Guided Small Group Tours in Iceland

A small group tour is where a guide leads you and a few fellow travellers on an adventure together. Your expert local guide will share their in-depth knowledge of the area with you while taking you to all the best spots.

As well as being able to learn from top guides, we believe that by capping group numbers you’ll have a more personal experience. This is why our small group tours have a maximum of 16 people. Plus, exploring in a minibus means you will be able to visit places that large groups and coaches can’t get to.

Iceland is among the safest countries in the world. It has a first-rate health system that is consistently rated higher than larger countries such as Australia, the USA, and the UK. You can read tips and advice about health and safety in Iceland here before you travel.

A local tour guide is a fantastic addition to your Iceland adventure. They’ll not only share their favourite parts of Iceland with you, but you’ll also learn what makes Iceland so special from someone who calls it home.

Not only will your Nordic Visitor tour guide meet the industry standards, but they are also eager to share their passion for Iceland with you.

We welcome a wide range of customers who can choose from tours with a variety of excursions, tour themes and activity levels. This means you’ll find that our guests often vary in age.

While there’s no upper age limit on our trips, please get in touch if you’d like to know more about a tour’s activity levels and accessibility.

Children over the age of 12 can join our guided small group tours. If you are travelling to Iceland with kids, we also recommend looking into our child-friendly self-drive tours as these offer more flexibility for families.

Each of our tours is labelled with an activity level from 1 to 4, so you can easily see how active you can expect to be on that trip. Most small group tours are designed to let you travel and explore at a leisurely pace.

Generally, we recommend being comfortable covering short distances on uneven ground, climbing steps and carrying your own luggage. Some tours include outings like an easy-going walk to a waterfall or a guided glacier hike. You’ll find any excursions like this listed in each trip’s activity level description.

If you’re not sure whether a trip is right for you, please get in touch with us for more information before booking.

Breakfast is available each morning, so you can begin each day with plenty of energy. And, when you’re staying outside Reykjavík, some of your dinners are also included, depending on the tour. You can see exactly what meals are part of your tour package in the “what’s included” tab.

While Iceland is known for local delicacies like kæstur hákarl (fermented shark) and liquorice, it’s also a country of coffee lovers and ice cream enthusiasts. You can also expect a number of top gourmet restaurants, serving fresh, local cuisine, including seafood and lamb.

If you have special dietary needs, please let us know when you book so that we can make arrangements before you arrive.

The hotels and guesthouses that you’ll be staying in have been handpicked for their comfort, cleanliness and friendly atmosphere. Each has been visited by our travel experts, so when you check-in you can relax after a day of exploring.

Both double and twin rooms are normally available at our accommodation options. Please choose your preferred room type when you book so your travel consultant can make sure that everything is perfect for your trip.

If you’re booking onto a small group trip as a solo traveller, rest assured you will have your own private room. While not all tour providers would give you a room of your own in this case, at Nordic Visitor your comfort and privacy is our priority.

It’s also worth noting that our hotels and guesthouses do not offer triple rooms.

You can bring one suitcase or large bag per person for your overnight items. We also recommend bringing a daypack for daily essentials, like a camera, extra clothing and wallets.

Your luggage will travel with you on the minibus. We ask that you please take your bag to your new room on arrival and then back on to the minibus for the next day’s journey.

Figuring out what to bring with you, especially during different seasons, can be a challenge. Happily, you can refer to our handy Iceland packing guide for tips and advice on what you’ll need for your trip.

Each of our buses has been chosen so that you can relax and travel between stops in comfort. You’ll find that none of our tour buses are over 3 years old. And, while our vehicles seat 19 people, we allow up to 16 guests onboard to ensure there’s plenty of space for everyone.

The standing height and seating room for most of our tour buses is just above 6’4” (193 cm). Happily, this means that even most of our taller guests can travel with ease. There will also be plenty of comfort breaks along the way where you can stretch your legs and get some fresh air.

Providing a gratuity is entirely up to you. In Iceland tipping is not generally expected. Of course, if you’d like to show your gratitude with a tip, we’re sure your guide will appreciate it.

The answer to this really depends on how you’d like to see Iceland. If you’re looking for the ultimate hassle-free travel experience, then we recommend a guided small group tour of Iceland.

Joining a guided trip means that you can sit back as your local guide drives you around, shows you the sights and takes you to the best attractions. As you’ll be in expert hands, you can simply concentrate on taking photos, making memories and learning about the areas you visit.

We only work with reliable local partners and promise that your tour group will always be small. This way you receive the best and most personal service when you choose one of our group tours in Iceland.

As well as getting to know your fellow like-minded travellers, small group trips in Iceland give you free time to head out and explore in the evening. On some tours it’s also possible to add optional excursions to your vacation package.

All of this makes a small group tour ideal if you want to completely unwind while your guide takes the lead.

Guided trips are also perfect if you’re travelling to Iceland solo or if you don’t feel comfortable driving abroad. Find out more about the best guided tours in Europe for solo travellers. 

On the other hand, if you prefer to travel independently then we recommend one of our self-drive tours in Iceland.

On a road trip, you’ll still benefit from our insider knowledge of Iceland. We’ll make all of the arrangements for your tour before you travel, including your rental car, accommodation and any optional excursions.

If you like the sound of going at your own pace, but would prefer not to drive, then you should check out these privately guided tours of Iceland.

Read this guide to Iceland travel to learn more. Or perhaps you know you’d like to go on a guided small group trip, but aren’t sure of the destination yet. Why not check out these small group tours of Europe for more inspiration?

It’s possible to add excursions at a later date, if they’re at either side of your group tour itinerary.

Each of our packages comes with recommended optional activities for you to choose from. For example, you could go on a whale-watching tour from Reykjavík or treat yourself to a visit to the Blue Lagoon.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you’d like to add an optional excursion to your tour so that we can secure it for your trip.

If there’s an activity you’d like to do that isn’t listed as an extra on your tour, please get in touch with us.

Of course, your trip can easily be extended by a day at either end of the guided tour. Adding extra nights in Reykjavík is a popular choice as it will allow you more time to explore the city and its surroundings independently.

You can choose to add extra nights to your package when booking online. If you decide you’d like additional nights at a later date, please contact your travel consultant as soon as possible.

Yes, you can choose the arrival date that’s best for you from the calendar listed online for each of our Iceland escorted tours. Packages operate with a maximum of 16 guests. You can find out how many spaces are left on each departure by looking at a tour’s start dates online.

If you have particular dates in mind, make sure to book sooner rather than later in case that departure fills up.

Summer small group tours have start dates from April to September. Please note that itineraries which venture to remote regions, including the Westfjords, have a shorter season.

On the other hand, opt for a magical winter trip to Iceland and choose from departures between September to March. At this time of year, you can chase the northern lights on the south coast or tour Iceland’s Ring Road when it’s quieter.

We advise that you check available flights for times and prices, but book your package first to secure it. Once your tour is confirmed by email, you can go ahead and purchase your flights.

If you have missed out on flights, please get in touch with us and we'll do our best to accommodate a change of dates.

Iceland is known for its changeable weather, so it’s best to be prepared for all conditions.

Whether you’re travelling in summer or winter, we recommend packing warm layers and waterproofs. That way, come rain or shine, you’ll be comfortable when you’re out and about soaking up Iceland’s natural beauty.

Your guided small group tour will take you to various iconic attractions where you can get out of the minibus to explore. At some of these locations, a short walk may be the best way to make the most of your visit. So, as well as weatherproof layers, be sure to bring sturdy walking boots or shoes.

If you’re visiting during winter, on a northern lights tour, you’ll need to wrap up warm as temperatures can drop below freezing. Whereas in the summer, milder weather means that you should bring sunscreen and some lighter layers.

If you’d like to visit any hot springs or geothermal pools, like the renowned Blue Lagoon, remember to bring swimwear and sandals.

Here is an all-season packing list for your guided tour of Iceland:

• Walking boots or shoes with good grip
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Insulated jacket
• Woollen or fleece jumpers
• Thermal base layers
• Warm hat, scarf and gloves
• Warm hiking socks
• Rucksack
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Quick-drying travel towel
   

You can also check out this blog on what to pack for your trip to Iceland for further tips and advice.