Northern Lights & Ice Caves

Day 2: The Golden Circle

Breakfast 07:00 – 10:00 

08:30 Golden Circle Day Tour

Thingvellir National Park

Geysir Hot Springs

Continue on to Geysir Hot Springs, known to have been active for at least the last 10,000 years! There are more than a dozen hot water blowholes with Strokkur being of the most active geysers in the world! It spouts hot water and steam at a height of 20 – 25 metres every 5 – 8 minutes. The geothermal field has a surface area of around 3 km². Most springs align along a 500m long strip of land. Culminating near what was once the seat of the lords of Haukadalur.

If no Northern Lights were spotted the night before:

21:00 Complementary Northern Lights Tour
With your guide, drive out into the countryside and escape the city light pollution. We focus on small groups and personal experience. You will be sharing your guide and minivan with max. 18 people.

Your guide will decide the route on the day of travel. Basing the route on the day’s aurora forecast and cloud cover. This is to maximise your chances of spotting the Northern Lights. Potential destinations include Lake Thingvallavatn at Thingvellir National Park, Reykjanes peninsula’s lava fields, or the Borgarfjordur area.

Recommended: Warm clothes and sturdy shoes! Don’t forget your camera and tripod for Northern Lights photography.

Overnight stay in a standard double/twin room at 3-star or 4-star hotel

Day 3: South Coast & Northern Lights

Breakfast 07:00 – 10:00 

09:00 South Coast & Northern Lights
The South Coast of Iceland has so much to offer and to see. This part of the country is rich in magnificent and diverse landscapes. Discover active volcanoes, ice caps, glacier outlets and rivers, amazing waterfalls, farmlands, and black sand beaches made of basalt rock formations. The area is also renowned for its abundant birdlife.

On the tour, you’ll learn about Iceland’s geology, rich landscapes and culture. After getting picked up, your route will start at Highway #1. On the way, stop to visit some of the main highlights of the southern coast. Favourites include Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, two stunning waterfalls that flow from Eyjafjallajokull glacier. The glacier sits on top of the volcano that erupted in 2010, affecting air traffic in Europe at the time.

Black Sand Beaches

Your next stop will be to Reynisfjara black sand beach. Explore fascinating basalt rock formations and black volcanic sand. This beach is unlike any other. Close by, the lunch break will be at Vik village. Visit the local wool factory before the journey back to Reykjavik.

Continue the drive east past scenic views of glaciers and mountains to Skaftafell. Here you’ll be staying the night in a cosy guesthouse with private facilities.

Overnight stay in standard rooms with private facilities (breakfast included).

Day 4: Ice Caves & Lagoons

Breakfast 07:00 – 10:00 

09:00 Ice Caves & Lagoons
With a qualified guide, venture into the sparkling blue and white world of ice caves. Your first stop is Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon with magnificent floating icebergs. Next, Vatnajokull glacier. After exploring the ice caves, stop at Skaftafell National Park. Have one last amazing hike through the magnificent mountain and glacier scenery.

Jokulsarlon translates to ‘Glacier’s River Lagoon’. The glacier lagoon is one of Iceland’s natural crown jewels, and rightly so! The lagoon formed from melted glacial water and grows while big blocks of ice crumble from the ever-shrinking glacier. The icebergs that break away from the glacier and fall into the lagoon slowly melt and drift out to sea. The black beach is nicknamed ‘Diamond Beach’. You will see why as the majestic cluttering of ice sculptures resemble diamonds glistening in the sun.

Vatnajökull the largest glacier in Europe

Your next stop will be to Iceland’s largest glacier, Vatnajokull. Icelandic ice caves differ from most others in that they form based on the changing weather conditions. Old ice caves shift and new ones form, starting as canals that run through or at the bottom of the glacier in summer. Once the flow of water in the cave is reduced and it gets cold enough to strengthen the ice, the ice caves are completely formed.

The final stop will be at Skaftafell, the second national park of Iceland. After being joined with Vatnajokull National Park in 2008, the combined 12,000 km² making it the largest National Park in Europe. Covering around 12% of Iceland’s surface, the park is also home to Vatnajokull. The third-largest glacier in the world, and the largest glacier in Europe.

On the way back to Reykjavik, look out for the Northern Lights! Arrival time is between 21:00 – 23:00.

Overnight stay in a standard double/twin room at a 3-star or 4-star hotel

Last Goodbyes to Iceland

Get your last scenic photos and breaths of fresh Arctic air before your return. The Flybus airport transfer gets you back to the airport.

Flight departs from Reykjavik