Discover Iceland’s Northern Lights
Breathtaking Northern Lights, the capital city of Reykjavik, Snæfellsnes Peninsula and its dramatic landscape, the iconic Golden Circle, Iceland’s South coast, Þingvellir & Vatnajökull National Parks
Overview
| Style | Value VacationTravel in larger groups than our Small Group tours, but at fantastic value prices. These group tour packages are operated by our carefully selected partners and may be shared with other English speaking passengers ensuring guaranteed departures. More of these packages
Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout |
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| Departures | September 2024 – April 2025 | Group Size | 16 travelers max |
| Themes | Active, History & Culture, Bucket List, Nature & Wildlife | ||
| Activity Level | Moderate | ||
| What to Expect | Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
| Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. | ||
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Discover Iceland in all of its glory on this 9-day adventure! Although the days are shorter during this season, the long nights award travelers with spectacular light shows comprised of sparkling stars and the iconic Northern Lights. Bask in warm, geothermal lagoons as the snow falls around you. Wander through the world’s most notherly capital city of Reykjavik, letting the culture inspire you before discovering icy glaciers and icebergs, plummeting waterfalls, and sprawling lava fields, all set against a white backdrop.
Package includes
- Flights
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round-trip flights from New York (JFK) or Newark (EWR) to Reykjavík, including taxes & fees
- All ground transportation and transfers
- Accommodations in Tourist Class hotels with guaranteed early check in
- 8 Meals: 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch
- Comprehensive touring program including entrance fees
- Professional, English-speaking driver/guide
Optional add-ons
- Flights from other cities are available. Request pricing when making your reservation.
Why you'll love it
- Relax from your flight with guaranteed early check in upon arrival before setting out on your Iceland adventure.
- Participate in the Northern Lights Academy program, where you'll learn how to search for the elusive Northern Lights as well as how to photograph the Auroras.
- Admire the highlights of Iceland’s exciting capital city, Reykjavik, during a city tour.
- Ascend the wooden stairs to the top of Grábrók volcano crater and for breathtaking panoramic views.
- Explore the lava fields, volcanoes, glaciers, black and white beaches, and dramatic coastal cliffs of Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
- Descend into the Vatnshellir cave and explore the lava tube below the Snaefellsjokull glacier.
- Visit the UNESCO world heritage site at Þingvellir National Park.
- Witness the Strokkur Geysir known as “the churn”.
- Learn about Iceland's most important use of geothermal energy at a geothermal greenhouse.
- Stroll on the black lava sand beach and admire the bird cliffs at Reynisfjara.
- Travel to Jökulsárlón and explore the glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs.
- Admire Iceland’s highest mountains, an alpine environment, and Europe’s largest glacier at Europe’s largest national park.
- Get the chance to take a dip in the famous Blue Lagoon, water heated by a nearby geothermal power plant.
Itinerary at a Glance
- 1 Depart USA/Overnight Flight
- 2 Arrive Reykjavik, Iceland
- 3 Reykjavik City Tour & Borgarfjordur Saga Valley
- 4 Snæfellsnes Peninsula
- 5 Golden Circle, Geothermal Tastes & Icelandic Horses
- 6 Natural Wonders of South Iceland & Eyjafjallajökull Volcano
- 7 Vatnajökull National Park & Glacier including Glacial Lagoon, Diamond Beach
- 8 South Shore & Blue Lagoon
- 9 Reykjavik/USA
Dates & Prices
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Depart USA/Overnight Flight
Day 2 Arrive Reykjavik, Iceland
- Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel
- Balance of the day at leisure
Hótel Klettur or similar
Full Day ItineraryUpon arrival in Reykjavík, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the day at leisure in Reykyavik.
Day 3 Reykjavik City Tour & Borgarfjordur Saga Valley
- City tour of Reykjavik
- Ascend the Grábrók volcanos’ crater
- Visit the Deildartunguhver hot spring
- Visit Hraunfossar waterfalls & Barnafoss waterfall
- Enjoy a lecture about Northern Lights
Icelandair Hotel Hamar or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryToday, meet your guide, who will show you the highlights of Iceland’s exciting capital city, Reykjavik. Later, take a journey west to Borgarfjörður, known as the Saga Valley due to its various critical historical events. Ascend the wooden stairs to the top of Grábrók volcano crater and admire the panoramic views. Next, visit Deildartunguhver, Europe’s highest-flowing hot spring.
Travel to Hraunfossar waterfall, a series of over 100 miniature waterfalls flowing from beneath a wide lava field into the Hvita river. Just a short walk away, visit the Barnafoss waterfall and learn about the folktales of this area.
Wrap up the day with a lecture about the Northern Lights.
Arrive in Borgarnes later today and check in to the hotel. After dinner, join your fellow travelers in the hotel garden in search of the Northern Lights, followed by a cup of hot tea or cocoa.
Day 4 Snæfellsnes Peninsula
- Tour the Snæfellsnes Peninsula
- Visit the small fishing village of Grundarfjörður
- Visit a lava tube below Snæfellsnes glacier
Icelandair Hotel Hamar or similar Breakfast & lunch
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, travel along Iceland's west coast to Snæfellsnes Peninsula, known for its breathtaking landscapes of lava fields, volcanoes, glaciers, black and white beaches, and dramatic coastal cliffs. A rugged mountain chain runs its length, capped by the 4700 ft Snæfellsjökull glacier, a mystical cone-shaped stratovolcano. Enjoy a fish lunch at a local restaurant in Snæfellsnes.
Visit the small fishing village of Grundarfjörður, with its impressive coastline and mountains, lakes, and waterfalls as its backdrop. However, its most notable site is Mt. Kirkjufell, a summit reaching 1,500 ft, rising out of the bay. There is no wonder this is one of Iceland's most photographed mountains.
Next, stop at Arnastapi and Hellnar to take in the rugged beauty of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Then go underground to the Vatnshellir cave. Descend about 114 ft down a spiral staircase, and walk through the lava tube below the Snaefellsjokull glacier.
En route to your hotel, learn some practical tips on photographing the Auroras as part of the Northern Lights Academy program. After dinner, step into the hotel garden in search of the Northern Lights, or soak in the hot tubs.
Day 5 Golden Circle, Geothermal Tastes & Icelandic Horses
- Explore Hvalfjörður fjord
- Tour Þingvellir National Park
- Stop at Restaurant Geysir for freshly baked hot spring bread
- Admire the impressive Gullfoss waterfalls
- Explore Strokkur Geysir
- Tour a geothermal greenhouse
Landhotel or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, travel along the Hvalfjörður fjord.
The first stop is to visit the UNESCO world heritage site at Þingvellir National Park, where the ancient Vikings had a parliament, making it one of the oldest parliaments in the world. Equally as intriguing, Þingvellir plain sits on a tectonic plate boundary where North America and Europe are slowly tearing away. As a result, the plain is scarred by dramatic fissures, ponds, and rivers, including the great rift Almannagjá.
Stop at Restaurant Geysir, where the chef invites you to taste freshly baked hot spring bread served with Icelandic butter, boiled eggs, and herring.
Continue your journey to Gullfoss waterfalls in the canyon along the Hvítá river. Gullfoss means "Golden Falls," which comes from the golden hue that often shines in its glacial waters. Later, explore Strokkur Geysir, known as "the churn," a fountain-type geyser that spouts up to 66 ft every five to ten minutes.
Learn about Iceland's most important geothermal energy use when visiting a geothermal greenhouse. Next, enjoy an up-close look at Icelandic horses. These unique, easy-going animals are ancestors of the first Viking horses and are well known for their convenient pony size, muscular build, and fifth gait (way of walking), whereas most horses only have 3-4 gaits.
Continue to Hella in search of the elusive Northern Lights in the peace and stillness of rural Iceland.
Day 6 Natural Wonders of South Iceland & Eyjafjallajökull Volcano
- Visit the Lava & Volcano Exhibition Center
- Stop at folk museums
- Enjoy the Skógafoss waterfall
- Explore black lava beach
Fosshotel Núpar or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, journey along Iceland’s South coast. Visit the Lava & Volcano Exhibition Center to learn about Iceland’s geology and active volcanoes.
Travel eastwards to visit one of Iceland’s finest folk museums. This museum contains an outstanding collection of farm and domestic artifacts from Iceland’s past and several turf-built houses.
Continue to the Skógafoss waterfall, another must-see location in South Iceland. The crashing water creates a mist that results in frequent and magical rainbows.
Later, take a stroll on the black lava sand beach and admire the bird cliffs at Reynisfjara.
Check in to your hotel near Kirkjubæjarklaustur in the Vatnajökull National Park region, which is ideal for viewing the Northern Lights.
Day 7 Vatnajökull National Park & Glacier including Glacial Lagoon, Diamond Beach
- Tour Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
- View a turf church in Hof
Fosshotel Núpar or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryToday’s program is all about glaciers, ice, and icebergs. Travel to Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs, and explore the fantastic site. Have the opportunity to spot seals swimming in arctic waters.
Later, view the tiny turf church at Hof, dating over 130 years old.
This afternoon, spend time at Europe’s largest national park, home to Iceland’s highest mountains, an alpine environment, and Europe’s largest glacier.
This evening, enjoy a film about the Northern Lights as part of the Northern Lights Academy program.
Day 8 South Shore & Blue Lagoon
- Explore the village of Vík
- Enjoy the sites at Seljalandsfoss waterfall
- Take a dip in the famous Blue Lagoon
Hótel Klettur or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, travel across the Eldhraun lava field to the village of Vík en route to Reykjavík. The black lava beach with high bird cliffs and pounding waves is awe-inspiring. Further west, reach the tall but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which plunges from the mountain.
Later, have the opportunity to dip in the famous Blue Lagoon, water heated by a nearby geothermal power plant.
Check in to your hotel in Reykjavík.
Day 9 Reykjavik/USA
- Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA
Breakfast
Hotels
Hotel Klettur is a beautiful first class hotel, a stone's throw from downtown. The hotel is just a few steps away from the main shopping area of Hlemmur and Laugavegur street. The hotel's name is derived from the rock that is at the first floor of the hotel. The interior decorations are inspired by the unique color scheme of Icelandic nature.
Icelandair Hotel Hamar is located just 4 km north of the town Borgarnes. Here you can enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside. The hotel grounds offers breathtaking scenery, and only a short drive away from dramatic coastlines and glaciers.
Landhotel is centrally located in Landvegur, gateway to some of South Iceland's most fascinating wonders including Hekla volcano and Rainbow Mountains at Landmannalaugar.
Fosshotel Núpar is ideally located hotel in one of Iceland's most glorious landscapes; surrounded by lava fields, it offers a spectacular view of Vatnajökull, the world ‘s largest glacier outside the Arctic. Fosshotel Núpar is close to South Iceland's natural wonders such the craters at Lakagígar and the amazing Jökulsárlón, Iceland's otherworldly glacial lagoon.
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
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