you can refer to bro @teomingerncomments. 

Stick to a few place, Norway is a huge country and to spend 8 days driving from Tromso>Olso and Iceland...think is difficult...and depending on the period you are going if in Winter, (i presume coz Husky Sledding) is not going to be easy...they don't have big expressway connecting the cities/towns and driving in winter is not the same as driving in winter in Amsterdam or London. Trust me! 

I would stick to a country 1st and really enjoy the country rather than rush to go multiple countries like Iceland, Norway, Finland...

if you are planning Iceland, stick with Iceland...there are a lot of attractive places to visit in Iceland as well(Dog Sledding is also available there) 

Don't combine Iceland with Norway and Finland...it's too big an area to cover with all the activities....unless you tell me you plan to take 30 days off and go on a back pack in these countries...

I did Iceland in 2018 and then Scandinavian countries(Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland) early this year...both trips were beautiful...

a note of caution - driving in snow in Norway is a big risk...read up before you embark on the journey. 

my family only signed up once on a tour of Europe way back in 2010......natas fair as well, after that, every trip we go by ourselves and plan by ourselves already.....don't really maximise what we want to see when we follow a tour...

Edited August 21, 2023 by Spidey10

[teomingern]

I just did a quick Google Maps check on distance for our bro who wants to drive in winter through the Scandinavian countries not including Iceland...

That's about 5000 km... I think 30 days is more realistic... assuming flying into Tromso then driving down to Bergen and across to Oslo and then Gothenburg followed by Stockholm and then all the way up to Rovaniemi and back south to Helsinki again... epic drive which I may attempt in summer but definitely not winter lar...

 

 

[inlinesix]

Daylight during winter is very short.

Not advisable to drive at night.

[Spidey10]

On 8/21/2023 at 10:17 AM, teomingern said:

I just did a quick Google Maps check on distance for our bro who wants to drive in winter through the Scandinavian countries not including Iceland...

That's about 5000 km... I think 30 days is more realistic... assuming flying into Tromso then driving down to Bergen and across to Oslo and then Gothenburg followed by Stockholm and then all the way up to Rovaniemi and back south to Helsinki again... epic drive which I may attempt in summer but definitely not winter lar...

 

 

 

@teomingern  Indeed this summer trip would be epic....maybe 2025/26.....hahahahhah

[Spidey10]

On 8/21/2023 at 10:21 AM, inlinesix said:

Daylight during winter is very short.

Not advisable to drive at night.

Indeed!!!  and during winter, the weather is really unpredictable, and the roads are covered with snow, it will be very difficult to see the road markings and gauge the divider.. Please take these into consideration. Safety comes 1st Bro!!!

[Voodooman]

On 8/14/2023 at 10:05 AM, denser said:

Any recommend car rental in Iceland? Is manual or auto better? Is the road slippy..

Planning to go next year feb after cny, direct flight to Helsinki and spend a few days there before fly to Iceland

Does a round island trip worth it, hope able to see the northern light

Go read tripadvisor's iceland forum.  Lots of stories of people having to go through 30-60 mins car inspection upon return of vehicle. 

I took 9 days to do a round the island with lots of hikes and whale watching, etc, you are planning to do it in 10 days, looks about right. Winter which may be more challenging to drive.  Please rent a 4x4 and get full insurance coverage with zero excess.  

[Voodooman]

On 8/21/2023 at 5:22 PM, Voodooman said:

Go read tripadvisor's iceland forum.  Lots of stories of people having to go through 30-60 mins car inspection upon return of vehicle. 

I took 9 days to do a round the island with lots of hikes and whale watching, etc, you are planning to do it in 10 days, looks about right. Winter which may be more challenging to drive.  Please rent a 4x4 and get full insurance coverage with zero excess.  

Avoid this one if they are still around.

https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowTopic-g189952-i223-k11901012-Iceland_Car_Rental_SCAM_please_read-Iceland.html

[denser]

On 8/21/2023 at 5:22 PM, Voodooman said:

Go read tripadvisor's iceland forum.  Lots of stories of people having to go through 30-60 mins car inspection upon return of vehicle. 

I took 9 days to do a round the island with lots of hikes and whale watching, etc, you are planning to do it in 10 days, looks about right. Winter which may be more challenging to drive.  Please rent a 4x4 and get full insurance coverage with zero excess.  

where do you whale watching? Is it at Husavik?

[Voodooman]

On 8/23/2023 at 10:19 AM, denser said:

where do you whale watching? Is it at Husavik?

Yes at Husavik. We did it during summer with this company called Gentle Giant. My best whale watching trip so far and I have been to many.  It was a wet wet wet, chase the whales/ dolphins adventure on an open high speed inflatable with roller coaster seats (don't take their slow ferry offering).  We must have gotten close and upfront (some 10m away) with no less than 5-6 whales, numerous dolphins in less than 2 hours.

But we did it during summer, the whales might migrate south during winter, please do own dd.

Edited August 23, 2023 by Voodooman

[denser]

On 8/23/2023 at 2:04 PM, Voodooman said:

Yes at Husavik. We did it during summer with this company called Gentle Giant. My best whale watching trip so far and I have been to many.  It was a wet wet wet, chase the whales/ dolphins adventure on an open high speed inflatable with roller coaster seats (don't take their slow ferry offering).  We must have gotten close and upfront (some 10m away) with no less than 5-6 whales, numerous dolphins in less than 2 hours.

But we did it during summer, the whales might migrate south during winter, please do own dd.

heard not advisable to do it in winter, too cold and big wave make you sea sick..

anyone used Blue Car Rental before?