Update: Where is Iceland? I’ve just returned from the trip. See my mini iceland travel guide for tips for your next trip to iceland. 

“There aren’t many places on the planet where u can walk behind waterfall, climb on to a glacier, explore a lava cave, marvel at an erupting volcano, sail among iceberg on a glacial lake, watch water erupting into the air from a geyser, and scuba dive along the rift between 2 continental plates, all in one weekend” – Frommer travel guide

When they put it like this, how can you resist?

But there is one thing standing between me and every backpacker’s dream country. The ash.  I’ve been planning a trip to Iceland for the last two years and thought I might not make gain after the ash resurfaced for the second time. Two weeks ago, I started to seriously plan. It wasn’t easy because Iceland is not a typical European country where you can just fly in and bus out or show up on a whim.  First of all, it is not popular. When was the last time you listen to Bjork? You don’t have as much information about it compared to other known destinations. You can’t visualize it when almost every image from Europe which flood your short attention span are wines from Tuscany, cheesy romantic scenes from Paris, the British royal family, Amsterdam’s red-light district, the Spanish matadors, etc.  Second, the country is famous for nature, thus it makes sense to plan hiking, camping or doing anything related to nature, which brings up the question about transportation. I met an Icelander on a trip to Cyprus who told me about the spaciousness and lack of public transportation in Iceland. To get quickly from once place to another, you need a car, which is clearly not an option for me. I haven’t driven for five years, and I don’t plan to bring any sheep casualty to this peaceful nation.  Also, having to many things on my plate at the moment to read up about Iceland, I quit after two days of planning. 

Here comes Adventura.cz, a well-known Czech travel agency, to the rescue. I usallly don’t do tours which are always expensive and sometimes useless.  Adventura is different kind. They do tours like no other.  I did a wonderful trip with them three years ago to Romania. It was cheap, thorough, quality and most importantly toughen me up  on those seven straight days hiking through the mountains. This is by far one of my best travel experiences.  Out of many trips to Iceland for this summer, I considered the two-week one starting late June but hesitated to buy the package due to the cost of 39000 czk/1600 euro. It should be still cheap given that it includes return ticket from Prague to Iceland, guide for the duration of the trip, free breakfasts and dinners. While I was deciding and waiting for the company to answer my enquiry, I got an email reply from a colleague, to whom I forwarded the link about the trip information. The emails read:  ’Nice trip for such good price 18000 czk/780 euro’. I was like ‘What are you talking about? Did you read from the right link?’  I went back to the site, and in those hours from the time I sent my colleague the email until when he read it, the the price went down by 50% due to two last-minute cancelation. I frantically called and took the last spot. 

Whoa! 

But there is one minor problem.  

The trip will start in two days. I don’t have a tent, hiking boots, waterproof pants, breathable sport top, waterproof jacket and many more.  I’m quite experience traveling in civilized European cities, but I’m still very much F.O.B. (fresh of the boat) when it comes to having a date with nature. 

One more day and two nights to pack. 

And the city will be on strike tomorrow. Ain’t no public transportation.