Enjoy the lively capital city of Reykjavik before you hunt for the Northern Lights by land and sea
This 8-day tour is perfect for travelers who want to see all Iceland has to offer! Hit the famous highlights along the Golden Circle. Then head off the beaten path for exhilarating hikes across impressive glaciers and volcanoes. Top off your excursion with a hunt for aurora borealis!
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Set-out on an incredible 8-day excursion through the highlights of Iceland! On this multiday tour from Reykjavik, you’ll witness waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches and more. Spend each night in a different country hotel, the perfect setting to catch a glimpse of the elusive Northern Lights!
During this unforgettable road trip, we stop at every region of the country as we make our way around the Ring Road. Relax in the steamy Mývatn Nature Baths, marvel at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and hike the East Fjords.
Finally, we hit the high seas for whale watching, fishing, and a hunt for the aurora borealis! Your trip begins and ends with two days in Reykjavik. Take time to wander Iceland’s lively capital city!
Home to two-thirds of the total Icelandic population, Reykjavik is a colorful city bursting with an eclectic variety of cultural events and places. No matter what you like to do, there’s something for everyone. Shop in a bustling shopping areas, visi...)
Home to two-thirds of the total Icelandic population, Reykjavik is a colorful city bursting with an eclectic variety of cultural events and places. No matter what you like to do, there’s something for everyone. Shop in a bustling shopping areas, visit a historic landmark or take a dip in a heated outdoor pool. Take a detour from the city scene to explore the wonders of Mother Nature. This day is on your own until the evening. Once night falls, a guided boat tour takes you out to chase the Northern Lights! Check in at your hotel is from 2 p.m. in the afternoon.
Our journey kicks off with a bang as we hit the popular Golden Circle. We pick everyone up between 08:00 and 08:30 a.m. and then ride to Thingvellir National Park. From the Geysir Geothermal Area to Gullfoss Waterfall, we stop at South Iceland’s most...)
Our journey kicks off with a bang as we hit the popular Golden Circle. We pick everyone up between 08:00 and 08:30 a.m. and then ride to Thingvellir National Park. From the Geysir Geothermal Area to Gullfoss Waterfall, we stop at South Iceland’s most famous nature sights along this passage. Witness the force of Mother Nature at the explosive Strokkur Geyser and the powerful Hvítá River. On our way to the hotel in Vík we stop to hike Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss Waterfalls. As we weave along this secret path, discover spectacular views only visible from the falls. Spend the night at a country hotel near Vik before we continue along the South Coast.
Our South Coast route takes us to coal-colored beaches, glacier lagoons, lava fields, and more. Stroll along the world-renowned Reynisfjara black sand beach and witness dramatic views of Reynisdrangar basalt formation. Photographic the giant crystal ...)
Our South Coast route takes us to coal-colored beaches, glacier lagoons, lava fields, and more. Stroll along the world-renowned Reynisfjara black sand beach and witness dramatic views of Reynisdrangar basalt formation. Photographic the giant crystal icebergs of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon as they wash up onto the black sand shore of Diamond Beach. Our journey then takes us over Eldhraun Lava Field to Skaftafell Nature Area, a spectacular oasis of flora and fauna. We’ll hike for three hours on a glacier at Skaftafell in Vatnajokull National Park. During winter months (Nov-Mar), we may do an ice cave at Vatnajokull instead of the glacier hike.
The East Fjords of Iceland presents charming fishing villages and deep fjords. We’ll pass through the fjords of Álftafjörður, Hamarsfjörður, and Berufjörður, each more beautiful than the last. Wander along picturesque Hvalnes, or “whale peninsula,” a...)
The East Fjords of Iceland presents charming fishing villages and deep fjords. We’ll pass through the fjords of Álftafjörður, Hamarsfjörður, and Berufjörður, each more beautiful than the last. Wander along picturesque Hvalnes, or “whale peninsula,” a small peninsula with a pebble beach. We’ll stop at the charming, traditional fishing village of Djúpivogur for a look at the local culture, then go on an exciting 3-hour hike to Hengifoss.
North Iceland is a treasure-trove of waterfalls and volcanic areas. The first stop is Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Take in the roar of the water as it pours out at a rate of 3 million gallons per minute! Next up, we head to Lake ...)
North Iceland is a treasure-trove of waterfalls and volcanic areas. The first stop is Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Take in the roar of the water as it pours out at a rate of 3 million gallons per minute! Next up, we head to Lake Myvatn area. This turquoise lake is surrounded on all sides by steaming cracks, bubbling craters, curious rock formations. Swing by Grjotagja Cave, with its colorful thermal spring. Don’t miss the Dimmuborgir lava rocks, also called the Dark Castles. We’ll soak our muscles at the Myvatn Nature Baths, mineral-rich blue waters straight from the earth. You can add admission to the baths when booking the tour. The final stop is Godafoss, a beautiful waterfall on the side of the Ring Road.
On Day 6, drive around Akureyri to the small harbor of Dalvik for a whale-watching adventure. The waters of the North Coast have become known for their active and thriving marine life, especially the humpbacks and minke whales. Our tours have a 98% s...)
On Day 6, drive around Akureyri to the small harbor of Dalvik for a whale-watching adventure. The waters of the North Coast have become known for their active and thriving marine life, especially the humpbacks and minke whales. Our tours have a 98% success rate! As you sail back to shore, you’ll get the chance to try sea angling. On Tröllaskagi Peninsula, visit the towns of Siglufjörður and Ólafsfjörður, quiet fishing communities. Visit Siglufjörður’s Herring Era Museum and the setting for Ragnar Jonasson’s Dark Iceland series. Stay overnight at your hotel in Laugarbakki.
Note: For a small fee, upgrade your whaling adventure to a 1.5 hour RIB boat tour! This special boat tour is available from April to October and lets you get closer to the whales. The RIB boat upgrade does not include sea angling.
On the last day of your adventure around Iceland, hike to see the Geldingadalur eruption. This is an adventure like no other, where you get to explore an active volcano, learn about this fascinating geological form and traverse Iceland’s otherworldl...)
On the last day of your adventure around Iceland, hike to see the Geldingadalur eruption.
This is an adventure like no other, where you get to explore an active volcano, learn about this fascinating geological form and traverse Iceland’s otherworldly terrain. You get to observe new land formation, streams of lava flow from a fissure and right into the valley. You will witness steam and gases rise from the increasing lava field as well as the newly-appeared crater.
Thousands of earthquakes took place in the weeks before the eruption, after which the lava finally found its way and cracked through the surface of the earth. The eruption occurred on the evening of March 19th 2021, close to Mount Fagradalsfjall, in a valley named Geldingadalur. Fortunately, the valley confined the eruptive event preventing the lava from flowing towards civilian infrastructure.
The closest inhabited settlement to the site is Grindavík village, located only 9 kilometers away. Geldingadalir valley is not a secluded valley by any measures with such a short distance from a populated area. Yet, this presents a convenient way to access the eruption site for people who are willing to hike a pretty challenging terrain but for the chance to witness this magnificent spectacle of nature.
We expect to back in Reykjavik around 4:30 - 5 pm.
Once you’ve had a chance to rest up, embark on our Northern Lights tour. This minibus tour takes you deep into the Icelandic countryside for a chance to glimpse the elusive aurora.
Look at your Reykjavík bucket list again and take the opportunity to do some things you didn't get to the first time around! We return back to Reykjavik for one last chance to explore the capital. Wander the streets on foot or by bike. Walk up to Per...)
Look at your Reykjavík bucket list again and take the opportunity to do some things you didn't get to the first time around! We return back to Reykjavik for one last chance to explore the capital.
Wander the streets on foot or by bike. Walk up to Perlan Museum for a panorama of the city or soak in a local swimming pool.
Relax in a coffee shop, try Nordic cuisine, or learn about Icelandic myths at the local museums. The choice is yours!
Still got questions about the tour? Hopefully you will find the answer here.
We always recommend booking a multi-day tour starting at least one day after arriving in Iceland. If you’re flying in from the US or will be landing early (4-6:30 am) you should be able to join the tour, but some risks would follow (i.e if the flight gets delayed) and could, therefore, miss out on the tour.
Most of the hotels we use during our tours are remotely located and therefore ideal to spot the northern lights. If the forecast is in your favor then it is more than likely that you will be able to see the magical show put on by the dancing northern lights during your tour with us. Most of the hotels offer a Northern Lights wake up call upon request if they lights are spotted. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and therefore we can unfortunately never promise that they will be seen. Their appearance depends upon atmospheric and weather conditions. The best time to see them is between September and March when it’s dark and clear. The sky needs to be as dark as possible, so the best places to see them are well away from city lights (that’s where we are going!).
For more information on the Northern Lights, please have a look at our Northern Lights information.
For multi-day tours, each participant is allowed to bring a small backpack and 1 piece of luggage weighing a maximum of 20 kg (44 lbs).
* The combined dimensions of each bag must not exceed 158 cm (62 in).
* It’s possible to store your luggage with us in Reykjavík while you are on your tour, for a small fee. We highly recommend storing the luggage in Reykjavík to help us reduce our carbon footprint.
* Please note that luggage storage is not refundable.
When booking with Adventures.com, you are guaranteed accommodation at a nice country hotel and/or a guesthouse. The hotels we have partnered up with are all of the same standards and offer nice rooms with made-up beds. The rooms come with private or shared bathrooms, depending on your booking. The standard room is a twin room but it’s possible to request a double room or a triple room, with no extra charge.
If you are traveling solo, you will have to add the single room fee if you wish to have a single room.
All hotels have free Wi-Fi. Towels, a hairdryer, and a kettle are accessible at all of the hotels. Hotel breakfast is included!
If your tour includes accommodation, breakfast is always included during the tour at the hotel/guesthouse restaurant.
Meals and beverages are otherwise not included on your tour. (Unless it’s specifically stated in the description of the tour)
On our multiday tours, we will be making stops at restaurants and convenience stores where you will be able to purchase all necessities.
You should count on spending around 8,000 ISK (80$) on food each day per person. Cash is not necessary, as credit cards are almost always accepted. Having a small amount of cash doesn’t hurt though.
Breakfast is included at all the hotels we stay in during the tour. The breakfast will be a typical breakfast buffet, offering bread, toppings, cereal, yogurt, fruits, coffee, and tea etc.
Your guide will also find a good place for the group to eat lunch. We always try to choose places that have a wide selection of dishes on the menu, so there will be options available for everyone. The dinner is usually at the hotels we stay at for the night.
We do welcome participants of all ages older than the listed minimum age for each tour. We have people of ages ranging from 8-99 years joining our multi-day tours. Our average group usually consists of participants between the age 20-55 years. We do get a lot of solo travellers joining our tours, as well as families and friends.
If you have difficulties participating in any of the activities included in the tour, for example, a glacier activity, you are more than welcome to skip it. You can explore your surroundings in the meantime or wait elsewhere. Our guide should be able to drop you off at a nearby place where there are some services available.
A single supplement is available if you want to have your own room, but you are not required to pay a single supplement. If you are a single traveler and do not wish to book a single room, you’ll be roomed with another traveler of the same gender.
Don’t worry, you can always rent sturdy hiking boots, a waterproof jacket and pants in the booking process. We do not rent these items from the location, they must be ordered in advance.
We drive on average around 300 km (186 miles) per day on our multi-day tours. You will be spending approximately 4-5 hours in the car each day. We do of course stop on multiple locations throughout the tour for sightseeing, activities, bathroom breaks and lunch stops.
