G Adventures Review 2024 + Best of Iceland Tour

Let me start this review by prefacing that I had never considered taking a group tour (fun fact, I now host group tours!) before this trip. I didn’t like the idea of being cooped up with the same people (what if they suck?) or following an itinerary that could be sup-par.

So, if you’re not only interested in a review of G Adventures but are also on the fence about taking a group tour in general, this review is for you!

After years of being adamant about never taking a group tour, I considered it for Iceland because my time was limited, and I didn’t want to drive. It seemed like the smartest option to cover both of those items and get a good overview of the country from a local (all of G Adventures guides are local) — which was important to me.

I’ll admit right up until we left for Iceland, I was worried we had made a mistake booking this — if the booking hadn’t been last minute, I might have even canceled it.

Ultimately, I am glad I didn’t have the opportunity to back out. 

This trip broke all of my preconceived ideas about small group tours. It will always be one of the most memorable — not just because Iceland is a pretty unique country but because G Adventures did a great job with the itinerary, and we got to share it with some really lovely people. 

Iceland definitely won’t be my last tour! Keep reading for a full review of my G Adventures experience, including the Iceland adventure.

G Adventures Review: Company Overview

G Adventures is a small group (most tours are less than 16 people, mine had 12) tour company that specializes in adventure travel, but I think what sets them apart is their commitment to the community. They share on their website that they are a “social enterprise as much a small group travel company.”

To be honest, this is what drew me to G Adventures in the first place. All of their itineraries are created to impact the community positively — most people assume that if they spend $1 in a town, all of it stays there, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. A recent report from the World Tourism Organization showed that only $5 of $100 actually remains in a community. All of the G Adventures itineraries come with a Ripple Score to show on a scale from 1 to 100 how much of your money is staying in the destination. 

In addition to that, all of their itineraries have high standards for animal and child welfare practices and respect local cultures. Some itineraries also support the non-profit Planetterra, which ensures that local communities can benefit from tourism through economic opportunities.  

Travel has the power to do great things, but as we’ve seen repeatedly, it can also be really destructive. As a traveler, blogger, and travel agent, I always want to support companies working to find ways to be better and care about how their business impacts others. 

The G Adventures Booking Process & Customer Service

You can book a G Adventures tour in two ways — directly on their website or through a travel advisor (I’m one of those, in case you didn’t know). 

Whichever way you choose, the process is straightforward (honestly, if you book through an advisor, you don’t have to worry about anything). If you book on your own, G Adventures offers a live chat feature on their website, which can be helpful if you have any questions or concerns. 

Regarding customer service, I found G Adventures to be very responsive and helpful. I had a few questions after I booked the Iceland tour, and they responded (via email) to each question in less than 24 hours. They have a 24/7 customer service line you can call if you need assistance while on your trip. 

What Does a G Adventures Tour Include? 

Exactly what is included in each tour varies, but it is always clearly described in the tour description. All tours will include your accommodations (the type of accommodations varies by tour), a guide, some activities, and transportation during the tour. 

Things that aren’t included are optional extra activities, airfare, airport ground transportation, travel insurance (which is required), meals (some might be included), and gratuity.

At the bottom of every tour, there is always a section that’s titled “What’s included,” and if you click on the “tour details” link, it will take you to a massive breakdown of the entire trip that covers things like emergency contacts, packing lists, visa requirements, etc.  

Does G Adventures Have Sustainability Initiatives?

G Adventures launched the Plastics Partnership Project to reduce its plastic footprint. Through the project, G Adventures works with its suppliers to reduce plastic consumption on its tours and encourages travelers to bring reusable water bottles, forgo sample-size personal care products, ditch straws, and more.

In addition to the Plastic Partnership, all tours are created to support the local community; this means supporting local businesses through activities, dining, accommodations, and more. They also work with the non-profit Planeterra to support sustainable tourism options. Planeterra works in collaboration with local communities, NGOs, and partners to support projects that support local communities, preserve cultural heritage, protect the environment, and improve livelihoods through tourism.

The organization provides funding, capacity-building support, and expertise to help develop and sustain community tourism initiatives. This includes initiatives such as homestays, cooperative-run guesthouses, women’s weaving and handicraft projects, and other community-led enterprises. Some of Planeterra’s projects have been integrated into G Adventures’ itineraries, allowing travelers to contribute to the local communities they visit directly.

To further bring all of these points together, G Adventures was involved in the production of the documentary, The Last Tourist. The film looks are the impact tourism has on the environment and local communities and begins the discussion for what’s next.

Would I Book a G Adventures Tour Again?

The bottom line for this review is that I would highly recommend G Adventures to anyone seeking a unique and immersive travel experience. The company’s commitment to responsible tourism and the support of local communities is terrific. I would suggest researching the specific tour you are interested in to ensure it aligns with your interests and abilities.

Best of Iceland G Adventures Tour Review

If you’re interested in exploring a large portion of Iceland but are short on time, this itinerary is for you! Word of warning, the itinerary is jam-packed, so if you don’t enjoy early mornings and being on the go, then you’ll want to scroll down to the final section of this review, “Other Iceland itineraries to consider.” 

The Price

The price is dependent upon the time of year that you visit. The high season in Iceland is June, July, and August, and the low season is early fall through late spring. The average tour price ranges from approximately $2,800 – $3,000 per person, but G often has deals! If your travel is even a little flexible, join their mailing list or follow them on social media for special deals.

Tour Complaints (From Other Travelers)

Overall, the Best of Iceland itinerary is highly rated and comes in with 4.5/5 stars. While scanning the reviews, the biggest complaint I saw was that the tour was too busy — to be honest, that’s not G Adventures fault; that’s the traveler’s fault. It is abundantly clear that it is a jam-packed itinerary with an average physical rating.

Another complaint is that the trip’s price didn’t reflect the overall comfort, specifically with hotels. The hotels included in the itinerary are basic for US or even European standards. Before booking, I encourage you to look up the hotels but keep in mind that you are visiting some rural areas, so you shouldn’t expect the Four Seasons.

In regards to the price, Iceland is an expensive country. I actually did the math before booking the tour, and what I would’ve paid if I had booked almost everything on my own was a little less but didn’t include a guide for the entire trip or all of the local information — to me, that’s an essential part of the trip.  

What I Loved About the Tour

There are quite a few things I loved about traveling with G Adventures, some things I expected to enjoy, and some were a surprise to me!

The Itinerary

I loved that there were opportunities to add on an activity or go and do your own thing. Since this itinerary was so busy, there weren’t too many opportunities for this, and that’s ok; we were well aware of what we were getting ourselves into.

The Guide

It was fantastic to have a local with us the entire time. We could ask questions, and as we got to know him better, we could have deeper conversations — that’s not an opportunity you get on every trip.

The Group

I thought I would hate traveling with strangers, but our group was fabulous! I think the ethos of G Adventures draws fairly like-minded and flexible people (you must be flexible to travel this way). By the end of the trip, we had definitely made new friends. 

What I Didn’t Love About The Tour

There were only a few things that I didn’t love — did they majorly hamper our trip? Nope. Are they things I would cause a stink about? Nope. But because I want to provide a complete and honest review of my G Adventures experience, I’ll share them with you.

Not knowing if a human actually read my vegan/gluten-free special request

When you book, they ask if there are any dietary things that should be considered, so I wrote that my husband is vegan, and I am vegan and gluten-free. After that, I didn’t hear anything. We’re both flexible (in the way that we’re ok if we have to eat fruit, protein bars, or French fries), but it would’ve been nice to know that someone did see this and was sharing it with the hotels or guide ahead of time. I did share it with the guide on the first day, and honestly, he kind of blew it off as, of course, you’ll have options (I think that honestly made me worry more — overconfidence is generally a red flag). Some of the hotels had better choices than others, but that was to be expected, and there was only once when my meal consisted of French fries and tortilla chips!

The Hotel in Reykjavik

Before leaving, I read the reviews about Hotel Cabin, which weren’t stellar. Most people disliked the accommodations, which Matt and I found absolutely fine. Others had issues with the staff, which is my complaint as well. When we first arrived, the front desk wasn’t staffed (it’s supposed to be 24 hours); once I found a person, she snapped at me that we couldn’t check in yet, which I knew, but requested to drop off our bags. The next morning, the hotel had a sign in the breakfast room that said something along the lines of, “Have special dietary needs? Let us know, and we can check the ingredients.” So, I asked which cereals were gluten-free, and the staff person threw the bag at me which was in Icelandic. Needless to say, I stuck to coffee and oatmeal that morning.

Visiting the Golden Circle

I know the Golden Circle is one of the most popular things to do in Iceland, but after you’ve been able to explore non-touristy parts of the country, it really just feels like Iceland’s Disney Land (our group had a running joke about this for the entire day). Instead of visiting the Golden Circle, I wish we would have started with a visit to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and then headed north. You probably would need an extra day, but it would be worth it (there is a Best of Iceland option that adds on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, but you still visit the Golden Circle).

These things were annoying but nothing to make me think twice about booking again. 

Other Iceland Itineraries to Consider 

If you’re thinking you can’t wait to go to Iceland, but this itinerary doesn’t sound up your alley, or you’re curious about the other options, you’ve currently got 12 others to check out! Some of the tours include: 

Best of Iceland: Golden Circle & Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Classic 9-day tour
Available late April – beginning of October

Reserve Your Spot

Hiking Southern Iceland

Active 6-day tour (this is a strenuous tour)
Available June – September

Reserve Your Spot

Wellness Iceland

Wellness-focused 7-day tour
Available May – September  

Reserve Your Spot

Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle

Classic 5-day tour
Available October – the beginning of April

Reserve Your Spot

Iceland Adventure: Northern Lights & Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Classic 7-day tour
Available October – the beginning of April

Reserve Your Spot

Wrap Up G Adventures Review: More Iceland Travel Help

Now that you’ve read this review you might be considering a G Adventures tour or still thinking about going at it alone. No matter what you choose, I have more to help you plan! Check out these other guides and articles to help plan your adventure.

The Best Day Trips from Reykjavik to Explore Iceland
Is the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Worth Visiting?
The Best Iceland Vegan Guide: Where to Eat & Stay
Ultimate Vegan Reykjavik Vegan Guide: Restaurants, Hotels, & More
The Best Hotels on Iceland’s Ring Road