Rover of the Month: Jodee Goes Full Custom!
This month's Rover of the Month tells the story of Jadee, who came to Iceland and needed a custom itinerary filled with all sorts af wonderful things, like horse rides, hot springs and epic mountain roads. Read on to discover what we're capable of doing in terms of custom itineraries!
What motivated you to visit Iceland?
My husband, Steve and I had visited Iceland nearly 20 years ago for a long weekend on a last minute deal through Icelandair. We have wanted to return ever since because we were captivated by the land, the people, the history and did not feel like we had enough time to explore. We had the opportunity to travel with our children this summer, so Iceland was at the top of our list.
How long was your stay? Did you travel solo or with a group?
We stayed in Iceland for 5 days. We traveled as a family (5 of us, me, my husband, and our 3 kids ages 16, 14, and 10).
Which tour did you take and why did you choose it?
We had a private tour with Vidar for two days, as it allowed us to customize the days to our interests, as well as have some flexibility with our kids. Taking advantage of the midnight sun, we were able to see the highlights of the Golden Circle, as well as horseback riding and a hot springs visit, on the first day. On the second day, we just told Vidar to take us to his favorite places, as well as put the superjeep to good use, and it was amazing! Iceland Mountain Guides was also very helpful arranging airport transfers, Blue Lagoon visit, and generally handling the details for us.
What is one thing you will always remember about your tour?
While all of the places we visited were spectacular, and we all particularly enjoyed our time on the glacier (especially finding the bottomless ice cave!), I have to say that Vidar was really the key to our experience. He was perfect for our family, and really brought Iceland to life for us.
What is something that you learned about Iceland that surprised you?
First, that living with 24 hour daylight is both awesome and exhausting! And second, that a population of only 350,000 people supports such a vibrant and interesting country.
If you had more time in Iceland, what else would you like to see and do?
We have already discussed this! We would love to return to Iceland in the late winter or early spring to be able to see the Northern Lights. If we had more time on this trip, we would have included an excursion to Akureyi, whale watching and crossing into the Arctic Circle, and explored more of the center of the country.
What tips do you have for people who want to visit Iceland?
Plan more time than you think you need! We could have stayed much longer. Also, having a private guide really made our experience so much more personal. No large buses, no groups of tourists. Although, I have to say, even at the height of tourist season, we were pleasantly surprised at how uncrowded everything was.
What adventure are you off to next? What is your next dream adventure?
Our family is currently living in Singapore, so we are spending a lot of time exploring Asia. We are off to Bangkok in August, but we hope our next big adventure is to New Zealand.
Want to be our next Rover of the Month?
Jodee's adventure is only one of the many features that make for an unforgettable experience. Book your tour and join us for an excursion that is guaranteed to make memories that last a lifetime!
If you are interested in being a Rover of the Month in future please contact [email protected] to be featured!