Product Description

Pack your bags for an unparalleled polar experience. Whether it's raving in Reykjavik, dogsledding in Disko Bay or fishing in the Faroes, this value-packed guide to one of the world's final frontiers will guarantee you make the most of the midnight sun.

• 106 detailed maps, including hiking routes
• extensive listings of places to say, eat and be entertained
• Icelandic, Greenlandic and Faroese language sections
• all the transport options from ice breakers to bicycles

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #649684 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 640 pages

Amazon.com Review
From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there, chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globetrotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years and as a result, has the experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money.

Journey north with Lonely Planet and discover wonders for travelers of any budget. LP's Iceland, Greenland & the Faroe Islands contains more than 100 maps; details on food and accommodations; advice on trekking routes and organized tours; notes on Arctic phenomena, flora, and fauna; extensive transportation details; plus useful arts and culture sections. The author's intriguing sidebars range from pieces on "Puffin Release" and "Wild Island Cuisine" to "Plutonium Peril in Pituffik." --Kathryn True

Customer Reviews

Thoughtfully written, well researched
I picked up this Lonely Planet guide before heading off on a recent long weekend in Iceland (courtesy of a particularly favorable Icelandair last minute weekend package deal), and was not too terribly disappointed. The background information on Icelandic history and culture was invaluable reading for one who had previously had little to no contact with said society. As testament to the well-written nature of the guide, it has also made me want to explore the North Atlantic beyond Iceland (Greenland and the Faroe Islands).

My one dissatisfaction with this Lonely Planet guide is found in the relatively brief treatment they give to Reykjavik - a bit ironic, seeing as how Reykjavik is the closest thing to a metropolis in Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. Better city maps and perhaps more detailed bus/transit information would have been welcomed - as it stands, though, one can figure these things out well on the spot in Iceland (even without a reading knowledge of Icelandic, happily!)

Still, this is highly recommended for those travelling to Iceland, especially those travelling to places more off the beaten path than Reykjavik. More practical and comprehensive than the Insight Guide, but without the pretty pictures...and less expensive.

PS- Many thanks to both LP and other readers on the warning about the Icelandic specialty "hakarl".

A true survival guide
We used this book to plan our trip to both Iceland and Greenland, and found it invaluable. We used it to phone and e-mail for reservations, which were not always possible to make, as LP also tells us, because of no English spoken at some of the tiny places. We trusted LP that little hostels existed in these places, however, and always found room. The maps were great, including hiking trails. The historical details were well-researched. The directions were amazing. It even got us to one historical site in Iceland that had no signs and even the locals had a hard time telling us how to find. Besides being practically helpful, it has lots of anecdotes and local flavour that make it interesting reading. Perhaps what should be emphasized more is how expensive Iceland is. Two small loads of laundry cost us about $35 Canadian! We could have bought all new underwear for that!

A law student's take after a great June week in Iceland!
Lonely Planet Iceland was great. From the book, my friends and I found lodging, night clubs and countless BEAUTIFUL sites. We even tried the rotten shark that the book so luridly describes. (It is as bad as the book says, I might add.)

Iceland is a rugged and beautiful place. With this book, I was able to get to most of the wonderful sites without major problems.

I can only think of a few times when I needed to consult an outside source for additional information: once to find out where I could get some shark and a couple of other times for directions (Iceland's system of roads is predictably often quite spartan).

I guess the best thing I can say for this book is I am going to South Africa in one month and I just bought the Lonely Planet South Africa.

I just remembered one more thing that the book does not have: Icelandair's Internet deals are great. Check them out!

If you are going to Iceland, I am jealous! Have fun!