Experience the best of Iceland’s Winter! This tour takes you into the countryside of West and Southeast Iceland, to discover the regions from Snæfellsnes Peninsula to Vatnajökull Glacier, as you explore amazing sights during the day and search for the Aurora Borealis at night. Here you are far away from any light pollution, so you can maximise your chances of seeing the fabled Northern Lights, especially with the help of a special Northern Lights programme of 6 evenings of presentations, lectures and guided searches.
Transfer by coach from Keflavik International Airport to your hotel. Time at leisure to explore Iceland's capital at your own pace. The small city area is characterised by eclectic and colourful houses, and offers many cultural experiences, good shopping and great dining. There are interesting museums including the National Museum displaying artefacts from the first settlement to the modern age, giving an excellent overview of Iceland’s history and culture, the Reykjavik 871+2 Settlement Museum, an archaeological museum based around a 10th century Viking longhouse unearthed in 2001, the Reykjavik Art Museum and the National Gallery. The city is also a haven for food lovers - there are numerous cafes, bars and restaurants taking advantage of the abundance of local seafood, meat and game. Overnight in Reykjavik at Hotel Klettur or similar.
Meet your tour guide and fellow travellers at 09:00hrs and start with a city tour, to see and learn about the capital's highlights. Then depart the city and head west. The Borgarfjörður Valley is known as the Saga Valley of West Iceland, because of the many important historical events that took place here and were recorded in the Saga narratives. You'll have the chance to climb Grábrók Volcano Crater, then take the chill off at Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring, which produces 180 litres per second of nearly-boiling water, at 97°C. Nearby is Hraunfossar, a series of waterfalls pouring from beneath a one kilometre wide lava field, forming countless creeks and cascades, small and big, streaming out of the lava. From here, a track leads upstream to Barnafoss (the 'Children’s Falls'), with a footbridge you can cross for great views of the water, churning violently as it channels through the ravine below. In the afternoon your guide will present a Northern Lights lecture, and after dinner, step out into the hotel's gardens in search of the Aurora Borealis, and sip cheering hot drinks. 2 nights in Borgarnes, West Iceland, at Icelandair Hotel Hamar or similar.
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula (the 'Peninsula of the Snowy Mountain') juts out from Iceland's west coast like a long arm with a clenched fist, and a rugged mountain chain runs its length; it is in many ways a microcosm of the whole island. Travel to the charming fishing town of Stykkishólmur for a cruise on the Breiðafjörður fjord. After a light lunch, a uniquely Icelandic 'treat' awaits you at Bjarnarhöfn, where they make Hákarl (fermented shark) - you will be surprised by the taste! Then, depending on weather conditions, we hope to visit Grundafjordur fishing village, a place with an impressive coastline and mountains, lakes and waterfalls behind the village. Jutting out into the bay rises one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland, Mt Kirkjufell. On the way back to Borganes, your guide will give you helpful hints about how to best photograph the Aurora. Once darkness falls, perhaps enjoy soaking in the hotel's outdoor hot tubs, while you gaze up at the arctic night skies. 2nd night in Borganes at Icelandair Hotel Hamar or similar.
Travel along the scenic shores of Hvalfjörður fjord, then inland to Thingvellir National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is where the Althing, the oldest legislative assembly in the world, was first convened, and a place of great significance and national importance. The National Park also lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates - this is one of Iceland's most fascinating and visually stunning geological places. As we continue along the 'Golden Circle' route, we will start to see steam rising from the Geysir geothermal field, with its various hot springs and bubbling mud pools. The area includes the original geyser, now dormant, but replaced by Strokkur (The 'Churn'), which erupts regularly and spectacularly at 5-10 minute intervals. Here we have a gourmet treat - the chef of Restaurant Geysir will take us into the garden to taste freshly made hot spring bread, baked in the ground using geothermal heat, and served with Icelandic butter, geothermally-boiled eggs and herring, accompanied by a small glass of very cold Geysir Schnapps!
Then we continue to Gullfoss (the 'Golden Falls'), a stunning and enormous double waterfall that tumbles 34 metres into the Hvítá River. In the afternoon, we visit nearby stables to learn about the history and special qualities of the Icelandic horse, meet the charming horses and see a riding demonstration. Next we stop at a greenhouse powered by geothermal energy - in Iceland, a huge amount of food is grown in large, heated greenhouses - before reaching our accommodation in South Iceland. Tonight, step into the darkness and search for the elusive Northern Lights, amidst the peace and stillness of rural Iceland. Overnight at Hotel Eldhestar or similar.
Today we travel further along the south coast and stop at the Lava Exhibition in Hvolsvollur, where we learn about geology and active volcanoes. Further east, we visit Skogar, one of Iceland's finest folk musuems, with an outstanding collection of farm and domestic artefacts typical of Iceland’s past, along with several turf-roofed houses. Nearby is Skógafoss Waterfall, at 60 metres high one of the country's most impressive waterfalls. In the afternoon, we take a stroll along the black sand at Reynisfjara, where the powerful Atlantic surf comes crashing in. We spend 2 nights at Hotel Klaustur or similar, near Kirkjubaejarklaustur, in the vast Vatnajökull National Park, next to Europe’s largest glacier. If the Aurora is visible, it will be picture perfect!
Today's itinerary is all about glaciers, ice and icebergs. We travel to Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, where you can enjoy the breathtaking sight of floating icebergs on the vibrant blue waters of the fantastic, 180m deep lagoon. You may even see seals swimming in the arctic waters, and you can walk on the black sandy beach, where large icebergs often get stranded. In the afternoon, we visit the tiny turf church at Hof and pass through Europe's largest National Park, Vatnajökull; with Iceland's highest mountains and Europe's largest glacier, it has an area of 12,000 square kilometres.
Or, this afternoon, if you are travelling between mid November and mid March, you can instead take an optional Ice Cave tour. Experience a spectacular crystal ice cave in the Vatnajökull Glacier - like standing under a frozen blue ocean, or in a frozen cathedral surrounded by millions of shades of blue. Deep under the massive glacier, beautiful caves of ice are formed by rivers of melt water. Too dangerous to visit in the spring and summer due to threat of collapse, cold winter temperatures strengthen the ice and make exploration possible and safe. The tour takes about 2.5 hours in total - about a 30 minute drive by 4WD vehicle from the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, then a 5-15 minute hike, each way, with about one hour inside the ice cave. This excursion can only be booked via your tour guide, who will tell you all the details on Day 2; the cost is around ISK 23 000 payable to the local operator on Day 6 in Icelandic Krona, cash only. The ice cave explorers meet the local guide at the glacier lagoon at 14:00 for the ice cave tour, and then return to the hotel afterwards, whilst the remainder of the group continue the itinerary above. Tonight, enjoy a Northern Lights film presentation, before your last chance to seek the Northern Lights shimmering and dancing across the night sky. 2nd night at Hotel Klaustur or similar.
Today we cross the huge Eldhraun lava fields to stop at Vik's impressive black lava beaches, high bird cliffs and pounding waves. Further west, we reach high and narrow Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, plunging from the mountain. There is a trail that goes behind the falling water that offers some interesting views - provided you don't mind getting a bit wet!
In the afternoon, we arrive back in Reykjavik, where there is some time for you to explore on your own (please note if the tour is delayed we will proceed straight to the Blue Lagoon) In the early evening we drive through lava fields to the famous Blue Lagoon, where you can enjoy a soak in the warm, aquamarine waters. Then enjoy a farewell dinner in a local restaurant, followed by with one last nocturnal drive to seek the Aurora Borealis, before we return to Reykjavik at around midnight. Overnight in Reykjavik at Hotel Klettur or similar.
Coach transfer from your hotel to Keflavík airport and end of arrangements.
Includes: Arrival & departure airport/hotel coach transfers; fully escorted 6 day coach tour with English-speaking guide; 7 nights' accommodation in standard rooms in 3-star hotels and country guesthouses all with private facilities and including daily breakfast; cruise on Breiðafjörður fjord including lunch; visit to traditional shark curing farm with tasting; hot spring tasting with geothermally-cooked bread and eggs; visit to Icelandic horse stables & geothermal greenhouse; visit to Lava Center; entrance fee to Skógar Folk Museum and Turf Houses; entrance with towel and bathing at Blue Lagoon; farewell dinner in a local restaurant; Northern Lights programme with 6 evenings of lectures, presentations, guided searches and midnight refreshments.
Accommodation at the following hotels (or similar): Hotel Klettur (first and last nights); West Iceland Icelandair Hotel Hamar (2 nights); South Iceland Hotel Eldhestar Hveragerdi (1 night); Hotel Klaustur or similar, near Kirkjubaejarklaustur(2 nights).
The price shown here is for departures from October 2018 - April 2019 for the Regular group size.
The price shown here is for departures in October 2018 - April 2019 for the Small group size.