5 Day Northern Lights Winter Vacation with the Golden Circle, South Coast, Reykjavik & Blue Lagoon

Today, you’ll get to visit Iceland’s most popular attraction, the Golden Circle. This trio of destinations will show you how diverse this little island at the edge of the Arctic Circle can be.

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Your first stop today will be Þingvellir National Park where the Viking settlers founded Iceland’s parliament, Alþingi, over a thousand years ago. Þingvellir is not only a site of great historical importance but also a geographical wonder as the park is neither located on the Eurasian tectonic plate nor the North-American one, but in a rift valley between.

The plates are slowly moving apart, tearing up the landscape in the process and creating cracks and canyons in the area. One of those canyons, Silfra fissure, is filled with crystal clear meltwater from Langjökull glacier. Those who have reached the age of 14 can add on a snorkelling tour in the fissure and enjoy the unparalleled visibility of the canyon’s clear waters.

From there, you’ll move on to Haukadalur valley, a place filled with history and folklore, but most importantly, erupting geysers. At Geysir geothermal area, located in the valley, you’ll find the active Strokkur hot spring, which erupts in a 15-20 metre water column every 5-10 minutes. Remember to bring a camera so you can capture the perfect photo of your family with the erupting geyser in the background.

Last but not least is the majestic Gullfoss waterfall. Once again, the glacier Langjökull has had a helping hand in shaping Iceland's landscape. The river Hvítá, fed by this mighty glacier, rushes forth from the highlands before plunging into an ancient canyon, creating this two-tiered waterfall.

Here you can opt for a snowmobile tour on top of Langjökull where you race across the white expanse of the glacier. Those who have a driver’s license can grab the handles of the snowmobile, while those who have reached the age of six can sit at the back as passengers, making it a family-friendly activity.

Alternatively, you can choose to spend your evening visiting the spectacular Fagradalsfjall volcano, which is currently erupting on the Reykjanes Peninsula. This 5-hour-long hiking excursion will provide you with an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime perspective of this primordial phenomenon.

You’ll then head back to Reykjavík where you will spend the night.

Today you’ll explore the beautiful South Coast and see cascading waterfalls, majestic glaciers and a stunning black sand beach.

You’ll be picked up in a minibus in the morning and whisked away to the first attraction of the day, the high and narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall. This stunning cascade flows over a concaved cliff face where a cave is visible underneath the curtain of water. In the winter, the waterfall is lit up with strong lights making it seem even more magical.

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You’ll then move on to another equally beautiful, but utterly different, waterfall; Skógafoss. It is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, with a width of 25 metres and a 60-metre drop. According to local legend, a treasure is buried behind the flowing water.

As you travel between these cascading beauties, the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull will be visible in the north. If you’d like to explore a glacier better, you can add on a hike on Sólheimajökull, one of Mýrdalsjökull outlet glacier. Glacier hiking is a fun, family-friendly activity where participants over the age of 8 can trek across the ice cap and discover a new world of ice sculptures and blue crevasses.

An alternative glacier adventure on this day is to explore a naturally formed ice cave. Each autumn, local guides hike up Mýrdalsjökull glacier to hunt for the perfect natural ice cave. On an Ice Cave tour, those who have reached the age of 12 are taken up the glacier, which covers the volcano Katla, to explore this natural wonder and see how the blue and white of the glacier mixes with jet-black ash from past volcanic eruptions.

From there you’ll visit the stunning black sand beach at Reynisfjara. The beach is edged in by cliffs of dark basalt columns which create a fascinating hexagonal pattern in the cliff face. Out in the ocean rise the 66-metre Reynisdrangar sea stalk resembling terrifying trolls.

Those who wish to explore the South Coast more can add on a tour during the booking process where they hop on a coach bus heading to the gorgeous Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. There, you can see enormous icebergs float peacefully on the water before they drift off to sea, and maybe a seal or two swimming by.

On your way back to Reykjavík, where you will spend the night, make sure to look up in the sky for a chance to see the elusive Northern Lights.

Today you’ll have a free day to explore the northernmost capital of the world.

Before you set out on your adventures today, you have an incredible opportunity that will forever define your impression of Iceland: a 1-hour helicopter tour over the Geldinadalur volcanic eruption. You’ll depart from Reykjavik Domestic Airport, and after admiring the colourful capital and barren Reykjanes Peninsula from above, make your way to this breathtaking phenomenon. Few adventures can compare to witnessing fire and lava rupture from the earth from such an all-encompassing perspective, and this one even includes a short landing by the site!

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After landing, you could learn about Viking settlers in the city’s many museums or check out Laugardalur area’s Family Park and Zoo. The zoo is filled with Icelandic farm animals and mammals from the wild such as sheep, foxes, seals and the Icelandic horse. If you’d like to get to know the friendly and gentle Icelandic horse better, you could opt for a horse riding tour through the Icelandic countryside, suitable for both beginners and expert riders over the age of 8.

Another option for animal-lovers is to go on a whale-watching tour from Reykjavík’s old harbour to discover the wealth of marine life just off the city’s shore.

If you’d like to explore the country a bit further, you could schedule your Blue Lagoon visit on another day and take a full-day excursion to visit the Snæfellsnes peninsula, the Ice Cave Tunnels in Langjökull glacier or a natural Ice Cave in Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

Snæfellsnes is a 90 km peninsula filled with natural wonders such as waterfalls, black pebble beaches, and lava fields. It also has a tall and mighty glacier covering an ancient volcano that was featured in Jules Verne’s classic novel ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’.

At the Ice Cave Tunnels in Langjökull, you’ll get to travel through a maze of intricate tunnels that have been carved into the glacier. Everybody from the age of 2 will enjoy this fun and informative journey that is usually only reserved for scientists and glacier experts. You'll travel through the dozens of tunnels and learn how glaciers are formed, how they move, and how climate change is affecting them.

You could also choose to take an adrenaline-filled ATV adventure. In this extra activity, you will be picked up from your accommodation in Reykjavik. You will then head to the ATV base camp not far from the city. Once you are there, you will be fitted with all the gear you will need, and given a safety briefing. You will then head through the incredible natural landscapes of the area. You will have plenty of time to stop and take pictures throughout this 2-hour experience. When you are done, you will then be taken back to your accommodation in the city.

You’ll then spend your last night in Iceland at your accommodations in Reykjavík.

Now it is time to say goodbye to Iceland. For those who have a later flight and choose to visit the Blue Lagoon today, you will finish off your stay unwinding before you head to the airport. This is the perfect place to relax as you bathe in the warm, mineral-rich waters as you look back on the incredible adventure you have just taken in the land of fire and ice. If your flight is later there are plenty of things to do in Reykjavik. If you have an early flight back home, we wish you a pleasant journey.

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When it is time to leave, you’ll board the airport bus and head again to the barren lava fields that greeted you when you arrived here only a few days ago.

If you haven't visited the Blue Lagoon yet, this could be the perfect chance to soak it up before you head back home.