By Boat, By Dog Sled, By Bus, Or On Foot: The Many Ways To Explore Iceland And See Amazing Things

Iceland tends to conjure up images of constant snow and ice. People who have not studied geography falsely assume (and assume quite frequently) that Iceland is all ice and snow, and Greenland is green with no ice and snow. While the names seem to produce these assumptions, the truth of the matter is entirely the opposite.

Greenland is farther north than Iceland and is consistently covered in snow and ice, while Iceland regularly thaws out and has lots of beautiful green places to see. That said, you can tour Iceland any time of the year, and you can book Iceland tours that allow you to experience this country in all of the following modes of transportation. Each has its own magnificent things to see, and some even provide luxury lodgings or very unique experiences.

By Bus

Bus tours are the most common, but they typically only take place in the warmer months when there is less chance of roads being blocked and/or frozen over. The roads travel along the coasts, but a few roads travel inward to the smaller towns and cities of Iceland. Sightseeing is a common feature of bus tours, and you'll stay in very nice hotels along the way. In most cases, a bus tour is a nice introduction to all that Iceland has to offer tourists. Taking an Iceland tour by bus is a good way to learn more about the country, and it will encourage you to return for a more "experienced traveler" tour of Iceland later.

By Boat

The majority of Iceland's 300,000+ citizens and residents inhabit the cities along the coasts. If you book an Icelandic boat tour, you not only get to view the many sights of the country from a very luxurious cruise ship, but there will also be opportunities to dock and disembark in some of Iceland's biggest cities. The best part is that you can choose to stay on the ship and participate in activities in warmth and comfort, or  you can mingle with locals and possibly even ski some popular Icelandic "hot spots" for this wintry sport.

By Dog Sled

Yes, there are tours by dog sled. It is quite the rush to be a passenger in a dog sled with a team of sled dogs mushing over the ground in front of you. If you book a tour that uses dog sleds for transportation, you will see some of the country's most beautiful and amazing natural wonders. There are tours that take you inland, over the countryside, and you can choose to either camp out or stay in whatever lodgings are available along the trail the tour follows.

On Foot

Hiking tours are exceedingly popular for Iceland. This is because there are dozens of amazing ice caves, mountains, beaches, seal migrations, breaching whales, waterfalls, hot springs, and glaciers that you might miss if you only tour the coasts and go only by motorized vehicle. Many hiking tours require that travelers be in good physical health, as you may hike as much as thirty miles in one day. However, if you are in good health and choose to do a hiking tour, it is a guarantee that you will see things you cannot see anywhere else on earth. If you want to see all of the above but you want to avoid the cold Icelandic winters, book a hiking tour for mid to late Icelandic spring. This is the time when the ice caves and glaciers will open up without melting excessively, and the beaches, hot springs, seals, whales, and flowing waterfalls will all be available for viewing.