Northern Lights in Style & More - 8 days
Winter tour: Take a deluxe journey from Reykjavik through some of Iceland's most beautiful spots. Feast on langoustine and crab, indulge in spa treatments at the Blue Lagoon and hike up a glacier before cruising scenic fjords and heading out on a super jeep safari of stunning Western Iceland!
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Reykjavik
Reykjavik. Welcome to Iceland and the start of your Northern Lights adventure! Your transfer to your accommodation is by Flybus shuttle. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Overnight: Reykjavik
City, Cheese & Lights
Reykjavik - Thingvellir NP - Grímsborgir. This morning we meet our tour guide and begin with a two-hour city tour of the world's northern-most capital. The Hallgrímskirkja church is one of the crowning landmarks and star attractions of Reykjavík. With its iconic tower rising symmetrically and incrementally to a magnificent 74.5m peak, our tour includes the visit to the exceptional observation tower of the church affording incredible panoramic views across the city.
Moving on we learn more about the history and culture of Icelandic cheese and the unique dairy product skyr at a cheese and skyr school. After some cheese tasting we have a delicious lunch in a fabulous cheese school buttery.
This afternoon we depart Reykjavik for Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, and where the oldest legislative assembly in the world was founded. This is one of Iceland's most fascinating places both geologically and for the role it plays in the country's history and sense of national identity.
The last stop today is at the new thermal baths in Laugarvatn, where healing geothermal heat simmers directly from the ground and the landscape is painted with beautiful mountain ranges. We continue to the luxury country hotel Grímsborgir located in South Iceland, where we stay for three nights.
After a gourmet dinner, your expert tour guide provides us with a fact seminar about the Northern Lights and teaches us how to take photos of this natural phenomenon. Afterwards we step into the darkness or soak in the hotel's outdoor hot tubs and check if the Northern Lights are visible.
Overnight: Grimsborgir | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Waterfalls & Craters
Grímsborgir - Geysir - Hveragerdi - Grímsborgir. This morning we head to Gullfoss, “the golden falls“, which is a double waterfall that tumbles 34 meters into the Hvítá river. Nearby are the Geysir geothermal fields with a variety of hot springs and bubbling pools. The original geyser is now dormant but has been replaced by Strokkur "the Churn" which erupts at 5-10 minute intervals.
The next stop is at the nearly 3000 year old and 55m deep explosion crater called Kerid that is filled with water, creating a lake whose steep circular slopes resemble an ancient amphitheatre. In the greenhouse village of Hveragerdi we meet a local man telling us all about living at an earthquake active place with different kind of geothermal powers and challenges. During a short and easy walk we visit hot springs and other natural wonders. We get the opportunity to boil an egg in a hot spring and taste hot steam baked bread - one of the region's culinary specialities.
We travel on to the seaside villages of Stokkseyri and Eyrarbakki with many old and colourful houses. Strolling along the black sands at one of the local beaches. We are now invited to a private tour around a local folk museum and a historic wooden church in one of Iceland's prettiest coastal villages. If you like "local" then you get the opportunity to taste shark meat, dried fish and Brennivin (Black Death) schnapps. After a nice langoustine dinner at a nearby seaside restaurant we go outside to watch out for the magical Northern Lights before returning to the hotel.
Overnight: Grimsborgir | Breakfast, Dinner
Eyjafjallajökull & Falls
Today, we head out along the South coast starting at the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall which plunges over the mountain. There‘s an interesting trail that goes behind the fall – if you are prepared to get wet! Journeying further east we stop at the Eyjafjallajökull Information Center and learn about living next to a glacier and the active volcano that cause international chaos in 2010!
In the small village of Skógar we visit Skógafoss waterfall which is 60 meters high and one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country. Now we can opt for an easy guided walk to a nearby glacier, or continue the bus tour to explore a black lava beach with bird cliffs.
Gourmet dinner and overnight is at Hotel Grímsborgir. Tonight we enjoy a video presentation about Northern Lights as a part of the Northern Lights educational program. Be careful not to go to bed too soon in this remote and quiet location, or you may just miss out one more chance of seeing the Northern Lights shimmering and dancing across the night sky.
Overnight: Grimsborgir | Breakfast, Dinner
Blue Lagoon
Grímsborgir - Reykanes Peninsula - Reykjavik. This morning we head to the Reykjanes peninsula where we take the less travelled route and see the region’s many unusual geological features, hot springs, moon landscapes, bird cliffs, light houses and fishing villages. We visit a Viking ship and history museum that tells the story about the Viking expansion across the North Atlantic and stop for a delicious unique seafood & crab feast for lunch.
After lunch we head to our final stop at the famous Blue Lagoon for a soak in the relaxing geothermal water including a drink of your choice and a volcano scrub or an algae mask. This evening we have a farewell dinner at the Hotel Northern Light Inn, we say goodbye to our fellow passengers on the 6 day tour and head back to Reykjavik for the evening.
Overnight: Reykjavik | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Northern Lights Cruise
Reykjavik. Today is a free day to further explore the city, visit museums, do some shopping, indulge in spa treatments or go on an optional whale watching tour. This evening we headout for a Northern Lights hunt by boat as we escape from the city lights. A Northern Lights tour on the sea is an amazing experience. We sail away from the coastline of Reykjavik and look out for the aurora borealis on the North-Atlantic ocean by having beautiful mountains and the city lights in the background which is really an unforgettable experience. The tour takes 2,5 - 3 hours, departing from Reykjavik's old harbour cruising up the beautiful coastline of Iceland's capital on our way out to search for the Northern Lights.
Overnight: Reykjavik | Breakfast
Superjeep Adventure
Reykjavik - West Iceland - Reykjavik. Today we head out and explore West Iceland on a full day super-jeep adventure. The stunning scenery includes the ice of the great Langjökull glacier and the fire of one of the country's most active geothermal areas. This is Iceland in a nutshell. The tour takes 8 - 9 hours and includes the following highlights: Kaldidalur highland track, Langjökull & Eiríksjökull glaciers, Surtshellir caves, Hraunfossar & Barnafoss waterfalls, Reykholt cultural site, Deildartunguhver hot springs and Hvalfjörður fjord. This is a true super-jeep adventure with spectacular landscapes. Before heading back to Reykjavík, we stop at one of Iceland's micro-breweries, Steðji, where we enjoy a guided tour through the brewery as well as tasting the products.
Overnight: Reykjavik | Breakfast, Lunch
Reykjavik
Today our Northern Lights Icelandic experience comes to an end with included FlyBus transfer to Keflavik Airport. Pick up time is according to reservation arrangements that you made with the receptionist at your hotel on the evening prior to flight departure. Your travel documents should include a separate voucher for your transfer to the airport.
Breakfast
Prices & Dates
Departure dates noted with a 'G' are guaranteed to operate. All other departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 persons. Prices shown are per person travelling. 'Twin/Double' prices per person apply when there are 2 people travelling, sharing a room. The 'Single supplement' applies for single travellers and needs to be added to the 'Twin/Double' price.
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Hotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard when necessary.
Icelandair Hotel Marina, Reykjavik
A completely renovated four-story building, the Icelandair Marina is quickly becoming a landmark among local residents. Guest rooms boast from plush furnishings, colourful patterns and quirky fixtures. The hotel was awarded the Reykjavik Beautification Recognition award in 2012 for its beautiful environment. Why not head to Slippbarrin bar for a selection of delicious cocktails or refreshing local beer? Perfectly located just a stone's throw from Reykjavik harbour.
Hotel Grimsborgir, Grimsborgir
Opened in 2009, Hotel Grimsborgir is a beautiful hotel in the heart of Iceland's famed Golden Circle. Guest rooms are immaculately furnished in pastel tones with stunning interiors and private balconies. All guests have access to the out door hot tubs, which are the perfect way to watch the Northern Lights - drink in hand! The hotel has also recently opened its own restaurant boasting a broad menu of both Icelandic and international dishes as well as an extensive wine list. Perfectly located in Grimsnes, a 45 minute drive from Reykjavik.
In Brief
Tour Add-ons
Enhance your trip with these amazing added extras and add-ons