Perfect 6-Day Northern Lights Vacation in Iceland
Description
Summary
Description
Book the perfect Icelandic vacation and spend six days exploring the highlights of the land of fire and ice, with trips to the Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, South Coast, and more. Travelers who want to maximize their chances of seeing the beautiful northern lights while they enjoy an action-packed getaway in Iceland will love this package vacation.
Traveling to Iceland in winter can be tricky if you aren’t used to driving in wintery conditions. Booking this package means you don’t need to worry about this, as we’ll organize all your accommodation and transportation for you. We’ll also save you time planning your route, ensuring you see Iceland’s best bits without the stress of organizing it yourself.
This top-rated package includes a detailed itinerary to give you clear information and details about each attraction you visit. You’ll also have expert guides on hand to keep you safe at each destination, and you can phone a personal travel agent 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you have any questions or problems.
If your plans change at the last minute, you can cancel the trip for free up to 24 hours before your scheduled departure and receive a full refund.
Your six-day adventure includes the exciting opportunity to witness the northern lights. You’ll spend four nights in central Reykjavik, plus one night in a beautiful countryside hotel on the South Coast.
You’ll get to visit some of Iceland’s most iconic landmarks, including the stunning sights of the Golden Circle. Marvel at the Gullfoss waterfall, watch boiling water erupting from the Strokkur geyser, and wonder at the beauty of Thingvellir National Park.
Your package also includes a ticket to the world-famous Blue Lagoon spa. Fully unwind as you bathe in the tranquil blue waters, surrounded by a mossy lava field on the dramatic Reykjanes Peninsula.
You can also visit the interior of a majestic ice cave set within one of Iceland’s glaciers. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the beauty of a glacial cave — they change and move with the glacier, so no two visits are the same.
To make your vacation even more special, you can add optional excursions to your trip. Go snorkeling in the Silfra Fissure at Thingvellir National Park, or take a horseback-riding tour through the countryside near the Golden Circle.
Get an adrenaline rush with an ATV ride or a snowmobiling tour of an Icelandic glacier. You can also add a day trip to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, known to Icelanders as “Iceland in miniature,” thanks to the enormous variety of its natural attractions.
Make the most of this perfect six-day vacation to Iceland's spectacular winter landscapes, complete with a unique northern lights hunting tour. Check availability now by choosing a date.
Included
Map
Attractions
Activities
Daily itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Iceland with Blue Lagoon Option
Welcome to Iceland! Enjoy your first day in the land of fire and ice by exploring Reykjavik and enjoying a northern lights hunting tour.
When your flight lands at Keflavik International Airport, you'll collect your luggage and board the pre-booked shuttle bus to Reykjavik, the world's northernmost capital. Depending on your flight's arrival time, you may have time to spend a few hours sightseeing once you've checked into your accommodation.
Reykjavik has a small population but is a vibrant, bustling city with plenty to entertain visitors. You'll find several excellent art galleries and fascinating museums to teach you about Icelandic culture and history. You can also visit the Hallgrimskirkja church, one of the country's highest buildings, for a sweeping view over the city's rooftops.
Head to the city's coastline to see the Sun Voyager sculpture, then go to the Old Harbor to look at the Harpa Concert Hall.
When you're ready for dinner, try some traditional Icelandic food in one of the city's world-class restaurants, and head to a pub for a drink with some locals. Ensure you don't linger too long, as now it'll be time for your exciting evening tour to hunt for the northern lights.
The aurora borealis appear over Iceland's skies between September and March, but the best time to see them is in the depths of winter. The northern lights don't usually appear over Reykjavik, as the city has too much light pollution. Taking a northern lights hunting tour maximizes your chances of spotting the lights as you head away from the city's lights.
When booking your vacation package, you can choose to take a bus tour into the Icelandic countryside or a boat tour of Faxafloi Bay. On both tours, an experienced local guide will take you to an area with low cloud cover, consulting an advanced aurora forecast to predict where the lights will appear.
The northern lights are a natural phenomenon, so there's no guarantee you'll see them during your trip — but taking a tour with experts will increase your chances.
After a beautiful evening spent (hopefully) watching the aurora borealis dancing in the sky above, you'll return to your accommodation in downtown Reykjavik for a good night's sleep.
Day 2 - Highlights of the Golden Circle
The second day of your perfect Iceland vacation will take you on a guided tour along the Golden Circle, the country's most famous sightseeing route.
The first site you'll come to is Thingvellir National Park. This beautiful valley is located directly between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, both of which can be seen as you walk through the forests and lava landscapes.
If you want to swim between the continents, you can book a Silfra snorkeling tour here and witness an incredible underwater world. Participants need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim.
Next, you'll come to the Haukadalur Valley, home to the famous Geysir geothermal area. Geysir itself isn't very active today, but the nearby Strokkur geyser erupts every five to 10 minutes. In the moments between its dramatic eruptions, there are plenty of bubbling hot springs to marvel over.
The third attraction is the Gullfoss waterfall. Though beautiful throughout the year, it's particularly stunning in winter when icicles cling to the rocks surrounding it.
In addition to the snorkeling experience in the Silfra Fissure, you can add two optional excursions today. Explore Iceland's countryside on horseback with a horseriding tour, or enjoy a thrilling snowmobiling ride over the Langjokull glacier.
On the way back to the city after the Golden Circle tour, you'll stop at the world-famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa for a sensory experience. Release all your tension and let the azure waters soothe tired muscles and joints from yesterday's flight.
Please note that if you have arranged additional activities with your Golden Circle tour, such as snorkeling, horseback riding, or snowmobiling, the Blue Lagoon will be scheduled on your arrival or departure day instead to ensure you have time to take full advantage of its restorative powers.
The Lagoon is world-famous for its healing, mineral-rich waters. You'll want to relax here and take your time bathing and enjoying a soothing face pack.
You'll return to your accommodation in Reykjavik in the evening.
Day 3 - South Coast Tour Day 1 with Jokulsarlon Lagoon
Embark on a two-day sightseeing tour of Iceland's South Coast, an area packed with stunning natural features.
You'll start the day by meeting the expert local guide leading you on this small-group excursion. Board the minibus and start the journey out of Reykjavik. You'll follow the Ring Road along the South Coast, stopping at various points of interest.
Your first stop is the magnificent Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which sits in front of a vast cavern. You'll then head to the nearby Skogafoss waterfall, which is the same height as Seljalandsfoss but far broader.
Your route will continue along the coastline, passing the Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull glaciers on your left and the stunning Atlantic Ocean on your right. You'll break up the journey at the Reynisfjara black-sand beach. It's the perfect place to see the volcanic sands Iceland is known for — if it's snowy, the sand will contrast beautifully with the white ice and snow.
You might recognize the beach, as it has appeared in various films and TV shows, including Game of Thrones and Star Wars: Rogue One. Snap a few photos of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks before you return to the bus.
The day's final destination is often called the "crown jewel of Iceland," and you'll quickly see why. The Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is a spectacular lake at the mouth of a glacier, filled with enormous icebergs in vivid blues and gleaming whites. They drift in the vast lake, which is also home to numerous seals.
The icebergs also wash up on the sandy shoreline next to the lagoon on Diamond Beach. You'll have the chance to walk along the beach and see the icy structures up close.
It's a long journey to the Jokulsarlon lagoon, so it will likely be dark when you arrive. Don't worry — you'll have time to see it in daylight tomorrow. If the aurora forecast looks good, you might even be lucky enough to see the northern lights dancing above the lake before you leave.
When ready, you'll check into a local countryside hotel in Southeast Iceland to enjoy a peaceful night's rest.
Day 4 - South Coast Day 2 with Ice Caving
Step inside a glacier with an incredible ice-caving tour under the Vatnajokull glacier on day four of this six-day winter vacation.
After breakfast at your country hotel, you'll begin the day's adventure with a once-in-a-lifetime tour of an ice cave. You'll meet an experienced glacier guide who will provide you with the necessary safety gear. After a quick safety briefing, you'll go onto the glacier and toward the ice cave.
Your guide will handpick a cave for its spectacular beauty. The caves reappear each winter as the ice caps melt and refreeze and change as the glacier moves, meaning no two visits to the caves are the same. You'll enjoy a unique tour you'll remember for years.
Inside the glacier, you'll see bright blue ice in otherworldly shapes and structures. Your guide will tell you how the ice caves form as you explore the icy cavern and take beautiful photos.
After a truly unforgettable time out on the ice, you'll return to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon to see the beautiful lake in the daytime. Here, you can see the mighty glacier tongue that created the lagoon. Don't forget to watch for seals swimming in the lake!
It'll now be time to travel back toward Reykjavik. It's about 235 miles (roughly 380 kilometers), so it'll be a long drive. After a busy day out on the ice, you can take a nap as you go. Your driver will stop to point out the northern lights if they appear in the sky above.
Witnessing the aurora borealis dancing over the Icelandic countryside after a day inside an ice cave would surely be a highlight of this exciting trip.
When you arrive in Reykjavik, you can return to your accommodation or make the most of the city's nightlife. Reykjavik is known for its excellent bars and pubs, so enjoy a drink before bed if you've got the energy!
Day 5 - Reykjavik and Optional Snaefellsnes Peninsula Tour
Enjoy free time sightseeing in Reykjavik, or add a day trip to the magnificent Snaefellsnes Peninsula on your last full day in Iceland.
Locals often call the Snaefellsnes Peninsula "Iceland in miniature" because it has a variety of different natural attractions. Anything you can visit in Iceland, you can also see in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula — glaciers, volcanoes, mountains, black-sand beaches, and more.
You'll visit the stunning Djupalonssandur beach (home to the historic lifting stones) and the "arrowhead" mountain from Game of Thrones (known more accurately as the Kirkjufell mountain). You'll also see a glacier-capped stratovolcano at the Snaefellsjokull National Park.
The Snaefellsjokull volcano is visible throughout the Snafellsnes Peninsula — it's even visible from Reykjavik on a clear day. You'll quickly understand why its dramatic presence has inspired many artists, including Jules Verne, who used it as a setting in his novel A Journey to the Center of the Earth.
The day trip to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula is included in the vacation package, but if you'd prefer to stay in Reykjavik, you can book a free day in the city instead (for a reduced price). You'll find plenty of sightseeing opportunities in the city. Visit one of the city's best art galleries, such as the Einar Jonsson Museum and Sculpture Garden or the National Gallery.
You can also learn more about Icelandic history and culture at the Settlement Exhibition at Reykjavik City Museum. Or, why not discover the marine life in Icelandic waters at the Whales of Iceland Museum?
Whale lovers can also take advantage of a whale-watching boat tour from Reykjavik's Old Harbor. Alternatively, if you haven't had enough excitement, you can take an exhilarating ATV tour through the Icelandic countryside instead. Zoom across hills, valleys, and rivers on an all-terrain vehicle.
Whatever you decide to do, your final full day in Iceland will be one to remember. You'll spend the last night in your accommodation in Reykjavik before your flight home tomorrow.
Day 6 - Farewell to Iceland
It's time to say goodbye to Iceland.
Depending on your flight's departure time, you might have time for further sightseeing today. Spend the morning exploring more of Reykjavik, or talk to your travel agent to organize your Blue Lagoon ticket for today.
Winding down in the milky-blue waters of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is a perfect way to round off an Icelandic adventure. You can soak in the waters and reflect on your experience in the land of fire and ice.
When ready, take the Flybus to Keflavik Airport and board your plane. We hope to see you again in Iceland soon!
What to bring
Good to know
The northern lights are a natural phenomenon and, therefore, cannot be guaranteed. This itinerary is designed to maximize your chances to see them if the weather allows.
Those who opt to go snorkeling must be comfortable in the water, able to swim, and must present medical documents before snorkeling or diving.
In the event of extreme weather, certain activities may be canceled at short notice. If your chosen activity is canceled, you can contact your personal travel agent to help you with rearranging your activity or booking another. Any potential price difference will be refunded to you.
Icelandic roads and pavements can be slippery in the winter. We recommend bringing shoes with slip-resistant soles or ice-grip shoe covers, which you can purchase in many supermarkets and gas stations around Iceland.
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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