 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Anyone thinking of a trip to Iceland ? |
 
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| keith Member Since: 15 Aug 2012 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 2212  
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Iv been wanting to get to Iceland for ages , my kids are desperate to see volcanoes , icebergs , whales , and all the other things on Iceland . There is a good priced ferry company to take your own car from Denmark . Would any family members be up for a trip in the coming summer or next ? Keith .
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23rd Apr 2013 7:23pm |
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| wyvern Member Since: 13 Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2108  
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Hi Keith
we are going next year but sadly not with our 110. Others on here have had a fab time in the country - so do a serarch to see how they did it - you are right that ther is a ferry from Demark that goes via the Farroes which would be a great trip on its own! However we looked at the cost of shipping, (£3k!!) time factors and the amount of upgrades we would have to do the wagon to get it 'Iceland proof' we also looked at the risk of busting it big time - then looked at a plan B option ... so we are going to fly in and rent a 4x4 wagon and drive ourselves round the edge and into bits of the center to view the bits we want to see and camp in a tent/back of the vehicle. We did a 5 day trip there last year and covered the south/South east side of the country easily and in that time and saw icebergs, volcanos, water falls and lava fields... it was superb! Go and have a great time - which ever way you choose to go! Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126  |
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23rd Apr 2013 8:01pm |
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| keith Member Since: 15 Aug 2012 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 2212
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Excellent mate , what a great reply and trip you had . My wife has just told me that she has found an Iceland company website that caters specifically for no car travellers . They offer 4x4 and various journeys from 5 days to 14 days , I'm guessing this is similar to your 5 day trip . Is this your idea again this summer ? Our girls are 5 and 6 and used to many long overland defender trips so the dilemma is fly and stay in hotel or fly , hire and camp . We will be driving through Sweden and Finland into Russia to St , Petersburg soon enough . What's the chances of another forum drive to Scandinavia next winter ? Or different location .
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23rd Apr 2013 8:22pm |
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| splatt Member Since: 29 Jun 2012 Location: North Essex Posts: 44 
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I would recommend Isafold Travel/4x4 ( http://www.isafoldtravel.is/isak-self-drives/ ) for Defenders in Iceland. See my thread in the expedition/overland section titled "ICELAND - 20th - 25th January 2013". They've got Pumas and TD5s, we had a TD5.
The owner, Jon Baldur, is a very keen Defender guy despite some of the problems they've had with Pumas.... (I've got no affiliation with the company, just had a brilliant time driving their Defender in Iceland in January and I was impressed with their support for Defenders). 2008 Defender 110 |
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24th Apr 2013 8:25am |
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| roamingman Member Since: 15 Mar 2012 Location: nearly thier Posts: 152
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We might be up for that, depending on cost. Will make some inquires.  Live Life Ti'l You Die
Teddys are out thier http://teddybearspicnic.webs.com http://130sasha.co.uk/ |
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24th Apr 2013 9:17am |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665 
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Awesome place.
MrsK and I went a couple of years ago. The Smyril Line Ferry was still docking in Scotland at the time (i think it's stopped now). Unfortunately MrsK wanted to fly, so we went over for a few days & hired a small Ford 4x4. The sights are amazing. The Gulfoss Waterfall, the Geysers, and the hot springs. Swimming in the blue lagoon was awesome...at night looking up at the stars, in warm water, with the top of your head freezing
I would love to go again, and take the Defender but it won;t be for another year-or-two Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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24th Apr 2013 4:40pm |
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| keith Member Since: 15 Aug 2012 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 2212
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Yes the Smyril ferry still exists but only from Denmark , take your car and passengers for 600 euros return . I'm thinking also that a flight and hire is most appropriate though . Nothing bad to say about Iceland except perhaps the price of beer ? We will be going probs next summer as the usual trip to Tbilisi and Batumi are more important .
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24th Apr 2013 5:10pm |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665
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Here's a couple of pics from our trip:
1. The Hire Car . a small Ford (FL2 size) - handled the snow well: Click image to enlarge 2. Gulfoss Waterfall - part frozen... Click image to enlarge 3. A couple of purposeful tour trucks: Click image to enlarge 4. Geyser... Click image to enlarge Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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24th Apr 2013 6:11pm |
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| wyvern Member Since: 13 Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2108
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I can only find a price from Demark to Iceland return for 2 people at around £3000 - but I think that they are only doing quotes for telephone enquires ... are you sure that your cost are correct? I'd hate you to have a bit of a hic up on the costs...  Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html
Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126 |
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24th Apr 2013 6:20pm |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018 
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You'd be surprised what standard vehicles you see not just on the ring road but also the interior. |
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24th Apr 2013 8:57pm |
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| Molusk Member Since: 20 Dec 2011 Location: Loire Valley Posts: 43  
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I spent 4 weeks last August over there. No need to upgrade a defender to reach any point of interest. |
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26th Apr 2013 2:04pm |
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| keith Member Since: 15 Aug 2012 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 2212
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I didn't think I'd need any special stuff especially if a summer trip . Did you take the defender via Denmark ? |
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26th Apr 2013 4:47pm |
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| wyvern Member Since: 13 Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2108
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'Iceland Proof' was a bit of an over statment - we drove along the south of the contry for a week in a Yaris and had a great time - I even got it stuck when I off-roaded it ! We were not looking to do a Dakar style rebuld of the wagon, just a few things the can be used everywhere - but Iceland was a real reason to have them fitted. Most of our touring over the years has been in Europe and quite warmish with good tar roads - so were are set up for the soft stuff - we needed some tweaks for Iceland All we were looking to do was to fit a fuel burning heater for the cab, as we will be there in the early spring and sleeping in the vehicle, double up the batteries and split charge them, add some basic under body protection, some steel wheels and 6 all terrain tyers, add a couple of jerry cans and that was about it. Throw in some spares and some tools and off we go. Add all that little lot up and there is not much change from £3000 .... so to find arround £6k for a 15 day trip was a bit of an eye opener and we have now found a much cheaper way to do what we want to do with out breaking the bank.  Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html
Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126 |
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26th Apr 2013 5:40pm |
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| camelman Member Since: 27 Feb 2013 Location: Peak District Posts: 3372
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It's definitely worth the trip up there if you can sort the logistics out and are into your outdoors living!
We took a couple of defenders and a disco up there a few years back before they changed the ferries around. The girls still all flew up however as they didn't fancy 3 days on a boat in the north atlantic
Camping was cheap or free, Diesel was cheap(ish) but you had to pay a diesel duty on the boat. Here's a pic of us climbing up Snaefellsjokull Click image to enlarge |
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22nd May 2013 11:32am |
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