Winter Activity Tour Package in Iceland
Description
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Description
Have an adventure with this 8-day action-packed winter tour package. You’ll get to visit some of the most incredible locations in Iceland, including the Golden Circle, Snaefellsnes peninsula, Iceland’s South Coast, and North Iceland. This is the perfect trip for adventure-seekers keen to see all Iceland offers, including the famous spots to the lesser-known gems around the country.
You’ll start your holiday with a relaxing dip at the pristine azure waters of the Blue Lagoon, often a perfect way to relax and unwind after a long day of traveling. In the following days, you will journey through the wondrous sites of Iceland´s world-famous Golden Circle, across the stunning nature of the South Coast, delving into a blue ice cave at Vatnajokull glacier, and explore the diverse landscapes of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. Not only this, but you can also get to experience the very best North Iceland has to offer in the volcanic region of Myvatn.
On Day 7, you’ll have a choice of whether to stay and have a relaxing day in Reykjavik or to catch a flight across the country to Akureyri, the “Capital of the North”, for an incredible tour of Lake Myvatn.
Another highlight of your trip is ice caving. This activity is only available in a handful of places around the world, making your experience in the depths of an otherworldly blue ice cave in Iceland’s winter months a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You’ll be guided into the glacier-carved cave by a qualified glacier guide who will explain everything from the cave origin to what gives them their natural array of colors.
You can fully customize this tour to suit your preferences and create your own perfect holiday. Along the way, you can also add a multitude of extra activities such as snorkeling between 2 continents, horseback riding in Iceland’s rugged wilderness, and catching a glimpse of the creatures of the deep with a whale-watching tour.
By visiting Iceland in winter, you’ll also have the chance every evening to look to the skies for a glimpse of the rare and spectacular natural light show of the Northern Lights. Escaping city light pollution and getting some luck with minimal cloud cover and active solar conditions will help you tick off this incredible bucket list item.
Explore the natural beauty of Iceland in winter and create some lifelong memories. Check booking availability now by choosing a date and book your winter Iceland adventure.
Included
Map
Attractions
Activities
Daily itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival
Welcome to Iceland! It's time to explore the land of fire and ice, rich in volcanic island beauty and ample opportunities for plenty of adventure.
On your first day in Iceland, you'll catch your pre-arranged bus airport transfer right from Keflavik airport terminal, through the rugged lava field landscapes, straight to the capital city of Reykjavik.
However, if you prefer, you could instead stop off at the pristine Blue Lagoon for a relaxing dip before heading straight to Reykjavik. There you can relax in the azure geothermal waters in a lava field landscape and bathe in the world-renowned mineral-rich healing waters.
If you add the Blue Lagoon to your package, it will be arranged according to your flights. Alternatively, if you lack time to visit the Blue Lagoon on this day, it can easily be added to another day - your travel agent will be able to take care of this for you.
Once you arrive in Reykjavik, check into your hotel and freshen up. You'll be able to spend the rest of the day exploring the vibrant and quirky capital city. Take this chance to breathe in the atmosphere, try the cuisine and explore some of the famous landmarks such as Hallgrímskirkja church, Perlan observation deck, Reykjavik harbor, and the bustling streets of Laugavegur.
On this evening, after your dinner, you can take advantage of a complimentary Northern Lights tour. You'll even have the option to decide between an Aurora experience by bus or by boat.
If you're after the perfect picture, we'd recommend taking the bus tour. The reason for this is to shoot great Aurora Borealis pictures. You need to take long exposures and use a tripod, which the ship's rocking motion will impact.
However, if you're fancying a chance to watch the dancing curtains of the Northern Lights amongst the dark waters and crashing whales, then a boat trip from Reykjavik harbor can make for a fantastic and truly surreal experience.
You'll then rest up for the night in your hotel in Reykjavik.

Day 2 - The Golden Circle
On the second day of your holiday, you’ll visit the famous Golden Circle. This is the most popular tourist route in Iceland. You will get the chance to explore each of the three major attractions: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall.
You’ll also have the option of joining a horseback riding tour in the morning before heading to Thingvellir National Park. This optional extra is well worth taking advantage of as you visit one of the largest horse farms in the Reykjavik area and get to ride through the rugged wild terrains of Icelandic nature on the back of a stunning Icelandic horse with its uniquely smooth gait. During your ride, you’ll be able to take in the enchanting scenery of snow-covered mountains, volcanoes, and great white tundras.
Your first stop on the Golden Circle trail will be Thingvellir National Park, a stunning environment of great beauty and historical significance. It’s also a designated UNESCO world heritage site in honor of the world’s first parliament (Althingi), founded in 930 AD. You’ll also get to see some of the remnants of Viking booths and assembly structures on the grounds.
If history isn’t your interest, then perhaps the geology of the area will be. At Thingvellir, you will get the chance to stroll across the divide of two continental tectonic plates (North American and Eurasian plates). You’ll notice how the Earth’s forces have created great cracks, visible steam vents, rivers, and waterfalls carved into the landmass around you.
Thingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland, hosts the Silfra fissure on its shores. Silfra is a deep crevasse filled with sparkling water from an underground river, so clear that you can frequently clearly see 328 ft (100m) in front of you. Here you will get the opportunity to add a snorkeling tour to dive between two dividing continental plates in this otherworldly experience.
Next, you’ll visit the Geysir geothermal area. Here you’ll get to see the impact of the great pressures of the Earth from the volcanic soil beneath your feet. Surrounded by steam vents, bubbling mud pots, and jetting hot springs with a strong lingering mist and smell of sulfur in the air makes this an incredibly unique experience.
The Great Geysir, which subsequently lent its name to the term ‘Geyser’, no longer erupts after over 10,000 years of continuous activity. Instead, Strokkur has taken center stage as it erupts plumes of spouting hot water as high as 131 ft (40m) every 5 - 10 minutes, giving you ample time to catch numerous glimpses of this natural spout several times during your visit.
Your final stop on your Golden Circle tour will take you to the mighty thunderous Gullfoss waterfall, meaning ‘Golden Falls’. This waterfall is fed by the glacier meltwater of Langjokull glacier along the Hvita River. Gullfoss features two cascading shelves of deafening water falling 104 ft (32m) into the carving valley below. You’ll hear the sounds of the thundering clasps of water, the touch of the mist rising powerfully up, and, if you’re lucky, a glimpse of a rainbow that frequently rises from the top of the falls.
If you’re looking for some adrenaline-pumping fun, then you can also include a snowmobile tour here to whisk across the top of Langjokull glacier. Speed along the top of the glacier across the snowy white expanse while checking out the immensely stunning scenery of mountain peaks and carved valleys from every angle.
Alternatively, if you’d rather relax, on the way back to Reykjavik, you can make a stop off at the Blue Lagoon to unwind after your day of adventure in the warm, healing azure waters.
Please note that if you have arranged additional activities with your Golden Circle tour, such as horseback riding, snorkeling or snowmobiling, your visit to the Blue Lagoon will be scheduled on your arrival or departure day instead, so you will have time to take full advantage of its restorative powers at the start or end of your trip. The Lagoon itself hosts mineral-rich healing waters of tranquillity situated in a volcanic landscape which is not a place you will want to rush.
In the evening you can take the opportunity to go in search of the beautiful dancing Northern Lights. You’ll head out of the city, away from the light pollution and noise of civilization, in search of a glimpse of nature’s greatest light show.
You will then return to your accommodation in Reykjavik in the evening and get plenty of rest for your next day of adventure.

Day 3 - The South Coast
Iceland's South Coast is a diverse and beautiful area, rich in natural attractions spanning mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, lava fields, black sand beaches, and endless waterfalls.
You'll head out in the morning from Reykjavik, where you will make your way through the wondrous terrains to the spectacular waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. The former in warmer months allows you to walk behind it through a perfectly shaped cavern, whereas the latter is more powerful. According to local folklore, a treasure is buried behind Skogafoss waterfall.
Next, you'll head to the famous Reynisfjara black sand beach. Just offshore are the Reynisdrangar basalt columns. Legend has it that Reynisdrangar are the remains of two trolls caught in the light of the rising sun after leaving their cave to investigate a shipwreck.
Along the beach, you'll also see caverns of basalt rock formations, giving the area a magical yet eerie feel. Be careful not to wander too close to the waters which have, on occasion, pulled tourists out to sea with their deceitful sleeper waves.
Beyond the beach, you'll make your way to Skaftafell Nature Reserve, part of Vatnajokull National Park. This area hosts both a beautiful wooded area and one of Vatnajokull's glacier tongues. Skaftafell is full of hiking paths that criss-cross the land. As Skaftafell is nestled just beside Vatnajokull glacier, you'll get a great view of the icy tundra, with cracks and crevasses in these creeping giants. From the trail, you will also be able to see Iceland's highest peak, Hvannadalshnukur.
Your final stop of the day will be at the crown jewel of Iceland, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. It is frequently considered the best attraction Iceland has to offer. Watch as the magnificent icebergs fall from the glacier and move on their way out to the shore. Make sure you also spare some time to check out the Diamond Beach on the other side of the road, where the icebergs wash up onshore.
One of the incredible things you'll notice is the raw blue color of the icebergs which linger in the lagoon, having fallen from the glacier outlet. They keep their blue color for a time, avoiding UV rays when the icebergs were part of the glacier. Over time, these mighty icebergs slowly turn from blue to white after being exposed to sun rays.
In the evening, make sure to check if the sky is clear. If so, take your chance to hunt down the spectacular Aurora Borealis.
You'll then spend the night either at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon or Skaftafell Nature Reserve.

Day 4 - Ice Caving at Vatnajokull
Today's activity is one of the rarest and most incredible experiences you can have in Iceland - exploring a natural blue ice cave underneath Vatnajokull glacier.
You'll meet your professional glacier guide at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and hop into a super jeep which will take you a short drive away from the lagoon and up onto the glacier. Make sure you dress in warm and waterproof clothing and your best hiking boots to stay dry during the tour.
Each year, the glacier experts scout the area, searching for ice caves and ensuring they are safe to enter well before opening up to the public. The ice caves are unique every year, opening and closing with the glacier's constant moving, warming, and cooling. Each cave provides a one-of-a-kind experience.
The walls of the ice cave are smooth to the touch, carved by flowing water. Your guide will lead you through the crystalline blue ice cave and let you explore the great caverns of ice with ample time to take the perfect picture.
After your incredible ice cave experience, it's time to head back to Reykjavik. Before you make your journey back towards the capital, you can have a final gaze at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon during the midday light. If you're lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of some of the seals who make their home there.
In the evening, again, you will have the chance to take another opportunity to look to the heavens in search of the Northern Lights before resting up for the night.

Day 5 - Tour of Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Today you're off to the illustrious and diverse landscapes of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. You'll be picked up straight from your accommodation and taken straight to your first stop along the coast at Ytri-Tunga, a beach well known for its seal colony with dozens of seals resting on the rocks by the beach. Take your chance to watch and photograph these curious creatures in their natural habitat.
Next, you'll visit Raudafellsgja, a big narrow crack reaching deep into the roots of the mountain Botnsfjall, making it a stunning sight to witness.
After this, you'll journey further along the peninsula's south side towards the homes of two fishing villages, Arnarstapi and Hellnar. You'll have around an hour at Hellnar to take your time to walk along the beautiful basalt cliffs and watch the powerful sea move between the awe-inspiring rock formations that jet out along the shores.
The next stops are Djupalonssandur and Dritvik, two beaches that were once fishing centers of Iceland. Here you'll discover magnificent rock formations and bizarrely shaped stones and pebbles covering the beach.
Your final activity of the day will be a pristine and picturesque hike to Londrangar. This consists of a pair of basalt columns towering to 230 ft (70m).
In the evening, once more, you'll have the chance to spot the Northern Lights in the incredible terrain of the Snaefellsnes peninsula to make the experience that much more magical.
Tonight you'll stay in accommodation in another seaside village on the peninsula to rest and recuperate for your next day of adventure.

Day 6 - Snaefellsnes Tour Continues
Today, you'll continue to explore the sights of the stunning Snaefellsnes peninsula, with a heftier focus on the northern side. You'll start your day of sightseeing at the illustrious Mount Kirkjufell, which sits just outside the small fishing village of Grundarfjordur as the most photographed mountain in the whole of Iceland. 'Kirkjufell' translates directly to 'Church mountain', but it's more commonly recognized nowadays as the "mountain shaped like an arrowhead" featured in the hit HBO show, Game of Thrones.
Just by the car park, you can take a short walk up to the small waterfall Kirkjufellfoss to get the perfect angle for your picture of this stunning stand-alone mountain. Whether you are trying to capture the shot of the mountain from Bran's vision or Sandor Clegane's spot from Game of Thrones, this location is a favorite of travelers to our shores.
After this stop, you'll make your way towards the Borgarfjordur area to see two waterfalls, Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. Hraunfossar is made up of a series of waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming over a mineral-rich lava field, created by an eruption of one of the volcanos lying under Langjokull glacier. Barnafoss is equally a magnificent, powerful waterfall a short walk upstream from Hraunfossar, where you can cross over the falls at different points for some stunning perspectives.
Your last stop of the day will take you to admire Deildartunguhver. This is the highest-flow hot spring in Europe, which can heat a great number of the homes in the West of Iceland.
You'll finish your day driving through the quaint town of Borgannes on your way back to your hotel in Reykjavik for the night.

Day 7 - Your Choice: Reykjavik vs. Myvatn Day Tour
On this day, you can take a slower-paced day by exploring the fascinating streets of the capital city at your own pace, or opt for an adrenaline-pumping ATV experience or even fly to the North to explore a new landscape.
Option 1 - Explore the Vibrant and Quirky Reykjavik
Spend your time sightseeing at your own pace in the capital. Check out some of the most famous landmarks such as Hallgrimskirkja church, Perlan observation deck, the quirky restaurants of the harbor region, or the bustling shops and bars of Laugavegur main shopping street.
Alternatively, if you're more interested in checking out some more of the city's culture and history, be sure to visit some museums and art galleries. History-lovers should not miss the National Museum of Iceland or the Saga Museum. Art-lovers could try the three locations of the Reykjavik Art Museums and the National Gallery of Iceland.
If you're feeling adventurous, you could visit the beautiful peninsula of Seltjarnarnes, which hosts a peaceful nature reserve, golf course, and Grotta Lighthouse at the tip. When passing Reykjavik harbor, you could also opt-in for a whale watching tour to try and catch a glimpse of some of the great creatures of the deep, which bless Icelandic waters.
Option 2 - An ATV Adventure
Why not take a thrilling experience instead if you feel you have the energy for it? This option will see you picked up from your accommodation in Reykjavik and taken to the ATV base camp just outside the city.
Once you arrive, you'll be fitted with all the necessary gear and given a safety briefing. From here, you'll be able to take your ATV over the rugged and wild terrains of the surrounding Icelandic countryside. You'll be speeding your way through some of the most stunning local landscapes and experiencing a different side of Iceland's fast-moving and exciting culture.
After your experience, you'll be taken straight back to your accommodation in Reykjavik, where you will be able to spend the rest of the day at your own pace exploring the sights and sounds of the city.
Option 3 - The Geothermal Wonder of Lake Myvatn
With this option, you'll fly from Reykjavik's domestic airport to the "Capital of the North", Akureyri. Once there, you'll have a day experiencing some of Iceland's most incredible sights, such as Lake Myvatn and Godafoss waterfall and the Namaskard geothermal area.
Your guide will pick you up in Akureyri and take you to your first stop, Godafoss waterfall. The name of this waterfall translates to 'Waterfall of the Gods'. According to a local legend, the law-speaker of Iceland threw his carved idols of Norse gods into the water on his way home from the parliament meeting in 1000 AD. It was the same year that Christianity was lawfully declared as the official religion in Iceland.
Next, you'll visit one of the gems of the north, Lake Myvatn. This otherworldly winter wonderland is filled with craters and a vast frosty lake, home to thousands of birds in summer. You'll also pass through the strange and beautiful geothermal area by Namafjall mountain, called Namaskard.
Incredible vast expanses, emptied by the sulfurous energy of the enormous geothermal field, dominate the landscape. The very ground beneath your feet will be warmer than usual as you wander among the hot springs, fumaroles, and mud pots that make this place seem almost like a living entity.
This tour option includes two flights: from Reykjavik to Akureyri and back again in the evening. We will arrange this for you so you can focus on the experiences and attractions.
Before you head for bed in your accommodation in Reykjavik, you can take a final attempt to catch your last glimpse of the splendor of the Northern Lights before heading home the next day.

Day 8 - Farewell to Iceland & Departure
On your last day, you can take a final look around the shops and make sure you get any last-minute souvenirs to take home. Equally, take this as your last opportunity to take a look around, have a bite to eat, or visit some of the sights you may have missed.
For those of you who have a later flight and chose to visit the Blue Lagoon today, you will finish off your trip by relaxing and rejuvenating in the mineral-rich waters before heading off to the airport to catch your flight. It is the perfect way to end your trip by relaxing in the warm azure waters and reminiscing on all of the adventures you've had during your stay in the land of fire and ice.
If your flight is a little later, you'll find plenty of things to do on a slower-paced day in Reykjavik. If you have an earlier flight home, we wish you a safe and pleasant journey.
We hope you've had a fantastic and memorable time in Iceland, and we'd love to welcome you back soon!
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 weather allows. Please be aware that your itinerary may have to be rearranged to fit your arrival date and time better.
It can happen, in the case of extreme weather, that an activity is cancelled. If your chosen activity is cancelled, 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.