Partners Portal
Frequently Asked Questions
The things partners and their guests ask us most about Iceland — and about working with ILE. Click any question to expand it.
Planning the trip
› When is peak season in Iceland?
The high season is summer — June to August — when the days are longest and almost everything is open. August is the busiest month, with July close behind. May and September are quieter, rewarding shoulder months, and there's a smaller spike around Christmas and New Year.
› When can guests see the Northern Lights?
The aurora can appear from late August, as soon as the nights begin to darken, right through to April. The equinox months — September–October and March–April — tend to bring the strongest activity, while October to February gives the longest, darkest nights. Late evening, around 22:30–01:00, is usually the best window.
› What does it actually take to see them?
Three things have to line up: clear skies, real darkness away from town lights, and the aurora actually being active. It can flare up and fade within minutes — part of the magic. Our guides live by the forecasts and chase the clear patches, but nobody can promise the lights, so it's kind to set your guests' expectations gently and let them be delighted.
› How many days should guests spend?
It really depends on what your guests want to see — but as a rule of thumb, a first taste of Iceland is usually 5–7 days, while a full lap of the island, with room to breathe, is 10–14 or more. Add a few days if they're drawn to the remote corners like the Westfjords.
› How cold is it, and what should guests pack?
Layers, always — Iceland can serve up four seasons in an afternoon. The essentials, whatever the time of year: thermal base layers, a warm fleece, a good down or synthetic jacket, and a waterproof shell, plus gloves, hat, scarf and warm socks. Sturdy walking boots and UV sunglasses finish the kit.
› Are there events worth timing a trip around?
Quite a few worth planning around — Vetrarhátíð, the Winter Festival, in February; Reykjavík Pride and Þjóðhátíð in the Westman Islands in August; Culture Night and the Reykjavík Marathon on the same lively August Saturday; and Iceland Airwaves in November. And quietly, September is one of the loveliest times to come.
On the ground in Iceland
› Is Iceland safe? What about the volcanic eruptions?
Wonderfully so. Iceland is ranked the most peaceful country in the world — it's topped the Global Peace Index for 18 years running — with some of the lowest crime rates anywhere, and it's consistently voted the safest country for women travelling solo. Your guests can wander Reykjavík at any hour and feel completely at ease.
As for the volcanoes: as of mid-2026 there's no eruption underway (the last ended in August 2025), and the activity of recent years has stayed in one small corner of the Reykjanes peninsula near Grindavík. Keflavík Airport and the rest of the country have carried on as normal throughout; the Blue Lagoon simply closes briefly now and then as a precaution. It's all watched extremely closely, and we keep plans flexible — your guests' safety always comes first.
As for the volcanoes: as of mid-2026 there's no eruption underway (the last ended in August 2025), and the activity of recent years has stayed in one small corner of the Reykjanes peninsula near Grindavík. Keflavík Airport and the rest of the country have carried on as normal throughout; the Blue Lagoon simply closes briefly now and then as a precaution. It's all watched extremely closely, and we keep plans flexible — your guests' safety always comes first.
› Is it safe to drive in Iceland?
Driving here is part of the joy — though it's not quite like home. Roads can be narrow, turn to gravel without warning, and the weather changes its mind quickly. In summer a careful driver will love it. Winter is a different animal — ice, snow and fierce winds — so we don't offer self-drive between 1 November and 31 March; for those months we put your guests in expert hands with a private guide and the right vehicle.
› Is Iceland welcoming for LGBTQIA+ guests?
Beautifully so. Iceland is one of the most welcoming countries in the world for LGBTQIA+ travellers, with a long record of equality and acceptance — and Reykjavík Pride each August is one of the warmest, biggest celebrations of the year.
› Can you provide guides who speak other languages?
Yes, on request. Our guides are all Icelandic, born and raised, and many speak more than just Icelandic and English. We'll always try to match a guide to your guests' language — though, as with anything involving real people and real schedules, we can't promise it every single time.
› Is Iceland accessible for guests with limited mobility?
More than guests often expect. A good number of Iceland's headline sights can be reached step-free, and many of the geothermal spas are fully accessible. We plan around each guest's needs — the access notes on the Activities & Top Sights page are a good start, and just tell us any requirements when you enquire.
Working with ILE
› Why use a DMC? Couldn't we arrange Iceland directly?
Iceland looks simple on a map and is anything but — wild, fast-changing weather, long distances, and details that shift by the day. A great trip here is built on local knowledge and constant, quiet problem-solving. We craft every itinerary by hand and carry all the operational risk ourselves, so you and your guests get the joy without the worry.
› Can we book the hotels ourselves?
We'd gently ask to handle the whole trip. As a full-service DMC we book the accommodation, guiding, transfers and everything in between — partly to protect the quality and flexibility, and partly because our relationships with hotels open doors a direct booking can't, including extra touches at The Reykjavík EDITION. We'll happily make an exception for loyalty points, but it all works best in our hands.
› Do you offer private accommodation or villas?
Absolutely. We have access to private villas around the country, and two exclusive properties of our own that we extend only to our most trusted partners. Each comes with a private host, a chef, and a three-course dinner with wine pairing — the kind of stay guests remember for years.
› Do you arrange airport transfers and VIP arrival?
Yes — private transfers, and a level of arrival care at Keflavík no one else in Iceland can match. We even hold the only Icelandair Saga Lounge contract ever granted to a DMC — so we can arrange lounge access for your guests on any airline, in any cabin class. The Airport Services page has the full picture.
› What information do you need to build a proposal?
The more you share, the sharper our proposal: how many guests (and the ages of any children), travel dates (as specific as possible — a single day can change what's possible), arrival and departure flight times, your guests' interests, and a budget range if there is one. We aim to come back to you within 24 hours (a little longer over a weekend).
› Do you offer agent training?
Gladly. We run open webinars every quarter, and we're always happy to put together a bespoke session for your team whenever it's useful.
Rates & booking
› Do you offer net rates or gross rates with commission?
Whichever suits you — net rates for you to mark up, or commissionable/white-label rates. One thing worth knowing: we don't split commissions with hotels, so agency commission is simply added on top of the net rate.
› Do you provide price breakdowns?
Of course — just ask and we'll break a proposal down for full transparency. We quote hotel rack rates; a few properties (like The Reykjavík EDITION or The Retreat at Blue Lagoon) use dynamic pricing, so those can move with dates and demand.
› Iceland is expensive and my guest is price-conscious — is there a minimum budget?
There's no hard minimum, but it's worth being honest with guests: Iceland is an expensive country and we're a luxury operator. Our private, premium trips typically land around $1,200–1,500 per person per day. Below roughly $800 a day it becomes genuinely hard for us to deliver to our standard — and if that's the brief, we'll gladly point you to an operator who's a better fit.
› What are your payment and cancellation terms?
In brief: a 30% non-refundable deposit within 7 days of confirming, the balance due 45 days before arrival, and a sliding cancellation scale closer in. The full detail lives on the Working Terms page, and the signed Cooperation Agreement is the document that governs.
Still have a question?
Your ILE team is always happy to help — and we respond within 24 hours.
Internal review — remove before publish
- Rewritten and reorganised from the live FAQ (ile.is/the-faqs) into four themes, in a cleaner agent-facing voice. All live FAQ items are covered.
- Fact-checked (19 Jun): the volcano/safety answer was inaccurate on the live FAQ (it implied zero disruption) — rewritten with the current Reykjanes/Grindavík + Blue Lagoon status. The Northern Lights window was corrected from "mid-Sep–end Mar" to Sep–Apr with the equinox-peak detail. Destination facts (seasons, events, driving, accessibility) verified.
- ILE business facts: Saga Lounge claim CONFIRMED by Dori — ILE holds the only Icelandair Saga Lounge contract ever granted to a DMC (secured via the founder's aviation-industry connections). Still to confirm: budget figures ($1,200–1,500 / ~$800 pppd), commission/rate model, and payment terms.
- Added (not on the live FAQ): accessibility, airport transfers, and a payment/cancellation summary — each cross-links to the relevant portal page.
- Overlaps by design with Selling Tools (Objection Handling, Fact Sheet, Working Terms) — this is the clean, browsable version partners expect; those repackage the same facts for selling.
- Uses native accordions (no JS). Consider a downloadable white-label FAQ PDF for agents to share with guests.