When Iceland demands the best — fire, ice, wind and rain — you want space, comfort and the right equipment around you.
Check Availability & BookIceland has a way of humbling visitors who underestimate it. The weather changes in minutes. A planned afternoon hike becomes a shelter-in-place when the wind turns horizontal. A scenic spot you want to linger at suddenly becomes a magical dusk campsite. In conditions like these — and in a country where you might spend 10–12 days living full-time in your vehicle — the size and quality of your accommodation matters enormously.
Small camper vans are popular because they are cheap. But after three days of wet weather, cooking on a tiny hob with your knees touching the wall and your wet gear hanging over the sink, the savings start to feel less worthwhile. A large motorhome like the Sunlight A72 Explorer Compact offers a fundamentally different experience: a proper dining table, a dry bathroom you can change in, a double bed you do not need to assemble, and the physical and psychological space to relax.
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The Sunlight A72 — large enough to live in, compact enough to drive anywhere on Iceland's main road network.
Why "Compact" if it is large? The Sunlight A72 is branded "Compact" relative to full-size A-class motorhomes that can exceed 9–10 metres. At 7.5 m it is considered large among rental motorhomes in Iceland, yet short enough to navigate the narrower roads, single-lane bridges and campsite access tracks around the Ring Road without difficulty.
The Explorer Compact has a fixed 180 × 145 cm island bed in the rear — you do not fold away the sofa, you do not inflate a mattress, you do not sleep diagonally. You get into a proper bed. After a day of hiking Skógafoss and driving the Ring Road, that matters.
Iceland's campsite bathrooms vary enormously. The Explorer Compact has its own shower, toilet and vanity. You are never rushing to the facilities block at 6 am in a gale. The shower is compact but fully functional — hot water on demand from the onboard boiler.
When an Icelandic low-pressure system rolls in — and it will — having a proper lounge with a table and seating for four means you can cook, eat, play cards and plan the next day in comfort. In a small van you are lying in your sleeping bag waiting for it to stop.
Three gas hobs, a microwave, a 130-litre compressor fridge and proper counter space. You can cook pasta for four, make a full Icelandic breakfast (skyr, flatbrauð, smoked lamb) or whip up a hot soup after a cold glacier hike. This is not camping — it is touring.
Iceland requires a lot of gear: hiking boots, crampons, waterproofs, swim towels (for hot pools), camera kit, groceries for 10 days, spare clothes, and all the small things that accumulate on a long trip. The Explorer Compact has a full rear garage bay (accessible from outside) plus generous overhead lockers and a wardrobe inside. Nothing has to live in the cab.
Families with children, couples travelling together, older travellers who prefer not to sleep on the floor — a large motorhome is genuinely inclusive in a way a budget camper van is not. There is always somewhere to sit, a corner to be alone in, and enough vertical space to stand upright throughout the entire vehicle.
This is the most common concern from first-time motorhome renters. The honest answer is: it takes a few hours to adjust, but most people find it easier than expected.
The Explorer Compact has an automatic gearbox. This removes one significant stress factor when getting used to a longer, wider vehicle. You focus on positioning, not gear changes.
A wide-angle reversing camera displays on the dash whenever you engage reverse. Parking at campsites — the main challenge for larger vehicles — becomes manageable even in tight spots.
Pre-loaded Icelandic maps mean you always know where you are going. The system includes route planning that avoids F-roads and unsuitable tracks for the vehicle's dimensions.
Iceland's Ring Road (Route 1) has an 80 km/h speed limit in most areas — a pace that suits a motorhome perfectly. Traffic is light outside Reykjavik. Single-lane bridges require patience, not skill.
At pickup, we walk you through every system in the motorhome — heating, water, waste tank, awning, electric hookup, gas system — and let you ask every question you have before you leave the yard.
If you encounter any challenge — driving, technical or otherwise — our support line is available around the clock throughout your rental. You are never navigating an unfamiliar problem alone.
The Explorer Compact is the right choice for a wide range of travellers. Here is who benefits most:
Yes. At 7.5 m long and around 2.3 m wide, the Explorer Compact is well within the dimensions routinely handled by larger vehicles on Iceland's Ring Road. Single-lane sections and bridges require caution and courtesy — pull over into the designated passing places and yield to oncoming traffic. The motorhome's mirrors give good all-round visibility.
Yes. Icelandic campsites are designed to accommodate motorhomes and larger campervans. Most provide dedicated motorhome pitches with electric hookup points. Very occasionally a remote or primitive campsite may have tight access tracks — but these are clearly marked in campsite directories and the Tjalda app, and are few in number.
The Explorer Compact sleeps four adults comfortably. The rear of the vehicle has a fixed island double bed (180 × 145 cm). The dinette in the main cabin converts to a second double sleeping area. Additional bedding and pillows are provided for all four berths.
No prior motorhome experience is required. We provide a thorough walkthrough at pickup, and the automatic gearbox and reversing camera make the adaptation period shorter than many new renters expect. First-time motorhome drivers regularly tell us they felt confident within an hour of leaving our yard.
The Explorer Compact is fitted with a Truma diesel heating system — a reliable, fuel-efficient forced-air heater widely used in European motorhomes. It runs from the same diesel tank as the engine, so there is no separate fuel supply to manage. Set your desired temperature on the thermostat and the van stays warm even when temperatures outside drop well below zero.
We run a small, carefully maintained fleet — personal service, no compromises. Check your travel dates now.
Check Availability & BookMore resources to help you plan your Iceland motorhome adventure: