Unforgettable 8-Day Northern Lights Winter Package of Iceland with Ice Caving & National Parks

Discover the majestic sights of the Golden Circle on day two of this eight-day Icelandic vacation.

You'll start the day by meeting the expert local guide leading you on the day's adventures, plus the rest of the group on the excursion. Your first stop of the day will be Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of three national parks in Iceland.

Thingvellir is where the world's first parliament was founded in the 10th century. You can still see remnants of Viking booths and assembly structures around the grounds. You'll also find a massive range of stunning natural features, including Thingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland. 

Thingvellir is also home to the Silfra fissure,  a deep crevasse filled with crystal-clear water from an underground river. It's between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates and provides a unique opportunity to get a clear view of the geological activity.

Add a snorkeling excursion in the Silfra fissure for a closer look. Snorkeling participants need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim.

When your group has finished exploring the national park, you'll continue your journey around the Golden Circle sightseeing route with a visit to the Geysir geothermal area in the Haukadalur Valley. 

Geysir is the spouting hot spring that gave all geysers worldwide their name. It's currently inactive, but you can visit its neighbor, Strokkur, which erupts every five to 10 minutes. You'll also see steam vents, fumaroles, and mud holes, all bursting with geothermal energy.

The Gullfoss waterfall is the final scheduled stop of the day, a beautiful waterfall fed with the power of glacial meltwater. You can get close to the waterfall from the viewing platforms, feeling the spray on your face as the water bursts through the winter freeze. 

If you're looking for a thrill, why not add a snowmobiling trip to your day? From the Gullfoss parking lot, you'll head onto the Langjokull glacier and zoom across the ice cap at high speeds. 

Alternatively, you can enjoy a horseback riding tour today. You'll make friends with an Icelandic horse, a breed known for its good nature and unique gait. You'll appreciate both qualities as you ride the country trails, enjoying the gorgeous views.

After an action-packed day, you'll return to Reykjavik in time for a fun evening in the city. Remember to watch out for the northern lights in the sky above as you drive back.

You'll spend the second night in the same hotel in downtown Reykjavik.

Explore the sights of the South Coast by taking an overnight trip out of Reykjavik, visiting waterfalls, black-sand beaches, and the "crown jewel of Iceland," the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

Iceland's South Coast is a popular sightseeing location thanks to its variety of natural features. You'll start your journey by heading out of Reykjavik and traveling along the coast with an experienced local guide. You'll pass lava fields and black cliffs, enjoying dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean and mighty glaciers.

You'll start with stops at two spectacular waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. They're both around the same height — about 200 feet (roughly 60 meters) — but dramatically different in appearance. Seljalandsfoss is narrow and gentle, while Skogafoss is broad and thunderously powerful.

After enjoying the views of these two mighty cascades, you'll continue your journey along the coast until you reach the Reynisfjara black sand beach. Watch the ocean waves hammering the volcanic sands and admire the contrast between jet-black sands and white snow.

You can walk along the coast and admire the view of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. Ensure you don't get too close to the water's edge, as dangerous sneaker waves can appear from nowhere.

From here, your group will continue eastward into the Skaftafell Nature Reserve in the Vatnajokull National Park. Skaftafell was formerly a national park in its own right but was absorbed into Vatnajokull in 2008. You can explore the beautiful woodland areas and view the mighty Vatnajokull glacier.

Within Skaftafell is the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, one of the most stunning sights in the whole country. Massive chunks of ice break off from the edges of the Breidamerkurjokull glacier, floating down into the lagoon and out to sea. You'll see the icebergs floating in the glacial lake before drifting ashore at the Diamond Beach.

The ice is stunning, not only because of its enormous size, but you'll be able to see the pure blue ice from the heart of the glacier, untouched by the UV rays, which turn the rest of the ice white. Seals and gulls often play here, too, so keep your camera ready!

If the sky is clear and conditions are right in the evening, you might be lucky and see the northern lights dancing above the icy lagoon. 

You'll spend the night in a countryside hotel in Southeast Iceland.

Today, you'll have the unique opportunity to visit a natural ice cave within an Icelandic glacier.

After breakfast at your accommodation, you'll rejoin the group and take a Super Jeep onto the Vatnajokull glacier. A Super Jeep is a vehicle that's been specially modified to allow for off-roading in Iceland's challenging terrain — you'll enjoy a fun ride toward the ice cap before you start your ice-caving experience.

There's a short hike from the parking area to the ice cave, so be prepared to walk across the ice — you'll need sturdy hiking boots. Boots that come up over the ankle are best, as these help your feet stay dry during the experience.

Each year, ice cave specialists scour the ice caps in Iceland to look for caves that are safe to enter. The glaciers melt and refreeze a little each day and can rapidly change the caves' layouts. This also means that no two ice caves are the same, and you can enjoy a totally unique experience.

Step inside the ice cave and enjoy the magnificent view of the crystal-blue ice and lace-like frosts. You'll see ice sculptures shaped by the whims of nature and spiky icicles hanging down from the cave's top. It's a truly magical experience, and you'll have about 45 minutes in the cave to enjoy the view and take photos.

After this breathtaking experience, you'll return to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon to admire the lake in a different light. From here, you'll journey back along the South Coast to Reykjavik. 

If the northern lights appear in the sky as you travel, your driver will stop to let your group enjoy the view and take some photos. Watching the aurora borealis twinkling over the Icelandic countryside is something you'll never forget.

You'll arrive in Reykjavik in the evening and can have a quick dinner in the city center before returning to your accommodation.

Take a trip to "Iceland in miniature" with a two-day excursion to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and West Iceland, discovering waterfalls, glaciers, black-sand beaches, mountains, and hot springs.

After meeting your guide for this two-day trip, you'll journey out of Reykjavik with the rest of your group. This is a small-group excursion, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to ask your guide questions and enjoy a personal experience.

You'll start by driving north toward the town of Borgarnes, then heading west along the Snaefellsnes Peninsulas's southern coast. You'll stop at the Ytri-Tunga beach, a golden-sand beach where seals can often be seen sunning themselves on the rocks. 

Next, you'll continue along the coast until you reach the fishing villages of Arnarstapi and Hellnar. A gorgeous coastal hiking route here will take you along the clifftops to admire the ocean views below. You'll have time to explore the trail before continuing your journey.

Your next stop is the Snaefellsjokull National Park, home to the twin-peaked Snaefellsjokull stratovolcano. The glacier-capped volcano is visible from Reykjavik on a clear day. It also served as the entrance to the underworld in the Jules Verne novel Journey to the Center of the Earth.

You can explore the national park and, if you elected to do so when booking, take an optional trip into the Vatnshellir lava cave. You'll descend into the lava cave and see the dramatic effects of a 7,000-year-old eruption.

From here, you'll visit the black-sand beach of Djupalonssandur, home to a shipwrecked fishing vessel. You'll walk through bizarre volcanic rock formations to reach the beach and see smooth volcanic pebbles and gorgeous coastal views.

Depending on your choice of accommodation when booking, you'll stay in a coastal village on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula or a cozy hotel in Borgarnes, both in West Iceland. 

If you're heading to Borgarnes, you'll have a final stop at the Kirkjufell mountain on the way. Its unique conical shape makes it highly distinctive, and it's now one of the most photographed mountains in the country. If you're staying on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, you can visit the mountain tomorrow morning instead.
 

Spend day six of your eight-day Icelandic adventure visiting the highlights of West Iceland.

If you stayed on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula yesterday, you'll start the day with a trip to Mount Kirkjufell and the Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall. Game of Thrones fans will recognize the mountain, as it appeared as "the mountain shaped like an arrowhead" north of the Wall in the hit TV show.

You'll now drive off the peninsula into West Iceland, stopping at the town of Borgarnes to admire the view of the  Borgarfjordur fjord. Next, you'll head to two waterfalls, Hraunfossar and Barnafoss.

These two waterfalls are a short walk from each other but very different in appearance. Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls formed by rivulets in a lava field, while Barnafoss is faster and more powerful.

Another popular sight in this area is the Deildartunguhver hot spring, considered the highest-flowing hot spring in Europe. The geothermal energy from this area is used to heat many homes in West Iceland.

You can explore the wooden walkways and peer down at the water. You can't swim here, as the water sits at a constant temperature of 207 F (roughly 97 C), meaning it's far too hot for humans. Your guide will tell you more about geothermal power in Iceland as you admire the views.

From here, you'll head further inland to the historic village of Reykholt, the former hometown of Snorri Sturluson. Sturluson was a prominent figure of the Icelandic Middle Ages — he was a politician, chieftain, poet, scholar, and likely the writer of the Prose Edda, a source teaching us about Norse mythology and religion.

After another fascinating day of exploration, your driver will take you back to Reykjavik. Spend the evening making the most of the city's nightlife with a trip to a nearby pub, or head straight to your accommodation to relax and unwind.

Spend your penultimate day sightseeing in Reykjavik or participating in optional excursions.

This is the last full day of your trip, so you might be glad to have the chance of a more relaxed day. You can easily spend a whole day exploring Reykjavik — there's so much to see and do.

Climb the tower of the Hallgrimskirkja church, Iceland's second-tallest building, for panoramic city views and excellent photo opportunities. 

Another popular viewpoint is at the Perlan Museum, which has a fantastic observation deck. The exhibitions inside are also a great place to learn more about Iceland's natural features. You can add a ticket to the Perlan Museum when booking your vacation.

Art lovers can spend a morning or afternoon at one of the city's best galleries. The National Gallery of Iceland is one good option. It has three separate museum buildings, so there's plenty to see. Alternatively, the Einar Jonsson Museum and Sculpture Garden is another brilliant choice.

The Reykjavik City Card could save you money if you plan to visit multiple museums. Add it to your vacation when booking to get free entry to various museums around the city and all of Reykjavik's swimming pools, plus free bus travel.

The city card also entitles you access to public transportation and the best geothermal pools in Reykjavik.

If you're in the mood for more adventure, there are some excellent optional extras you can organize for today.

For those staying in Reykjavik, a food tour could be a great way to taste some traditional Icelandic food and drink before you go home. You'll meet a friendly local guide who'll show you their favorite eating spots in the city and teach you more about Icelandic food culture.

Thrill seekers can enjoy an ATV ride that lets them zoom through the Icelandic countryside at high speeds. If you'd prefer to relax, book a ticket to the Sky Lagoon, a luxurious geothermal spa. 

Before you go to bed, returning once more to your hotel in Reykjavik, you can try one final time to catch the northern lights in all their glory by booking an additional bus tour.

It's time to say goodbye to Iceland. 

You will take the shuttle bus or a private airport transfer (if you choose to upgrade) going to Keflavik International Airport.

On your last day, if time permits, take one last look at the quirky shops of Reykjavik, have a bite to eat, pick up a few last-minute souvenirs, and take some final photos of the landmarks around town.

For those who have a later flight and choose to visit the Blue Lagoon today, you'll finish your stay unwinding before heading to the airport. This is the perfect place to relax as you bathe in the warm, mineral-rich waters and reflect on the incredible adventure you've taken in the land of fire and ice. 

We hope you've had a wonderful time in Iceland and return soon!