5 Day Land of Northern Lights

At 09:00, meet your tour guide, who will show the group the highlights of Iceland’s exciting capital. Then we head out to the Reykjanes Peninsula with its hot springs, mountains, moon-like landscape, bird cliffs, lighthouses and fishing villages. In the afternoon, we bathe in the Blue Lagoon. Drive along the south coast to arrive in the village of Hella, where we stay for two nights at Stracta Hotel. We hear about the Northern Lights from our tour guide in the evening. So, naturally, you are outside in a suitable area for the Aurora hunt when darkness falls.

Today we head along the south coast to reach the area near the active volcano beneath the Eyjafjallajökull glacier. Our first stop is the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which is 65 meters tall and plunges from the mountain. Next, we visit the Skógar Folk Museum, which contains an outstanding collection of farm and domestic artifacts from Iceland’s past and several turf-built houses. Nearby is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country, the 62-meter high Skógafoss waterfall. ­ If you booked the optional glacier hike with your travel agency or through the operator’s website in advance, the bus will take you to the base camp before the 14:30 timeslot. The glacier hike is a total of 3 hours, with 1-1.5 hours spent on the ice. The minimum age for the glacier hike is 10 years. You need to bring warm clothing, rain gear, and hiking boots. ­ If you didn’t book the glacier hike, the tour continues further south where you can stroll on the black lava beach and see the amazing bird cliffs at Reynisfjara near Vík. ­ In the evening, there is another presentation about the Northern Lights at Stracta Hotel. If the night is clear, you might see the Northern Lights swirling in a wild and carefree dance across the heavens in dramatic shapes, colors, patterns, and sizes. The grounds of Stracta Hotel in Hella are very large and dark, offering you a good location for Northern Lights viewing if the weather conditions are right. It requires patience, warm clothing, and the excitement of “maybe” seeing the Northern Lights.

We learn about the Icelandic horse, its unique qualities and history, and visit a geothermal greenhouse in the morning. Then we travel the Golden Circle route, see steam rising from the Geysir geothermal fields and admire the double waterfall of Gullfoss. Finally, we end the afternoon at Þingvellir National Park, learn about the rift walleye and tectonic plates. Also, the location of the ancient Viking Parliament and UNESCO World Heritage Site. ­ An optional Northern Lights evening cruise can be booked for this day if the weather conditions are right.

Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from your accommodation in Reykjavik to Keflavik International Airport. ­ Breakfast included.