Iceland Complete Winter Aurora Edition

Arrival and Optional Northern Lights Tour

Day 1: Upon arrival, head through passport control, collect your bags and go through customs to the Arrival Hall. The FlyBus transfer shuttle is waiting outside the arrival hall. Please show your confirmation information to the attendant on board and let him or her know the hotel you are using in Reykjavík. Important: The FlyBus is a shared bus transfer. You will not be met directly in the airport by a driver. Overnight stay in Reykjavik. Ingolfur Arnarson, the first settler of Iceland, built his farm on the peninsula where Reykjavík stands today. The town got its name “Smoky Bay” after the columns of steam that rose from the hot springs in the area and made such a deep impression on the first settlers. Dinner is on your own. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland's capital. Please note guaranteed early check-in is not included in the price. Most hotels begin check-in between 14:00 and 16:00 (2:00pm and 4:00pm)

Geysir - Gullfoss - Skogar - Dyrholaey - Vik

Day 2: Breakfast at your hotel. Start the day with a short city sightseeing of Reykjavik. From Reykjavik head through the greenhouse village of Hveragerdi. Head on to the Golden Circle natural wonders. Explore Gullfoss, the ""Golden Waterfall"", and the nearby Geysir hot spring area to see the famous Geysir and Strokkur, as well as numerous other hot springs and boiling mud pools. Continue along the south shore and stop to admire the waterfalls Seljalandsfossand Skogafossbefore continuing to Dyrholaey and the black sand beaches of Iceland’s South Shore. Continue to the village of Vik. Dinner and overnight in the south coast area. Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this evening

Vatnajokull National Park - Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon - Hofn

Day 3: Breakfast at your hotel. Continue your journey on the Ring Road. Cross Eldhraun, the largest lava flow recorded on the planet in historical times. Visit Kirkjubaejarklaustur town, the former site of a 12th-century Catholic convent. The tour continues over Skeidararsandur sands to Skaftafell, a beautiful glacial area within Vatnajokull National Park. Continue to the stunning Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon to see the birthplace of icebergs. Throughout the day you will also enjoy magnificent views of the mighty Vatnajokull Glacier. Dinner and overnight stay in the Hofn area. Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this evening

Hofn - East Fjords - Egilsstadir

Day 4: Breakfast at your hotel. Drive from Hofn through Almannaskard pass, stopping to admire the majestic coastline. Continue to the towering mountains plunging vertically into the sea that form the magnificent East Fjords. Enjoy the amazing views: keep an eye out for wild reindeer, which can sometimes be seen in the area during the winter months. You’ll also pass villages, each with its own special history and charm. The road brings you to Egilsstadir town, located near Iceland’s largest forest and a lake said to be home to a legendary (friendly) monster. The area is also getting a name for itself for its excellent locally-sourced cuisine. Dinner and overnight stay in the Egilsstadir area. Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this evening

Lake Myvatn Area

Day 5: Breakfast at your hotel. Explore the empty vastness of the highland desert plateau Modrudalsoraefias you head towards the Lake Myvatn area. On the way, stop at Dettifoss, Europe's largest and most powerful waterfall.Continue onwards to Namaskard pass with its boiling mud pools and vibrant colours. Explore the natural beauty of the Lake Myvatn area, including the pseudo craters at Skutustadir and the Laxa Salmon River. Dinner and overnight stay in the Myvatn area. Northern lights Wake-up call option available this evening"

Lake Myvatn Area - Akureyri - Siglufjordur

Day 6: Breakfast at your hotel. Start the day by exploring the peculiar lava formations at Dimmuborgir. Visit the magnificent Godafoss waterfall and the old turf farm Laufas. Afterwards, visit Akureyri, the colourful northern “capital „of Iceland. The town has charming buildings and beautiful view of the Eyjafjordur Fjord. After spending some time in Akureyri, continue along the coastal roads of Eyjafjordur and the Troll Peninsula. This is a beautiful drive along steep mountains with amazing views over the Arctic Sea and black sand coastline. The destination is Siglufjordur, set in a beautiful fjord of the same name. This town has some of the finest timber buildings in the country, beautifully restored to their original glory. Siglufjordur is a very picturesque and easily walkable town for an evening stroll. Dinner and overnight in Siglufjorður. Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this evening

Skagafjordur - Borgarnes

Day 7: Breakfast at your hotel. This morning visit Siglufjordur’s award-winning Herring-Era Maritime Museum. The museum recreates the atmosphere of the early 20th century, when Siglufjordur was transformed into a frontier boom town, thanks to a large migration of herring. Afterwards, head along majestic mountains and narrow passes to Skagafjordur, considered to be one of the finest places in Iceland for horse breeding. Enjoy an introduction to the unique Icelandic horse breed with its special fifth gait - the tolt. Continue towards the village of Blonduos, built on both sides of the river Blanda. Hrutey Island, a protected nature reserve, sits within the centre of this popular salmon river. Cross the Holtavorduheidi plateau through Borgarfjordur to the beautiful town of Borgarnes. Dinner and overnight stay in Borgarnes area. Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this evening

Borgarfjordur - Thingvellir - Reykjavik

Day 8: Breakfast at your hotel. Drive to Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe. Stop to admire the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfalls before continuing via Hvalfjordur fjord to Lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland's largest lake and Thingvellir National Park. This UNESCO heritage site is where the world‘s oldest continuing parliamentary government was founded in the 10th century. It is also the place where the North American and European tectonic plates meet. Overnight stay in Reykjavik. Dinner is on your own.

Departure

Day 9: Breakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight. Transfer to the airport not included. We advise departing your hotel no later than three hours before your international flight. Transfer to the international airport by bus for your departure flight.