We would like to tour Iceland and perhaps Finland and Norway from mid April till 1st week in May 2016. Does anyone have suggestions as to tour companies and or reasons we should do a self guided driving tour. We are leaning toward driving but would also like to get to do glacier trekking, whale watching and see the northern lights. Ideas are very welcomed!!!!
Thanks
DJS


have you looked up the weather in this period????
Far too little time for more than Iceland + say a City or two in the rest. When your write "Tour" I guess that you want to see nature etc (in late winter/VERY early spring)
Tour companies- far too costly for most so there arn't really any local ones. These are civilized countries so most tourists are able to travel on their own byvcars, trains, flights and busses.
Visit is too late for Northern light. If there are whale watching fron Iceland or Norway running in this OFF season period is easy to look up. Why dont do the whale watching from US it is Well organized and VERY cheap with VERY high succesrate ( Boston/ Cape Ann / Cape Cod area).
You are aware that glaciers will be coveret with think laver of snow in late winter?

to get to do glacier trekking
Solheimajokull glacier hikes are run all year. Google it. Unless you are experienced in glacier mountaineering and suitably equipped, you should do it with an operator because glaciers are very dangerous and require specialised equipment. There are organised hikes also in the Skaftafell area, but you are too late for the special winter ones, and the summer ones might not have started yet.
tour companies
You are out of season for most of the longer organised tours, which are mostly summer with a few special winter tours also. There's a selection of day-tours that run out of Reykjavik in the off-season. But it makes a lot of sense just to drive around yourself. Going with an operator makes sense mainly for doing stuff you can't easily do yourself, like remote treks and winter travel in the interior, or for people who don't drive.
People do just go to Reykjavik for short breaks, do the local stuff. But if you actually want to really get out and about then it's all a bit of a long way to go unless you have at least 10 days or so.
whale watching
I was going to say that at that time of year, probably the most interesting sea mammal spotting opportunity is seeing killer whales from Grundarfjordur, but apparently you may be a bit late for it. http://www.lakitours.com/winter.html

Thank you, yes we realize its between seasons so we are re thinking our time. Possible Sept/Oct is better. Whale watching is not a priority since we have done it many times here. However you never see enough whales. We are looking more for the natural beauty and landscapes, animals etc.

Iceland's most prominent wildlife are its birds, but they are mostly migratory and the best time for them is May-July. It's foolish to predict the weather, but on balance I think you would probably have better light for the natural beauty and landscapes in spring than autumn. Also the snow still being on the mountains from winter may be attractive. You can have a great time in Iceland just driving a car to visit places, you only really need tours for special activities that require supervision. But April is generally thought "still winter" so the dates you mention are a bit on the cusp, with higher risk of wintry weather than just a couple of weeks later. Wintry weather can return as early as mid-September, though some time into October is more usual - but persistent snow doesn't usually come until much later.
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