This small group tour led by an expert guide travels through the scenic west and along the spectacular south shore. Aurora watching is the prime focus and as the itinerary covers a lot of ground, most of it rural, your chances of sightings are maximised. In fact, this trip has a 85-98% track record of seeing the northern lights.
As the name would suggest, this holiday has it all. Although the focus is on optimising aurora sightings, your days will be filled with a comprehensive exploration of the areas you travel through Iceland.
Explore the best of west and south as you discover the Golden Circle, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, the Blue Lagoon, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and black lava beaches. You will have an opportunity to climb a volcano, visit a shark farmer and Icelandic horse farm, see turf farmsteads and embark on a fjord cruise. There are also a few optional excursions you can add on including an ice cave tour at Vatnajokull glacier (from mid-November to mid-March) and an optional northern lights boat cruise in Reykjavik.
Accommodation, set in rural or semi-rural locations, has been carefully chosen to enhance the likelihood of northern lights sightings.
Itinerary and Accommodation
After your transfer check in at your hotel for your overnight in the capital. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore or relax as you wish, or even take part in an optional excursion (at additional cost).
Overnight in Reykjavik
After breakfast meet your guide at 09:00 in your hotel reception. Start the day with a city tour of Reykjavik before heading west to Borgarfjordur also known as Saga Valley. Along the way you get a chance to climb the Grabrok volcano crater and visit Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring. Stop and marvel at Hraunfossar waterfall, a series of waterfalls pouring from beneath a wide lava field and then onwards to Barnafoss.
In the evening enjoy a lecture on the northern lights.
Overnight near Borgarnes.
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula 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. Visit the fishing village of Grundarfjörður, a place with an impressive coastline and mountains, lakes and waterfalls behind the village. One of the most photographed and famous mountain in Iceland, Kirkjufell, can be seen jutting out into the bay. Visit Arnarstapi and Hellnar before experiencing the area from below, inside Vatnshellir cave. We take you 35 meters underground and about 200 meters into the lava tube under the glacier Snæfellsjökull! On the way back to Borgarnes the guide will give you some practical tips on how to photograph the Auroras. Once darkness falls head out to the hotel garden to chase the Northern Lights and to soak in the hotel’s outdoor hot tubs.
Overnight near Borgarnes
After enjoying the scenic Hvalfjordur fjord, the first stop is at an Icelandic wool outlet store, to see what is made from all that wool. Then continue to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and part of the Golden Circle route. Continue to Geysir geothermal fields to see Strokkur erupt then stop at Restaurant Geysir to taste some freshly baked hot spring bread served with Icelandic butter, geothermally boiled eggs and herring.
Then its onwards to see two-tiered waterfall, Gullfoss. In the afternoon you will find out more about the unique Icelandic horse and visit a geothermal greenhouse. Arrive at your accommodation in a rural location and enjoy and evening in anticipation of the aurora, perhaps from the hotel’s hot tubs.
Overnight in Hella
Spend the day exploring the south coast. Stop at the Lava Centre and learn about the geology of the island and its active volcanoes. Travelling further east visit one of Iceland’s folk museums and then it is onwards to the 60 metre high Skogafoss, one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country. In the afternoon take a stroll on the black sand beach and along bird cliffs at Reynisfjara.
Spend the next two nights Kirkjubaejarklaustur
Lava Centre
The day is all about glaciers, ice and icebergs. The first stop of the day is Jokulsarlon, a glacial lagoon with waters dotted with icebergs which calve from the surrounding Breidamerkurjokull glacier. On the adjacent black sand beach, aptly nicknamed ‘Diamond Beach’, are small icebergs thrown back by the ocean. In the afternoon visit the tiny turf church in Hof and spend some time at Europe’s largest national park which is home to Iceland’s highest mountains, an alpine environment, and Europe’s largest glacier. In the evening enjoy a film presentation about the northern lights.
There is an opportunity to take part in an Ice Cave Tour available between November 15th and March 15th (optional and payable locally).
Depart Kirkjubaejarklaustur and head across the Eldhraun lava field to the village of Vik with its impressive black lava beaches, pounding waves and high bird cliffs. Continuing west, stop at Seljalandsfoss which plunges from the mountain at the head of Thorsmork valley. In the afternoon we get to soak in the famous Blue Lagoon before returning to Reykjavik.
Overnight in Reykjavik.
Blue Lagoon
Transfer to Keflavik Airport for your flight home.
Prices
What's Included
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Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
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All breakfasts
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Hot spring tasting with geothermal cooked bread & eggs
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Visit to Lava Exhibition Centre
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Skogar folk museum & turf houses
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Entrance to Blue Lagoon including towel
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Services of driver/guide
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24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £2585 Excluding Flights
7 Nights
Jan-Apr & Sep-Dec
Group Size
This escorted group requires a minimum of 5 participants in order to operate, and will have a maximum of 16.
Note: on occasion tours may exceed the maximum number indicated – please refer to our booking conditions for more details
Private departures
Please contact us for a private departure on any date suitable for you. This itinerary can be tailor made to fit your requirements and group size.
Make this trip yours
Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.
Eric
3
Favourite Canadian lakes
34
Countries visited
Departure & price guide
From prices are per person in a room with private facilities.
Private departures
Please contact us for a private departure on any date suitable for you. This itinerary can be tailor made to fit your requirements and group size
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
Experts with real experience
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Rosie
Travel Specialist
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Kieran
Travel Specialist
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Doug
Travel Specialist
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Eric
Travel Specialist
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Dawn
Head of Customer Experience
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Phoebe
Travel Specialist
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Jenna
Travel Specialist
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Jo
Travel Specialist
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Gary
Travel Specialist
