Farm Holidays in Iceland

Unquestionably, Iceland has much to offer in the way of vacations. With so much to see and do, one would be surprised that a couple days is not enough time to really visit everything the island has to offer. And for those on holiday who want to experience the real culture of the country, farm holidays in Iceland are ideal to better understand how Icelanders live. In fact, this type of holiday is so prevalent and so typical of Iceland that there is an actual association that includes almost one-hundred and fifty farmers who offer travelers various forms of accommodations such as farmhouses, cottages, guest houses, and country hotels.

While each type of accommodation differs from full beds to sleeping bag arrangements, all meet various budgets, and you will always be assured of friendliness and cleanliness. Depending on the package purchased, the services provided might include gourmet cuisine conjured up by hired chefs, or even traditional meals cooked by the farmers' families. Typically, a real Icelandic meal will include lamb or fish along with fresh vegetables. Some visitors may prefer to cook their own meals in the cottages that are furnished with fridges and cooking equipment.

The farms are located all over the country, some more remote than others, but with excellent signage to direct travelers. Some are not accessible by walking if you take the bus, but all have proper parking spaces for vehicles. Good maps are recommended to find the farms in the rural areas. Tour companies, however, offer door-to-door service so you will not have to worry once you arrive at the airport. Once at the farm, you will find plenty of activities such as horseback riding, fishing, hiking, day tours, kayaking, river rafting, snorkeling, and bird or whale watching.

Farm holidays in Iceland are particularly beneficial and especially fun to families with younger children. Watching the animals, and learning what happens daily on a farm is great education. Staying at one of the farms during the Christmas season is quite magical with the snow on the ground and colored lights shining everywhere. All of the farm owners put on special events for the season, plus, the children might even see one of Santa's reindeer. To top off the vacation, The Christmas Garden (Jólagarðurinn) is a must-see attraction with its huge, gorgeous red gingerbread house.

Learning about the breeding of Iceland's cute and highly coveted horses, rounding up sheep from the mountains to bring home to the farms in the autumn, and just enjoying the fantastic landscape are all exciting features of farm holidays in Iceland.