Epic 1 Week Iceland Women’s Road Trip & Hiking Tour! – May 2023

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*This tour has happened and it was SO MUCH FUN! Check out my Instagram highlights here to see where we went in Iceland!

If you want to know about my future tours as soon as they go on sale, email me at [email protected] with the subject line ‘Future Tours’ and I’ll add you to the mailing list*

Do you fancy one week in Iceland spending day after day visiting incredible natural scenery and many of the places you might have seen on Instagram… (Yes, I’m talking about Diamond Beach, Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls and Whale Watching), with a brilliant group of women, myself and a female Icelandic tour guide who will drive and guide us through her country that she’s so passionate about??

Keep reading because this tour is for you!

Saturday 27th May – Friday 2nd June 2023 (UK May School Holidays)

Start & End in Reykavik

Southern Iceland Road Trip

With Ellie Quinn Belhaj & Viking Women

How to book?

Once you have read all of the information in this post,

fill in this quick Google form and I’ll send you the deposit information.

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Overview of the Tour

I have wanted to visit Iceland for so many years! I’ve seen endless people go on Instagram and YouTube to see Iceland’s incredible waterfalls, go hiking, whale watching, swim in lagoons and visit unique beaches and although I’ve been to 65 countries, I’ve not yet been to Iceland!

Iceland is all about driving around the island either on a tour or hiring a car or campervan yourself and this makes going to Iceland alone and as a solo traveller not very easy.

If you go to Iceland alone you need to rent a car and drive yourself which is expensive and something I’m not confident doing, or take multiple-day tours from the city which is also expensive to do and limits you on how far you can go.

That’s why I’m organising my own group tour to Iceland for women only! So we can travel together as a group with our own private local female guide and see as much of Iceland as we can in one week. We don’t have to wait for a friend, family member or partner to visit Iceland with us, we can go together!

This tour has a focus on hiking because this is the best activity to do in Iceland along with 2 boat trips and plenty of waterfalls, beaches, hot springs, canyons and Icelandic food thrown in!

We’ll be road-tripping around the South of Iceland with our private guide Saga in our own private bus that will stay with us throughout the trip and will be driven by Saga.

Although we have a jam-packed 1-week itinerary for Iceland (scroll down to see it), we’ll make sure we have times when we can relax and we’ll make sure the itinerary is flexible so we can make the most out of the weather and our preferences as a group!

seljalandsfoss waterfall, 1 week women's iceland tour — I can’t wait to visit Seljalandsfoss Waterfall!

Viking Women

Showing us around Iceland will be Saga who runs the all-female tour guiding company Viking Women.

On my group tours for women, it’s really important for me to use female guides and companies where possible to support them and keep the intimacy that a women’s tour offers. As soon as I spoke to Saga I knew I wanted to run this tour with her! We chatted away for so long about our experiences travelling and running trips and I loved her passion for her country, and being an exclusive women’s tour company run by local women.

Iceland tour guide, 1 week women's iceland tour — Our guide Saga in her home country.

Highlights

Whale Watching Boat Tour
Secret Lagoon Baths
Glacier Hike
Black Sand Beach
Diamond Beach
Glacier Lagoon
Amphibian Boat Tour on Glacier Lagoon
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Skógafoss Waterfall
Fjadrargljufur Canyon

Glacier Boat Tour, 1 week women's iceland tour — I’m so excited about this boat tour on Glacier Lagoon!

Itinerary

Below is a day-by-day itinerary for this tour along with information on our transport and accommodation.

Day 1: Arrival in Reykjavik – Saturday 27th May

Arrive at your own time and check in to our hotel in Reykjavík. Own time to explore Reykjavik city or explore with the group depending on everyone’s arrival times. Welcome Dinner at around 19:00.

Reykjavik city view, 1 week women's iceland tour

Day 2: Start Golden Circle Drive

We depart Reykjavík and visit the Golden Circle, have lunch at Friðheimar greenhouse, a family-run countryside greenhouse restaurant where we’ll meet one of the employees who will tell us more, and relax in the Secret Lagoon Baths, the oldest swimming pool in Iceland in the afternoon. We’ll spend the night at a hotel in the south of Iceland.

frioheimar Greenhouse restaurant, iceland

Day 3: Waterfalls & Glacier Hike

We’ll head to the south coast and visit the impressive Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls to start the day. Then, do an easy glacier hike on Sólheimajökull (Saga our guide is a trained Glacier tour guide) and visit the famous Black Sand Beach. We’ll check in to our next hotel in the South East of Iceland where we’ll stay for 2 nights.

seljalandsfoss from front, 1 week women's iceland tour

Day 4: Canyons & Glaciers

Today we visit the dramatic Fjadrargljufur canyon and Múlagljúfur canyon. Later we’ll check out Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach with an option to do a 40 min Amphibian boat tour on Glacier Lagoon like this (!!) taking us really close to the Icebergs and the Glacier. If you decide not to do the boat ride you can walk close to the Glacier instead! We’ll return back to the hotel we stayed in the night before.

Diamond Beach, 1 week women's iceland tour

Day 5: Hiking & Hot Rivers

We’ll check out of our hotel and start our day by hiking the Reykjadalur valley which is 7 km in total. At the end of the trail up in the mountain is a hot river where we can bathe in if we wish and have a picnic with lunch bits we got earlier in the day. We’ll drive back to Reykjavík and check in to our hotel where we’ll spend the next 2 nights.

Reykjadalar Valley, 1 week women's iceland tour

Day 6: Waterfalls & Whale Watching

We’ll drive to the fjord Hvalfjordur and hike Glymur Waterfall which is a stunning waterfall sure to take your breath away. Late afternoon we will head out on a 3-hour whale watching from 17:00 – 20:00 followed by a goodbye dinner and back to our hotel in Reykjavik.

Glymur Waterfall, 1 week women's iceland tour

Day 7: End of Tour / Free Day – Friday 2nd June

Breakfast at the hotel at a time of your choice and departure time of your choice. If you wish to stay in Reykjavik for the day or need to because your flight is later, the hotel can store your bags after check out and you can explore the city at your own leisure.

If you wish to visit the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, it is located close to Reykjavik Airport and many people visit on the way to or from the airport so you can plan a visit if time allows around your flight.

Reykjavik city street, 1 week women's iceland tour

Accommodation

The rooms will be twin ensuite rooms and you will be sharing with another lady on our tour.

We will stay in 3 different hotels over 6 nights on this tour. We have planned the tour so that we spend 2 nights in a row in the same hotel twice so we don’t feel like we are constantly unpacking and packing again and we can get comfortable.

The hotels are 4* & 3* but Iceland has a very high level of accommodation quality so 3* in Iceland is more like 4* in the UK and other countries.

Below are the 3 hotels we have booked. (Please note these could be subject to change but the quality will remain the same).

Our Reykjavic Hotel – Room with a View

Our South East Iceland Hotel – Hotel Laekur

Our East Hotel – Hotel Laki

room with a view twin — Twin Room at Room with a View in Reykjavik (photo from Room with a View)

Hotel Laekur from outside — Hotel Laekur from above! (photo from Hotel Laekur)

Transport

We will spend the week driving around Iceland in a comfortable mid-sized coach driven by our guide Saga. Our luggage will be transported on the coach with us.

Cost

Inclusions

6 Nights Accommodation
6 Breakfasts
2 Lunches
2 Dinners
Whale Watching Tour
Secret Lagoon Entry
Glacier Hike Equipment
Airport Pick Up*
All Transportation

*One airport pick-up time will be arranged based on the majority of the group’s arrival (looking at flights this will likely be around 16:00 but could change). If a second group pick-up is needed, we will include this too.

Exclusions

Flights (check flights to Rekjavik on Skyscanner here!)
Travel Insurance
Any Visa Fees (UK, USA, Canada and all countries in the Schengen Area do not need a visa)
Amphibian Boat Tour on Day 4 (approx £37)
4 Dinners
3 Lunches
Snacks and Beverages
Airport Drop-Off Transfer

Tour Cost & Deposit Cost

Total Cost = £1770.00 pp

Deposit required to secure place = £300.00

The remaining balance of £1470.00 will be required 6 weeks before departure which is 15th April 2023.

If you want to set up a monthly payment plan to break down the final payment in April, I can arrange this for you.

All spaces are first come, first served and the tour is available to book until it sells out.

How to Book

I hope you are super excited about this tour! Writing this post and chatting with Saga our guide makes me giddy with excitement for all that we are going to see!

STEP 1: Complete this quick Google Form. This is not an interview or anything, it’s so I can ensure you are aware of all that we’ll be doing like the activities and hiking, and ensure I get the perfect group together who are up for the adventure!

STEP 2: After you have completed the Google Form, I will send you a link to a payment page where you can pay your £300.00 deposit to secure your place.

STEP 3: I will send you an email with a confirmation letter and information on the next steps like booking flights and travel insurance.

*Please do not book any flights until you have received the confirmation letter from me via email.*

Ready to join?? Complete this quick google doc form now!

Refunds & Cancellations

Please note that all payments including the deposit and final payment once paid are non-refundable which is industry standard.

However, if you have to cancel, because I want to help you out as much as possible, I will try my best to resell your place. If and once I have resold your place, I will refund you the money paid so far minus £50.00 for the admin fee. Of course, I am going to be more likely to resell your place if you cancel further out than if you cancel just before the trip.

For information on refunds if the whole tour has to cancel, please scroll down the Terms and Conditions.

Your Questions Answered

Do you need a visa for Iceland?

Please check whether you need a visa for Iceland before committing to the tour. You can view the Iceland government visa page here. It is your responsibility to apply, pay and get your visa approved by the time the tour starts.

Iceland is in the Schengen Area so if you usually have to apply for a visa for the Schengen Area you will need to apply for a visa for Iceland.

Those travelling on a UK, US or Canadian passport do not require a visa plus many more countries.

Flights into Reykjavik?

You will need to book flights in and out of Reykjavik the capital city of Iceland. Many countries in Europe and North America offer direct flights to Reykjavik which is really great.

I suggest you look at Skyscanner here to compare the best flights there on Saturday 27th May and returning on Friday 2nd June (if you wish to arrive early or stay on after the tour, you can certainly do this!)

Arrival Time and Departure Time?

The tour starts on Saturday 27th May and our only set plan for that day is an included dinner which will be around 19:00 so it will be great if you can arrive in time for this meal but if the only flights getting you in are in the evening, this is ok.

Our tour ends on Friday 2nd June in the morning. Breakfast is included this day however you may leave as early as you wish this morning, or, if you want to leave later or can only get a later flight out, you can explore the city of Rekjavik and our hotel will hold your luggage after check out until you leave to the airport.

You are more than welcome to spend extra time in Iceland before or after the tour at your own expense, however, we are seeing a lot of Iceland on the tour so unless you have a specific activity in mind that we aren’t doing on the tour, it’s unlikely you will need extra time to see the country.

Ready to join?? Complete this quick google doc form now!

Level of Fitness needed?

We will be doing 3 set hikes on the tour, plus walking to beaches and waterfalls from the coach.

A high level of fitness is not needed but a relative level of fitness is needed to help you enjoy this tour and ensure we aren’t held back on our hikes.

I wouldn’t be worried by this, as the tour is at the end of May, if you spend April and May going out on walks around your house, or going to the gym and some small hikes, you’ll be fine!

I also ask that you only book on to this tour if you have full capability of walking over uneven ground and steps as the terrain will be difficult in some places.

Clothing and Footwear Required?

We’ll pretty much live in gym, active and outdoor wear for the week (which I can’t wait for!). Leggings or joggers with casual tops, a jumper, a waterproof jacket and a thicker jacket will be the type of clothing we’ll need and we’ll keep switching between.

(I’ve been told Icelandic people never suggest wearing jeans as the weather can be so unpredicatable and once wet jeans don’t dry well! lol)

As for footwear, you will need to bring hiking boots and trainers. Most of the time we will be ok in our trainers but for the hikes, hiking boots will be needed, and make sure you’ve broken them in before the tour! 😉

What will the weather be like in Iceland in May?

May is a great time to visit Iceland! Winter in Iceland is quiet, freezing and dark and Summer in Iceland is light and busy with tourists, so May is the perfect month when winter is gone, everything is open but the summer tourist season has not yet started.

Iceland never gets that hot and at the end of May the temperature will be around 11c so we will need layers but it will be comfortable. There could be a chance of rain but we will make the most of whatever the weather and keep our plans flexible to get the best out of the weather.

Ready to join?? Complete this quick google doc form now!

Will we see the Northern Lights on this tour?

Unfortunately we will not! The positive to going in May is the better weather because winter is over but it is only in Winter the Northern Lights are visible.

Is the tour for Muslim women only?

No, not at all. In 2022 I co-hosted some retreats for Muslim women in Spain and England but this trip is not like those and there will be no specific religious activities.

Just like on my Morocco Tour in March 2023, I really hope a range of women will book this trip from all over the world and with all different backgrounds as this will be a lovely mix for us all to enjoy.

Because of the potential mix of religions, ages etc I do ask that we are all respectful of one another.

Is there an age requirement?

The minimum age is 18 years and there is no maximum age! I really want to stress this too as from the tours and retreats I’ve run in the past, the issue of women thinking they are too old to join always comes up!

On my 2 tours to India in 2020 I had ladies join who were in their 60’s and on all the tours and retreats I’ve run the ages have ranged from around 20 – 65. I love this big age range as it means we can all learn from each other and have such varied conversations and experiences.

The only requirement around age is that you must be relatively fit and have ease in walking uneven ground and longer distances.

Ready to join?? Complete this quick google doc form now!

What will the food be like and what if I have dietary requirements?

Because not all of our lunches and dinners are included, we can be flexible with where we eat and what we eat to suit different dietary requirements which is why we have chosen this option.

Lamb, Fish and generally hearty dishes are common in Iceland but you can also get different worldly cuisines and different types of food in Iceland, especially in the capital city of Reykjavic.

Vegetarian food is very much possible and on offer in Iceland, here’s a post about being vegetarian in Iceland, and another one here. Vegan food is on offer but like in many countries, it is more limited.

Halal meat isn’t common in Iceland however there is a Muslim community so Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants and takeaways run by Muslims do offer halal meat.

I personally will eat fish and vegetarian food in Iceland which is common and easy to get.

It is nice to eat meals together as a group, especially dinner, however, if the group has different preferences and dietary requirements we will be flexible and can eat separately in smaller groups.

Some lunches may be on-the-go from petrol stations (which are very good in Iceland!), or from supermarkets. This will give us more time for our activities and stops and be cheaper but you may need to be flexible on what you eat as options will be limited (aka you won’t find halal meat so have something vegetarian instead).

Is a payment plan available?

I am able to offer you a payment plan if you wish. After the £300.00 deposit has been paid we can break the final payment into monthly payments until the total payment date of 15th April.

I have special travel requirements, I’m not sure if they’ll suit this tour to Iceland.

If you have special travel requirements please email me – [email protected] with more details and I’ll look into this for you.

Ready to join?? Complete this quick google doc form now!

Terms & Conditions

1. If you need to cancel after paying your deposit or final payment, please note that as per industry standards, all payments including the deposit and final payment once paid are non-refundable.

However, I want to help you out as much as possible so I will try my best to resell your place. If and once I have sold your place, I will refund you the money paid so far minus £50.00 for the admin fee. Please note that I am going to be more likely to resell your place if you cancel further out than if you cancel just before the trip.

2. You must take out travel insurance prior to the tour, as explained below, I suggest doing this as soon as the deposit has been paid. I will ask you for your travel insurance details just before the tour starts so if anything happens I can call your insurance company and know your policy details.

3. Neither I (Ellie Belhaj) nor any of the team at Viking Women are responsible for any accidents or losses you may have before, on, or after the tour. You join this tour with responsibility for yourself and if something happens, you have your travel insurance to claim on.

4. If the tour gets cancelled due to covid, a natural disaster or another type of event where we have to completely cancel. We will need to pay suppliers on the ground still so the payment paid is not refundable. However, I will try my best to refund you what is available after paying local guides, accommodation etc but I not guarantee anything.

If a total cancellation happens, we (Ellie and Viking Women) will try our best to reschedule and move deposits but this is not guaranteed.

If you are concerned about this happening, I advise you to take out travel insurance straight after paying your deposit. Travel insurance is mandatory on this tour (I will ask you for your details before you arrive) and as soon as you take travel insurance out you will be covered for certain cancellations. It is much safer to buy insurance once the deposit is paid than plan to buy it a week before leaving and something happens between then as you will have no insurance to cover you.

Ready to join?? Complete this quick google doc form now!

Any other questions?

Email me at [email protected]