8 Days in Iceland & Northern Lights Tour | IS-EI0801

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.

• Northern Lights: The city center is not the ideal spot to see the Northern Lights. Luckily, you can catch a boat tour from the Old Harbor that  will take you out to clear dark skies. Your aurora expert will teach you all about this solar phenomenon while you witness its beauty. 
• Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur Street: One of the oldest streets in the city, Laugavegur is Reykjavik’s main shopping street, find a multitude of cafes, bars, restaurants and, of course, shops dotted along the way. Running from the corner of this street is Skólavörðustígur, a street featuring Icelandic arts and crafts.
• Laugardalslaug: Iceland’s largest outdoor pool, this swimming and sports complex has lovely naturally-heated pools and hottubs. 
• Old Harbor: Built between 1913 and 1917, this booming area is where the vast ocean and bright city convene. Old Harbor is home to tons of businesses, museums, and the capital's award-winning Harpa concert hall. Tours for whale watching, puffin watching, and the Northern Lights depart from this spot. 
• Hallgrímskirkja Church: Perched on top of Skólavörðuhæð hill in the center of Reykjavík, this church has the best panoramic view of the city. At 74.5 metres (245 feet) tall, Hallgrímskirkja is the largest church in Iceland. The unconventional design is the work of prominent architect Guðjón Samúelsson, who is said to have been inspired by Svartifoss Waterfall at Skaftafell.
• National Museum: This museum focuses on the history of Icelandic culture. The permanent exhibition, “The Making of a Nation,”showcases around 2000 artifacts that date from the time of first settlement up to the modern age. 
• The Icelandic Phallological Museum: Commonly referred to as “Iceland’s Penis Museum”, this unique museum houses over 215 penile specimens from over 53 Icelandic mammals. While you’re there, head to their folklore area to see the members of mermen, Icelandic elves, ghosts, trolls, and sea monsters!

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.

• Thingvellir (Þingvellir) National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this important natural landmark is full of history and unique geology. In 930 CE, the Icelandic Parliament, Alþing, was founded here, the oldest existing democratic parliament in the world. 
• The Mid-Atlantic Ridge: The Mid-Atlantic Ridge marks the spot where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet and pull away from each other. Formed about 24 million years ago by volcanic eruptions, the largest portion of the mid-Atlantic ridge above sea level rises up in the middle of the park. 
• The Great Geysir: Once one of the most famous geysers in the world, this massive spring goes years between eruptions. Those lucky enough to witness this powerful water spectacle will see its spray shoot up as high as 70 meters (230 feet) in the air.
• Strokkur: Strokkur is Iceland's most active hot spring, erupting every five to ten minutes. A truly entertaining display, boiling water shoots out up to 40 meters (130 feet) high. 
• Gullfoss Waterfall: Icelandic for the “Golden Waterfall,” on sunny days the water takes on a golden color. The impressive falls have a total height of 32 meters (105 feet) –  which splits into two waterfalls. Gullfoss' upper waterfall drops 11 meters (36 feet), while the lower waterfall drops 21 meters (69 feet). These roaring waters are the largest-volume falls in Europe.
• Hvítá River: The name of this  glacial riveraptly translates to 'White River.'  Hvítá's icy currents begin at Langjökull, the second-biggest glacier in Iceland, and flow for 40 kilometers before cascading down Gullfoss Waterfall.
• Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss Waterfalls: Both falls drop 196 ft (60 m), but each have features that make then breathtakingly unique. Skógafoss flows from former sea cliffs, a sight to behold. Hike behind Seljalandsfoss and you'll discover a view from behind the falls that isn’t accessible anywhere else!

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.

• Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach:  Voted one of the 21 Best Beaches in the World by National Geographic, this world-famous coastline is a glittering example of Iceland's popular black sand beaches. From Reynisfjara you can see the Reynisdrangar salt stacks. According to Icelandic folklore, these basalt columns are former trolls who tried to pull ships ashore.
• Vatnajökull National Park: Only established in 2008, Vatnajökull National Park grew slowly but now covers 14,141 square kilometers (5,460 square miles) - 14% of Iceland. Vatnajökull is Europe's largest national park and houses several notable natural attractions.
• Vatnajökull Glacier: Vatnajökull glacier is Europe's largest glacier. With a surface area of approximately 8,100 square kilometers (3127 square miles), it covers 8% of Iceland’s landmass. Vatnajökull is also home to Iceland's largest peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur, at 2,200 metres tall (7,218 feet), as well as notable active volcanoes Grímsvötn, Öræfajökull, and Bárðarbunga. 
• Mýrdalsjökull Glacier: The country's fourth-largest ice cap, covering nearly 600 square kilometers (232 square miles), it is famous for its explosive underbelly. Beneath this massive glittering glacier sits two notorious volcanoes, Katla and Eyjafjallajökull. 
• Skaftafell Nature Reserve: This wilderness area is marked by woodlands, ice-capped mountains, and Svartifoss Waterfall. 
• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: The world-famous Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is a favorite tourist attraction in South Iceland. The glacier lagoon is dotted with icebergs that float gently out to sea. It’s an absolute must-see!
• Diamond Beach: Sometimes, the icebergs floating from Jokulsarlon end up on the nearby black sand beach. This shore glitters with beached icebergs, leading to its name, Diamond Beach.

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. Our day wraps with a visit to the Iceland Wilderness Center, or Óbyggðasetrið. Hailed the “best museum in the whole world” by Cosmopolitan Magazine, the center's history exhibit offers a look into the past of the area's nature and inhabitants. Our visit includes light refreshments of coffee/tea and waffles. You’ll overnight at a country hotel in the Egilsstaðir area.

• Hvalnes Nature Reserve is a rocky headland with a lighthouse. The panoramic view offers visitors views of the craggy mountaintops across the horizon. 
• Djúpivogur is a small town best known for its coastal scenery. It’s also quite close to the island of Papey, an abandoned island with the oldest wooden church in Iceland, dating back to 1807. 
• Hengifoss is a majestic waterfall surrounded by red layers of clay and basalt layers.
• Iceland Wilderness Center was opened in 2016 by Icelandic movie set designer Denni and historian, Arna. It offers accommodations, activities, hot springs, and local food.
• Litlanesfoss is a towering waterfall not far from Hengifoss with pretty hexagonal basalt columns as a backdrop.
• Egilsstadir is the largest town in East Iceland, with a population of around 2,700 inhabitants. Attractions of note include the biggest forest in Iceland, hiking trails, mini-golf course, and the Vok Baths at Lake Urridavatn.

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.

• Dettifoss Waterfall. As the most powerful waterfall in Europe, Dettifoss is 100 meters wide and drops 45 meters down the majestic Jokulsargljufur Canyon!
• Myvatn Lake. Myvatn is both a lake and the name of the area. Don’t miss the lava mud pools, rock formations and bubbling craters. 
• Namaskard geothermal area. This geothermal area is just east of Lake Myvatn. Look for hot springs, sulfur sites, and clay deposits.
• Godafoss Waterfall. This historic waterfall is famous for its local legend. According to the story, in 1000 c.e., a chief in Iceland renounced his pagan gods and threw their idols in the falls. From then on, Iceland was officially a Christian country.

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.

• Whale Watching from Dalvik. Join this optional 3-hour whale watching tour from Dalvik harbor. Sail around the longest fjord in Iceland for a glimpse of these majestic creatures. You can book this extra activity when booking  your tour.
• Siglufjörður. Learn why this town is called the herring fishing capital of the Atlantic!

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 Day 7, we’ll visit highlights of West Iceland, specifically Borgarfjörður. Within Borgarfjordur lies the Silver Circle. We’ll visit four main sights on this tourist route: Deildartunguhver, Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls, and Reykholt. Our drive back to Reykjavik will take us through the scenic Hvalfjordur. 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.

• Grabrok: Your first stop is Grabrok, an ancient volcanic crater.
• Hraunfossar & Barnafoss: We’ll also see the Hraunfossar Waterfall, a series of small cascades flowing through lava fields. Nearby is Barnafoss Waterfall, or “the children’s falls,” so-called for the tragic legend that surrounds it.
• Reykholt: Next up on the list is Reykholt, a historic town famous as the homestead of the Icelandic saga author and poet Snorri Sturluson. There you’ll find Snorralaug, a natural hot pool in the area, where Snorri himself is said to have bathed.

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!