Unforgettable 5-Day Sightseeing Winter Tour of the West and South with Ice Caving and Glacier Hiking
Description
Summary
Description
Explore the South Coast and enjoy unforgettable Northern Lights on this 5-day tour. Visit the Golden Circle, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, and many other attractions along the way.
You will be led by a friendly guide and local expert, who will tell you all about the country’s nature and culture and keep you safe throughout. They will drive you in a minibus—which boasts free WiFi—guaranteeing you a small group. You’ll end your days at lovely countryside hotels for three nights, and for one, you’ll stay in Reykjavik.
These hotels come with private bathrooms and complimentary breakfast.
On your first two days, you’ll travel around the sites of West Iceland, marveling over the highest flowing hot springs in Europe, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, the ‘mountain shaped like an arrowhead’ from Game of Thrones, and many more attractions. You’ll have the chance to bathe in a luxurious geothermal spa and explore a lava cave.
Over your third day, you’ll head from the west to the south via the world-famous Golden Circle sightseeing route and waterfalls of the South Coast.
On days four and five, you’ll experience some of Iceland’s most incredible and sought-after attractions and experiences. You’ll witness the icebergs of the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach, explore the magical crystal blue ice caves, and trek up the slopes of an ice cap on a glacier hiking tour in the Skaftafell Nature Reserve.
Every night, your guide will keep an eye on the sky and their weather apps to help you seek out the aurora borealis, Iceland’s most beloved winter phenomenon. You’ll have an excellent chance at multiple viewings.
Guests can bring one small day bag and a larger bag up to 44 lbs (20 kg).
Embark on a fantastic five-day adventure around Iceland with glacier hiking and ice caving by grabbing your spot on this tour while availability lasts. Check availability by choosing a date.
Included
Map
Attractions
Activities
Daily itinerary
Day 1 - Reykjavik and Northern Lights Boat Tour
Check-in at your hotel around 2 PM and get settled before the tour. In the evening, make your way to the ticket office at the Old Harbor in Reykjavik and prepare to board the boat. Our guides monitor the aurora forecast and know the bay like the back of their hands, so finding the best spot to watch the Northern Lights is their specialty.
The boat will take you away from the city lights to make sure you can get the best and unobstructed view of the Northern Lights. Sit back and relax as the boat sails across the North Atlantic waves and the magical Aurora Borealis plays in the sky above!
To make the trip even more entertaining, we’ll show you our video about the Northern Lights. The footage is packed with Icelandic folklore, photos, and fun facts. The boat has a cozy café and a bar, where you can keep yourself warm and busy while waiting for the lights to appear in the sky. We also offer overalls to those who wish to keep warm and comfortable on the deck.
After watching the natural show, we’ll take you back to the harbor and you can make your way to the hotel for the night.
Day 2 - Golden Circle and The Noerhtern Lights in Vik
Today the tour brings you to Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle and its three highlights: Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss.
The first stop is Thingvellir National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a historic location where Iceland’s first Parliament, Althingi (Alþingi) was founded in 930 CE.
Thingvellir is also unique in its geology. A rift valley stretches between two tectonic plates, the Eurasian and North American. The plates slowly drift apart from each other, making Thingvellir ever-growing!
The next stop is Geysir Geothermal Area. Once an active geyser, Geysir now lays dormant. However, its neighbor Strokkur puts on a show like no other! Watch Strokkur explode with a tower of water up to 25 meters high! You won’t have to wait long to witness the natural spectacle, as Strokkur bursts out every 10 minutes or so.
The third stop is Gullfoss (the Golden Falls), Iceland’s most popular waterfall. The powerful white water Hvita River roars down in two stages before the water plunges down into the rugged canyon. The falling water creates a golden mist, and rainbows are a frequent sight right by the falls.
After visiting the Golden Circle, we make our way toward the South Coast. If the weather allows, enjoy the views of Mount Hekla on the way to Seljalandsfoss. We’ll visit this unusual waterfall that you can walk behind!
Your hotel for the night is close to Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a charming town in the South. Away from light pollution, we have good chances to see the Northern Lights. With a little luck and the right weather conditions, we can enjoy the auroras dancing in the sky!
Day 3 - Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and ICe Caving
After breakfast at the hotel, We make our way towards the East, through lava fields, desert sands, and past glaciers resting on the horizon. One of them is Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in the country.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the nearby Diamond Beach are up next on our 5-day tour. The lagoon is dotted with floating icebergs of all shapes and sizes. Many of these sit on the black sand at Diamond Beach. Blue icebergs look like diamonds on the black canvas! See if you can spot playful seals resting on the beach.
From Jokulsarlon, we’ll head to Skaftafell for a new adventure. During the winter months (October-April), we’ll step on the Vatnajokull glacier, accompanied by a certified glacier guide. We’ll also have an opportunity to visit a natural ice cave during the tour. During the summer, we’ll go to Katla Ice Cave near Vik instead of a glacier hike.
Our hotel tonight is in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area again. Before heading for a well-deserved rest, we’ll go on the Northern Light hunting adventure! Snowy peaks and glaciers make up a perfect background for watching auroras play in the sky.
Day 4 - South Coast Sightseeing
Day 4 is dedicated to the South Coast and its attractions. If the roads are clear, we’ll make a small detour to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, also known as “Bieber’s Canyon.”
After that, we’ll get a chance to visit the iconic Eldhraun lava field and your knowledgeable guide will tell you what makes it so special. Then, we will head to Reynisfjara's black sand beach. This black sand beach has been rated as one of the most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world. Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks tower right by the shore. Together with the powerful waves of the Atlantic Ocean, they create dramatic views.
Skógafoss is our next stop. The water plunges down from 60 meters height, and if you’re up for a challenge, 527 steps lead to the top of the waterfall! If the visibility is good, you can even see the famous volcano, Eyjafjallajökull, lurking above the waterfall!
In the evening, we'll return to Reykjavik and stay in a city hotel. On our way back, we'll stop for the Northern Lights if there is an opportunity.
Day 5 - Free Day in Reykjavik
Today is all about exploring Reykjavik! You have an entire day for yourself and this is your chance to get to know the city and get closer to the local culture.
There’s a lot to do in the city. Start with visiting local boutiques, cozy coffee shops, and museums. Some of them even offer the Northern Lights experience so you can see auroras in Reykjavik!
If you prefer to stay in the fresh air, walk along the old harbor, or the shoreline by the Atlantic Ocean.
Those who want the full Icelandic experience should bring their swimsuits! Relax in any of the many spas and swimming pools across the city.
Last but not least, don’t miss a chance to try traditional Icelandic food and wash it down with local drinks!
What to bring
Good to know
Each traveler is allocated a small backpack and one piece of luggage weighing up to 44 lbs (20 kgs). Extra baggage can be stored in the tour operator's Reykjavik office for a minimal fee.
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