All-Inclusive 5-Day Vacation Package in Iceland
Description
Summary
Description
Witness the most glorious highlights of Iceland over five days with this immersive, all-inclusive winter vacation. Those who wish to marvel over the northern lights, explore a crystal blue ice cave, and visit the country's most famous attractions should look no further than this trip.
Despite lasting less than a week, every day of this incredible Icelandic experience will provide unforgettable memories of the country.
You'll visit the hot spring areas, waterfalls, national parks, glaciers, and volcanoes that make Iceland's nature world-renowned as you traverse the famous Golden Circle and South Coast sightseeing routes.
While every day will be packed with adventure, you will spend every night hunting for the aurora borealis. The northern lights, the country's most breathtaking winter attraction, can appear anytime when the sky is dark and clear.
On the first night of your trip, you will take a bus into the nature around Reykjavik or a boat from the harbor to search for the northern lights.
Each subsequent evening, you can set out independently from your accommodation in the hope of witnessing a grand display, with your chances maximized when you're in the countryside.
While in this spectacular part of the country, you will explore a crystal blue ice cave, an adventure only possible at a few select places on Earth and under particular conditions.
Ice or glacier caves are spectacular places of vivid color and surreal light that all winter guests should see.
Other than aurora hunting and ice caving, an entrance package to the luxurious Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is included in your trip.
You also have the opportunity to add more exciting activities to your itinerary during the booking process, such as snorkeling, snowmobiling, and horseback riding.
After tailoring your action-packed, all-inclusive winter holiday to your desires when booking, you don't need to worry about booking hotels, organizing excursions, or finding bus transfers.
This top-rated winter package features four nights' accommodation, airport transfers, a detailed itinerary, and a personal travel agent to contact for assistance or queries.
To make your vacation even more stress-free, you won't have to drive on Iceland's wintry roads, as all your adventures will be led by experienced, friendly guides.
They will ensure your safety during the trip while enriching it with thrilling trivia and local tales about each attraction on your itinerary.
If your plans change and you need to cancel, you are entitled to a full refund up to 24 hours before your scheduled departure.
Make the most out of five days in Iceland with this immersive winter vacation with ice caving and northern lights hunting. Check availability now by choosing a date.
Included
Map
Attractions
Activities
Daily itinerary
Day 1 - Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights
On the first day of your short winter getaway in Iceland, you will land at the country's biggest airport, Keflavik International Airport (KEF). After making your way through customs, you'll find your bus transfer waiting to take you to your accommodation in Reykjavik.
On your way to Iceland's capital city, Reykjavik, you can stop at the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. This world-renowned spa is known for its healing waters, vivid azure colors, and luxurious treatments.
It is in the middle of a moss-covered lava field, giving it an otherworldly atmosphere.
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.
There is plenty to see and do in Reykjavik if you have extra free time.
Once you reach your hotel in the capital, you may have time to explore before your northern lights tour and can check out the local architecture, public art, museums, and boutiques.
When evening falls, you will set out to hunt the aurora borealis on one of two unique adventures.
Firstly, you could embark on a bus tour that will take you out into the dark nature around the capital in any direction the sky is clear. You can marvel over the northern lights surrounded by spectacular landscapes.
Alternatively, you could head out from the harbor into the beautiful Faxafloi Bay. You will have minimal light pollution on the still waters, surrounded by the silhouettes of distant mountains and volcanoes, providing conditions for the perfect show.
If you don't see the northern lights on your first night, you may try again until you do.
After a successful northern lights hunting trip, you'll retire at your accommodation in Reykjavik.
Day 2 - The Golden Circle
On the second day of your winter vacation in Iceland, you will explore the sights of the Golden Circle sightseeing route. This route includes three of Iceland's most iconic attractions, and as you travel around them, you'll have exciting excursions to add to your day.
The first major attraction of the Golden Circle sightseeing route is the Thingvellir National Park, the first UNESCO World Heritage site of mainland Iceland.
Though it has received recognition due to its fascinating role in developing democracy, it is also a place of incredible natural beauty and geological wonder.
The Thingvellir National Park has dramatic ravines, sparkling springs, and abundant woodland directly between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
The second sight you will visit is Strokkur, an active geyser in the Geysir geothermal area. Guests can marvel every five to 10 minutes as it ejects water to heights that reach up to 131 feet (40 meters).
There is plenty to admire between eruptions in the geothermal valley, with many other bubbling hot springs and steaming vents.
Finally, you will visit one of the most magnificent waterfalls in Iceland, the Gullfoss waterfall. Thundering with such power that it barely freezes over in winter, it pours down two steps into a magnificent canyon along the Hvita River.
If you want to add an extra sense of adventure to today, you can take a snowmobiling tour from Gullfoss waterfall, which will take you flying across the gleaming slopes of Langjokull glacier.
Alternatively, you could take a countryside horseback ride through the beautiful nature of Southwest Iceland, tailored to both novices and experts.
Another choice is to embark on a winter snorkeling tour in the Silfra ravine in the Thingvellir National Park. Protected by a drysuit, you'll be led through a crystal clear spring, able to see deep through the vividly blue waters. Snorkeling participants need to be comfortable in the water and able to swim.
After a day of breathtaking sightseeing and unforgettable adventure, you'll return to your hotel in Reykjavik. If you still have the energy, seek out the city's dark spaces to hunt for the northern lights, or check out one of the acclaimed restaurants or bars.
Day 3 - South Iceland & Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
You'll traverse the spectacular South Coast on the third day of your Iceland winter vacation. This journey will introduce you to incredible, ever-changing landscapes, glittering seascapes, and some of this island's most stunning attractions.
After being picked up in the morning, the first natural wonder to see is Seljalandsfoss waterfall. This narrow cascade pours off a great cliff facing the ocean before a vast cavern, allowing visitors to admire it from unique perspectives.
Continuing along the South Coast, you will get glimpses of the glaciers of Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull, which conceal notorious volcanoes.
The next major attraction, however, is a second waterfall, the much more powerful Skogafoss waterfall. Not only is this a spectacular natural feature, but it has fascinating associated folklore and is said to conceal the treasure chest of a giant.
Next, you will come to Reynisfjara beach. This stretch of coast is stunning and ominous, with its black volcanic sands and enormous waves, earning international recognition as one of the world's most beautiful non-tropical beaches.
The geology here is also breathtaking, with the great sea stacks of Reynisdrangar and the distant rock arch of Dyrholaey.
After stopping for refreshments at the nearby village of Vik, you'll continue eastward, and tongues of the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajokull Glacier, will dominate the scenery.
When stopping at the spectacular Skaftafell Nature Reserve, a paradise for hikers and photographers, you'll get close to one.
On your short trek here, you'll also see the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall, which tumbles down a cliff with hexagonal basalt columns.
Finally, you will reach Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, 'the Crown Jewel of Iceland's Nature.' This vast glacier lagoon is filled with icebergs of vivid blue and gleaming white, which tower as tall as multistorey buildings.
Guests are welcome to walk along the shoreline and marvel at them as they rotate, groan, and break apart on their long journey to the ocean.
When they finally make their way through a narrow channel from the lagoon to the sea, they wash onto the shores of the adjacent black sand shoreline, Diamond Beach. The contrasts between the ice and sand are mesmerizing, particularly in the evening light.
If you are lucky, you'll see the aurora borealis over one of these magnificent attractions before heading to your nearby countryside hotel.
Day 4 - Crystal Ice Cave under the Largest Glacier of Europe
On the penultimate day of your Iceland winter getaway, you will enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore a crystal blue ice cave.
You will set out early with your guide to a remote area of Vatnajokull glacier, be dressed in all the necessary safety gear, and then follow them into one of the world’s most spectacular places.
Vatnajokull glacier is the largest glacier in Europe, covering approximately 10% of Iceland’s landmass. This massive glacier is known for its stunning ice formations, deep crevasses, and dramatic glacial landscapes.
The way light penetrates the caves, the vividness of the blues, and the spectacular textures and formations that nature has carved are so mesmerizing that they appear otherworldly. No two ice caves are the same as they melt and freeze with the passing seasons.
You will have plenty of time to explore and take photographs as your guide tells you how they were formed and other fascinating facts about the glaciers. You can also ask them questions if you’re curious about the cave’s structure.
After this unforgettable exploration, you’ll begin your return journey along the South Coast. Your journey will provide a new perspective on the fantastic sights you marveled over the day before, and you will make several stops to see some attractions under different conditions.
The sky will likely fall dark before you get back to the city, allowing you to have a chance to see the northern lights in the winter skies. Keep an eye out the window of your minibus in the hope of catching another display of the magnificent aurora borealis.
Once you get back to Reykjavik, you can either continue your hunt by heading to one of the many natural spaces in the city or enjoy the lively nightlife of the world’s northernmost capital.
The city comes to life at night with charming bars and pubs downtown.
Day 5 - Departure
Today is the final day of your winter vacation in Iceland.
If you have a late departure, this is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in Reykjavik. Iceland's culture is as fascinating as its nature is beautiful, and there are many things to do that will appeal to all guests.
The restaurants are internationally acclaimed, the museums are fascinating, the architecture is beautiful, and the streets are quirky and inviting. The city has even more charm during winter, becoming a festive wonderland.
When sharing your unforgettable trip moments on social media, capturing photos of Reykjavik's iconic cultural attractions is a must. The downtown area of Reykjavik is brimming with these popular sites.
One of the city's renowned landmarks is the Hallgrimskirkja church, considered the most beautiful in Iceland.
Its architectural style draws inspiration from the basalt lava flows found throughout Iceland's landscape, remarkably resembling the cliffs of the Svartifoss waterfall in the Vatnajokull National Park.
The church's tower soars to an impressive height of around 74.5 meters (244 feet) and offers an excellent vantage point for a panoramic view of the city and its surrounding landscapes.
The church boasts impressive features such as high ceilings, clean lines, and a minimalist design.
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 while looking back on the incredible adventure you have just taken in the land of fire and ice.
Get to Keflavik International Airport early to drop off your luggage and check in 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 maximize your chances to see them if the weather allows. Please be aware that your itinerary may have to be rearranged to better fit your arrival date and time.
Some optional activities might need a valid driver's license, or you might need to send additional information to your travel planner.
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 in Reykjavik
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.
For multi-day guided tours, accommodation cannot be upgraded and the levels below do not apply. 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 center or in close vicinity. Breakfast is included.
Rooms at four-star design hotels in the city center with a private bathroom at the absolute best locations downtown such as Hotel Alda. Breakfast is included.
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