If you're a 'blanket newbie' when it comes to Iceland travel experiences, longing to escape the everyday heat, yearning to behold the beauty of nature, then Vietnam Booking is here to help you embrace the chilly weather and fall in love with this land from the moment you set foot here.
1. Discovering the Unique 'Ice Island' in the World
Iceland is an island belonging to the Norwegian Sea in the Northern European region, also known as the Ice Island with its harsh climate. With Iceland travel experience, an interesting fact is that some tourists still confuse traveling to Iceland with traveling to Ireland.
According to the experiences of those who have traveled independently to Ireland, Ireland is also a famous island known as the 'emerald isle' in the Northwestern region of Europe.
Embarking on a journey to discover the endless beauty of Iceland.
For the island of Iceland, dubbed the 'land of ice and fire' after being formed by numerous volcanic eruptions centuries ago. Along with its unique geographical location, where the island sits on the rift between Europe and North America.
It's precisely this unique location and formation that have created an Iceland with a harsh climate but also bestowed it with abundant natural gifts and breathtaking landscapes. Moreover, this distinctive makeup has earned Iceland another moniker, the 'face of fire and ice.'
For astronomy enthusiasts and those who enjoy observing supernatural phenomena, Iceland is an unmissable destination in your lifetime. You'll surely be awe-inspired when setting foot in this land due to its unique wonders. With Iceland travel experience, you can comfortably admire this stunning scenery in many places of the country.
Experience Iceland travel admiring the mystical green hues of the beautiful auroras.
According to Iceland travel experience, this land also experiences four seasons, but unlike other countries in the world, Iceland's climate becomes particularly unique when people divide it into two seasons: Cold and very cold.
With Iceland travel experience, even the hottest days of the year on this island only reach about 25 degrees Celsius and average from 7 to 16 degrees. However, in winter, Iceland's temperature becomes much harsher, dropping to around -10 degrees.
In your quest to conquer Iceland, it's best to travel between September and November. During this time, the temperature in Iceland is not too harsh, the weather is cool, and most importantly, you can marvel at the auroras in Iceland.
2. What's the Iceland travel experience for obtaining a visa?
According to Iceland travel experience, to experience a trip to Iceland, you should apply for a powerful visa - the Schengen visa. If you plan to travel to this land during the best time, you should book your tour from June to allow for ample preparation. You need to prepare the following documents for the travel company to assist you quickly:
► Personal documents
If you are an employee/officer
If you are a business owner
If you are retired: Provide pension book/retirement salary voucher.
► Financial documents
According to the Iceland travel experience, prior to arrival, you should contact VFS Global to schedule an appointment. Once confirmed, print the confirmation email to ensure no waiting upon arrival. The processing time for your application will be about 15 days, but if there are issues, it may extend up to 3 weeks or more.
3. Traveling to Iceland: By what means?
3.1. Getting to Iceland: How?
Based on the Iceland travel experience, the optimal mode of transportation for the journey is by airplane. Despite being a popular tourist destination, the island's population density is relatively low, with only about 39 airlines operating flights to this destination.
Travel to Iceland by plane for quickness.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Vietnam to Iceland, so you will need to transit in a third country with renowned airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Air France, Singapore Airlines, with airfare averaging from 523 USD to 1207 USD.
As Iceland is an island, there are no buses or routes that can transport you directly here. A small tip to note in the Iceland travel experience is to pre-book a shuttle instead of using public buses to reach the city center.
Experience Iceland travel quickly by choosing a suitable airline.
Public buses may incur higher fees and the timing may not be suitable for your itinerary, so you need to pre-book a shuttle to ensure convenience. If you're unable to pre-book, you can call directly at the airport with average prices ranging from 20 – 25 ISK per person per way.
However, for a secure Iceland travel experience, you can book a complete tour package in Vietnam to receive services from A to Z if you lack experience and confidence in your decisions. To save costs, you can opt for group tours in Iceland to have more companions and more fun.
Moving around in Iceland.
While in other countries, you may comfortably choose public transportation such as buses, subways, but in Iceland, it's vastly different. The public transportation system on this island is relatively poor, and tourist attractions are often far from the city center, so the Iceland travel experience is that you can rent a car or take a tour.
For self-driving, you can take control of your journey and save costs for your trip. But you need to consider using this means if you don't have a driver's license and aren't accustomed to driving in snowy conditions. With the harsh climate and unique geography, snow always covers this region, and extended sunlight in this island is a luxury when the sun only appears for about 3 hours per day.
According to Iceland travel experience, for safety, you should book a tour to avoid any unnecessary incidents during your journey and to admire the stunning auroras on this island. Don't worry about not being able to book a tour because over 60% of the local population are involved in tourism activities, so the tour programs are diverse with various prices and different destinations. Therefore, you can freely choose and enjoy your experience in this country.
4. Where to have fun when traveling to Iceland?
4.1. The capital Reykjavik
Reykjavik, the capital city, stands as Iceland's largest city and a major cultural hub of this island. According to Vietnam Booking's Iceland travel experience, you can satisfy your sightseeing desires by admiring artworks and listening to melodious tunes from theaters, operas. This place also offers unique shopping opportunities, but the cost of living here ranks among the highest in the world, so you need to consider this carefully before opening your wallet.
The city shrouded in ice becomes mystical.
Moreover, Iceland travel experience reveals that this area will leave you impressed as you witness the sun appearing at midnight and the indescribable beauty of the auroras.
4.2. Blue Lagoon Hot Spring
According to Iceland travel experience, the best thing after a long day exploring the main roads is immersing yourself in warm water amidst the cold weather. The ultimate comfort this hot spring offers has earned it the title of the world's most beautiful hot spring. Every year, this 'natural spa' attracts millions of tourists to indulge in relaxation in the magnificent emerald waters without any filter.
Based on the Iceland travel experience of previous visitors and locals, the hot spring here offers many positive effects. The mineral-rich water here brings positive effects to people by helping them relax and prevent skin diseases.
It's like stepping into a mystical world when visiting the hot spring.
Yet, this place also gives you the feeling of stepping into a mystical world as the majestic scenery of the mountains and the white snow covering the azure lake, along with the white columns of smoke amidst the frigid Icelandic sky.
4.3. Hverir
The Hverir geothermal area will test your endurance. According to Iceland travel experience, you won't be surprised to smell sulfur everywhere on the island, even in the water. But in the Hverir geothermal area, the smell of sulfur intensifies significantly.
The Hverir geothermal area is exceptionally unique in Iceland.
This may somewhat affect your perception of this area, but according to Iceland travel experience, you will be amazed when this place is dubbed the 'magical landscape paradise.' You'll feel like you're wandering on Mars or a planet with a unique structure like in famous world cinema films.
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4.4. Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
Apart from Sweden and Finland, Iceland is one of the places where you can witness the full beauty of the aurora borealis. With Iceland travel experience accumulated after many journeys, many suggest that from August to October, you can visit the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon area to admire the 'ribbons' freely dancing across the sky.
Mystical shades of blue in Iceland.
According to the Iceland travel experiences of many, you will be captivated by the gentle and graceful beauty emanating from this rare optical phenomenon. It's a special sight not found everywhere in the world, so when the aurora appears, the number of tourists booking Iceland aurora tours increases significantly. Based on the experiences shared by those who have been there, it's advisable to book accommodations and flights early to avoid room shortages.
4.5. Ice Caves in Skaftafell
Iceland is renowned for its icy landscapes, so you must visit the ice caves in Skaftafell to witness the incredibly surreal beauty from inside the caves. From the outside, you won't see anything special as the structure appears like any other cave, but stepping inside, you'll be amazed by its mystical charm.
Admire the enchanting beauty inside the ice caves.
With its unique structure, you'll feel like stepping into a parallel world with rays of light and impressive sounds coming from the caves. However, based on Iceland travel experiences, it's advisable to book an Iceland tour instead of going solo to avoid any potential incidents that may occur inside the caves. Experienced guides can show you the right way to explore, help you cope with temperature shocks, and ensure your safety during this magical experience in this land.
5. Must-Try Foods When Visiting Iceland
According to Iceland travel experiences, this place is famous not only for its cold weather or diverse natural landscapes but also for treating guests with extremely delicious dishes. The foods in Iceland are created from unique recipes, making them irresistibly attractive to anyone visiting this place.
Indulge in the delicious cuisine of Iceland.
Based on the Iceland travel experiences of previous visitors, you can comfortably explore restaurants with distinctive flavors in Iceland. In Reykjavik alone, there are over 170 different restaurants. It's advisable to research restaurant prices before your experience to avoid unreasonable spending during your trip.
6. Where to Stay Wisely When Traveling to Iceland
If you want to save costs, you can opt for guesthouses to facilitate transportation and optimize your budget. This type of accommodation in Iceland allows you to cook your meals, but the downside is that rooms may fill up quickly during peak seasons, and prices may increase.
Guesthouse 77: A guesthouse with full amenities located in a quiet seaside village, offering you a wonderful sense of relaxation. You can experience the warmth amidst the cold weather of this land for only 411 USD.
Freyja Guesthouse & Suites: This guesthouse is conveniently located near Hallgrímskirkja Church, making it ideal for exploring. Despite its popularity among Iceland visitors, the price is incredibly reasonable, starting from 974 USD.
Enjoy wonderful moments at Iceland hotels.
Apart from guesthouses, you can also opt for hotels if you prefer private space and complete comfort during your stay:
ODDSSON Hotel: Here, you can enjoy leisure activities and shopping in areas close to the city center with direct city views. Due to its prime location, the hotel's prices are relatively higher, starting from 1185 USD.
Nordurey Hotel City Garden: This hotel is also situated in a prime location close to attractions such as Laugavegur Shopping Street, and the Harpa Conference & Concert Center. However, the prices at this hotel are slightly lower compared to ODDSSON Hotel, starting from 954 USD.
7. What to wear when traveling to Iceland to ensure health safety?
Iceland is an area with relatively low temperatures, so you need to choose appropriate clothing to protect yourself and ensure convenience during the experience. If you lack preparation experience, let Vietnam Booking assist you!
7.1. Wear multiple layers of clothing
According to Iceland travel experience, instead of opting for a thick coat, you should layer up for better warmth retention. You'll spend many hours outdoors exploring tour destinations, so wearing multiple layers with comfortable clothing is essential. If you feel hot, you can remove a layer, but still have other layers to keep your body warm.
7.2. Waterproof Clothing
With Iceland travel experience, Iceland's temperatures are quite low, so you need to bring waterproof boots, outer jackets to avoid getting wet from rain or snow.
7.3. Warm Accessories
In addition to clothing, you should also carry a small pocket warmer to keep close to you. Additionally, prepare a hat, gloves, socks, scarf, or ear warmers to protect your body.
Posted by: Thuy Tran Thi Diem
Keywords: Iceland travel tips for visiting the 'land of ice and fire'