Iceland Northern Lights Highlights

Welcome to Iceland

As you arrive at Keflavík International Airport, your car with user-friendly GPS will be waiting for you. On your way to Reykjavik, Iceland's capital city, you could choose to make a stop at the Blue Lagoon spa. The world-renowned spa will leave you refreshed with its warm healing water, azure colors, and luxury treatments. Located in the middle of the lava field, this place will give an out-of-this-world experience.

Your trip to the spa will be decided based on your flight timings. If there is no free time, it is always possible to reschedule the visit to another day, and your travel consultant will help you with it. Reykjavik and the Reykjanes Peninsula still have plenty of things for you to explore if you have time today.

A short drive from the spa, should you have taken it today, will take you to Reykjavik to your accommodation in the downtown area. You can choose to spend the rest of the evening exploring the city's famous landmarks, museums, and boutiques.

Journeying to subterrane

Day 2 will take you to a place that will surpass the renowned secret lagoon Iceland in terms of adventure. You will get to explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, home to the stratovolcano Snæfellsjökull. The dormant volcano is also a glacier known for being the entryway for the subterranean journey in Jules Verne's classic book 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth.'

Have a journey to the subterrane of your own by heading into the volcano on a trip to Þríhnúkagígur. If you happen to travel in September or October, board a tour bus in Reykjavík, which will take you to the dormant volcano as you descend into the now empty magma chamber.

When the road calls to you, make your way to the gorgeous Snæfellsnes Peninsula, where you can go to the national park full of beautiful rock formation, steep ocean cliffs, narrow canyons, small trickling waterfalls, charming fishing villages, and the stunning Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach.

In the proximity is the Kirkjufell mountain, a photographer's favorite spot to try their hand at their craft. You will have a view of the Faxaflói bay from Snæfellsnes Peninsula all the way to Reykjavík on a clear day.

As you spend the night in a country hotel in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, a perfect place for aurora sighting, be sure to look out for the northern lights.

Golden Circle and Lava Cave

Today is the day you will tour the golden circle Iceland and visit the torn landscapes, erupting geysers, and thundering waterfalls.

Start by driving to the south, where you will have the option to visit the Víðgelmir, a massive lava tube near the Borgarfjörður town before heading to the famous attraction of the golden circle Iceland. Minerals have painted the walls of this cave in vivid colors, making it a beautiful sight as you head inside the cave, where you will find strangely shaped icicles and rock formations.

Þingvellir National Park, with its location on the boundaries of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, is your next stop for the day. These plates create gorges and fissures as they move, tearing up the landscape.

One such fissure, Silfra, has Iceland's second-largest glacier's meltwater filling it. If you are up for it, you can go for a snorkeling tour in the fissure, where the clear glacial water offers visibility up to 100m. During this tour, you need not worry about the cold in the Silfra fissure, for you will be given a dry suit to keep you warm.

Your next stop is the Geysir geothermal area, where you will find Strokkur, an active geyser that erupts every 5-10 minutes reaching a height of 15-20 meters. Witness and capture the amazing display of nature as you will have plenty of opportunities to get the perfect click.

A short drive away from the Geysir area is the massive Gullfoss waterfall. The cascade, spanning the width of the Hvítá river, features a couple of distinct drops in success, forming two steps for the water to plunge down.

As you make your way to your accommodation near the Laugarvatn lake, you will hear the thundering noise of glacial water crashing into an ancient canyon 32-meters below. Tonight, be sure to look for the northern lights in the night sky.

Of Glaciers and Waterfall

Today, you will start travelling Iceland's stunning south coast and visit some of the country's most beautiful attractions, driving past mighty glaciers.

You will start your day by visiting the waterfall Seljalandsfoss that is high and narrow and falls over a conclave cliff face. Stong lights light up this beautiful waterfall in the winter, making it a stunning and magical spectacle.

On your way to the next attraction, the Skógafoss waterfall, travel past the Eyjafjallajökull glacier. The waterfall has a more classic shape than Seljalandsfoss, being much wider. With the land under it being very flat, you can walk up to the waterfalls for a great picture.

Covering the Katla volcano is the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, a perfect place for you to tour on a snowmobile to get up and close to a glacier. As you whiz across the white expanse with the snow-capped mountains in the distance, you will get your blood pumping.

You could also opt for hiking to the top of one of Mýrdalsjökull glacier tongues, Sólheimajökull. Traverse past the blue crevasses and snowy peaks blackened by volcanic eruptions in the past, filling your lungs with the crisp mountain air.

Stop by the Reynisfjara, next, a black sand beach surrounded by hexagonal basalt columns that are a unique combination of strange and beautiful at the same time. Here, you will see the North Atlantic waves crashing against the massive Reynisdrangar sea stacks. Then, retire for the night to your accommodation near the village of Vík.

Visiting Iceland's Crown Jewel

From Vik, you will continue your journey eastward towards the Vatnajökull National Park with its beautiful glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón.

You will drive past the charming village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur and the waterfall Foss á Síðu before you reach the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, where the stunning glacier tongues crawl down narrow valleys, on your journey towards the large Vatnajökull glacier.

You could opt for a glacier hike from Skaftafell, today, if you skipped the hike yesterday. You will trek across the glacier tongue's ancient ice while discovering icy canyons and detailed ice sculptures.

You will, then, drive Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, the crown of Iceland. You will see the massive icebergs broken from a nearby glacier float on the calm waters of the lagoon, making their way to the ocean.

You will spend the night in the countryside accommodation near Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, where you will be surrounded by stunning vistas and, hopefully, the northern lights.

Taking the Ice Cave tour Iceland

Today, you will start the day at the beautiful Vatnajökull National Park.

If you are traveling between the months of November and March, you will have the unique and rare experience of visiting an ice cave. With the rising sun, these caves are only accessible for a short period as the sunlight floods the cave. Therefore, be sure to seize this chance of taking the ice cave tour Iceland. It is advisable to plan your visit during the booking process to start your day immersing yourself in the infinite and vivid shades of blue of the cave.

As you head back to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, you will see how different it looks in the midday sun. The amazing pearly white and crystalline blue colors of the icebergs, as they float over the waters, will be a stunning view in the daylight. Between these bergs, you might even spot a seal or tow lazing around.

Next, head to the black sand beach close to the lagoon, where smaller glaciers wash up on the shores. The beach, in sunlight, resembles a black satin blanket as the bergs glisten, earning it the nickname, 'The Diamond Beach.'

Today afternoon, you will start heading back to Reykjavík city. On your way, you can stop at your favorite south coast spots or refer to your itinerary to discover places you haven't yet visited.

The rest of the night will be spent at accommodation in the city, where, if you reach earlier, you can explore the vibrant nightlife.

Bidding adieu to Iceland

It is Day 7 that marks the end of your wonderful tour of the land of fire and ice. If you have taken a later flight home, you just might have some time for one last adventure before you leave. However, in your excitement, do not forget to give yourself enough time to drive to the Keflavík International Airport to return your car and catch the flight.

If you still have free time excluding your drive back to the airport, you can freely explore the capital city, starting from a walk down the Laugavegur shopping street to buy some souvenirs. Alternatively, you can head to the Blue Lagoon spa, if you haven't already, for unwinding before your flight. As you relax in the warm, healing waters, let yourself relive the memories of your tour to the ice cave and golden circle Iceland.

However, if your flight leaves early, we wish you a pleasant and safe journey.