Iceland | The Great Canadian Travel Co.

STAFF PICKS

March 14, 2023 | Pearl McCallum

We want to paint a picture for you.   Imagine you’re at a gathering with friends and acquaintances. It’s a fairly large group, let’s say around 15-20 people. Just as you begin to get hungry, someone brings out a large, layered cake. It’s smothered in rich, chocolate buttercream frosting – …

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June 29, 2022 | Lois Farley

Way back in 2017 I wrote a blog in recognition of Canada Day; 50 Great Things Canada Contributed to the World. Since I wrote that blog I’ve been studying about the Indigenous peoples who have lived on this land we now call Canada for millennia – the First Nations and …

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March 17, 2022 | Lois Farley

Saint Patrick’s Day brings Ireland and all things Irish to a lot of people’s minds. And, those of us lucky enough to be Irish or are of Irish descent, particularly so! My ancestors on both sides of my family emigrated to Canada from Ireland back in the mid to late …

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March 1, 2022 | Allison Silvaggio

There are so many things that we miss when it comes to travel, such as exploring new places, trying new things and meeting new people.  What I miss the most, are those extremely peaceful moments where you can just take it all in.  Whether you are enjoying a beautiful hike, …

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Iceland’s Explosive Volcanoes

March 31, 2021 | Lois Farley

You’ve probably heard of Iceland being referred to as “The Land of Fire and Ice”. It is, without question, an island of extraordinary, natural beauty and attractions like the volcanoes and glaciers that inspired its moniker; stunning waterfalls; caves made of lava and ice; breathtaking fjords and quaint, oceanside towns and villages. But, for the last few days it’s certainly living up to the “fire” part of its nickname!

Iceland sits on top of the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates, two of the largest on the planet, which are moving in opposite directions. (You can even snorkel or scuba dive in Silfra Ridge, with the plates on either side of you). This separation of the two plates makes Iceland a seismic and volcanic hotspot!

Since early February, several weeks of nearly continuous earthquakes of varying intensity (more than 50,000, compared to the usual 1,000-3,000 registered each year since 2014), had given scientists at the meteorological office (IMO) in Iceland reason to believe an eruption of a volcano in the Krysuvik volcanic system on the Reykjanes Peninsula was imminent, the first in the area for nearly 800 years. Read More >

Iceland Covid-19 Regulations

February 08, 2021 | Shauna Cook

Iceland COVID-19 Regulations – info updated 08 February, 2022

ALL Visitors entering Iceland MUST register at http://visit.covid.is/ 72 hours prior to arrival in Iceland. It cannot be filled out and sent until 72 hours prior to your arrival in the country.

Requirements for entry to Iceland from Canada and the United States:
No testing or quarantining are required on arrival in Iceland if you can provide proof of being fully vaccinated and present a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of your flight.

These regulations apply to passengers who are fully vaccinated and can provide proof with a vaccination certificate. Fully vaccinated means 2 doses of an approved vaccine (mixed doses of approved 2-dose vaccines are accepted) or a single dose of Johnson and Johnson/Jansen, plus a 14-day waiting period from the date of the final dose. A vaccination certificate is only valid if no more than 270 days have elapsed from the completion of primary vaccination. Primary vaccination is considered complete after two doses of vaccine or after one Janssen injection. A booster dose cancels this expiration date.

 

ALL Visitors entering Iceland must present a negative COVID-19 test result, no older than 72 hours. PCR or Rapid Antigen tests are acceptable. If taking a connecting flight, the 72 starts from the time you board your first flight.

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Geothermal Spas in Iceland

May 19, 2020 | Sandra Jensen

When in Iceland of course I had to visit their world famous geothermal spa at The Blue Lagoon. It is a wonderful experience, and very handy to Keflavik airport so easy to visit even if you only have a stopover in Iceland. But, it can be very busy. “Why not try one of the many smaller facilities in Iceland?”, I thought, or even experience one of many public pools, which are also heated with geothermal waters.

 

 

 

 

If you are touring the Golden Circle area on your own on a self-drive, I suggest a visit to The Secret Lagoon near Fludir. It is a natural hot spring with a sandy bottom and constant feeding of fresh thermal waters keeping the pool at 38-40° Celsius year round. The pool’s natural surroundings and steam rising into the air gives the place a magical feeling. Read More >

Shauna’s Best Days Ever!

April 27, 2020 | Shauna Cook

My best day ever started as one of the final days of an Iceland Circumnavigation cruise.  We were set to arrive into Heimaey, Westman Islands for a full day port stop.  The crew made sure to tell us what time to be on deck as pulling into the harbor is one of the highlights of this stop.  They were not wrong.  On approach we see green and rock, and hundreds, possibly thousands of seabirds using the rock for nesting.  An overwhelming feeling of familiarity came over me, and I felt very calm.

      

Prior to this, I had never visited the Westman Islands, however I felt like I was being welcomed home.  Walking around the village felt comfortable and familiar, it was like my feet and my memory knew exactly where to take me. Read More >

Northern Lights in Iceland

January 09, 2020 | Shauna Cook

pc Arctic Adventures

I was recently in Iceland, and since I was only there for a few nights, I hadn’t planned on doing a northern lights tour.  However, when I arrived, I keep on hearing the buzz in Reykjavik that the lights were going to AMAZING that night, so I couldn’t resist! I booked onto a Northern Lights Superjeep tour with Arctic Adventures and I don’t regret it for a second!!

I have been lucky to see the northern lights before in Canada, Greenland and on previous trips to Iceland, however I have never seen them like this night! Read More >

Take a Closer Look – Iceland

August 01, 2019 | Lois Farley

Iceland, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace, is the most peaceful country in the world. It is home to just under 350,000 people and is also the most sparsely populated country in Europe. For an island with an area of 103,000 sq. km (40,000 sq. mi), this country has everything from volcanoes to geysers to fields of green moss that takes hundreds of years to grow to majestic waterfalls.

Geologically, Iceland is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This ridge marks the boundary between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. What is especially amazing about this area is that you can scuba dive (or as a day tour) in between these plates to see some fascinating marine life, be in the spot that Iceland was created and, in some places, actually touch both continents at the same time. This rift, called the Silfra rift, has visibility that exceeds 100m, making it the some of the clearest water in the world.

Iceland is a world leader in renewable energy. Almost all electricity in Iceland is produced using renewable energy sources. According to Inspired by Iceland (the country’s tourism website), 90% of Icelandic households are heated with geothermal water. About 73% of electricity is provided by hydro power plants and 26% from geothermal energy, accounting for over 99% of all electricity consumption in Iceland. And although modes of transportation in Iceland still use conventional fuel, there is a growing number of electric vehicles in the country.

Tourism is Iceland’s largest export sector as it accounted for more than 10% of the country’s GDP in 2017. It is among the countries in the world who are most dependent on tourism. Read More >

Which Yule Lad Are You?

December 12, 2018 | Allison Silvaggio

Iceland has a fantastic tradition of the 13 Yule Lads which lead up to Christmas Day.  The Yule Lad will come down from the mountains to bring children gifts and candy, and sometimes play pranks.  Take the quiz on the below link to find out which Yule Lad you are? Read More >

How Much Can You See & Do in 24 Hours?

November 22, 2018 | Allison Silvaggio

Normally when we travel for work, it can make for some long days in order to see and do as much as possible.  However, last month I experience one of the longest, busiest days yet!

It started with a departure from Winnipeg, and connection in Toronto.  I departed Toronto at 9pm, which would have been 1am in Iceland.  During my international flight, I watched a movie and napped for a few hours. Read More >

Iceland Summerhouse

November 16, 2018 | Shauna Cook

Summerhouses are a great way for a couple, a family or a group of people to enjoy a unique experience in Iceland.  They are fully equipped houses with anywhere from 1 – 4 or even 5 bedrooms.  Bathrooms, fully equipped kitchens with everything you need and lots of your own space!  Towels and bed linen are also included or can be for a small fee. All you need to do is show up, bring your own food, and the space is yours to enjoy! Read More >

Attending Sporting Events While Travelling

October 25, 2018 | Shauna Cook

Attending a sporting event can be an exciting time. Especially when you get to see a team or athlete you really like, in their home country while you are there.  This happened to me when I was in Iceland recently.  I really enjoy watching the Icelandic Football team play and following their careers.  I had a trip to Iceland planned for several months, and about 2 weeks before I was set to leave, it was announced that the Icelandic team would be playing in Reykjavik on the only night I was booked to stay in Reykjavik!  It couldn’t have worked out better! Read More >

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