Iceland camping trip!

[Michael88]

Since I was a child I've always wanted to go to Iceland one day, and now the time has come! I'm going to visit Iceland for 10 days, just with a tent, camping gear and a rented car, to experience one of the most interesting and beautifulest places in the world.

I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with Iceland and can give me a few tips and share secrets that might improve my trip? Maybe there are even some users from Iceland?

I have tons of experience with extreme alpine bivvy camping and tours above 3500 meters altitude but none with volcanic islands. I've been already told its a bad idea to camp near geothermal active regions, natural gas forming clouds close to the ground might enter my tent and poison me in my sleep. Yup. Makes sense.

 

[AlvaroF]

If you're going in the summer take some eye patches or whatever they call that. It never gets fully dark and it might upset your sleep much more in a tent. 3am there and it's like 9pm here.

I've alwys been interested in Iceland as well and I hope going there in 2017.

Good luck and enjoy your trip

 

[Michael88]

Thank you!

Yes, the white nights, sun goes down at midnight and rises just before 3 o'clock in the morning. In those 3 hours its like constant sunset. Fortunately I can sleep like a champ during the brightest day so this isn't going to make me feel like Al Pacino in ''Insomnia''. (Good film )

 

[Famine]

Since I was a child I've always wanted to go to Iceland one day, and now the time has come! I'm going to visit Iceland for 10 days, just with a tent, camping gear and a rented car, to experience one of the most interesting and beautifulest places in the world.

I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with Iceland and can give me a few tips and share secrets that might improve my trip? Maybe there are even some users from Iceland?

We went in 2007 and I've been itching for a reason to go back. Can't help with the camping part, but feel free to ask anything of me, @Mrs. Famine or @PlanetPurple

 

[Michael88]

Thanks in advance for your help!

One thing that bothers me is the ''rumor'' that most Icelanders don't speak any foreign languages, of course, the thought of massive language barriers irks me a bit. It wasn't fun in France, it surely wouldn't be fun in Iceland either. Is it true? I'm sure I'm going to have to ask for directions and road conditions more than once.

German/English-Icelandic dictionary wouldn't help one bit because I can't even spell most of the words correctly, probably just offending the locals.

 

[Famine]

They speak excellent English. It's like being in the Netherlands at times.

 

[Michael88]

Excellent! Easy communication is essential...

Ok, one of the most important questions before visiting a new country: is there something you must not do in Iceland? Like an unwritten law -one that makes little sense to an ignorant tourist and might be easily overlooked- that if disobeyed earns you the hate of the locals?

You're probably not able to answer this one since you weren't camping, but I'll ask anyway: compared to the rest of the EU, is gas much more expensive?

 

[PeterJB]

Don't mention the war eruption.

 

[DG_Silva]

Have you seen this: http://wikitravel.org/en/Iceland

 

[daan]

is there something you must not do in Iceland?

Don't mention you prefer Farmfoods.

 

[Lizard]

Go to this place if you can. I haven't been myself but I am told it is amazing.

http://www.bluelagoon.com/

 

[W3H5]

I don't think there is much I can contribute other than to say I think you're going to have an amazing time and don't forget to take lots of pictures to show us!

 

[Mrs. Famine]

You must go to the Blue Lagoon. I have been and it's definitely one for the bucket list

 

[Michael88]

Lots of great advice here, thanks guys. Especially the Wiki travel site answered pretty much all my questions. The route is set, I'm going round the whole island counter-clockwise on the main road to see all the important things.
I'm flying Tuesday late afternoon, arriving just at sunset. (midnight) Bad news is there is a big temperature drop happening in Iceland by the time I arrive, and the weather is going to get really wet and cold. Maybe I'll have sleep in the car if things get too cold and wet.
Sucks, but I gotta deal with it. *shrugs*