KuKu Campers Iceland Campervan Rental and Review

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Are you curious about the best mode of transportation to see raw, untouched Iceland? Admittedly, Iceland is a wild place where you are up against the elements. For bold, independent travelers, renting a 4×4 vehicle is the ideal way to see the very best of Iceland’s otherworldly beauty.

Taking it one step further and renting a 4×4 campervan gives you access to some of Iceland’s most impressive views without worrying about returning to your hotel every night. We rented a converted 4×4 camper from KuKu Campers Rental, which gave us a safe, cozy place to lay our heads every night.

But let’s be real, the rustic and humble accommodation of sleeping in a campervan during Iceland’s most temperamental weather isn’t for everyone.

Beyond that, Kuku Campers, as a company, caters to a unique type of traveler looking for a slow, sustainable, and authentic adventure. Even for Ganesh and me, two experienced outdoor camping enthusiasts, renting a campervan in winter offered a unique set of challenges that kept us on our toes.

However, it allowed us to create a balanced itinerary, with the freedom and independence to traverse any road and sleep near any waterfall. It was just us and the open road, sleeping under the stars and creating our destiny.

Note for transparency: The views expressed in this review are entirely my own. This post is not sponsored.

Ganesh and I visited Iceland back in 2016, right before the massive boom of mass tourism. While I’ve updated this guide to reflect KuKu’s current fleet and Iceland’s updated camping laws, our raw experience remains the foundation of this review. (And yes, please forgive the old-school iPhone 5 photo quality!)

Quick Look: Best Campervan Rental Company in Iceland

With so many campervan rental companies in Iceland, it is hard to know which is the best company. Kuku Campers has been here since day one, and continues to provide excellent and local service. Kuku Campers is hands down the best local campervan rental company.

The Kuku Campers Ethos

When we rented with Kuku Campers, they were a smaller company with a limited and arguably rustic fleet. Through the years, it seems they have managed to maintain their quirky, wholesome company values rooted in their humble beginnings as a campervan rental company for the truly adventurous traveling soul.

While many corporate car rental companies operate in Iceland, KuKu’s ethos and values are genuinely unique. Right on the front page of their website, they boldly state that if you want a cookie-cutter tourist experience, you should probably leave their site immediately.

KuKu Campers is owned by Icelandic locals passionate about sustainable, responsible, and meaningful travel. They cater to a unique type of traveler looking for a slow adventure rather than just checking off big-ticket items from an Instagram list.

As soon as we entered their cozy office, we got great vibes. With a community food-and-gear swap, helpful staff, and zero hidden corporate nonsense, they remain hands-down the best local campervan company for those looking to connect with Iceland more intimately.

Should You Rent a Campervan in Iceland?

Reasons to Rent a Kuku Campervan in Iceland

1. Save Money

A campervan can save you money in the long run. Accommodation in Iceland is expensive, books up in advance, and is sometimes few and far between in remote areas. The rental price of a campervan is a bit steeper than that of a car, but when you factor in those savings, a campervan rental helped us lower our costs.

Another cost-saving benefit is the ability to cook meals in the campervan. Dining out in Iceland is very expensive. With a campervan, you can shop at supermarkets while sticking to a strict budget and cooking meals in your van.

Kuku Campers advertises the lowest price and the best quality in Iceland. They also don’t have any hidden costs or additional fees. Additional drivers are free. You can add extras for an additional price, but that is up to you.

2. Enjoy Itinerary Freedom

Time and time again, we changed plans in Iceland. If we had booked hotels or BnBs, we would have been locked into a set itinerary. We were free to go down any road without worrying about returning to check into a hotel on time, and our bed was always with us.

One of our spontaneous stops was at Iceland’s Secret Lagoon, which was much less crowded and more authentic than the Blue Lagoon.

With Iceland becoming a popular tourist destination, some stops you want to make might be crowded, but with a campervan, you can return at another time or ride out the peak traffic in the comfort of your car.

3. 4×4 and Vehicle Options

We rented a 4×4 Dodge Durango that was converted into a campervan. This allowed us to navigate the snow and ice of the Icelandic winter, driving safely.

When we visited in January, the wind, rain, and storms were so intense that we saw other cars’ doors ripped off their hinges. The sturdy 4×4 was an all-around better option for navigating Iceland’s roads and handling the weather.

Additionally, Kuku Campers has campervan options ranging from big to small. Options that fit two people in a group of five. Some of their newer models even have nice tables and bench seating, perfect for the digital nomad or just a cozy meal around the table.

4. Maximize Your Time Exploring

When we visited in winter, there were only about 4-5 hours of daylight. That meant we didn’t have a lot of time to spend at each of our stops. The campervan allowed us to maximize our time by waking up, driving to a site, and cooking breakfast. Then, at the crack of dawn, we could start a short hike or venture out to explore before returning to the campervan.

Additionally, with those long days in the summer, you can easily spend 12+ hours out exploring. It is nice to return to the campervan to take breaks, cook a hot meal, or enjoy a glass of Icelandic schnapps picnic style out of your campervan.

5. Get off the Beaten Track

With most major tour companies and tourist itineraries visiting a few spots in Iceland, these spots can get very crowded. The staff at Kuku Campers are experts who can help you plan an authentic tour that will help you diffuse mass tourism.

Again, we visited before the tourism boom, so many places are now more popular, but we still found some hidden gems. Traveling in winter also allowed us to see several highlights without crowds as we enjoyed blue glaciers and stunning hikes throughout SE Iceland.

6. Local Expertise

When we first visited Iceland, there was hardly any information online. We entered the country clueless about the rules of the road, areas accessible in winter, the best places to camp, or that it might be a good idea to purchase sheep insurance—yes, that is a thing.

Thankfully, the Kuku community and employees were able to pass along all this valuable insider information. If you visit their website, they even have some sample itineraries, information about Icelandic culture, the cost of gas, laws about where you can/can’t camp, and other critical information to know before you head off on your next adventure.

8.  Meet Other Campers

Spotting another campervan on the road with the Kuku Campervan sticker is always fun – you know you are part of Iceland’s engaged and adventurous community of travelers.

Aside from that, a new-ish law states you can no longer pull your campervan over on the side of the road and park as we did. You must instead park at a designated campground.

Thankfully, you can drive up and get a spot for most of these, but it is an excellent opportunity to meet other like-minded travelers and share a good story.

9. Roadside Assistance

Iceland can be challenging for a road trip; with extreme wind, icy roads, meandering sheep, and other hazards, you might need roadside assistance occasionally. Thankfully, Kuku Campers offers a network of services at garages nationwide.

We were advised that knowing how to do things like changing a tire in a pinch would be helpful. Thankfully, we did not need this service, but it was nice to know it was available.

When Not To Rent a Kuku Campervan in Iceland

These challenges are mainly focused on general campervan experiences in Iceland rather than specifically on Kuku Campers. But, to be frank, renting with Kuku Campers isn’t for everyone.

1. Rustic

Kuku Campervans are probably some of the best-built campervans out there. Their vehicles are all converted by experts, providing you with a great car, a solid place to lay your head, and space to cook your meals, but they do not embody #vanlife.

I can’t believe I didn’t get a photo of the inside of our van, but it is important to note that they are functional yet rustic. Our experience felt more like car camping than plush campervan life. Set your expectations, and you’ll have a great time.

2. Bathroom Limitations

With that, no bathrooms or ways to shower in the campervan exist. Considering that you should not use the restroom outdoors in Iceland, you must plan your stops and camping locations based on bathroom facilities.

Every campsite that you legally have to park at has toilets. We only showered when we stopped at hot springs and thermal baths. We would shower, soak, shower. But, other than that, we skipped the shower. So, plan your stops and activities around when you need to use the toilet or shower.

3. Difficult Driving

I was born and raised in Alaska and grew up driving on winter roads in extreme conditions, and Iceland in winter pushed the limits of my driving abilities.

In winter, you should be comfortable driving a large campervan through snow, ice, wind, rain, and rocky terrain.

In summer, you should be comfortable driving 4×4 backcountry on narrow, winding roads with obstacles. You should also be aware of animals like sheep crossing the roads before you.

4. Extreme Weather and Conditions

If you can only sleep if the room is perfect in terms of temperature, light, or other specifics, campervan travel in Iceland might not be for you. We were frequently woken up by extreme windstorms that shook our car.

One night, we couldn’t get our heater working and had to bundle up and deal with a cold night. You might want to stay in a hotel if you want four solid walls around you.

Camping Laws and Rules in Iceland

We visited in January 2016, when camping was hardly regulated in Iceland. In the summer of 2016, Iceland ruled that you must camp at a designated campground for the night. You can not pull over and set up your camper anywhere.

Iceland has campgrounds open in summer, with a few open year-round. You can find some of the best campgrounds on Kuku Camper’s website. 

For other rules of the road and general advice on renting a campervan and road safety, check out my complete guide to driving in Iceland.

Our experience with Kuku Campers

Our experience started with a prompt pick-up at the airport. Our two jovial guides helped us with the luggage, and we were on our way. The drive from the airport to the city was 45 minutes filled with jokes, laughter, inside tips, and personal stories about growing up in Iceland.

Our local guide shared information about how the U.S. military presence completely changed the landscape and socioeconomic status of the country.

Note: Kuku Campers now has an airport location, so you no longer need a shuttle

At the office, the paperwork process was straightforward. The staff walked us through Iceland’s notoriously complex insurance options. After checking what our credit card covered, we opted for a mid-tier package that included that crucial sheep insurance.

Our van came equipped with:

• A phone charging port
• A camp stove, fuel, and basic cooking utensils
• A small fridge/icebox (which cools while the engine runs)
• A built-in heater

We rented extra sleeping bags and pillows directly from them to stay warm. They also have a fantastic community shelf in the office where departing travelers leave behind unused food, fuel canisters, and supplies—make sure to rummage through this to save a few bucks and reduce waste before you hit the road!

After the paperwork was done, we began to plan our trip. They marked some exclusive places with access to their computer and easy-to-read maps. Have you heard of the commercialized Blue Lagoon? Yes? Well, how about Secret Lagoon… ; )

We came prepared with ideas, but after their help researching and providing us with a realistic itinerary for winter, we came up with a tremendous day-to-day plan. Check out our Iceland 5-day Itinerary, created with KuKu Campers’ help.

After the safety training, which included how to open your car door in a windstorm so it doesn’t get ripped off the hinges, we were allowed to inspect the car before we departed. Once you hit the road, you’re mostly on your own.

KuKu has a nationwide network of offices and garages you can pull into or call if you need help. However, for small things, like tire changes and general safety precautions, you should be able to handle this yourself.

We had one issue…

We did have an issue where our heater went out for a night. Before you drive off the lot, have the staff physically show you how the heater works and verify that it’s blowing hot air.

No matter what season you visit, always pack high-quality layers just in case:

• Heavy wool socks, a beanie, and gloves
• Thick thermal base layers (merino wool is best)
• A lightweight micro-down jacket
• A fully windproof and waterproof outer shell

Renting a Campervan in Iceland

KuKu Campers is a perfect option for the confident, whimsical traveler. If you don’t want to worry about changing a tire, driving on rough terrain, and skipping a shower, this may not be your option. But this is an excellent option if you want the freedom of the open road, rustic and exciting camping adventures, and a personalized itinerary on your own time.

For up-to-date information on vehicle pricing, options, and FAQ, check out the KuKu Campers website.

Would You Rent a Campervan in Iceland?

Would you rent a Kuku Campervan in Iceland to brave the elements for an experience unlike any other? Let me know in the comments.

Planning a trip to Iceland in winter? I’ve got you covered!

• Iceland 5-Day Winter Campervan Roadtrip Itinerary
• Driving the Golden Circle in Winter
• Renting and Driving a car/camper in Iceland in Winter
• Iceland’s Secret Lagoon
• 24-Hours in Reykjavik in Winter