Northern Lights Adventure
5 days, 4 nights: October through March
Our five-day Northern Lights adventure includes two nights in Reykjavik and two nights in the countryside, where conditions for viewing the Aurora Borealis are optimal. The best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is from October through March. They can be seen anywhere in Iceland and are most like to appear on cold, calm and clear evenings. The auroras go through an 11-year cycle. Scientists predict the current cycle will reach its peak in the years 2011-2012.
Day 1, Welcome to Iceland!
Flights to Iceland from N-America arrive in the early morning; from Europe in the late afternoon. We will pick you up at the airport and drive you to Reykjavik, where you check into your downtown hotel. Spend the day at leisure. Guests arriving from Europe may consider a visit to the Blue Lagoon spa on their way from the airport. Guests from N-America may opt for a walking tour of the downtown area or a visit to Laugar spa in Reykjavik.
Day 2, Geysir, Gullfoss, Thingvellir
We start the day with an early morning pick-up from your hotel and then a drive to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the location of Iceland's Parliament between the years 930 and 1798. Thingvellir is also one of the few places in the world where you can clearly see the effects of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pulling apart. After lunch, we explore the Geysir hot spring area and Gullfoss waterfalls. We overnight at a 4-star hotel in the countryside, where conditions for viewing the Northern Lights are optimal. The outdoor hot tubs are the ideal place from which to watch the light show when it's on display! Optional activities today include a 2-hour hike at Thingvellir National Park or a 1-hour snowmobile ride on Langjökull glacier.
Day 3, South Shore Exploration
After breakfast, we start our adventure along the south coast of Iceland. First we stop at the beautiful Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where you can walk behind the waterfall. Then it's onto Solheimajokull glacier for a glacier-walk. Wearing crampons and other necessary glacier gear, we'll explore the amazing world of this run-off glacier. We'll have lunch in the small village of Vik, where we will visit a woolen goods store and explore the beach. On our way back to your hotel, we will stop at Skogafoss waterfall and Dyrholaey promontory. In the evening, we will have another opportunity to look for the Northern Lights.
Day 4, Thorsmork Wilderness Area
Today, we head into the dramatic wilderness area called Thorsmork (Thor's Forest) on the north side of Eyjafjallajokull, the volcano that erupted in the spring of 2010. Here we will take an easy hike to the run-off glacier Gigjokull, where torrents of glacial melt water transformed the surrounding landscape during the eruption. As we return to Reykjavik in the late afternoon, we'll make stops in the village of Hveragerdi famous for its green houses and hot springs or visit one of Iceland's longest lava tube caves. After checking into your downtown hotel, you may choose to spend the evening exploring Reykjavik's nightlife.
Day 5, Blue Lagoon and Departure
Flights to Europe depart Iceland in the early morning. We'll provide private airport transfers 3-hours prior to your scheduled departure time. Guests leaving for N-America may want to consider a day at the Blue Lagoon spa, in which case we'll pick you up at your hotel at 11 AM. After spending up to two hours in the Lagoon's warm aqua-blue waters--renowned for their healing powers--we'll drive you to the airport in time for your afternoon flight.
Included
• Accommodations and breakfast for four nights.
• Expert driver-guide and luxury 4x4 vehicle for three days (days 2-4).
• Airport transfers.
• Snowmobile ride on day 2 (optional).
• Glacier walk on day 3.
• Picnic lunch on day 4.
• Admission to the Blue Lagoon on day 5 (towels included).
Not included
• Airfare to Iceland.
• Personal expenses.
• Meals except noted.
• Travel insurance highly recommended, please ask for details.
For information, availability and bookings
Please send us a note at or call us at +354 857 8804.
