Northern Lights Exploration

Day 1, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday:

WELCOME to ICELAND

Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from Keflavik Airport to your accommodation in Reykjavík, where you spend the night. We provide you with ideas how to explore Iceland's capital on your own.

Overnight location:
Hotel Klettur. Dinner is on your own. (50km / 31mls)

Driving distance: 50 km/31 mls

Day 2, Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday:

REYKJAVIK CITY TOUR & BORGARFJÖRÐUR SAGA VALLEY

At 09:00 meet your tour guide who shows the group the highlights of Iceland's exciting capital. Then we head west. Borgarfjörður is known as the Saga valley because of its many important historical events. We get a chance to climb the Grábrók volcano crater and get warmed at Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring which produces 180 liters per second of water that is nearly boiling - 97° Celsius. Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls pouring from beneath a wide lava field. Barnafoss – the Children’s falls, is nearby with its own tragic tale. We spend two nights in Borgarnes, West Iceland. The afternoon includes a lecture about Northern Lights. After dinner, we step into the hotel garden in search of the Northern Lights followed by a hot cup of chocolate or tea.

Overnight location:
Hotel Hamar. Breakfast included. Lunch and dinner is on your own. (245km / 152mls)

Driving distance: 245 km/152 mls

Day 3, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday:

SNÆFELLSNES PENINSULA & FJORD CRUISE

The Snaefellsnes Peninsula, “the peninsula of the snowy mountain“, juts out from Iceland’s west coast, like a long arm with a clenched fist at its tip, and is in many ways a microcosm of the whole island. A rugged mountain chain runs its length. A uniquely Icelandic “treat“ awaits at Bjarnarhofn, where they make Hakarl – the fermented shark. Visit the fishing village of Grundarfjordur, a place with an impressive coastline and mountains, lakes and waterfalls behind the village. One of the most photographed and famous mountain in Iceland, Kirkjufell, can be seen jutting out into the bay. Visit Arnarstapi and Hellnar before experiencing the area from below, inside Vatnshellir cave. We take you 35 meters underground and about 200 meters into the lava tube under the glacier Snafellsjokull! On the way back to Borgarnes the guide gives you some practical tips on how to photograph the Auroras as part of the Northern Lights Academy program. Naturally, once darkness falls, we are out in the hotel garden to chase the Northern Lights and to soak in the hotel’s outdoor hot tubs.

Overnight location:
Hotel Hamar. Breakfast and lunch included.  Dinner is on your own. (215km / 134mls)

Driving distance: 250 km/155 mls

Day 4, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday or Monday:

GOLDEN CIRCLE, GEOTHERMAL TASTE & ICELANDIC HORSES

Today we travel along the Hvalfjordur fjord. The first stop is at an Icelandic wool outlet store, just to see what they do with all those sheep! We continue inland to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We travel the Golden Circle route and see steam rising from the Geysir geothermal fields as we arrive. There is a variety of hot springs and bubbling pools. The original geyser is now dormant but has been replaced by Strokkur "the Churn" which erupts at 5-10 minute intervals. The chef of the Restaurant Geysir invites you to taste freshly baked hot spring bread served with Icelandic butter, geothermally boiled eggs and herring. It is best served with a small glass of Geysir Schnapps, very cold – nearly freezing. On we travel to Gullfoss, a double waterfall that tumbles 34 meters into the Hvítá river and attracts tourists and travellers in summer and winter. In the afternoon, you learn about the Icelandic horse, its special qualities and history and visit a geothermal greenhouse, before we reach the accommodation in South Iceland. Tonight, step into the darkness and search for the elusive Northern Lights, while best enjoyed from a comfortable hot tub in the garden of the hotel, amidst the peace and stillness of rural Iceland.

Overnight location:
Landhotel near Hella. Breakfast included. Lunch and dinner is on your own. (260km / 162mls)

Driving distance: 220 km/136 mls

Day 5, Thursday, Saturday, Monday or Tuesday:

NATURAL WONDERS OF SOUTH ICELAND & EYJAFJALLAJOKULL VOLCANO

Today we travel along the South coast. At the Lava & Volcano Exhibition Center we learn about geology and active volcanoes. Further east we visit one of Iceland's finest folk museums. This museum contains an outstanding collection of farm and domestic artifacts from Iceland's past and several turf-built houses. Nearby is Skogafoss waterfall which is 60 meters high and one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country. In the afternoon we take a stroll on the black lava beach and along bird cliffs at Reynisfjara in South Iceland. We spend 2 nights near Kirkjubaejarklaustur in the Vatnajokull National Park region, located in darkness and ideal for Northern Lights search.

Overnight location:
Fosshotel Nupar. Breakfast included. Lunch and dinner is on your own. (225km / 140mls)

Driving distance: 220 km/136 mls

Day 6, Friday, Sunday, Tuesday or Wednesday:

SKAFTAFELL NATIONAL PARK & VATNAJOKULL GLACIER

Today’s program is all about glaciers, ice and icebergs. We travel to Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs, and we explore the amazing site and might see seals swimming in arctic waters. You can walk on the black sandy beach, the so-called Diamond beach, where large icebergs get stranded. In the afternoon we visit the tiny turf church at Hof and spend time at Europe’s largest national park, which has Iceland’s highest mountains, an alpine environment, and Europe’s largest glacier. In the evening enjoy a film presentation about the Northern Lights as part of the Northern Lights Academy program. Be careful not to go to bed too soon in this remote and quiet location, or you may miss out one more chance of seeing the Northern Lights shimmering and dancing across the night sky.

New: Optional Ice Cave Tour offered between November 15th and March 15th

Experience a spectacular crystal ice cave in Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajökull. It is like standing under a frozen blue ocean or in a frozen cathedral surrounded by millions of shades of blue. Deep under Iceland's massive Vatnajökull glacier, beautiful caves of ice are formed by rivers of melt water during the summer time. Too dangerous to visit in the spring and summer due to a threat of collapse, cold winter temperatures strengthen the ice and make exploration possible and safe to visit between November 15th and March 15th (subject to change). The tour takes about 2,5 hours in total - about 30 minute drive by 4x4 vehicle from the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and 5-15 minutes hike (one-way). You spend about one hour inside the ice cave. You need good hiking boots, warm clothing that keeps you dry from the dripping water in the ice cave. Minimum age is 10 years old. The ice cave tour can only be booked on day 2 of Northern Lights Exploration tour. You will have to fill in and sign an order form, once done a cancellation is not possible. Ice cave bookings have to be finalized with the guide by dinner time on day 2 of the tour.  Payment is due with the ice cave tour operator on day 6 in Icelandic Krona – cash only! The ice cave explorers meet their local guide at the glacier lagoon at 14:00 and will be brought back to the hotel after the ice cave tour, while the rest of the group continues the official tour program. The ice cave explorers will miss out on some of the official tour program, as there is not time for everything, but the stop and visit at the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is included for all group members. The current price (subject to change) is 23000 ISK.

Overnight location:
Fosshotel Nupar. Breakfast included. Lunch and dinner is on your own. (197km / 122mls)

Driving distance: 280 km/174 mls

Day 7, Saturday, Monday, Wednesday or Thursday:

SOUTH SHORE, REYKJAVÍK & BLUE LAGOON

From Kirkjubaejarklaustur we head across the Eldhraun lava field to the village of Vik, where we make a photo stop. The black lava beach with high bird cliffs and pounding waves is very impressive. Further west we reach the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall which plunges from the mountain. There is a trail that goes behind the falling water and offers interesting views, if you are prepared to get wet! In the afternoon we soak in the famous waters of the Blue Lagoon, before returning to the hotel around 7pm, when the tour ends and you are free to spend the evening at your leisure.

Overnight location:
Hotel Klettur. Breakfast included (375km / 233mls)

Driving distance: 370 km/230 mls

Day 8, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday:

DEPARTURE HOME

Individual transfer by Flybus airport shuttle from your accommodation in Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport.

Breakfast included. (50km / 31mls)

NOTE: Itineraries may be subject to change at short notice during severe weather conditions and certain outdoor activities/day trips may be cancelled during the winter season in Iceland. In these rare cases, where situations of force majeure apply, excursions/activities cannot be refunded but the local guides will try their best to find reasonable alternatives where and whenever possible.

Driving distance: 50 km/31 mls