Northern Lights Exploration

Day 1 Welcome to Reykjavik!

Welcome to Iceland! Upon arrival, you'll board a transfer coach marked "Flybus" and be whisked off to your hotel in Reykjavik. The rest of the day is yours to explore the colorful city, visit a museum or two, and get to know the area!

Day 2 Reykjavik - Borgarfjörður Saga Valley

Today, you'll be introduced to your tour guide, who will take you through the capital city. Then, you'll head west to the Saga Valley to learn about the area's history and to climb the Grabrok volcano crater and visit Europe's most powerful hot spring that averages about 200 degrees Fahrenheit! The afternoon will include a lecture about the Northern Lights, which will be followed by dinner. After that, you will gather in the hotel garden to see if you can catch your first glimpse of Aurora Borealis! 

Day 3 Snaefellsnes Peninsula

The Snæfellsnes 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. Visit the fishing village of Grundarfjörður, a place with an impressive coastline and mountains, lakes, and waterfalls behind the village. One of the most photographed and famous mountains 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 Snæfellsjökull! 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.

Day 4 Golden Circle

The first stop of the day will be along the Hvalfjordur fjord. Peruse the offerings of an authentic Icelandic wool outlet store, then continue on toward Thingvellir National Park. Travel the Golden Circle route and look for the steam rising from the geothermal pools. Filled with hot springs, bubbling pools, and geysers, this stop will be a highlight of the trip! Here, you'll get to sample fresh bread, and geothermically boiled eggs and herring. After that, you'll see Gullfoss, a double waterfall which falls 100 feet into the Hvita River. That afternoon, you'll get to meet friendly Icelandic horses and visit a geothermal greenhouse. Once you reach your accommodations for the night, you will step into total darkness to search for the Northern Lights. 

Day 5 South Iceland

Today we travel along the South coast. At the Lava & Volcano Exhibition Center, 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 Skógafoss waterfall which is 60 meters high and one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country. In the afternoon take a stroll on the black lava beach and along bird cliffs at Reynisfjara in South Iceland. We spend two nights near Kirkjubæjarklaustur in the Vatnajökull National Park region, located in darkness and ideal for Northern Lights search.

Day 6 Skaftafell National Park - Vatnajökull Glacier

Learn all about glaciers, icebergs, and ice on today's adventures! Travel to Jokulsarlon, a glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs and swimming seals. Walk on the iceberg-studded black sand beach then spend time in Europe's largest national park. In the evening, you will see a film presentation on the Northern Lights before you venture back outside to watch for the lights. 

Day 7 South Shore - Reykjavik

Start the day by crossing over the Eldhraun lava field to the village of Vik for photos. In the afternoon, you will soak in the famous Blue Lagoon! After a fun-filled day, you'll return to Reykjavik for one last night.

Day 8 Depart Iceland

After a week of exploring, searching, climbing, soaking, and discovering, you will be met by Flybus at the hotel, then be taken to the airport to board your flight home.