It's our official launch week! It's been a long time coming, and we're so glad you're here with us.

We cannot wait for all the things we’re planning to launch in the coming months (DnD or board game weekends, adventure photoshoots, bookclub retreats, downloadable games and puzzles for your roadtrips, the list goes on) but for now, we are so stinking proud to introduce Phase One of the Sidequest: Iceland inaugural year.

What is in this first phase of the Sidequest: Iceland roll-out? A handful of our finest, unique private day tours that we can offer. Science explaining tours, story telling tours, culture revealing tours. With local experts who know how to create engaging, educational moments.

Science tours: side quests to the heavens and the earth. 

Since it’s midwinter, we will first introduce our Ultimate Aurora Hunt tour. This is probably the ONLY tour in Iceland that starts with an out-of-the-vehicle meet-up to talk about the science and plan an actual hunt for northern lights. Your scientist guide will walk you through where to look for the best data, how to read the data, and when is the best chance of catching a light show that night. And, if the terrestrial and solar space weather look bad, you will get a 90% refund of the trip, a flyer with all the data sources, and exclusive access to our northern lights forecasts for the rest of your trip. We don’t gate-keep science here! 

Next, is the tour that started it all: The Volcanology Tour. The past five years here in Iceland have leaned very heavily into the fire of this island’s Fire and Ice slogan. This is the perfect tour for anyone who wants to learn more about the volcanic activity that is ongoing on the Reykjanes peninsula and walk away from their trip to Iceland with an informed, rational understanding of these current events. We will discuss the geological forces of nature that fuel Iceland these volcanoes, and take a first-hand look at the effects of these eruptions. On this tour, you will see new lava fields, old hydrothermal areas, and affected infrastructure. From the fiery Lava Show to molten baked goods, this tour will be hot. 

But, however, if you want to learn more about the overall geology of the island and see amazing examples of active tectonics under our feet, then The Geology Tour is for you. You will traverse the Golden Circle with a geologist and see many of the postcard sites most tourists see, but soaking in deep scientific knowledge and maybe even soaking in beautiful geothermal nature baths too! This trip hits the Golden Circle highlights but also allows you to choose your own adventure in the second half. We believe tailor-made journeys are the ultimate side quests. 

And finally, The Geothermal Tour is our most unique on the market tour. You will learn a lot about local geology but also about the infrastructure and science that harnesses the geology to bring energy to Iceland. Iceland leads the world per capita in geothermal energy usage, both in electricity and direct heating. In this tour, you’ll visit the natural sites where water is boiling on the surface as well as the infrastructure sites where water is boiling in reservoirs. Together with your guide who worked in the energy industry for over a decade, you’ll explore the myths around Iceland’s use of geothermal waters while also seeing some unbelievable ways it's being used. 

But wait, there’s one more! We want to give something to our customers who maybe don’t have enough time or funds to devote to a full day tour yet still want to talk to a local scientist. We understand and we have you covered. The Geology Express Tour stays in town in Reykjavik and visits the site of an ancient volcano (now a museum and cafe) to give an amazing overview of Iceland’s geology. Perfect for curious minds but tight timelines and/or budgets. Included in your tour cost is a ticket to the Perlan Museum. 

City Tours: urban side quests still count for XP

We have a couple of fun, unique city tours around Reykjavik that are for those nerds who like stories, history, culture, and food. Or maybe just don't like long car rides or being outdoors. We know you’re out there! And we want you to know you can still experience Iceland without doing those things.

Our Town Tea Tour takes its meaning literally and figuratively. We start with some warm tea to drink (or coffee, or hot chocolate; pick your poison) and then we follow that with some spicy hot tea (read: gossip) about the city and its denizens. We’ll talk celebrity sightings, weird crimes, unbelievable history, and quirky art. We also end this tour walking back down main street, where we can shop for some tea or any other souvenirs you might want. We love giving shopping and eating recommendations (support local!). And because we are a geeky little tour company at heart, we will gladly also talk about any other cool science stuff: winter conservation efforts of water fowl in the city, why sunrise and sunset in winter are so elongated and so pink, or the evolving geomorphology of the city’s coastline. Got nerdy questions? We got even nerdier answers.

And last but not least is our Cocktails and City Tales Night Tour. Too many clouds for northern lights? Too windy to be outside for too long? Want to embark on some shenanigans? Well, then this your tour! We will bar-hop to three different local bars with famous cocktails and discuss Reykjavik’s interesting and clickbait-worthy nightlife and dating culture. We will dispel myths and reveal truths while sipping on some of the city’s most entertaining drinks. This tour includes a ton of cultural tidbits and three drinks per person, but bar snacks and rounds of shots are extra. 

So, which side quest are you going to go on first?