What To Pack For An 8 Day Summer Trip To Iceland
Save yourself time and use this complete list to pack your bags for a summer trip to Iceland.
Back in July I went on a women’s trip with @macsexplore to Iceland. It was truly a bucket list trip for me and a huge leap, as I went without my family. Iceland had always intrigued me and the idea of having the entire trip planned for me was a no-brainer. Christina and Eric did an amazing job creating a perfect itinerary for us. Our days were packed with adventure and we truly got to see so much of Iceland. This trip created such a curiosity within me and I know I will be back with my family one day. There is so much more to see!
If you are interested in taking a trip with Christina from @Mac_explore, be sure to check out her IG page and head to the link in her bio to find out what trips she is hosting next!
Are you considering going on a women’s trip but doubt and worry are preventing you from taking the leap?
If so, read this post about all the reasons you absolutely should go!
Before we even arrived, Christina and Eric helped us prepare and gave us an awesome packing list and with her permission, I am sharing it below and adding a few things I will be sure to bring next time. This list is designed for an 8 day trip so feel free to adjust it according to your travel plans.
Before we get started about what goes in the bag, let’s talk about the bag itself.
I wanted so badly to use a Cotopaxi 35L Travel Pack. I bought one and even packed it but when I realized that I also had my day backpack with me, it was evident that getting them through the airports by myself (one strapped to my back and the other strapped to my chest) was going to be a physical feat I wasn’t sure I could endure. I had to relent and use a rolling suitcase.
Since there were 15 of us in two vans, it was requested that we pack light and bring the smallest bags possible to ensure we could fit everything in the vans. I was worried I was breaking the rules but my Away Bigger Carry-on bag was the perfect size for me (and the van!) and I could check it, so I only had one bag to carry on board.
Because I was responsible for my bags the entire trip, this proved to be the best way to go, I could easily manage them up stairs, in and out of the van and so on. I’m not sure the same could be said for two backpacks, considering I pulled my back in my bedroom trying to get them on at the same time!
Even with cloudy skies, Iceland’s natural beauty shines.
Ok, let’s talk weather as it plays a big role in what you will pack!
Summer in Iceland is not like summer in most places. It’s cool, cloudy, a bit unpredictable and it will change fast. You have to be prepared for anything and pack light at the same time. For people like me, who tend to overpack, that can be a challenge but thanks to the packing list provided by @macsexplore, I got it all in one suitcase!
Average weather in Iceland during the summer is likely highs in the mid 50s and lows in the 40s. If the sun pops out, it can get a little warmer but if the rain clouds come in to stay, you are lucky if you get out of the low 50s. The key is layers. For a full list of average temperatures, go here before you start packing your bags for Iceland.
It’s time to start packing for an eight day summer trip to Iceland.
While most of your time in Iceland will be spent outdoors, hiking, kayaking, walking and taking photos of waterfalls, it’s also likely you’ll spend sometime in Reykjavik. I would highly suggest you do if it’s not in your plans! The good news is everyone is casual in Iceland and head to toe outdoor clothing is how everyone dresses so you can leave the dressy clothes at home!
We both know a handy checklist would make life easier. I’ve got you covered.
Tap the button below for your free printable packing list for Iceland!
This list is exactly what I packed and I’ve linked some of my favorite items. These are not affiliate links, just items I’ve purchased and recommend based on personal experience.
Pants (4 pairs is a good number). I found that elastic waist pants from places like Free Fly, Athleta and Outdoor Voices worked best. They were easy to move in and layer.
Leggings (for underneath pants, if needed). I think you only need 1-2 leggings. I brought a pair of long underwear from REI and wore them a lot. They weren’t as constricting as leggings, easier to layer under pants and kept me warm. Leggings came in handy for travel days. I’d recommend pack a pair or two if you like leggings for the airport or long car rides.
T-shirts. Christina recommended we pack 5-6 but this was the one item I didn’t use as much. Our temps were pretty cool and I only used 1 t-shirt. I would suggest 3 max.
Base layers (long-sleeve shirt). Instead of short sleeve t-shirts, I wore long sleeve t-shirts more often. I love my Free Fly long sleeve shirt and Athleta long sleeve tops because they are odor resistant, quick dry and don’t stretch out like cotton shirts do. I also had two from SmartWool that I loved and wore the most often; they keep you dry, warm and are not at all itchy. I packed five long sleeve shirts and wore one every day.
Mid-layer (fleece or sweatshirt). Just pack one. Most of us found that with all the waterproof layers needed to combat the precipitation and cold temperatures, our water absorbent fleece or sweatshirt wasn’t a go to item. Most days I had on a long sleeve base layer, my down jacket and my rain jacket over it. A fleece or sweatshirt could come in handy for lounging at night or if you luck out and get more sunshine than we did, a fleece could come in handy. I’d bring on to embrace positive thinking!
Rain jacket/pants—these are must haves!! Pack both. You’ll be so glad you did and you will wear them more than you think! They keep you dry without adding a lot of bulk, which is nice as you are hiking glaciers and kayaking. My rain pants from REI were my best purchase for this trip and my rain jacket from Patagonia was perfect, total waterproof and had enough room for my lightweight down jacket to fit underneath. It also had a great hood that covered my head and kept me dry.
Down jacket or warm coat. I suggest a packable one. Packing space is limited so a lightweight down jacket that can fit into a small space will be very useful. I wore my almost every day! I bought three before I settled on this down jacket from Columbia. I liked the color, quilting pattern and the weight and the cost. I was trying not to break the budget on a new coat since I had so much gear to buy.
Hiking shoes (boots, trail shoes, etc). Shoes take up a lot of space and for Iceland I only packed two. My hiking shoes (these are a similar style) and a sneaker for days we were in town. If you have plans to hike a glacier and you have ankle boots, pack those. Otherwise you’ll have to rent a pair through your guide company. The cost is only $10 so it’s not too bad. Waterproof shoes are more important than ankle height, if you have to pick between the two.
Walking or casual shoes—I packed my On Cloud 5 slip on sneakers. They were perfect, lightweight and went with all my outfits.
Socks (and lots of them!) Pack at least 8 pairs socks. Ideally you’ll want wool socks and go for ankle height or higher because Iceland is wet and you’ll want your feet to stay dry. SmartWool and DarnTough are great brands to choose from. You can also find many styles and colors on sale at REI and REI Outlet. I like the no-show socks from Bombas to wear with my On Sneakers.
Swimsuits. My suggestion is pack 2 if you plan to enjoy hot springs or thermal lagoons while you are in Iceland. Since it never gets warm, swimsuits can take a long time to dry and you will likely be on the go in Iceland you have to pack things up often to travel to the next spot and that reduces the time you have to let things air dry. The thermal salt water is tough on suits and you’ll want a dry one. Also, be sure to rinse your suit after the baths. If the place you stay has a towel warmer, throw your suit on it to expedite the drying process. My go-to one piece swimsuit is from Athleta.
Gloves—these will come in handy for cold, rainy hikes and especially if you are going on a glacier hike. Cold, wet hands can make for a long day.
Beanie—Iceland is windy! Beanies are a great way to keep hair out of your eyes and keep you warm. I’d consider bringing more than one or pack one and plan to buy a new one in Reykjavik--there are so many local makers that use Icelandic Wool, making a beanie from Iceland a great souvenir! If I didn't live in Georgia, I would have totally bought one.
Sunglasses—the cloud glare is no joke. Do not forget your favorite sunglasses and bring a cloth to wipe them—rain and waterfall spray will have you wiping them on a regular basis. You may also want to consider bringing a sunglasses strap to ensure you don’t lose them down a glacier or in a lagoon.
A day-hike backpack (for camera, water, snacks, personal items). Be sure the one you pack has good support, lots of pockets and above all else a rain cover! I used my Osprey backpack and it was perfect, even on the long hikes my shoulders did not hurt and at times, my bag was heavy.
Trekking poles (if needed). You’ll be hiking a lot and the terrain is very uneven so if you have bad knees, pack your poles. I’d recommend a collapsible pair like these from Black Diamond.
Water bottle or bladder for backpack. Iceland is one of the most environmentally friendly places I have ever visited and plastic water bottles are seriously frowned upon. Bring a reusable bottle and you’ll have no trouble finding places to refill it. Christina gifted us each a water bottle and it’s the perfect size, easy to fill with ice and keeps your water so cold!
Camera/lenses/filters. Iceland is truly a photographer’s dream location. If you have a camera, bring it. I’d recommend bringing a wide-angle lens and a zoom lens. You’ll also want a micro-fiber cloth for your lens (again with the water!) and if you prefer, you can cover your camera with a waterproof cover like this one from PeakDesign. GoPros and camera phones are great too. I found I used all three, depending where we were and what we were doing.
Tripod (*optional)—I didn’t bring my tripod b/c it was too heavy and I was running out of room. Christina did have one to share with our group but if you are planning to do a lot of long-exposure shooting and/or traveling alone, I’d strongly suggest bringing one. One Item I swear by when traveling with my camera is my Capture by Peak Design if you use this tool to make carrying your camera easier, then consider a Peak Design tripod too. They are pricey but they all work together, making your life so much simpler. One day, I’ll take the plunge and buy one!
Camera batteries/charger—This is key—you’ll be using your camera every day, for hours and hours since you’ll likely be on the go for 12-16 hours a day. Extra batteries are a must have.
Sunscreen—sounds crazy but it’s a good idea. Especially face sunscreen, since likely that’s all that will be exposed to the elements.
Personal toiletries—I love my Cadence containers. They allow me to bring all the toiletries I need without having too many bags. On longer trips like this one, I will have 2 containers for my most used products. In general, each container can hold 4-5 days worth of product.
Sleeping mask (if you need darkness to sleep)—the sun really never sets in Iceland so if you are a light sleeper, bring a comfortable mask. I love this eye mask from Ethel Studio, it’s made of sustainable materials and is a great small business to support.
Microfiber towel (for hot springs). If you plan to go in the various natural hot springs that you may find, pack a towel for sure. If you are just planning on going to the thermal baths at the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, they will have towels for you.
Europlug adapter—be sure to pack this…you will need it every night to charge all your devices. I suggest one that has multiple outlets and multiple USB charge ports.
Snacks—pack your favorite snacks from home. Like all places in Europe, food is different and it’s expensive. Pack protein bars, nuts, salty snacks and your favorite treats. They come in handy for long car rides, long hikes and more.
Cash for guides’ tips. While tipping in Europe is not as common as it is in the US, guides really do appreciate the token of generosity. Guides in Iceland work hard to offer you a unique and memorable adventure and a tip goes a long way, especially after the two years of little to no tourism. In general, we tipped $20 per person per excursion. What you won’t find in Iceland are currency exchange counters or locations so instead I recommend you pull cash out of an ATM in town. Try to find one that offers small bills because it can be hard to find places to break big bills.
Iceland uses the Icelandic Krona and the current exchange rate is 1 Krona to .007 USD. Which translates to about 2870 Krona for the equivalent of $20 USD. To find the current rate, you can use this calculator. The smallest bills I was able to get from the ATM I used was 5000 Krona.
This picture was taken at almost midnight! Our warmest, driest day of all, only two layers were needed.
There are three things on this list that I learned might be helpful after my trip, especially for women over 40!
A scarf. I used my wool infinity scarf from Peru almost daily in Iceland. It kept the wind out from under my jacket and helped me stay warm. It’s lightweight and easy to pack.
Pack a washcloth or two, preferably ones made of microfiber. For some reason, not one place we stayed offered washcloths among the towel selection. Almost every shower had refillable shower soap, shampoo and conditioner but no wash cloths. Microfiber will dry quicker than standard terrycloth towels.
A small personal fan. Another thing that was common in Iceland was the absence of air-conditioning. It makes sense, it doesn’t really get hot there but at night, even with a window open, cross breezes aren’t really a thing, so rooms can get stuffy. More times than not, many of us would share that we got really hot at night so next time, I would consider packing a small personal fan, just to have a little air moving at night. Oh, the joys of getting old.
Looking back, here is my perspective about packing for Iceland.
I think my biggest takeaway from packing for Iceland was how much I could reuse items and how easy it is to pack light despite having to plan for multiple outdoor adventure and volatile weather. Since you are layering every day, the mid-layers don’t get dirty and base layers like long underwear are meant to be worn a few times.
Things like jewelry, extra makeup and accessories really aren’t necessary in Iceland. It’s a great chance for overpackers like me to practice packing light and see that it really works! Since this trip, I’ve done a lot better with my packing skills! There is hope for me yet!
If you are staying at certain rentals, you may have an option to wash clothes, so you could pack a few detergent tabs just in case. I love the Free & Clear pods from Seventh Generation or laundry sheets from Tru Earth. Both options will help you clean your clothes and still pack light.
If you are in Iceland for longer, you can find a great laundromat in downtown Reykjavik where you can grab lunch and wash your clothes at the same time. Don’t forget to grab the free packing list I created for you! Click the button below for a printable packing list for your upcoming trip to Iceland!!
Celebrate adventure, Explore Iceland!
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