My Full Iceland Nomads Review, After Exploring the Country With Them

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I have been to Iceland loads of times and explored the country in numerous ways, including through multiple guided tours and also renting a car. For the longest time, however, I had wanted to camp in the country. On a recent trip to Iceland, my girlfriend and I were standing in Skaftafell National Park and said how we’d love to stay overnight here sometime.

Fast forward a year, and Iceland Nomads—organized and operated by Travelbase—reached out to me. The idea was simple: 10 days exploring Iceland, all at unique campsites throughout the country. We’d also have our own car with a rooftop tent to explore the country at our own pace, with the only rule being that we needed to be at those campsites each evening. 

I had to read that email twice, to be honest. A seventh trip to Iceland, in the exact style of travel that I wanted to do? I’m a firm believer that you should only say yes to opportunities that actually interest you, and let’s just say that this was a very obvious yes to me. 

Of course, though, reality can sometimes differ from expectations. So, is Iceland Nomads actually worth it? In this detailed review, my promise is that you’ll have a clear answer to that question by the end of this article. 

I will cover: 

  • My experiences with Iceland Nomads and how I customized the itinerary
  • The pros and cons of traveling with Iceland Nomads
  • Whether I think you should do the 7-day or 10-day trip, and why
  • Essential considerations when you camp with Iceland Nomads

… You’ll also have original photos that I took throughout the trip, so that you can actually imagine what this trip would look like for you. 

This is also one part of what will be a two-part series from my trip. In the next one, I will share my full 10-day camping itinerary in Iceland. Once it’s published, I’ll include a link in this guide. 

Let’s get into my full Iceland Nomads review.

*I went to Iceland in collaboration with Iceland Nomads and Travelbase. However, all opinions are my own.

Short on Time? Here’s My Quick Guide 🇮🇸

This is a very detailed review, and if you don’t have the time to read everything right now, you can get the most essential information from this short section. I also recommend bookmarking this page if you want to read the full article later. 

Options Available:

You can choose from a 7-day trip or a 10-day trip, with the choice of a campervan or a 4×4 with a rooftop tent. We chose the 10-day trip and a 4×4 vehicle for the trip. Spaces fill up fast, and pre-registration opens early, so I recommend booking as far in advance as possible.

Pros and Cons:

The biggest advantages include customization over where you go, a super friendly support team, and very reasonable prices for Iceland.

On the other hand, downsides include not visiting everywhere, a lack of USB-C charging ports in our 4×4 vehicle, and a lot of driving.

Who Iceland Nomads Is For:

I recommend Iceland Nomads for people who enjoy being outdoors and want to take the stress out of planning, but at the same time, also want flexibility to go where they want. Learn more about Iceland Nomads and check availability / prices here.

What Is Iceland Nomads?

Iceland Nomads is a concept developed by Travelbase, a travel experiences company based in Belgium. Travelbase started Iceland Nomads in 2021; the company itself has been operating since 2010. 

Originally, Iceland Nomads was a seven-day trip around Iceland’s iconic Ring Road. The idea was to give people the adventure of a lifetime in what I think is the world’s most beautiful country. From the 2026 season onwards, you can also choose an extended 10-day trip around Iceland (this is the one that I did). Both of these trips run from May to September each year.

Iceland Nomads allows you to camp in Iceland in whatever way you find comfortable. You can choose whether you want a 4×4, which includes a rooftop tent, or a campervan. We chose the 4×4 as we weren’t sure if we wanted to also explore some of Iceland’s F-roads; to do so, you *need* a 4×4.

There are pros and cons to both, though. We loved having a rooftop tent, but a campervan is ideal if you do not want this. In addition to your vehicle, you’ll also get equipment to cook food with, sleeping bags, and other essentials. You can choose from numerous add-ons, too, such as food packs for your trip. I’ll talk more about these later so that I don’t overwhelm you with information right now. 🙂

Driving to a glacier parking lot in Iceland
Whale-watching in Húsavik, Iceland
Danny Maiorca at Kvernufoss in Iceland

The 7-day Iceland Nomads trip starts at €750 per person. Pricing for the 10-day trip, meanwhile, is from €1,075 per person. Availability fills up fast, but pre-registration for the 2027 season is already open. Note that these prices are relevant for 2026, but change each year; I’ll keep this article updated as and when the prices change. 🙂

In addition to Iceland, Travelbase offers various other experiences throughout Northern Europe. For example, you can go on a road trip in Norway, kayaking in Sweden, or on a winter adventure in Finnish Lapland. Travelbase also offers an experience where you can do the iconic Laugavegur multi-day hike in Iceland

You can also go on adventures in other parts of the world with Travelbase, including Jordan, Italy, Oman, and Kenya. The company offers experiences in English, Dutch, French, and German. 

My Experience Traveling With Iceland Nomads: How I Customized My Trip

I was given full flexibility to customize my trip with Iceland Nomads. Since I had already been to Iceland multiple times and know that the country is much bigger than it looks on a map, we opted for the 10-day extended trip. In addition to the Ring Road, this itinerary also covers the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. I had already visited before, and this was (and still is) my favorite part of the country. Just as a side note: I cannot believe how many people overlook most of the peninsula besides Kirkjufell (the Game of Thrones mountain). 

We also, as I mentioned earlier, opted for the 4×4 car with a rooftop tent. Our trip was at the beginning of June, and it wasn’t a guarantee that the F-roads in the Highlands would be open at that time. Still, we wanted the option to explore them if we wanted. We also, however, didn’t put ourselves under any pressure to do so if we preferred to stick to the Ring Road. 

Add-Ons We Chose

For add-ons, we got a food pack each. We did plan to eat at some restaurants, as we have our favorites from previous trips. For example, Black Crust Pizzeria in Vík on the South Coast is very “🤤”. But for the most part, we planned to cook ourselves. You can get a meat option and a vegetarian choice; we went for the vegetarian one.  

Since some roads in Iceland are unforgiving, we also opted for the car damage waiver. This won’t cover you if you do stupid things like off-roading (which, by the way, is illegal in all circumstances in Iceland). It will, however, cover things that may happen while you’re driving on unpaved roads—such as bumps and scratches. This will almost inevitably occur, by the way, even if you’re driving carefully and even if you don’t drive on F-roads. 

A view of Seljalandsfoss, Iceland, from a car

Travelbase were kind enough to organize flights for us, so we also picked the shuttle bus to and from Keflavík Airport. You can still pick this even if you do not book your flights through Travelbase, but you’ll need to ensure that you arrive in time to catch it. Our shuttle bus from Keflavík to the base camp in Hafnarfjörður—on the outskirts of Reykjavík—was at 16:30. The shuttle bus back to the airport was at 04:30.

Note: If you don’t book your transport to the base camp through Travelbase, I’d recommend choosing an airport transfer from Keflavík Airport (you’ll go to the Lava Hostel in Hafnarfjörður). Otherwise, you can take public transport (buy your tickets in the Klappið app for iOS or Android).   

You can also choose travel insurance, which—if you don’t already have—you definitely should. We already had travel insurance, though, so we didn’t pick this. 

Arriving at the Base Camp and Getting Our Car

We flew from Copenhagen to Keflavík and around an hour after arriving, we were on the shuttle bus to pick up our car. I have to say that the bus was quite cramped, but the drive was only around 30 minutes, so I didn’t particularly care. It also felt like going on a school trip, which was kinda fun. 

After arriving at the base camp, we were given a briefing by one of the Travelbase team members. They showed us how to set up the tent, along with giving more important pieces of information to help us prepare for the adventure. Here, we also received our food packs. 

I have to say that they were very patient with me, since I had quite a few questions 😄. The camp had team members for German, Dutch, English, and French speakers. Our briefings were also split based on this.

Once we had received our briefing, we set off for our 10-day trip around Iceland. We finished at the Lava Hostel for our last night, which is also where we got the morning shuttle bus to the airport from. 

Our food pack for the trip
Our food pack for the trip
Learning how to set up the tent with Iceland Nomads
Learning how to set up the tent 🙂

Customizing Each Day

In our car, we received a detailed itinerary book for each day. You can also see these in the Travelbase app. However, my girlfriend and I had already been to Iceland a fair few times; naturally, we wanted to see some new things and revisit our favorite places. But at the same time, there were a few things we were happy to skip. 

We were told that you won’t get to *every* suggestion, since the book is super detailed. There’s also a lot of driving involved, which of course adds up each day. On top of that, we prefer to travel more slowly, have a peaceful morning, and choose a small number of places we really want to see.

For what it’s worth, I have quite a varied approach to travel. I don’t ignore places just because they’re touristy, as frankly, some popular places deserve their status. We still went to numerous famous attractions, such as Seljalandsfoss and Jökulsárlón. At the same time, we found some more hidden spots—some of which were recommended in the book, and others that we found ourselves. We also skipped some sights that we weren’t interested in seeing, whether they were popular or not. In my opinion, “must-see” is subjective; you should travel in a way that you want, regardless of what others say. 🙂

Fjallsárlón on a rainy and foggy day
Driving past a farm and mountain in Iceland
Danny Maiorca wearing an Iceland Nomads sweater

Even though we didn’t get around to every recommendation, I was quite okay with this. We still had a great time and got to see most of what we wanted. Admittedly, part of this was driven by the fact that we knew we’d visit Iceland many more times in the future. Our approach might have been different if this was the only chance we’d get; if it is for you, your days will likely be more action-packed than ours. 

We also used the Ring Road as a guideline, but many attractions are away from Iceland’s main road. A lot of the places on each daily itinerary also required delving from the Ring Road, so we naturally saw other parts of the country. 

The Pros and Cons of Traveling With Iceland Nomads

Now that you know a little bit about what Iceland Nomads is, I wanted to give you my main pros and cons. After reading this, you should—if you’re still on the fence—have a much better idea of whether Iceland Nomads is a good choice for your trip.

Pros

1. The Itinerary Gives You Enough Freedom to Explore Yourself

In my opinion, combining structure with flexibility is the biggest advantage of traveling with Iceland Nomads. Planning your first trip to Iceland is not easy, and it can get overwhelming. While I have a good understanding of the country after visiting so many times, I got that experience by actually being there. 

At the same time, having the option to be flexible is also nice. Iceland Nomads offers a good balance, in this respect. You need to be at each campsite in the evening, but other than that, you can choose what you want to do each day. We mixed our sightseeing with a couple of hikes, which was super nice. 

Because you can be flexible, you get to choose how long you want to spend in each location. I hate feeling rushed, personally, and I don’t want to feel like I’m watching the clock when I’m in a place I really like. With Iceland Nomads, I felt like I could actually travel at my own pace. 

A bird flying next to Kvernufoss in iceland
Two puffins on a cliff in Iceland
A woman walking at Hvalfjördur in Iceland

2. The Travelbase Team Is Super Friendly & Helpful

When I collaborate with companies or even choose tours myself, I always have the best experiences with companies where it’s evident that they’re a good place to work. Travelbase falls precisely into that category, in my opinion. 

Even before the trip, the team was incredibly helpful and responsive to all my questions. Organizing my time in Iceland was effortless, and communication was transparent throughout. It’s pretty clear that Travelbase wants its customers to have the best possible experience, which is even more evident in the attention to detail throughout the trip. 

When we arrived, the team at the base camp were also helpful and thorough in their explanations. Issues were quickly dealt with, too; for example, we didn’t have enough sticks for our tent—but they ensured that we received these during the trip. The team is responsive in the app, too. 

Dealing with people who actually care about service is super important to me. Travelbase is objectively one of the best experiences I’ve had in this respect, and I say this as someone who’s been to well over 20 countries and travels regularly. 

3. You Get Unlimited Mileage

You will drive a lot on this trip, and when you arrive, you’ll quickly realize that Iceland is much bigger than it looks on a map. In total, we drove a total of 2,844.7 kilometers (1,792.5 miles) across our 10-day trip.

With Iceland Nomads, you get unlimited mileage included. So, you shouldn’t be too worried about doing longer journeys within the country. The only thing you need to keep an eye on is that you have enough gas in the tank to do it. 🙂

4. The Guidebook Is Very Informative

I’ve already mentioned the guidebook a few times in this article, but it is much more detailed than I expected. The Travelbase team has put significant effort into creating a useful resource that you can bring with you, and it has a mixture of essentials and nice-to-haves. 

All the information is well-organized, and you can clearly see the itinerary for each day. As someone who cares *a lot* about aesthetics, I was delighted to see that the book was beautifully designed and included several beautiful images, too. It also made for a nice souvenir at the end of the trip, especially if you’re a book-lover like I am. 

Iceland Nomads Guidebook on a Person's Lap in a Car

5. I Got to See Places I Otherwise Would Not Have

I like to think of myself as being pretty knowledgeable about Iceland, and I also love to go really deep with exploring each place I visit in general. So, if even I managed to discover places that I previously didn’t know existed with Iceland Nomads, first-time visitors will definitely be amazed. 

Thanks to some of the campsites we stayed at, we got to do some amazing hikes that otherwise wouldn’t have even crossed our minds. Moreover, we managed to spend time at some cool waterfalls and whatnot that we otherwise wouldn’t have. Plus, we got to see some nice extra puffin viewpoints. 

6. You Can Travel With Your Kids

While I don’t yet have children, we were talking about wanting to do these kinds of camping trips when we do have our own family. Moreover, we saw *a lot* of families traveling with kids throughout Iceland. I have to say that it seemed like lots of fun, and it’s something I’m definitely excited to do in the future. 

If you already have your own kids, Iceland Nomads allows you to travel with them. Your group can have a maximum of three people per vehicle, though, so you should keep this in mind; if you’re traveling with two or more kids, you’ll need an extra vehicle. Depending on how many people you’re traveling with, you’ll get ground tents if needed. 

7. The Package Prices Are Very Reasonable for Iceland

I won’t sugarcoat this: Iceland is one of the most expensive countries you will ever visit. Everything, from food to renting a car, will cost you a decent chunk of money. That said, it is possible to visit Iceland on a budget. Booking an Iceland Nomads camping adventure is one way to do that.

Your car or campervan is always included in the price, as is all accommodation apart from one night at Skaftafell National Park. Some camping amenities will also be included at all times, and even if you get some of the add-ons, the overall price is very reasonable, in my opinion. 

Danny Maiorca at a campsite in Iceland
Glacier at Svínafellsjökull in Iceland
Cars at a campsite in Iceland

8. Multilingual Support Is Available

Travelbase has an increasing presence in English-speaking markets, along with its stronghold in the Benelux region. As a result, you will have access to multilingual support when you book a trip with Iceland Nomads. 

Besides having the briefing in different languages, communications in the app are also sent in these four languages. Moreover, you can pay for your trip in different currencies—namely USD, EUR, CAD, and GBP. 

9. The Rooftop Tents Are Very Easy to Set Up

Since I am originally from London and have never not lived in a city before, camping in Iceland was—to say it lightly—very different from what I’m used to. I was initially quite worried about setting up the rooftop tent, which had the potential to quickly turn into an updated version of An Idiot Abroad. 

Thankfully, I was saved from my embarrassment by the fact that even a city dweller like me had next to no issues setting up the rooftop tent. Everything was very easy, and putting it down each day also wasn’t a problem. So, if you’re concerned about this, don’t be. 

10. You Get All the Equipment You Need to Camp in Iceland

I would’ve been more than happy to bring the camping equipment we needed if this was a requirement, but thankfully, it wasn’t. We did bring our own Moomins hiking coffee mugs, which I must say were great for compliment farming. Doing so wasn’t necessary, though, as Travelbase includes these with each car.

We also had cutlery, plates, gas bottles, a camping stove, pots, and pans. As we had Camping+, we also got towels, bed liners, and the like. 

Regardless of how experienced you are with camping, Iceland Nomads will provide the essentials to ensure that your trip is both fun and comfortable. 

11. The Food Packs Have More Than Enough Food for the Trip

10 days is quite a long time to be camping in Iceland, and I have to admit that I wasn’t so sure if our food packs would last the full trip. However, they were more than good enough in this respect. 

We did buy some extras, such as Icelandic rye bread (which is delicious, by the way), and some cheese, butter, and coffee. But even without this, we had more than enough. In fact, we didn’t even use all of the food. Part of this was because we occasionally bought our own food, but we would’ve been more than covered even if we hadn’t. 

For what it’s worth, cooking the meals in the food pack was also very easy. Most of the meals are freeze-dried and require just water. We also got some snacks, such as two big trail mix bags. 

Preparing food at a campsite in Iceland

12. You Don’t Need to Book Most Accommodation Yourself

When planning a trip anywhere, figuring out where you want to stay is one of the most time-consuming aspects. I say this as someone who quite literally plans trips and writes about them for a living. With Iceland Nomads, however, you don’t need to worry about this. 

Iceland Nomads picks the campsites for you, and the only one you need to pay for is Skaftafell National Park. You can do this at the visitor center when you arrive, and it’s very straightforward. 

Since Travelbase chooses the campsites for you, you can focus more on enjoying your adventure in Iceland. 

13. … and the Campsites Are Unique

We stayed at a new campsite each night that we were in Iceland. I naturally preferred some more than others, and I have to say that some of the places we stayed were very unique. 

For example, we stayed at Grettislaug for one night. Relaxing in a geothermal pool was one of my personal trip highlights, even if we got mobbed by Arctic Terns who were nesting nearby. Useful tip, by the way: Keep walking, don’t look up, and hold something above your head. 🤣

Getting to see some of Iceland’s best campsites was a huge advantage of traveling with Iceland Nomads. 

Setting up a rooftop tent at a campsite in Iceland
A view of the Thakgil campsite from above
Eating breakfast at the Thakgil campsite in Iceland

14. The Travelbase App Is Very Good

I’m always wary of using new apps because some can be not so good, to put things politely. However, I didn’t have anything to worry about with Travelbase.

After my Iceland Nomads trip was confirmed, I received access to my details within the app. Here, I could find the full itinerary—along with some recommendations for food and the like. All of the most important information, such as tips for traveling around Iceland and details for the shuttle bus, is also included. 

Besides being detailed, the Travelbase app is very responsive. I had zero issues using it over the 10 days I was in Iceland. You also get access to a chat feature where you can talk to other travelers and get in touch with the Travelbase team if needed. I always got a quick response whenever I had a request. 

Travelbase app interface for Iceland Nomads
App toggles in the Iceland Nomads app
The Travelbase app Iceland itinerary

15. The Tent Blocks Out Light Very Well

Since Iceland Nomads runs from May to September, you will—if you’re there in June and July, especially—be visiting during the brightest time of the year. When we went in early June, we had 20+ hours of daylight throughout the trip.

Even after living in the Nordic region for 6+ years and traveling around it for a decade, I have to say that I never truly get used to these bright nights. And if you don’t have blackout curtains, it can be *really* difficult to get some sleep.

We didn’t need to worry about this, however. Our tent was pretty good at blocking out the light, and with the exception of when we had a storm one night, I slept really well throughout the trip.

Cons

Although I liked a lot of things about traveling with Iceland Nomads, there were some drawbacks. To help you make a balanced decision, I’ve added the biggest downsides to consider in this section. 

1. Not All Expenses Are Included When You Book

Several expenses, such as your rental vehicle, are included when you book your trip. Depending on the add-ons you get, you might also have even more that you don’t need to pay for when you arrive. However, you will still need to keep several expenses in mind. 

You will still need to pay for parking when you travel around Iceland, for example. Many major attractions charge a parking fee, which is generally around 1,000 ISK (c. $8 / €7 / £6) for a standard vehicle. We paid less on some occasions and more in other instances. These will add up, so I suggest budgeting an extra $150 to $200 in this respect; parking fees are per vehicle, not per person.  

When booking through Iceland Nomads, you’ll also need to pay for your own gas. This includes ensuring that the tank is full when you return the car. During our 10-day trip, we paid around €350 / $380 for gas. To be on the safe side, I’d recommend budgeting at least €400 for a 10-day trip. 

Other things we still had to pay for ourselves were: 

  • Geothermal baths
  • One night at Skaftafell National Park
  • Entry to museums
  • Laundry at campsites
  • Extra food, such as fish and chips in Stykkishólmur

If you don’t book your flights with Travelbase, you’ll also need to keep this cost in mind. I still think that Iceland Nomads represents good value for money, but you will need to budget accordingly. 

2. The 4×4 Cars Are Manual

Manual cars are more difficult to drive for some people, and our 4×4 was initially a bit more challenging than what we’re used to. We did get used to it in the end, but it is something you’ll need to keep in mind. 

When driving, you’ll also need to change between 2WD and 4WD based on the surfaces you’re driving on. We also couldn’t get Google Maps to work on the car’s screen, so we had to navigate from our phones; I’d recommend bringing a phone stand if you have one. 

We also couldn’t see when we were reversing on the screen, so we had to look outside instead. Keep this in mind when you’re driving. 

If you want the option between automatic and manual, you can pick the campervan instead. 

Driving past a glacier in Iceland

4. I Would Have Liked Some More Social Events During the Trip

This one is a bit subjective, but anyway. I was quite happy to keep ourselves to ourselves, but some more socializing would also have been nice, in my opinion. I definitely could have taken more of an initiative in this, but I think that some social events or icebreaker activities would have been a cool addition. 

Again, though, this is subjective. We still had some nice conversations with people at the campsites, and you could always organize these things yourself in the app.

5. I Wish That the Westman Islands Were Included in the Itinerary

This one’s a little bit niche, but anyway. I had the privilege of visiting the Westman Islands on a previous trip to Iceland, and even after traveling around the whole country, I still think that this archipelago is incredibly underrated. June would have been a great time to see puffins, too, which we didn’t get when we were there before. 

The itinerary covers a lot of Iceland, but you won’t get to visit the Westfjords or Westman Islands in the 10 days you’re there. The Westman Islands are easier to reach, and an overnight stay is good enough. I guess that logistics and also the fact that the main island is very small are two big issues here, but the option would be worth exploring IMO. 

6. You Can’t Travel With Pets

We’ve already talked about doing more of these kinds of trips when we have a dog, but we would have to do it in a different way. You can’t bring pets with you if you travel with Iceland Nomads, and in any case, trying to get your pets to Iceland is strict anyway (dogs need a 14-day quarantine when they arrive, for example). 

This wasn’t a major issue for us as we were visiting as a couple, but if you do plan to visit with pets, you’ll need to find alternatives. You’ll also need a lot of time and patience, partly because of the quarantine rules but also because you can only bring them in at certain times. Plus, you’re *not* allowed to bring them on the ferry from Denmark. 

7. It’s Not Really Suitable for Solo Travelers

We were warned before that this trip would involve a lot of driving, and this was correct. The distances on each day are quite big, and as a result, I wouldn’t recommend Iceland Nomads if you’re a solo traveler. 

Most days involve 3+ hours of driving, and this can get exhausting. The load is fine if you’re traveling as two people, but if you’re on your own, it’s not a good idea IMO. 

The Most Important Add-Ons That I Recommend

If you’ve decided that booking your trip through Iceland Nomads is a good idea, I’ll help you choose the add-ons that make the most sense in this section. 

The Damage Waiver

If you choose nothing else, make sure you add the damage waiver. We drove pretty carefully, and our car still had a number of bumps and scratches when we returned to the base camp. If you’re driving on F-roads, it’s pretty much guaranteed that your car will have some chips, bumps, and scratches. 

The damage waiver covers minor defects like this. You should still take photos of everything beforehand, but the waiver will provide extra peace of mind. 

Don’t think that this is an excuse to drive irresponsibly, though. You are responsible in all cases if you drive across rivers, and as I mentioned earlier, off-road driving in Iceland is illegal—no ifs, buts, or maybes. If you drive off-road, you will not be covered by the waiver. The same goes for if you get parking tickets and the like. So basically, don’t drive like a fool.

A glacier and mountain in Iceland

Food Pack

Do you remember those fish and chips I talked about earlier? Well, they were the most expensive (though admittedly delicious) fish and chips I’ve ever had. By that, I mean that we paid over $60 for two portions of fish and chips with two soft drinks. 🤣

Food in Iceland costs a lot of money, and the food pack was excellent value. We paid €160 for our 10-day food pack, which included three meals per day plus snacks. Even though we bought some extras, this was still a very good deal. 

The only time I’d recommend not getting the food pack is if you have specific dietary requirements or allergies. Otherwise, it’s a great add-on.

Preparing food from our food pack on a trip with Iceland Nomads

Camping+

More power to you if you’re happy to bring over towels and whatnot. I am not and would rather travel as lightly as possible. This is the precise reason we got the Camping+ add-on. 

With the Camping+ option, Iceland Nomads will provide bedding and towels. It doesn’t cost too much, either, so it’s a solid extra—especially if you’d need to buy the stuff yourself anyway. 

Essential Considerations When You Travel With Iceland Nomads

Now that you know what’s good and the trade-offs you’ll encounter, I’ll add some of my biggest recommendations for traveling with Iceland Nomads. These will help you have the best possible trip. 

1. I’d Recommend Bringing a Big Backpack Instead of a Suitcase

We brought a suitcase with us, and I have to say that this quickly became annoying to deal with. Having to bring it out on wet grass was irritating enough, but I also didn’t like putting it on the back seat. Plus, it quickly got disorganized.

Rather than bringing a suitcase, I suggest bringing a backpack with you. This should be at 70 to 80 liters, in my opinion. You’ll find plenty of options online; Amazon and REI are both good places to start.

2. The 4×4 Cars Have USB-A Charging Ports

Since all of our adapters are USB-C these days, only having USB-A cables in our 4×4 was not ideal. While some campsites had plug sockets in their kitchens, these were—on most days—hard to find. It wasn’t until the second half of the trip that I could fully charge my camera battery, for example. 

I’d recommend bringing an adapter for the cigarette lighter port in the car, which is what we did. Otherwise, you can always bring a spare USB-A cable (or buy one in advance).

For what it’s worth, this was also the case on the Icelandair flight we took back to Copenhagen. It wasn’t a problem on the way to Iceland, though, as this plane was newer and therefore had USB-C charging ports. 

3. Sleeping in the Tents Can Get Very Cold at Night

It took me a few nights to get used to just how cold it can be in Iceland at night during the summer. Even though I’ve been before at this time of the year, it’s very different when you have a warm hotel to go back to. 

When we stayed in the Eastfjords and the north, it was particularly chilly. By that, I mean we both wore beanies and Icelandic sweaters to stay warm. My camera fogged up multiple times, too, when we turned on the car’s heat in the morning. 

I really can’t emphasize enough how important it is for you to bring the right clothing. A good sweater is an absolute must, and I also strongly recommend bringing a beanie or buying one in advance. You’ll also need warm pants and socks. It’s basically the only time that sleeping in socks is acceptable. 

4. Do Not Take the F-Roads Lightly…

Despite being in Iceland 5+ times before this trip, I hadn’t previously been on any F-roads. So when I say that the first time was an interesting experience, I’m not joking. 

In case you don’t know, F-roads in Iceland are unpaved roads that are only open during the summer months. You *need* a 4-wheel drive to access these, and they can be pretty rough. When we went to Gjáin, for example, we needed to cross a small stream (and we had zero mobile reception for that stretch, too). 

You will need a certain level of confidence when driving on F-roads, especially the ones that go up mountains and have blind spots. The ones on the Iceland Nomads itinerary are very doable for beginners, but they can be nerve-wracking if you aren’t used to driving in such conditions. Take things slowly, and make sure that you have enough gas in the tank, too. 

5. You Will Need to Clean the Cars Before Returning Them

Cleaning the car at the end of the trip was not something I was looking forward to. But to be honest, it was way more fun than I expected. So much so, in fact, that I wanted to keep cleaning it for an extra half-hour. 😅

Anyway, yeah—you’ll need to clean the cars before you return them to Travelbase. This includes vacuuming the inside and properly washing the outside. You’ll find places to wash your car in the app; we went to one close to the basecamp. 

6. Some Campsites Have… Interesting Drives to Them

While some of our campsites were easy enough to find, others were quite literally in the middle of nowhere. For example, we went to one on the South Coast that was a 45-minute drive on the side of a mountain. Said mountain road had no paving, multiple blind spots, and no guardrails. Even though it wasn’t officially an F-road, I don’t care—I (random tourist) am classing it as an F-road. 

Driving to Thakgil Camping in Iceland
🥴🥴🥴

If you’re less than 10 kilometers away and the expected journey time in minutes is longer than the number of km on Google Maps, you can 9/10 times guarantee that you’re in for a challenging drive. Two of the campsites in particular were not easy to drive to, but at the same time, these were two of our favorite places to stay. Swings and roundabouts, I guess. 🤷🏾‍♂️

Again, these roads require patience and confidence. They’re not undoable; otherwise, they wouldn’t be on the itinerary. Be kind to yourself, though, and take things easy. We wanted an adventure anyway, right? 

So… Do I Recommend Traveling With Iceland Nomads?

Yes—absolutely. As you can probably tell from this guide, I’m a huge fan of Iceland Nomads and Travelbase as a company in general. This trip was one of my all-time favorites, and my favorite of the many trips I’ve taken to Iceland so far. 

Even as someone who’s never camped before, everything was easy to navigate. The itinerary is well-planned, and I loved many of the campsites we stayed at. We also had everything thoroughly explained to us, along with easily accessible support whenever we needed it. Oh, and I won’t lie: I’m fully converted to being a camping fan now. Expect to see lots more articles from me about camping in Iceland and the Nordics in the future. 🤣

If you’re still on the fence, I can only say yes—you absolutely should visit Iceland with Iceland Nomads. You will not regret it. 

Would I Recommend the 10-Day Trip or the 7-Day Trip?

I recommend taking the 10-day trip. Initially, we had discussed doing the 7-day version—but when the extended trip opened up, it was obvious that we should spend longer. 

The simple reason is that with 10 days to spend, your trip will feel much less rushed. You can do the Ring Road in 7 days, but it involves a lot of driving, and you won’t really get to spend as long as you want in each place. I generally recommend choosing just one part of Iceland if you only have 7 days. 

At the same time, I do think the 7-day trip *could* be useful in some cases. If you don’t have much time to spare because of annual leave, and this is likely to be your only trip to Iceland, then definitely take the 7-day trip. For most people, though, I recommend 10 days.

Summary

Camping in Iceland is, in my opinion, the best way to explore the country. At the same time, though, it requires quite a lot of planning. Traveling with Iceland Nomads was a great way to get everything organized and only focus on actually enjoying the country. 

With unique campsites and friendly support, along with reasonable pricing, I will happily recommend Iceland Nomads to anyone visiting the Land of Fire and Ice. Even though not everything was perfect, the benefits significantly outweigh the drawbacks. I will happily travel with Travelbase again in the future, too, whether that’s in Iceland or elsewhere. 

As you can tell, I’m pretty happy with how everything turned out. I can’t wait for you to experience Iceland, too, and fall in love with this amazing country. All that’s left for you to do now is book your own trip. 

If you’re ready to book, you can check availability on the Iceland Nomads website and secure your spot here. 🇮🇸

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