bernice245

My husband and I are in the early stages of planning a 10-14 day trip to Iceland for 2017. We are in our early 70's, like to travel independently, prefer to stay more than one night in each destination, and like to travel during the shoulder seasons. We are wondering whether we are better off going for the last two weeks of May or the first two weeks in September. I realize weather predictions are iffy at best but would appreciate your views.

Am I correct in thinking the enter ring road is too hurried for two weeks if we don't like single night stops? If we concentrate in a couple of regions, which would you recommend for those times of year?

Thanks very much!

annhig

Am I correct in thinking the enter ring road is too hurried for two weeks if we don't like single night stops? >>

hi Bernice,

we went to Iceland for 10 nights in July/august so I can't help you with whether May or September would be better, but I can tell you that the biggest [sorry, one of the biggest] mistakes we made was not going round the entire ring road.

I would suggest looking at some of the travel companies that do tours to Iceland to see how they organise itineraries like the one you're thinking of. For example Discover the World has 2 14 day itineraries, one of which has very few one night stands:

https://www.discover-the-world.co.uk...around-iceland

and here's what icelandic Farm holidays suggests:

https://www.farmholidays.is/tours/de...nside-out#desc

[they will book accommodation for you too, as much or as little as you like]

BTW I'm not necessarily suggesting that you buy a package tour but use them as a way of getting ideas of what you can see and do.

In fact moving on from one place to another every night, at least part of the time is not such a bad idea in Iceland, as many of the attractions are spaced out in a linear fashion along the ring road - so if you use the "hub and spoke" type of trip where you stay a few nights in each place, you can end up going backwards and forwards over the same ground, which is what we found ourselves doing rather too often.

Were you going to "just" do a couple of areas I would say concentrate on the west of the island - the western fjords which we just loved, the Snaefellnesses peninsular, the Golden Circle - when added to Reykjavik would all make a great basis for a holiday.

bernice245

Hi Ann,

Thanks for the great information. I can see what you mean about some one night stays being a good idea in the sparser areas. The websites are very helpful. I've been looking at several sites with self-drive options. All good for planning purposes. I think we would probably drive the full ring road like you recommend. Otherwise, there would be a lot of backtracking.

I've been checking weather tables for average rain, temperatures, and sunlight. It looks as though May may be slightly preferable. I'll keep at the research!

annhig

Hi again, Bernice,

my only concern about May is that it could still be quite cold, but OTOH you get longer days than in September and there might still be snow on the glaciers which you probably wouldn't get in September.

There are quite a few TRs about Iceland here, [modesty forbids etc] and also planning threads which you might also find helpful. I'm sure that with some careful planing, you would have a great time.

bernice245

Choices always include trade-offs. I like the idea of longer days and would also enjoy the windflowers. I'm not sure how accessible the western fjords area would be at that time although we can always get a 4WD CAR if needed. OTOH, if we went in September there might be s chance of seeing the Northern Lights though we wouldn't build a trip around it.

Having been on a small boat cruise of Alaska's Inside Passage, I'm also wondering how the Westfjords compares as to scenery. I'll certainly read the trip reports.

Hobbert

I've been in both May and September and greatly prefer May. The days are longer and I prefer driving when it's light out. I found it to be warmer in May (50's rather than 40's I experienced in September) but that's variable.

bernice245

Hi Hobbert, That's a great help. I'm definitely leaning toward May.

annhig

Having been on a small boat cruise of Alaska's Inside Passage, I'm also wondering how the Westfjords compares as to scenery. I'll certainly read the trip reports.>>

I've never been to Alaska so I'm sorry that I can't make any comparison; IMO the highlights were the bird cliffs at the far western end, and the Baldur ferry trip to Stykkishólmur, on the north of the Snaefellnesses peninsular. Getting there is quite something - seemingly endless gravel roads round the fjords. But so worth it when you get there!

bernice245

That's just the kind of scenery we enjoy. I'm wondering if those gravel roads on the north of the peninsula are passable in May.

annhig

bernice - that's perhaps something to ask on the TA Iceland forum, if they have one.

annhig

of course there is one -how could I have doubted it?

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTo...3-Iceland.html

and the second item gives a link to what seems to be a really useful magazine:

http://icelandmag.visir.is/article/h...r-washes-parts

it even has an "ask the expert" feature, a lot of which seems to be about travel:

http://icelandmag.visir.is/article/a...tes-early-july

bernice245

Great information, Ann. Thanks!

annhig

no probs, bernice.

please come back and tell us how you got on.

MileHighHC

Just chiming in since we just got back from Iceland (last 2 weeks of May, 1st of June) and while I haven't been in September - May was amazing! Weather was mostly 40s but all over the place - in a single day, high winds, rain, fog, and sunshine. We had 2 afternoons with weather hitting the high 60s. We also declined to do the ring road and instead chose to drive directly to Vik (as a base for Skaftafell, south coast and Jokulsarlson), followed by Reykjavik, Westfjords (Djupavik), then Arnarstapi in Snaefellsness. I'll put a trip report together but as long as you have the proper clothing - May was an excellent time to go! Enjoy!

virginiafish

We just took a trip the second week of May for 7 days. We were pleased to be there off season, only went up above Hofn on the Ring Road, and stayed (except for one night) in a different place each night so as not to back track. We were fortunate with weather ranging mid-40s to low 50s and clear. That is luck. I will post a trip report soon.

bernice245

Good to hear from others who have been in May. One decision down, umpteen to go!