Custom Itinerary Services for Iceland & Norway
Ricky Menzies offers a bespoke itinerary service for people wishing to visit Iceland and/or Norway to explore as many historical and archaeological sites as possible. Whether you are intent in following in the footsteps of the Vikings or wishing to learn more about the literary tradition of the Sagas, and their relationship to places on the landscape, Ricky can create a personalised itinerary, to suit your level of interest and your style of travel.Â
Create Your Own Itinerary
Archaeology Travel provides an ever-growing collection of free-to-read articles to help you plan your own visit to the historic and archaeological sites of Iceland and Norway. Whether your interests are in the Viking Age, cultural history, archaeology, or more recent history, you will find practical information to help you decide what to see and how to visit.
For those interested in the Viking Age, I have written about places and attractions such as the Saga Museum in Reykjavik and Viking Planet in Oslo. I have also written about World War II sites and museums in Iceland, as well as Eight Accessible Historic Sites in Iceland Everyone Can Visit for travellers looking for sites that are particularly suitable for people with mobility issues. I will continue to add new articles, with a focus on historic and archaeological sites in Norway. I have also created A Self Guided Walking Tour of Viking Statues and Sites in Reykjavik, which brings together a number of Viking-related sites in Iceland’s capital.
When you take out a membership with Archaeology Travel you can also use the site’s resources and Itinerary Builder to create your own custom itinerary. Read more about the membership options for Archaeology Travel.
Bespoke Itinerary
Not everyone has the time to research a trip in detail, and some people would prefer to travel independently rather than join an organised tour. If that sounds like you, I can use my experience of living, studying and travelling in Iceland and Norway to create a bespoke itinerary based on your own interests, schedule and requirements.
The process begins with a 30-minute video call, where we discuss what you would like to see and experience, when you are travelling, how you intend to travel, and anything else that is important to you. I then use this information to create a unique, day-by-day itinerary specifically for you. I do not copy itineraries from one client to another since the time of year you travel, the days of the week, your interests and the amount of time you have available can all make a difference to what is practical and possible.
Your itinerary will include all the practical information you need for a self-guided trip. This can include the historic and archaeological sites that best match your interests, museums and other attractions, current opening hours and admission prices, information about advance tickets and links to official booking websites where appropriate. I can also suggest how long to spend at each site, and approximate driving and public transport times and directions.
Journey times are necessarily approximate, as weather, road conditions and other circumstances can affect travel in Iceland and Norway.
Because the itinerary is created specifically for your dates, it is important to take the season into account. Opening hours, accessibility, ferry schedules and the practicality of visiting some sites can vary throughout the year, so an itinerary that works well in summer may not be suitable for a winter visit.
I can also provide suggestions for accommodation and restaurants where useful, as well as other places and experiences that complement your historical interests. The aim is not simply to give you a list of sites, but to create a practical and enjoyable route that makes the best use of your time.
The completed itinerary is provided as a detailed PDF, together with a Google Map plotted using the Archaeology Travel Itinerary Builder, allowing you to see your route and the locations of the places included in your itinerary.
No AI
I personally research and create every itinerary. No AI is used to research destinations, select sites, determine routes or make decisions about what should be included in your itinerary. Archaeology Travel believes that AI cannot replace the knowledge, experience and judgment required to create a genuinely bespoke archaeological and historical travel itinerary. You can read more about our approach in the article AI, Travel Planning, and Archaeology Travel – the Case for Human Expertise written by our founder Thomas
Price
€120 for up to five days, plus €20 for each additional day.
The price includes:
• A 30-minute video call to discuss your requirements
• A detailed, bespoke day-by-day itinerary
• Historic, archaeological and other attractions selected according to your interests • Current opening hours and admission prices
• Information about advance booking and official booking links where appropriate • Suggested time to spend at each site
• Driving and transit routes and approximate journey times
• Ferry information where relevant
• Suggestions for accommodation and restaurants
• A Google Map showing your itinerary
What Qualifies Me
You might be wondering what qualifies me to offer this service, and what experience and expertise I draw on when creating your itinerary.
My interest in the history and archaeology of the North began during my year studying at the University of Oslo in 2019 as part of my Bachelor’s degree in Ancient History and Archaeology. While there, I studied Runology and began exploring the museums and historic sites of Scandinavia. This was the beginning of my particular interest in the Viking and medieval worlds.
In 2022 I graduated from Cardiff University with a First Class Honours degree in Ancient History and Archaeology. I then worked as a commercial archaeologist with Cotswold Archaeology in the UK, progressing from trainee archaeologist to archaeologist. During this time I also gained archaeological fieldwork experience volunteering on projects in Egypt and Oman.
In 2024 I moved to Iceland to undertake a two-year MA in Viking and Medieval Norse Studies. I spent my first year at the University of Iceland and my second year at the University of Oslo in Norway, graduating in 2026 with an A grade. During my studies I focused on subjects including the Icelandic Sagas, medieval manuscripts, Old Norse, Middle Norwegian, Old English, Latin and Runology.
More significantly for this service, I have lived in both Iceland and Norway and spent considerable time travelling around them and visiting their historic and archaeological sites. I know from personal experience that planning a trip to these countries is about much more than simply identifying places that look interesting on a map. Opening hours, seasonal access, distances, road conditions, ferry schedules, and the amount of time needed at each site can all make a difference to what is practical in the time available.
During my master’s degree I began writing articles for Archaeology Travel based on my own research and first-hand experience. These include practical guides to Exploring Iceland’s History at Icelandic Saga Sites, Reykholt, the home of Snorri Sturluson, and Visiting Þingvellir (Thingvellir). I have also written about archaeological sites outside the Viking and medieval period, such as Skogerveien Rock Art in Norway.
I am currently writing a guidebook for travellers exploring the Viking World. This builds on my academic and archaeological background, as well as my experience of visiting Viking sites in Iceland, Norway and elsewhere in Europe.
The combination of academic study, professional archaeological experience, first-hand knowledge of Iceland and Norway, and experience writing practical information for travellers is what I draw on when creating your bespoke itinerary.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to fill in the form below.
Send and Enquiry
To purchase a bespoke itinerary, fill in the form below. We aim to respond to your request/enquiry within 24 hours. Once payment for the itinerary is received, we aim to email a pdf to you within four days.Â