Discover the Golden Circle, climb a volcano, embark on a fjord cruise and meet Icelandic horses. Chase the northern lights on this journey specifically designed to maximise the chances of experiencing this magnificent natural phenomenon.
Welcome to Iceland!
On your arrival, transfer by Flybus shuttle from Keflavik International airport to your accommodation in Reykjavik.
Spend the day to explore Reykjavik, the largest municipality in Iceland. The town got its name “Smoky Bay” after the columns of steam that rose from the hot springs in the area and made such a deep impression on the first settlers.
Dinner is on your own. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital.
Overnight stay in Hotel Klettur, Reykjavík.
This morning enjoy breakfast and meet your tour guide to see the highlights of Iceland’s exciting capital.
You will head west to Borgarfjörður, known as the Saga Valley because of its many important historical events. You will have the chance to climb the Grábrók volcano crater and visit Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring.
Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls pouring from beneath a wide lava field. Barnafoss – the Children’s falls, is nearby with its own tragic tale. The afternoon includes a lecture about Northern Lights. After dinner, we step into the hotel garden in search of the Northern Lights followed by a hot cup of chocolate or tea.
Overnight stay in Icelandair Hotel Hamar, Borgarnes.
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula, “the peninsula of the snowy mountain“, juts out from Iceland’s west coast, like a long arm with a clenched fist at its tip, and is in many ways a microcosm of the whole island. A rugged mountain chain runs its length.
After breakfast, we travel to the charming fishing town of Stykkishólmur for a cruise in the Breiðafjörður fjord. After a light lunch a uniquely Icelandic “treat“ awaits you at Bjarnarhöfn, where they make Hákarl – the fermented shark. Depending on the road and weather conditions, we visit the fishing village of Grundarfjörður, a place with an impressive coastline and mountains, lakes and waterfalls behind the village.
Jutting out into the bay rises one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland, Mt. Kirkjufell. On the way back to Borgarnes the guide will give you some practical tips on how to photograph the Auroras as part of the Northern Lights Academy program. Naturally, once darkness falls, we are out in the hotel garden to chase the Northern Lights and to soak in the hotel’s outdoor hot tubs.
Overnight stay in Icelandair Hotel Hamar, Borgarnes.
Today we travel along the Hvalfjörður fjord. The first stop is at an Icelandic wool outlet store, to see what they do with all those sheep! We continue inland to Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and travel the Golden Circle route to see steam rising from the Geysir geothermal fields.
The chef of the Restaurant Geysir invites you to taste freshly baked hot spring bread served with Icelandic butter, boiled eggs and herring. Then we travel to double waterfall of Gullfoss. In the afternoon, you will learn about the Icelandic horse, its unique qualities and history and visit a geothermal greenhouse, before we reach the accommodation in South Iceland.
Tonight, step into the darkness and search for the elusive Northern Lights, while best enjoyed from a comfortable hot tub in the garden of the hotel, amidst the peace and stillness of rural Iceland.
Overnight stay in Hotel Eldhestar, Hveragerði.
Today after breakfast we will travel along the South coast. At the Lava & Volcano Exhibition Center, you will learn about geology and active volcanoes.
Further East, visit one of Iceland’s finest folk museums with an outstanding collection of farm and domestic artefacts from Iceland’s past and several turf-built houses. Nearby is Skógafoss waterfall which is 60 meters high and one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country.
In the afternoon we take a stroll on the black lava beach and along bird cliffs at Reynisfjara in South Iceland. We spend two nights near Kirkjubæjarklaustur in the Vatnajökull National Park region, located in darkness and ideal for Northern Lights search.
Overnight stay in Hotel Klaustur, Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Today’s program is all about glaciers, ice and icebergs. After breakfast, we will travel to Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs, and explore the amazing site and might see seals swimming in arctic waters.
You can walk on the black sandy beach, called Diamond beach, where large icebergs get stranded. In the afternoon we visit the tiny turf church at Hof and spend time at Europe’s largest national park, which has Iceland’s highest mountains, an alpine environment, and Europe’s largest glacier. In the evening enjoy a film presentation about the Northern Lights. Overnight in Kirkjubæjarklaustur and in this remote and quiet location there are great chances of seeing the Northern Lights shimmering and
dancing across the night sky.
Overnight stay in Hotel Klaustur, Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Today after breakfast, we head from Kirkjubæjarklaustur across the Eldhraun lava field to the village of Vík.
The black lava beach with high bird cliffs and pounding waves is awe-inspiring. Further west we reach the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall which plunges from the mountain. In the afternoon we return to Reykjavik and have about 2 hour leisure time to explore Iceland’s capital on our own, visit museums, do some shopping or simply rest after all this touring.
In the evening, we get to soak in the famous Blue Lagoon. After an Icelandic farewell dinner at a local restaurant, we go on one last nocturnal tour to seek more Northern Lights. Around midnight we reach Reykjavík for one last night.
Overnight stay in Hotel Klettur, Reykjavík.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, check-out and transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from your accommodation in Reykjavik to Keflavik International Airport.
Say goodbye and have a good journey back home with beautiful memories of your Northern lights experience in Reykjavík.
Like what you see? Let’s take you there. Want to tweak things around? No problem. The possibilities are endless and we are here to ensure your trip is as unique as you are.