5/12/21 - UPDATE 7: This trip is officially sold out. Thank you so much to everyone who has signed up to make this possible. We know 2020 was a tough year and we are hopeful that this year and next bring us some more normalcy (and travel!) back to everyone's daily life.
As a reminder for those who are attending the 2021 Iceland trips, you need to verify your registration information by May 15. We don't want anyone to miss out because of this, so please be sure to take care of this soon. Next week we will be mailing out packages via Priority Mail with items that you will need for Iceland. Thus it is important that we have your correct mailing address on file. In addition to this, you will need to ensure your passport number and flight information are accurate. Thank you to those who have already taken care of this.
5/10/21 - UPDATE 6:
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COVID-19 Rules
Remember to bring proof of your vaccination, or something that shows proof of a prior infection. Before you enter the country, pre-register on this website. And when you arrive you'll be tested, free of charge, at the airport. You can then head to the hotel to wait for your results which will be sent by email or SMS.
Itinerary
Want a refresh on what we are doing each day, how far we are running, and where we are staying? That information can be found on the itinerary. A more detailed itinerary with exact timing will be coming soon
4/25/21 - UPDATE 5:
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4/12/21 - UPDATE 4:
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3/18/21 - UPDATE 3:
Some big things are happening in Iceland...
Changes to Travel Restrictions
Travel restrictions for Iceland have changed! Starting March 18, 2021, all travelers - regardless of origin - are welcome to visit Iceland if they can show either of the following:
- Certificate of full vaccination against COVID-19
- Proof of prior infection with COVID-19
This is great news for us because it means travel will be allowed from non-EEA areas, which means travelers from the US, Canada, UK, and Asia are now allowed to travel to Iceland.
The government has shared that travelers who have proof of vaccination or previous infection are exempt from COVID testing and quarantine. Proof of previous infection can be shown with a valid antibody test or with a positive PCR test that is at least 14 days old prior to the travel date. Antibody and PCR tests must come from a valid EEA/EFTA country. Proof of valid full vaccination may come from any country; they do not necessarily need to come from a EEA/EFTA country.
What are EEA/EFTA countries? EEA countries are the 27 Member States of the European Union. EFTA countries include Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
Travelers who can’t provide this proof must show a negative PCR test before boarding a flight to Iceland. This test must be taken within 72 hours of departure. In addition to a negative test, once these passengers arrive in Iceland, they must undergo double screening and 5-6 days of quarantine between screenings. Full restriction details are available here on Iceland’s government website.
With the hopeful promise of vaccine availability to all in the coming weeks coupled with Iceland’s softened restrictions, we are optimistic that Iceland travel in June is a real possibility! Heck yes!
Now, if reading this makes you say, “you know what, yeah, I’ve got my vaccine, and I’m ready to go!” then we have an exciting status update for our Iceland trips. There are still spots available for the first trip to Iceland. This trip is from June 5 - 12, 2021. June is a popular time to visit Iceland because the days are longest at this time, the weather is warmer, and the natural landscape is oh-so stunning! There are limited spots remaining for this trip, so if you’ve been on the fence, jump on while you can! Our second trip, June 19 -26 is sold out.
Travel Questions
We hear there are some questions, let's review those.
- I'm not part of a group that can get the vaccine sooner, what if I can't get one before the trip? We still have plenty of time. If you want to get a vaccine, you will likely be able to before the trip. Plus, other countries are opening vaccinations up to folks who are 16 years or older in the coming weeks.
- Should I book my air travel now? The best time to buy airline flights is 50 to 60 days before a trip, but if you find a good deal now, we suggest getting it. As of now, March 19, 2021, we are 78 days away from the first Iceland trip, and 92 days away from the second Iceland trip.
- What if I don't want to get a vaccine to go on this trip? If this is a concern for you, please email Cherie to talk about your options. cherie@www.vacationraces.com
Volcanoes? In Iceland?
Now, some folks have asked us about volcanic activity in Iceland and if any of it will affect our travel. The truth is, we can’t say for sure. It is a known fact that Iceland is volcanically active and has earthquakes. This is evident with their rich geothermal landscape and uh...volcanos. So with environments like this, there is always the possibility for seismic activity.
In the last two weeks, Iceland has seen a lot of seismic activity, and scientists expect some sort of eruption in the near future. We’re not saying this will affect our travel plans, but we wanted to address it because it has been in the news. Seismic activity like this is a normal part of Iceland’s environment and it’s one of the reasons the landscapes there are so beautiful!
If you just love geology and are curious like we are, you can keep tabs on all things volcanic on the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
2/25/21 - UPDATE 2: We still do not have any major updates. We've been monitoring travel restrictions for Iceland and each state in the US. The predictions we've seen show that the threat of Covid-19 should be reduced by late April. We hope that continued social distancing and vaccine distribution further help this.
Our vendors and partners understand that we are all in this "wait-and-see" position which allows us to hold off on making any cancellation calls. Again, we are optimistic that these trips will happen because they are later in the year, but ensuring we can host these trips safely is our first priority. Like we mentioned before, the only extra cost is patience! And we are incredibly thankful for the patience you have shown us. Stay healthy and safe, and we hope to see you in the coming months!
1/13/21 - UPDATE 1: We hope you are all safe and healthy. No big updates, but we wanted to start the year off with a status update. We’ve been tracking predictions and reports from trusted sources, in the US and Iceland. We’re also taking into consideration stay at home orders issued in states where you live. Right now, we are not altering our Iceland plans in any way. We’re feeling pretty optimistic but are still cautious.
Here are 3 things that we know:
- Most predictions we have seen are forecasting that by the middle - end of April the threat of Covid-19 will be greatly reduced within the US. If real life follows these predictions, we’ll be in great shape to travel together! This is what we are hoping for.
- Right now travel to Iceland is restricted and we don’t know when it will be lifted 100%, we know it is slowly lifting but travel to Iceland from the States is still not currently recommended. As of today’s update US citizens are still not permitted to enter Iceland (at least for our traveling purpose). Icelandic officials will be making decisions on opening tourism up in the next few months, but as we know anything can change. According to our local contacts, they are feeling very optimistic that borders will be open and travel will be possible as soon as March.
- Things change really quickly! We are basing our predictions on these estimates, but know that this information will continue to change and be updated.
Although we have been able to hold off on paying several deposits already, our remaining vendors are allowing us to delay payments until the beginning of May. This means we can hold off any cancelling decisions, which we think will work in everyone’s favor. We are basically in a wait-and-see situation. The only extra cost is patience.
60 days out from the trip is typically when we advise to purchase tickets for travel, which for Iceland will be the beginning of April. Airlines are being very generous with their cancellations and credits.
We know not everyone will be comfortable with this wait-and-see plan. If you are uncomfortable with this, please send me an email and we can discuss your options.
Watch for additional emails and updates on our Global Adventures Facebook page. Thank you for your patience and support.
