Weekend 4-Day Northern Lights Tour of South Iceland from Reykjavik
Description
Summary
Description
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Iceland under the northern lights with this long weekend trip from Reykjavik. This vacation package is designed for those who wish to witness magnificent landscapes and the magic of the aurora borealis while on a short getaway in one of the world's quirkiest capitals.
Your unforgettable winter trip in Iceland begins with a convenient bus ride to Reykjavik upon your arrival at the Keflavik International Airport. For the next three days, you'll enjoy exploring some of the most beautiful attractions Iceland offers.
This holiday will allow you to enjoy the beauty of Iceland's spectacular nature as you will be traveling with local guides. Their insider knowledge about the stops in your itinerary adds a special touch to the experience.
Likewise, their local connections can enhance your trip and provide opportunities you might not have otherwise discovered.
On your first day, you'll spend hours basking in the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa and join a thrilling hunt for the northern lights by bus or boat.
Both experiences are included in the tour price but with room for upgrades, such as combining aurora hunting with an ATV ride.
Alternatively, you can start your northern lights hunt with a visit to an aurora museum, learning all about the science and folklore of this ethereal natural wonder before journeying out of the city to spot it.
On days two and three, a minibus will take you to the countryside to see the most prized highlights of the Golden Circle and the South Coast.
The Golden Circle is a scenic route in Southwest Iceland, famous for its geological wonders. Your guide will take you to its main features: the Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and the Gullfoss waterfall.
During your time on the South Coast, you'll see more diverse attractions that define Iceland as the land of fire and ice. The itinerary includes visits to two waterfalls, volcanic black sand beaches, glacier volcanoes, rugged cliffs, and more.
You'll have the chance to opt into exciting activities such as glacier hiking, horseback riding, and even winter snorkeling in addition to the planned day trips. You can add these optional activities to your itinerary during the booking process.
On top of this, you won't have to organize hotels in different parts of the country, drive yourself, or coordinate tours. Instead, you'll stay in comfortable accommodation in Reykjavik for three nights, with your trip details sorted before your arrival.
In case of queries and assistance, a personal travel agent is also ready to help you any time of the day.
In the event of any unexpected changes to your travel plans, there's no reason to worry. You can cancel your reservation with a complete refund up to 24 hours before departure.
Book this four-day winter vacation to explore otherworldly Icelandic landscapes and marvel over the aurora borealis. Check availability now by choosing a date.
Included
Activities
Daily itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Iceland
Your northern lights vacation begins when you land at Keflavik International Airport. A convenient shuttle bus will be waiting to escort you to a hotel in the capital, from which you’ll enjoy this long weekend in Reykjavik.
On your way to Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik, you could stop at the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. This world-famous spa boasts healing therapies, azure water, and an ambiance of total serenity.
Adding the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa to your itinerary will be arranged according to your flights. If there is no time to visit the lagoon today, it can be added to another day. Your travel consultant will be able to arrange this for you.
If you arrive before evening, you can take one of the three tours in the hunt for winter’s most extraordinary phenomenon, the aurora borealis.
You can head to the icy slopes of Mount Hafrafell, just outside the city, to race around the beautiful landscapes on an ATV. After an hour of adventure, a bus will pick you up and escort you into the dark surroundings in search of the lights.
On a cruise, you’ll set out from the city’s harbor into the still waters of Faxafloi Bay, providing magnificent views of the Reykjavik skyline and the fjords and volcanoes of the west. When the sky turns dark, there are few better places to admire the aurora.
Finally, you could instead elect to take a more personalized minibus tour, before which you will have admission to the Aurora Reykjavik Museum.
Here, you can learn about the science and folklore surrounding the northern lights and helpful information on spotting and photographing them.
If you have time before your tour, be sure to explore Reykjavik. It is a beautiful city with interesting architecture and many public artworks, like the Sun Voyager statue.
There is plenty to see and do in Reykjavik if you have extra free time.
Tonight you’ll stay in comfortable accommodation in Reykjavik.
Day 2 - The Classic Golden Circle Sightseeing Route
After a fantastic start to your holiday, you will spend your second day getting further out of the city and exploring the Golden Circle sightseeing route on a guided tour. One of the most famous trails in the country, it has three iconic sites that show the diversity of Iceland.
Since you're on a guided tour, expect a more immersive experience as you visit each location. You'll learn about the attractions' history and most exciting trivia. You're also free to ask your guide questions if anything piques your interest.
First to see on your itinerary is the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site on the island, Thingvellir National Park. Not only is it the birthplace of modern democracy in the country, but it boasts a landscape of beautiful waterways, forests, and lava fields.
While here, you can opt into a snorkeling tour, in which you are equipped with a drysuit and guided through a crystal clear stream in the Silfra ravine. Snorkeling participants must be comfortable in the water and able to swim.
The second attraction of the Golden Circle sightseeing route is Strokkur, a geyser that ejects steaming water to great heights of around 66 feet (20 meters). It is located in the Geysir geothermal area, home to many vibrantly colored hot springs and fumaroles.
Finally, you'll reach a powerful, two-tiered waterfall thundering in an ancient valley, Gullfoss waterfall. The cascade is a beautiful sight to behold in winter when snow and ice formations surround it.
If you elect to do so when booking, you can choose to add a snowmobiling trip after your time at Gullfoss waterfall. You'll set off to the nearby Langjokull glacier and zoom across its gleaming, beautiful surface.
The third choice of the tour is a ride on an Icelandic horse, where you'll explore the serene countryside of South Iceland like the first settlers.
In the evening, if you didn't get a chance to see the northern lights the night before, you will have another opportunity tonight before heading back to your accommodation in Reykjavik.
Day 3 - The Diverse South Coast
On the third day of your winter vacation, your adventure brings you to the South Coast of Iceland, home to many of the country’s most diverse and stunning attractions, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean.
The South Coast boasts two incredible waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss Waterfall and Skogafoss Waterfall. Both face out to the ocean and stand at an impressive 197 feet (60 meters) tall, though they differ in every other way.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall is narrow, with a massive cavern behind it, carved by the ocean centuries ago. Tourists can walk on this cavern to view and photograph the water curtain from behind or at any angle they prefer.
Skogafoss waterfall, however, is much more powerful and has fascinating folklore of hidden treasure. You can view its cascade from a flat valley on the bottom or hike toward the top cliff.
To make your visit to Skogafoss waterfall extra special, beautiful rainbows are familiar sights above the waterfall’s water curtain on a sunny day.
Behind this waterfall are the glaciers of Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull, both of which conceal notorious volcanoes. If you choose to, when booking, join a glacier hiking tour and scale the magnificent outlet of Solheimajokull glacier for some spectacular views.
The glacier hike includes gear and equipment to keep you safe while exploring the beautiful terrain. Your guide is also ready to assist you during the adventure.
Further along the South Coast, you’ll come to Reynisfjara, a beautiful black sand beach with dramatic, powerful waves, towering sea stacks, and great views over the enormous rock arch of Dyrholaey.
Here, you’ll turn back and return along the South Coast route back to the capital. If the sky turns dark, keep a keen eye out for the auroras. Of course, you are welcome to add on another northern lights tour if you are eager for another hunt.
Tonight, you’ll return to your accommodation in Reykjavik.
Day 4 - Departure from Iceland
Your fourth day is sadly the last of your long weekend in Reykjavik. If you have an early flight, you may only have time to say a quick goodbye to the capital city as you take your Flybus back to the airport.
However, you can fit in one more adventure if you have a late departure.
If traveling before the end of October, you can take an excursion only offered in Iceland, descending into the magma chamber of a dormant volcano.
Large enough to easily fit the Statue of Liberty and dyed vivid colors, it is an incredible place to marvel over the volcanic forces of the earth.
Those who would rather see Iceland’s landscapes from another angle can opt for one of two flightseeing tours in a helicopter or small plane.
Such excursions, which leave from the domestic airport, provide spectacular views over the magnificent mountainous landscapes surrounding the capital and are a unique way of admiring the city.
You can also spend the last day of your long weekend in Reykjavik, walking its charming streets, shopping for souvenirs in its boutiques, admiring its public artworks, and exploring its museums and galleries.
For those who have a later flight and choose to visit the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa today, you will finish your stay unwinding before heading to the airport.
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is the perfect place to relax as you bathe in the warm, mineral-rich waters and reflect on the incredible adventure you have just taken in the land of fire and ice.
You’ll reach the airport with plenty of time to drop off your luggage and check-in for your flight. Once in the terminal, you can relax, shop, or grab a drink from the bar while waiting for your flight.
What to bring
Good to know
The northern lights are a natural phenomenon, and therefore cannot be guaranteed, but this itinerary is designed to maximise your chances to see them if the weather allows. Please be aware that your itinerary may have to be rearranged to fit your arrival date and time better.
Those who opt to go snorkeling must be comfortable in the water and able to swim, and must present medical documents before snorkeling or diving.
It can happen, in the case of extreme weather, that an activity is canceled. If your chosen activity is canceled, we will assist you with rearranging or booking other activities when possible, and any potential price difference will be refunded to you.
Note that Icelandic roads and pavements can be slippery in the wintertime. We recommend you bring shoes with slip-resistant soles or ice-grip shoe covers. The covers can be purchased in most supermarkets and gas stations around the country.
Accommodation
See our accommodation levels below and our preferred accommodation partners under each day in the daily itinerary. Super budget level accommodations will be arranged in hostel dorm beds. For budget and comfort levels, bookings for one person will be arranged in single rooms, and bookings for two or more people will share a twin/double or triple room(s). For quality level, odd number groups will always be allocated a single room. If you are travelling in a group, but prefer a single room, please make separate bookings. Teenagers and children will be arranged in the same room with parents. If additional room(s) is needed, additional costs will incur. Guide to Iceland will provide you with the best available accommodation at the time of your booking from our preferred partners. If our preferred partners are fully booked at the time of your booking, we will find another suitable accommodation for you of similar level. We always do our best to accommodate special requests, which may incur additional costs. Press choose a date to find availability.
Dormitory beds with shared bathrooms in guesthouses or hostels, such as HI Hostels. Located in the capital region. Breakfast is not included.
Private rooms with shared bathroom in guesthouses or hostels such as Capital Inn Guesthouse. Located in the capital region. Breakfast is not included.
Rooms with a private bathroom at three-star hotels such as Hótel Klettur, or quality guesthouses. Located in the city centre or in close vicinity. Breakfast is included.
Rooms at four-star design hotels in the city centre with a private bathroom at the absolute best locations downtown such as Hotel Alda. Breakfast is included.
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