These are the rules of the road. Who pays what and when, what happens if plans change, and who is responsible for what.
Iceland is very good at changing plans on its own. The weather does it most days. This page covers everything else. If something here doesn't sit right, tell us before you book, not after.
1. Who we are
North of Normal is the trading name of Eskimóar ehf., Skútuvogur 1b, 104 Reykjavík, Iceland. Company ID (kennitala): 671023-0640. VAT number: 150750.
We are a licensed travel agency, licensed by the Icelandic Tourist Board (Ferðamálastofa), licence no. 2024-007. We are a member of the Icelandic Travel Guarantee Fund (Ferðatryggingasjóður), which protects travellers’ payments if we become insolvent.
When these terms say “we” or “us”, they mean Eskimóar ehf. When they say “you” or “the client”, they mean the person or company booking with us.
2. Who these terms apply to
These terms apply to every journey we confirm, whether it is booked by a travel company on behalf of its guests or directly by a private traveller.
If you are a private traveller and your journey is a package under the Icelandic Act on Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements no. 95/2018, you have rights under that Act. Nothing in these terms takes those rights away. Where these terms and the Act differ, the Act applies.
If you are a travel company or other business partner, these terms apply unless a separate written agreement between us says otherwise.
3. The contract
A contract is formed when you confirm your requirements and we send you a written confirmation. Please check the confirmation carefully and tell us straight away if anything is wrong. We cannot be responsible for extra costs caused by errors that are reported late.
Before you book as a private traveller, we will give you the information the law requires, including the main details of the journey, the total price and these terms.
4. Payment
A deposit of 20% of the total price confirms the booking.
Bookings up to ISK 150,000 are paid in full at confirmation.
Bookings made less than six weeks before the journey starts are paid in full at confirmation.
Where payment is split, the final balance is due no later than four weeks before the journey starts. If it is not received on time, we may treat the booking as cancelled by you, and the cancellation fees in section 6 apply.
We accept Visa and Mastercard, and bank transfer. Payments by card are processed through Teya. A 2% processing fee applies to all card payments.
Bank transfers in a foreign currency are converted at the exchange rate on the date the invoice is issued.
Some journeys, or some suppliers within them, have different payment terms. If so, we will tell you before you confirm.
5. Prices
Our prices include VAT and other taxes unless your confirmation says otherwise.
Once your journey is confirmed and invoiced, the price is fixed. We may only change it if there is a change in transport fuel costs, taxes or fees on the services, or the exchange rates that affect the price. If that happens, we will tell you in writing, explain the calculation, and do so no later than 20 days before the journey starts. If the price goes up by more than 8%, you may cancel without a fee and receive a full refund.
If a price is quoted in a foreign currency and we have not received payment within 7 days of the invoice date, we may reissue the invoice at the current exchange rate.
6. If you cancel
You may cancel at any time before the journey starts by telling us in writing. We will refund what you have paid, minus a cancellation fee based on how close to the start date we receive your cancellation:
42 days or more before the journey: 20% of the total price
14 to 41 days before: 40% of the total price
7 to 13 days before: 80% of the total price
6 days or fewer before: 100% of the total price
Some hotels, lodges, flights and other suppliers have stricter cancellation terms. If so, we will tell you before you confirm, and those terms apply to that part of the journey.
If one person in a group cancels, the price per person for the rest of the group may change.
You do not pay a cancellation fee if unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances at or near the destination significantly affect the journey or getting there. Examples are a volcanic eruption, a natural disaster or a serious public health event. In that case you receive a full refund.
Refunds are paid within 14 days of cancellation.
7. If you want to change your journey
We will always try to help, but we cannot guarantee that a change is possible. Any extra cost from us or our suppliers will be charged to you.
You may transfer your booking to another person who meets the conditions of the journey. Please tell us in writing at least 7 days before the journey starts. You and the new traveller are jointly responsible for any outstanding balance and for any reasonable costs the transfer causes.
8. If we cancel or change your journey
We may cancel a journey before it starts if unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances prevent us from carrying it out. Examples are severe weather, road closures, volcanic activity or equipment failure. We may also cancel if a journey that requires a minimum number of participants does not reach it, provided we tell you at least 20 days before a journey of more than six days, 7 days before a journey of two to six days, or 48 hours before a journey of less than two days.
If we cancel, you receive a full refund within 14 days.
Iceland’s weather and roads change quickly, and safety comes first. Our guides may need to adjust routes, timings or activities during the journey. Where we can, we replace what is lost with something of equal or better value.
If we need to make a significant change to your journey before it starts, we will tell you as soon as possible. You may then accept the change, accept an alternative journey if we offer one, or cancel and receive a full refund.
9. Our responsibility to you
We are responsible for delivering the services included in your confirmed journey, including those provided by our partners. If something goes wrong, tell your guide or contact us straight away, so we can put it right.
We are not responsible for a failure caused by you, by a third party not connected to the services we provide where it could not be foreseen or avoided, or by unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.
Where international conventions or other laws limit the compensation a transport or other service provider has to pay, our liability is limited in the same way.
If you book services that are not part of your confirmed journey, for example flights or extra activities you arrange yourself, we are not responsible for them.
If you get into difficulty during your journey, we will help you promptly, for example with medical care, local authorities or alternative arrangements.
10. Your responsibilities
You are responsible for valid travel documents, visas and any health requirements. Please follow your guide’s instructions on safety. Guides may refuse to take part in an activity anyone whose behaviour puts themselves or others at risk.
11. Travel insurance
We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that covers cancellation, medical costs and repatriation. Depending on your policy, you may be able to claim back cancellation fees.
12. Complaints
If you are unhappy with any part of your journey, tell your guide or contact us during the journey so we can fix it. If it cannot be resolved there, write to us at hello@northofnormal.is within a reasonable time after you return.
If we cannot reach an agreement, private travellers may refer the matter to the Consumer Agency (Neytendastofa) or to the Icelandic courts.
13. Law and jurisdiction
These terms are governed by Icelandic law. Any dispute will be settled by the District Court of Reykjavík (Héraðsdómur Reykjavíkur), unless consumer law gives you the right to bring a claim elsewhere.