The Prices of Cultural Tours to Iceland
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If you're eager to experience the heart and soul of a destination, cultural tours in Iceland offer an incredible opportunity to explore the traditions, art, and history that make a place unique. These tours take you beyond the usual tourist attractions, allowing you to engage with local communities, discover authentic cuisines, and participate in traditional festivals or ceremonies. Whether you're visiting ancient temples, vibrant markets, or living museums, Iceland's cultural tours provide a deeper understanding of the places you visit. In this article, we'll explore the costs of cultural tours, highlight some of the best options, and share the destinations that are perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in the culture of a place.
To help you find the perfect cultural experience, we've carefully researched a range of tours around Iceland. By comparing price ranges, destinations, included experiences, and tour quality, we've identified the best value options for cultural enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for an intimate local experience or a guided tour through a country's rich history, these tours offer a meaningful way to connect with the region's diverse cultures. So, get ready to broaden your horizons and dive into the rich heritage of your next adventure.
Why does Iceland appeal to cultural explorers?
Iceland's rich history, vibrant traditions, and welcoming communities make it a cultural treasure. The area's diverse traditions and historical influences provide endless cultural exploration.
How much do cultural tours in Iceland cost?
The average price per day for cultural tours in Iceland is $412, based on our analysis of 48 tours. While the overall prices can vary greatly, when we look at the daily price of these tours, the costs range from $172 to $993 per day.
Budget-friendly tours average around $294 per day, while higher-end luxury tours average about $536 per day.
Budget tours will usually provide less luxurious accommodation, have larger group sizes, and visit less expensive destinations. They will also sometimes have you pay for more activities on your own instead of including everything up front.
Mid-range tours often provide a step up in accommodation and transportation, and include more guided activities.
Luxury tours usually provide the highest levels of service, luxury hotels, more gormet food choices, comfortable transportation, and offer more all-inclusive payment options.
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The Best Tours in Iceland
Budget-Friendly Tours
Budget-friendly and affordable cultural tours in Iceland average $294 per day, with daily prices from $172 to $353. Budget tours usually include hotels, meals, and activities that are not quite as nice as other tours. Often, they might only include transportation, lodging, and some activities, leaving you on your own to pay for meals and other attractions during the tour. This can be a very convenient and economical way to visit France without spending too much money, as it gives you control over the amount you spend on meals and extra services. If you're looking for a really great option, check out 3-Day Northern Lights Hunt & Glacier Lagoon Tour here.
Mid-Range Tours
For typical cultural tours in Iceland that fall in the middle range of prices, the average cost is $405 per day. Daily prices range from $375 to $434. Taking this step up in price from the cheaper tours to mid-range will often get you plenty of extra amenities and service for a great price. These tours usually include very comfortable hotels, meals at delicious local restaurants, comfortable transportation, knowledgable guides, and entry to many of the top attractions. One of the best tours is Iceland 2-Day Adventure: Ice Cave, Glacier Lagoon & Northern Lights.
Luxury Tours
Luxury cultural tours in Iceland average around $405 per day, with daily costs ranging from $445 to $993. At this price, you'll be very well taken care of and pampered on your journey through the scenic destinations. Knowledgable guides, the best accommodation options, the finest restaurants, comfortable transportation, and quick entry into attractions are all part of the itinerary. Every luxury and detail has been planned and thought about so that you don't have to deal with any hassle, you simple show up and enjoy your vacation. One of the best luxury tours here is 8 Days Northern Lights Exploration – Small Group.
Which tour companies offer cultural tours?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer cultural tours in Iceland. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.
Collette
Collette is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. Some of their most popular destinations include the U.S., Italy, Great Britain, and France. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as wine tasting, island hopping, and camping.
GJ Travel
GJ Travel is a smaller tour company that focuses on Iceland and Greenland. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. The tours offered by GJ Travel are usually luxurious, high-end, and provide a top-tier level of service.
Topdeck
Topdeck is a large multi-national travel company which offers tours to destinations around the world. Some of their most popular destinations include Italy, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. This company's tour offerings are generally priced lower than others, which makes them attractive for budget travelers. Travelers usually enjoy the tour activities such as snorkelling, island hopping, and sledging.
Insight Vacations
Insight Vacations is a large multi-national travel company which offers tours to destinations around the world. Some of their most popular destinations include Italy, Great Britain, Austria, and France. Some of their offerings cater to families with children. A large number of their tours fall within in the mid-range price category.
See All Tours from Insight Vacations
Cultural Destinations in Iceland
Wondering where cultural tours visit in Iceland? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in Iceland. It makes a good starting point for exploring the country, but many people head quickly into Iceland's countryside, as that is what the region is known for. In town you'll find the National and Saga Museums, which offer a fascinating overview on the country's Viking past. Just outside of town is the world famous Blue Lagoon Spa, which is in the town of Grindavik. The city has a thriving nightlife scene that is centered around its many festivals.
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Other popular destinations for cultural tours through Iceland include Vik, Kirkjubaejarklaustur, Reykholt, Borgarnes, and Akureyri.
Cultural Tours vs. Independent Travel: Pros and Cons
If you're unsure whether to go with an organized tour or plan everything independently, think about the factors that set each experience apart.
Organized Tours
Pros- Expert guides provide deep insights into the culture and history of each location.
- Pre-arranged access to exclusive cultural events and sites.
- Structured itinerary ensures you don’t miss key cultural highlights.
- Learning opportunities through local experts who share cultural traditions.
- Less time spent planning logistics and more time exploring.
- Easy access to local communities and cultural experiences.
- Group tours often offer discounted rates for cultural attractions.
- Reduced risk of missing out on cultural nuances or historical contexts.
- Less flexibility to customize the experience based on personal interests.
- Time constraints that may limit immersion in certain cultural activities.
- Group dynamics might not align with individual preferences or interests.
- May be restricted to specific cultural sites chosen by the tour guide.
Independent Travel
Pros- Full control over what cultural experiences you want to focus on.
- Freedom to explore less touristy, more authentic cultural spots.
- Ability to spend more time in places that interest you the most.
- Opportunity to design a unique itinerary based on your cultural interests.
- Choose your own accommodations, dining spots, and cultural activities.
- Time-consuming to research and organize cultural experiences.
- Potential for missing out on valuable cultural context without a guide.
- Language barriers and cultural differences may pose challenges.
- Need to handle all logistics, from transportation to tickets for events.
- Risk of not gaining access to exclusive cultural sites or events.
- Difficulty in finding the most authentic cultural experiences without local expertise.
- May not have the same level of convenience and organization as a guided tour.
Which is cheaper?
Is independent travel cheaper than guided cultural tours? The answer is not simple. Tours provide many of the services that you would otherwise pay for yourself on an independent trip. Hotels, transportation, food, entry tickets, guides, and activities are provided on organized tours, whereas you would pay for everything separately on your own. To deterine the difference in price, you would need to compare the combined price of everything in a tour with everything you would book separately. Sometimes you might want to stay in a cheaper hotel, or eat at a more expensive restaurant, so the price of a tour could be more or less than what you would otherwise pay on your own. Make sure you know what is included before making your comparison.
Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.
More Tour Options
See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Iceland, The Best Wildlife Tours to Iceland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Iceland, The Best Historical Tours in Iceland, The Best 10-Day Tours in Iceland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Iceland, The Best 3-Day Tours in Iceland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Iceland, The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Iceland, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Iceland, The Best Adventure Tours to Iceland, The Best Eco Tours in Iceland, The Best Thrill-Seeking Tours in Iceland, The Best Art History, Museums, and Cultural Tours Tours in Iceland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Iceland, The Best Music Tours in Iceland, The Tours for Animal Lovers in Iceland, The Best Camping Tours in Iceland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Iceland, The Best Self Drive Tours in Iceland, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in Iceland, The Best Walking Tours in Iceland, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Iceland, The Best Luxury Tours to Iceland, The Best Budget Tours to Iceland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland, The Best Contiki Tours to Iceland, or The Best G Adventures Tours to Iceland for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.
Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Reykjavik, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Reykjavik, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Keflavik, The Best 10-Day Tours from Reykjavik, The Best 10-Day Tours from Keflavik, The Best 2-Week Tours from Reykjavik, or The Best 2-Week Tours from Keflavik for more package tour options.
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