Iceland (Lonely Planet, 7th Edition) - Fran Parnell [278]
Lonely Planet, together with Rough Guides and other concerned partners in the travel industry, supports the carbon offset scheme run by climatecare.org. Lonely Planet offsets all of its staff and author travel.
For more information check out our website: lonelyplanet.com.
* * *
UK
Icelandair ( 0870 7874020; www.icelandair.net) has flights to Keflavík from London Heathrow (three hours) at least twice daily, and regular service throughout the year to Glasgow (two hours) and Manchester (2½ hours).
Iceland Express ( 550 0600; www.icelandexpress.com) flies nine times daily (seven in winter) from London Gatwick to Keflavík (three hours) and twice weekly to Akureyri (three hours) in summer. Two weekly flights from London Stansted also fly to Keflavík in winter.
USA & Canada
In summer, Icelandair flies daily from Keflavík to Boston, Minneapolis, New York and Toronto, with additional services from Keflavík to Orlando, Halifax and Seattle. In winter daily flights continue to/from Boston and New York, with several flights per week to/from Toronto. You can also include Iceland as a free three-day stopover on the way to Britain or continental Europe.
Return to beginning of chapter
SEA
Smyril Line (Seyðisfjörður 472 1111; www.smyril-line.com) has a car ferry from Hanstholm or Esbjerg (Denmark) through Tórshavn (Faeroes) to Seyðisfjörður in east Iceland. Boats run all year, but Iceland is only part of the itinerary from mid-April until the end of September. Between October and early April the ferry only travels between Denmark and the Faeroes.
Passengers have a choice of couchettes (bed-seats) or one- to four-berth cabins. From Hanstholm to Seyðisfjörður, the one-way couchette fare for a car and two passengers is €445/286 in high/mid-season. A cabin with two lower berths and no window costs an additional €323/115. High season runs from the end of June to the end of August, mid-season from May to mid-June and late August to mid-September. Children, seniors and students qualify for reduced rates year-round.
If you are travelling from Denmark to Iceland and would like to have a stopover in the Faeroes, you will have to disembark and board the next ferry (the following week). Contact the Smyril Line or Click here for information about trip packages.
Return to beginning of chapter
GETTING AROUND
AIR
Iceland has an extensive network of domestic flights, which locals use almost like buses. In winter a flight can be the only way to get between destinations, but weather at this time of year can play havoc with schedules.
See the Iceland Airline & Ferry Routes map Click here for the current routes operating in Iceland.
Air Iceland ( 570 3030; www.airiceland.is) operates flights from Reykjavík to Akureyri (45 minutes, minimum five flights daily), Egilsstaðir (one hour, minimum two daily), Ísafjörður (40 minutes, minimum two daily) and Vestmannaeyjar (25 minutes, twice daily). One-way prices start at Ikr4990 for all domestic destinations. Click here for flights from Akureyri’s airport.
Eagle Air ( 562 4200; www.ernir.is; Reykjavík Domestic Airport, IS-101 Reykjavík) operates flights to smaller airstrips, including Sauðárkrókur, Hornafjörður (Höfn), Bildudalur and Gjögur. Flights cost €115 one way.
Flugfélag Vestmannaeyja ( 481 3255; www.eyjaflug.is; IS-900 Vestmannaeyjar) runs flights over to Vestmannaeyjar from Selfoss and tiny Bakki airport, south of Hvolsvöllur. At the time of writing, however, a new harbour was being built at Bakki, with the Vestmannaeyjar ferry due to sail from there from July 2010. This may affect flights so check for the latest info.
Air Passes
Air Iceland offers a couple of air passes, which must be purchased either outside Iceland or in Icelandic travel agencies catering for foreign visitors. The Air Iceland Pass is available with four/five/six sectors for €388/390/450 in high season (mid-June to mid-August). Fly As You Please gives 12 consecutive days of unlimited flights