Bucket-List 5-Day Iceland Tour Searching for the Northern Lights
Visit one of the happiest countries on earth, filled with stunning natural wonders, as you set off in search of the Northern Lights with a five-day tour of Iceland. Your adventure includes four nights of premium accommodation, a Reykjavik city tour, Northern Lights evening tour, daily breakfast, an English-speaking guide throughout and entrance fees per itinerary. Try and catch this elusive natural phenomenon on a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
DAY 1 - Arrive in Iceland, Reykjavik City Tour, Northern Lights Evening Tour*
Upon arrival in Iceland, please make your own way to the hotel (transfer not included). Most flights arrive in the early morning and your room may not be ready for you. In this case, leave your luggage with the concierge while you head out for a coffee or breakfast. Later this morning at approximately 10am, enjoy a city tour of Reykjavík. During the tour, view the old town centre, the Parliament, the harbour, the Hofdi house, and the Hallgrímskirkja Church, whose steeple is a Reykjavík landmark. Then, visit the Pearl vantage point, a remarkable building unique to Iceland. Built in 1988, the Pearl is a glass dome constructed atop huge tanks in which natural hot water is stored for heating the city. It offers great views of the capital area and beyond. Next, visit the Northern Lights Center, followed by a view of the new Harpa Concert and Conference Hall.
After the city tour, take some time to rest, as the Northern Lights search can last late into the evening. Tonight, join your Tour Manager for an Orientation Meeting. Then search the skies for the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), among the most spectacular phenomena on earth. The Northern Lights originate from the sun, where large explosions and electronic storms throw charged solar particles deep into space. This solar wind is caught by the Earth’s magnetic field on the south and north poles. The solar particles collide with atmospheric gases and create this wonderful light effect. This evening, hope to see these lights swirling and dancing across the sky, endlessly changing colour, shape and size*.
*Northern Lights tour is subject to correct weather conditions and sightings cannot be guaranteed. If the tour is cancelled locally, another Northern Lights tour will be offered on an alternate evening. The tour may not return until after midnight.
Overnight: Reykjavik
Meals: N/A
DAY 2 - Full Day in Reykjavik
Spend the day at leisure to explore Reykjavik, surrounded by incredible landscapes and countless natural wonders. Or perhaps take an optional tour to the world-famous Blue Lagoon,* a unique natural pool of mineral-rich geothermal water located in the middle of a lava field. Geothermal seawater is led directly to the Blue Lagoon forming wells as deep as 6,000 feet and the water stays warm at 100-110°F throughout the entire year. An indoor Blue Lagoon and geothermal sauna are also on site. The Blue Lagoon’s warm water and natural ingredients of mineral salts, silica and blue green algae help you relax and escape the stress and strain of daily life.
*The Blue Lagoon tour may not be available to book locally. In order to guarantee availability, you must prebook this tour at least 8 days prior to your departure.
Optional: Blue Lagoon Experience Comfort (AM)
Overnight: Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast available for a surcharge of US$15 - 30 per person
DAY 3 - Full Day in Reykjavik
Full day to explore Reykjavik at your leisure or choose to take the optional tour of the Golden Circle,* which showcases some of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions including the country’s best-known natural, cultural, and historic sites. From Reykjavik, visit Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the tectonic plates of Europe and North America meet, and one of the world’s oldest parliaments was founded in 930 AD. Then visit the Geysir geothermal area, home of the famous Geysir and Strokkur hot springs. The Strokkur hot spring erupts every five minutes or so, making it one of the most active geysers in the world. Then, on to the Gullfoss waterfall, the queen of Iceland’s waterfalls, tumbling down a deep gorge. Next stop is a visit to the Friðheimar greenhouse where you will learn about the magic behind growing delicious, pesticide-free tomatoes with the aid of geothermal heat and bumblebees. Finally, visit Hellisheiði Power Plant at the foot of Mt. Hengill Volcano where the earth’s most brutal forces are harnessed and converted to clean energy for space heating
*The order of sightseeing for the Full Day Golden Circle Tour may vary depending on season.
Optional: Full-Day Golden Circle Tour (AM)
Overnight: Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4 - Full Day in Reykjavik
Today enjoy the South Shore Adventure tour, which visits the amazing southern coast of Iceland, famous for its black sand coastline and stunning scenery. The first stop of the day is at the gorgeous Seljalandsfoss waterfall, one of Iceland’s best known falls. Next, continue on to visit the majestic and much-photographed Skógafoss waterfall. The thundering falls plummet nearly 200 feet over a cliff to the valley floor. Make a stop at Reynisfjara black sand beach where you can view the Reynisdrangar rock formations as well as the curious hexagonal basalt cliff walls. Then take a short walk to view Sólheimajökull glacier from an ideal vantage point near a small lake at the glacier’s mouth. Today’s tour continues on as far as Vik, a charming village at the southern tip of Iceland surrounded by beautiful high cliffs.
Overnight: Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5 - Depart Iceland
Transfer to Keflavik Airport for your departure flight. Please note that transfer is not included - please plan accordingly.
Meals: Breakfast
Please note: All optional tours offered with this package end before the Northern Lights tour begins and can be done on the same day.