Private family tours in Iceland: what they cost
Taste Iceland's private family tours run €1,024 to €1,595 per booking. What you get for that, which age limits apply, and when a cheaper family tour wins.
The short version
- Taste Iceland's private family tours are from €1,024 (northern lights, 3.5 hours) to €1,595 (Snæfellsnes, 10.5 hours).
- Age limits vary: the glacier hike needs children of 8, the Reykjanes volcano tour 12; the Golden Circle one is written for ages 10 and over.
- Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure on all of them.
- For a family of four a private tour costs several times a family rafting or horse ride.
A private family tour in Iceland costs roughly €1,000 to €1,600 for the day, on top of whatever you eat. For that you get a private vehicle, a guide who has designed the day around children, snacks, and the freedom to stop when a child needs it. It is worth it for a family of four or five with young children who would struggle on a coach. Otherwise there are good family days for about a tenth of that.
What the money buys
Taste Iceland runs a set of private tours written for families. The prices are quoted per booking from the data we hold, and the pricing category says Adult, so confirm the group price at checkout before you rely on it.
Private Family Golden Circle and Hvammsvík Hot Springs (€1,457, nine hours) is aimed at children of 10 and over. Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss in the morning, then the sea-side hot springs on Hvalfjörður in the afternoon. Snacks, water and the Hvammsvík entrance are included, lunch is not.
Private South Coast and Glacier Hike for Families (€1,482, eleven hours) has a minimum age of 8. Crampons, helmets and ice axes are included. Bring your own waterproofs and boots. Eleven hours is long for an eight-year-old. Tell the guide on the day if it is too much.
Family Volcano Discovery on Reykjanes with Sky Lagoon (€1,457, seven hours) has a minimum age of 12, which rules out most families this guide is for.
Northern Lights for Families (€1,024, three and a half hours) is the one that makes the most sense. Hot chocolate, donuts, blankets, no queues for the bus. It cannot promise lights, and nobody honest can. A private guide does mean you can move to clearer sky and warm up often.
When it is not worth it
Count what you actually need. A private vehicle makes sense when children nap in the car, need toilet stops, or tire early. If yours are happy on a three-hour activity, a group tour is a fraction of the price. A family rafting trip on the Hvítá from Arctic Rafting (€146 for an adult, with a child fare of €117) gives you a morning of shared excitement. A 30-minute family beach ride at Vík (€80) is the cheapest good thing on this list.
Long days are the real cost. Nine to eleven hours in a car with a ten-year-old is a lot, however well run. Our Reykjavík with kids guide argues for three hours or less, and we still think so.
Cancellation
All four Taste Iceland tours above allow free cancellation until 24 hours before departure, which is more generous than most private tours. Since the weather in Iceland can change the day, that is a real point in their favour.
Our honest take
Buy the northern lights tour if it is winter and you want a night out with children who can stay up. For the rest, spend the €1,457 on the Golden Circle and Hvammsvík day only if your children are 10 or over and you want one unhurried day with no coach.
For most families, a short group activity in the morning and a free afternoon at a pool is better value and a better trip. Do not buy a private day to avoid planning. Buy it because your children need it.
