Our 5 Best Tours in Iceland (6 minute read)

It’s no secret that Iceland is one of our favourite destinations – and why shouldn’t it be? It’s got spectacular landscapes, rumbling volcanoes, bubbling hot springs, a quirky capital city and of course the ever phenomenal winter Northern Lights. We’d love to make it one of your favourite destinations too, and to get you on the right path we’ve selected our five best tours in Iceland to get you inspired.

Land of the Northern Lights

A classic itinerary that ticks all the boxes in just 5 days, this tour of Iceland has to be our favourite. As the name suggests, the Land of the Northern Lights coincides with the peak time to spot this natural phenomenon. Kicking off your stay in the quirky capital city of Reykjavik you’ll have some free time here to explore at your own pace. Then you’ll journey up the Reykjanes Peninsula to the famous Blue Lagoon.

Despite the icy temperatures above water, while soaking in the Blue Lagoon you’ll feel nothing but pure warm cosy bliss.

From here you’ll carry on to the volcanic southern coast, home to the infamous (and near impossible to pronounce) Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Before heading back to the capital you’ll have the chance to discover the natural delights of the Golden Circle. From the constantly erupting Strokkur geyser, the thunderous Gullfoss waterfall and expansive Thingvellir National Park. In addition to all of this, you’ll spend every evening searching for those swathes of colour in the night sky. With the help of your local Icelandic guide of course!

Northern Lights Exploration

If you have some extra time on your hands and fancy discovering more of what Iceland has to offer then our Northern Lights Exploration group tour may be just the ticket. With a starting point in Reykjavik, this 8-day expedition takes in classic sites such as the Golden Circle, infamous Eyjafjallajökull volcano and the black lava beaches of the south, but what takes it beyond the ordinary is its stops off the beaten track in western Iceland.

In Borgarfjorour Valley you’ll have the chance to tick some unique experiences off your list. Whether it’s climbing the Grabrok volcano crater or warming up at Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring.

There are also charming fishing towns to explore. Delicious (you decide) fermented shark to be sampled. Icelandic horses to mee. And national parks to explore. After all this head back to Reykjavik and onward to the Blue Lagoon for an evening soak in this famous thermal pool. All this and more, while of course keeping an eye out for those mysterious Northern Lights.

Soth Iceland Summer Explorer

Our newest Iceland tour is a 6-day trip that departs during the summer months. There are no Northern Lights on this trip, but instead, you get longer days, milder temperatures and spectacular summer scenery. South Iceland Summer Explorer starts in Reykjavik, with a city tour and an included 3-hour whale-watching cruise. You’ll also take a dip in the brand new Sky Lagoon. This man-made lagoon is filled with Iceland’s natural geothermal waters. And it is set to rival the famous Blue Lagoon, having only recently opened in 2021.

This is our only Iceland tour to include whale-watching as standard, giving you a great chance to spot humpbacks, blue whales, orcas and dolphins which come to Iceland’s waters in summer to feed and breed.

Other highlights of this tour include visits to the thundering waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, a chance to see molten lava in Vik, a hike in the rainbow rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar and a visit to the island of Heimaey on the Westman archipelago, site of a volcanic eruption in 1973 and now home to 8 million puffins in summer!

New Year’s Land of the Northern Lights

If you’re after a New Year celebration that you can go home and boast about, then you can’t go wrong with bonfires and fireworks in the Land of Fire and Ice. Iceland is a great place to see in the new year, and on our New Year’s Land of the Northern Lights 5-day group tour you can experience it for yourself on the most epic night of the year. Arriving in Reykjavik, you’ll explore the capital and enjoy a dip in the Blue Lagoon. Then head out to the countryside on New Year’s Eve.

On New Year’s Eve you’ll spend the day uncovering the beauty and intrigue of Iceland’s waterfalls, glaciers and volcanoes before heading to Hella for the celebrations.

The party starts with a 4-course dinner on the riverbank in Hella, before we get to enjoy an explosive Icelandic fireworks display. If we’re extremely lucky, this could be set against the backdrop of the beautiful Northern Lights. New Year’s Day is then spent discovering the natural wonders of the Golden Circle; this is a great way to dissipate any New Year hangover…

Iceland Circle

While the winter months offer ideal conditions to spot the Northern Lights and experience the beauty of Iceland blanketed in snow, summertime offers something completely different.

As the days become longer and the ice begins to melt, the country goes through a transformation. It changes from the monotone hue of winter to the brilliant greens and blues of summer.

While our 8-day Iceland Circle group tour runs year-round, we recommend travelling in the spring or summer months as it gives you the opportunity to see this spectacular country in full bloom. As the name suggests, the Iceland Circle does a loop of the country. The trip starts and ends in Reykjavik, taking in sights such as the Golden Circle and southern volcanic coast. Travellers will also see the northern city of Akureyri, the small eastern fishing town of Hofn and the large glacial lake of Jokulsarlon.

So, which trip is the one for you? If you’ve decided on an Iceland tour or would like some more information, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Reservations team, who will be more than happy to help!