Sunday, April 19, 2026

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ DIY Iceland Trip from Manila for Less Than ₱250,000 (Private Tour)



Northern Lights in Reyjavik



Dog Sledding in Iceland


with my yaya

Iceland's Ghost Town


Alex Private Tour Guide in Iceland


If you’re looking for cheap flights from Manila to Iceland… good luck. Iceland tickets are really expensive.

What I did was I didn’t book Manila to Iceland directly. I looked for the cheapest flight going to Europe instead. I was able to get a business class roundtrip to Italy via Etihad Airways for around €2,000. From there, I just booked flights to Iceland via easyJet from Rome or Milan. That’s honestly my best advice if you want to save money. It was also my first time flying business class since I was traveling with a baby on a long-haul flight—worth it for the comfort.

Iceland is one of the most unique places I have ever been to. This has been a childhood dream of mine, and I’m really glad I got to experience it with my baby, my senior citizen parents, and a yaya.

If you are traveling with seniors, I highly suggest getting a private tour. Iceland is very slippery, and the weather is unpredictable, so it’s better to prioritize comfort and safety. This is not the type of trip na magtitipid ka sa pag DIY. I also don’t recommend renting a car and driving yourself, especially during winter. Roads are very slippery, and if you’re not used to winter driving, it can be dangerous. Hiring a private driver or joining a tour is the best option.

The itinerary that I created was very intentional. We only had 9 days, so I made sure to put rest days in between major tours. Ayoko mapagod. I’d rather enjoy the experience kaysa maghabol ng itinerary.

I booked most of my tours via Viator. I got a private Golden Circle + Blue Lagoon tour for around $1,000 for 4 people—if you’re only in Iceland for a few days, this is the one tour you must book. I also booked a South Coast private tour for another $1,000. It’s a long tour, but you get to see some of Iceland’s best spots like the black sand beach and waterfalls.

I also did the Reykjanes Peninsula tour for around $600. If you’re looking for something closer to Reykjavik, this is a good half-day option with unique landscapes and fewer crowds.

For the Northern Lights, I joined a bus tour from Reykjavik for about $68. Just manage your expectations—it’s really a hit or miss. On our first try, we were so jetlagged and tired that when the guide said the lights appeared, I was literally asleep. When I finally saw it, the sky wasn’t even that clear. I couldn’t see it properly with my eyes—I had to use my phone’s night mode.

My favorite experience was dog sledding near Reykjavik, which cost around $500. That was really worth it. Dog sledding isn’t originally from Iceland—the dogs are imported from Alaska—but honestly, I didn’t care. It’s been a dream of mine, so I booked it without hesitation (and I did this one alone without my parents). It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially coming from a tropical country. Imagine driving a dog sled on a frozen lake—hindi siya normal experience. Note that this tour is available all year round, but during summer, you’ll be riding on grass instead of snow.

We stayed in an Airbnb in Reykjavik city center. I’ve heard a lot of reviews that the food in Iceland is not that good, so I just cooked most of our meals. When I got lazy, I ordered from the Aha app Iceland food delivery, which is like their version of GrabFood. You can also order groceries in advance.

Iceland is one of the most expensive countries I’ve ever been to, but also one of the most beautiful. For me, it was worth it.

Private Tour Links: 

Sout Coast Private Tour

Reykanes Peninsual Private Tour

Private Golden Circle with Blue lagoon Tour

Northern Lights Bus Tour

Dog Sledding Tour


Day

Details

Cost per Person

1

Roundtrip Business Class from Manila to Italy via Ethiad 

100,000


Roundtrip Economy from Milan to Reyjavik via EasyJet

20,000


Airbnb in Reyjavik for 9 days for 4 pax (P85,000)

21,250


Visa

8,000


Travel Insurance

4,000

2

Rest Day / Jet Lag



Buy Groceries for 9 days

10,000

3

Dog Sledding 

25,000

4

Private Golden Circle & Blue Lagoon Tour with Fridheimar Farm 1000 usd for 4 pax

15,000



Blue Lagoon Entrance Fee 

12,000

5

Northern Lights Bus tour from Reyjavik

5,000

6

South Coast Private Tour 1000 usd for 4 pax

15,000

7

Reykjanes Peninsula Private Tour 600 usd for 4 pax 

9,000

8

Perlan Museum Entrance fee in Reyjavik

2,500

9

Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Keflavik Airport to Reyjavik City Center

10,000


Total Cost per Person

₱256,750

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