Advance planning can save you a lot of grief in Iceland. From early June until the end of August, places to stay and tours often fill up, and knowing some things in advance, such as if and when you’ll need a rental car—and whether it will have 4WD—will affect your itinerary.

We also suggest allowing for some free time in your itinerary. In Iceland, the factors most likely to derail an overbooked itinerary are the weather and weather-based cancellations of domestic flights. Free time is also useful for when you find a place you’d like to explore more thoroughly or for when a local fisherman suddenly offers you a boat trip around a nearby island, as has happened in our experience.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.