Land of Fire, Ice & Solar Eclipse 2026

Welcome to Iceland! Our adventure begins. There is an included transfer via Flybus shared service to the hotel in Reykjavik. Make sure you arrive in plenty of time, as our once in a lifetime solar eclipse experience begins at 16:00 - we can arrange pre-tour accomodation for you on request.

At around 16:00 we will head down to the ocean with our guide, the perfect spot to witness the total solar eclipse. As one of the world's smallest capitals, there is minimal light pollution in Reykjavik to intrude on our view, and no skyscrapers either.

A total solar eclipse occurs incredibly rarely, only when the moon aligns perfectly in front of the sun, as the two orbit our Earth. It is a complete cosmic coincidence that this happens at all! The sun is 400 times further away than the moon, but also 400 times larger. This allows them to appear the same size when the alignment is perfect, which is why the moon totally blocks out the sun - known as totality. Just the sun's outer atmosphere, which is called the corona, is visible - a shimmering ring of light in the pitch dark.

We will position ourselves precisely at 64°08'50.1"N 21°54'26.4"W - one of the few optimal viewing points on the entire planet to marvel at this natural phenomena, along the central axis of the eclipse. Solar eclipse glasses will be provided to ensure you can see the eclipse unfold safely - you can remove them during totality to get the best experience.

At precisely 16:47:11, the partial eclipse will commence as the moon begins its slow journey across the sun. By 17:48:15, the total eclipse will take centre stage, plunging the world into complete darkness for an extraordinary one-minute experience. During this brief moment of totality, time seems to pause—the temperature drops, the birds fall silent, and an eerie stillness envelops everything. As the total eclipse concludes and sunlight gradually reappears from behind the moon, the celestial show continues for another hour, until 18:47.

Only here in west Iceland, Greenland, northern Spain and northeast Portugal (and a few spots in the ocean) will mankind experience a total eclipse on 12 August, 2026. This is a historic moment, the last total solar eclipse to take place in Iceland was in 1954, and there won't be another until 26 June, 2196. During the totality, depending on the conditions, it may be possible to spot Venus, Jupiter, Mercury and Mars, and the stars of the Big Dipper should also be visible directly overhead.

TOTAL ECLIPSE - REYKJAVIK
Partial begins - 16:47:11
Totality begins - 17:48:15
Maximum Eclipse - 17:48:45
Totality ends - 17:49:15
Partial ends - 18:47:36

When the eclipse has ended, and the adrenaline has worn off, you can head into Reykjavik for dinner and to comprehend what you have witnessed. The rest of your first day in Iceland is at leisure.

Please note: You will be escorted on this tour by an expert, English-speaking Icelandic tour guide. For this special solar eclipse tour, all of our guides have received dedicated solar eclipse training from award-winning astronomy communicator, science lecturer, author and board member of the Icelandic Astronomical Society, Saevar Helgi Bragason.

Reykjavik - Blue Lagoon - Reykjavik. This morning we embark on a city tour of Reykjavik. Take in sights including the famous Hallgrimskirkja church, National Museum, City Hall, and Houses of Parliament.

Then it's on to the Blue Lagoon, where you have included "comfort" level entrance - enjoy a complimentary drink and mud mask, as well as use of a towel and, of course, the chance to soak in the rejuvenating waters of this popular attraction. We are spending a second night in Reykjavik.

Reykjavik - Thingvellir National Park - Geysir - Gullfoss - Hvolsvollur. Departing Reykjavik, we head first to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first stop on Iceland's famous Golden Circle route. Thingvellir is home to the oldest existing national parliament in the world, the Althingi, alongside spectacular geological formations. See the Mid-Atlantic Rift, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are tearing apart, and marvel at Thingvallavatn lake.

Next, stop at a geothermal greenhouse at Fridheimar and visit the stables to learn more about the sturdy Icelandic horse. At Geysir, witness the erupting Strokkur geyser, which projects boiling water more than 25 metres into the air every 5-7 minutes. Whilst here, enjoy an included lunch of tomato soup, made from locally grown produce.

Our final stop of the day is Gullfoss, the Golden Falls. This is perhaps the most picturesque waterfall in Iceland (and there is a lot of competition!). After our visit, we continue to our accommodation in Hvolsvollur, near Hella, for the night.

Hvolsvollur - Thorsmork - Hvolsvollur. Today we are exploring the Thorsmork protected nature reserve, which is located in the southern Icelandic Highlands. It's well known as one of the country's top hiking destinations, home to the Laugavegur Trail alongside many others. Tucked between two glaciers, we'll spend the day exploring the area, taking in the hidden waterfalls and stunning panoramic views of the region. We return to our accommodation in Hvolsvollur after a day of exploring.

Hvolsvollur - Seljalandsfoss - Skogafoss - Vik - Reykjavik. Today is about the sheer force of nature's power - what makes Iceland, Iceland. The plunging Seljalandsfoss and thundering Skogafoss waterfalls. The black sand beaches and dramatic rock formations of Reynisfjara. We also visit the village of Vik, where we discover the Lava show - the only place in the world where you can safely experience hot, molten lava! The show recreates a volcanic eruption, pouring molten lava of 1,100°C over ice in front of you. Enjoy this epic battle between the elements and feel the heat from the lava, before we return to Reykjavik for our final night.

And just like that, our solar eclipse tour comes to an end. Enjoy your final morning in Iceland, before an included Flybus transfer takes you to the airport. Make sure to come back soon!