How to make the most of your Northern Lights Adventure

Are you coming to Iceland in search of the Northern Lights? 

It’s the ideal time to go aurora-hunting, with the Sun reaching the peak of its “solar cycle” this winter, increasing your chances of experiencing this astonishing cosmic spectacle.

Iceland is the perfect place to go on a Northern Lights Adventure trip, with lots to see and do during the day as well!

Make the most of your time in the Land of Fire and Ice with our fabulous 4-day combination tour of Iceland’s greatest highlights.

With our free rebooking policy, you can go hunting for the Northern Lights and keep trying each night if you don’t see them. We’ll take you out every night if you want, at no extra charge!  

As we explore Iceland’s glorious Golden Circle and the sensational South Coast, you’ll see thundering waterfalls, gushing geysers, and beautiful black sand beaches. 

Sit back and relax as we whisk you through Iceland’s magical natural landscapes, making the most of the daylight hours to show you the best of Iceland each day.

That includes visits to two of its famous geothermal spas, the Blue Lagoon and Laugarvatn Fontana in the Golden Circle. 

Here, you can soothe yourself in the warming waters and enjoy the spectacular scenery with a drink in your hand.

Reykjavík is the “coolest capital city” in the world. It has bouncing bars, classy coffee houses, splendid souvenir shops, and a wide selection of mouthwatering restaurants to enjoy. 

Between trips, you’ll have time to explore its pretty streets - and we have lots of insider tips for you!

Day 1 - Friday 

As soon as you arrive in Iceland, we’ll be there to collect you from Keflavík Airport with our convenient city transfer service.

After you’ve picked up your bags (and visited the duty-free shop for discount drinks!), all you need to do is meet our drivers and guides at the pick-up point just outside the Arrivals Hall.

Our Airport Direct coaches are timed to coincide with plane arrivals, so you won’t need to wait long for your connection. 

Affordable, comfortable, safe, and secure, this is the best way to arrive in Iceland, with professional drivers and expert guides to resolve any queries. 

On the 45-minute journey across the Reykjanes peninsula, you’ll enjoy your first sight of Iceland’s incredible landscapes, the scene of several recent volcanic eruptions.

Use the free Wi-Fi on board as we take you from the airport to Reykjavik Terminal at Skógarhlíð 10. 

You can connect there with smaller minivans for drop-offs at your hotel, guesthouse, and designated bus stops.

Check into your accommodation, grab a bite to eat, and take a first look at the city’s highlights, like Rainbow Street and Hallgrímskirkja.

Then get ready to go aurora hunting!

Day 1 - Friday - Northern Lights Tour

You’ll have your best chance of seeing the Northern Lights if you book an aurora tour on your first night in Iceland.

That’s because we offer free rebooking if you don’t see the Aurora first - you can keep trying each night of your trip without any extra charges. 

Our expert guides will make the most of the conditions each night, searching for clear, dark skies away from the bright city lights.

We’ll pick you up from your hotel, guesthouse, or designated bus stop (this will be confirmed when you complete your booking) and swiftly make our way into the Icelandic countryside.

The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, so there is no schedule or guarantee of seeing them. But on our 4-day Northern Lights Weekend Tours, you can try as many times as you want! 

If you’re wondering what causes the Northern Lights, here’s what you need to know!

The Aurora Borealis are caused by high-energy particles from the Sun and space streaming towards us as “solar wind” and colliding with the Earth’s magnetic field.

That pushes these charged particles deep down into our atmosphere, creating striking shapes and colors over the polar regions.

The gases of Earth’s atmosphere generate different colors of light, depending on their type and their height in the atmosphere.

Green is the most common color, ranging from 100 to 240 kilometers high in the atmosphere. In comparison, blues and violets occur below 100 kilometers, and reds appear above 240 kilometers.

Our experienced guides will thrill you with fascinating facts about the Northern Lights and keep you entertained as we search the skies for this spectacular sight.

We’ll even help you with your camera or smartphone settings if you need help!

All you need to do is wrap up warmly and be ready for collection at your designated pick-up location in good time, 30 minutes before the tour starts.

Day 2 - Saturday – The Golden Circle and Fontana  

On the second day of your trip, you will tour the famous Golden Circle, starting with a soothing dip at the Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal spa. 

The Golden Circle is the most famous of Iceland’s adventure trails, combining three magical sights - Þingvellir National Park, Geysir, and Gullfoss.

Þingvellir National Park is a national treasure, home of the Viking parliaments that ruled Iceland for nearly a thousand years.

This is where its laws were made and where the nation declared its independence from Denmark in 1944.

As well as that, Þingvellir (Parliament Field) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can explore an extraordinary natural marvel, an ever-growing rift valley called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

When you visit here, you’re walking in Viking footsteps between two continents - America is on one side of the valley, and Europe is on the other!

After a night of aurora-hunting, you’ll love relaxing at Laugarvatn Fontana, a gorgeous geothermal spa on the edge of a picturesque lake warmed by underwater springs.

This is your introduction to Iceland’s bathing culture, where the locals come together in pools like this around the country to chat and exchange news.

The Laugarvatn Fontana Spa is the perfect place to unwind, featuring three connected pools, hot tubs, steam rooms, and a cold plunge pool in spectacular surroundings.

You can even take a dip in the freshwater lake next to it if you’re feeling brave, or grab a coffee and cakes from the café.

The Golden Circle is a trio of tremendous places to visit, and the second stop is Gullfoss (the Golden Falls), a roaring two-tier waterfall that plunges more than thirty meters into a deep canyon.

Powered by pure meltwater from the Langjökull glacier, the Hvítá (White) river cascades over two steps 11 and 21 meters high, and you can see this amazing place from several viewing platforms. 

On sunny days, Gullfoss is wrapped in rainbows while its edges freeze in winter, offering photogenic panoramas for your Instagram!

One of Iceland’s most remarkable sights, Gullfoss is now a protected national treasure.

The final stage of the Golden Circle tour takes you to Geysir, in the Haukdalur Geothermal Area. This is the home of the “original geyser”!

Here, you’ll be treated to the unforgettable sight of Strokkur setting off a superheated fountain of water and vapor every few minutes.

Geysir was the first place in the world where this natural phenomenon was recorded. As a result, it gave its name to all other erupting water spouts.

Geysir is quiet these days since an earthquake changed the underground water sources, but you won’t have to wait long to see Strokkur erupt!

You’ll be thrilled by this amazing sight and the bubbling hot streams and mud pools that line the pathway to Strokkur. 

Remember to stay on the marked trail and do not touch the boiling water pools! You can also grab a bite to eat at the Glíma restaurant or shop for souvenirs here.

We’ll return to the city from here (about an hour’s drive). 

You can opt for another Northern Lights tour if you didn’t see them on the first night or enjoy an evening exploring the capital’s many bars and restaurants. 

There are plenty of exciting places to visit in the city center, including the incredibly immersive FlyOver Iceland, which simulates a spectacular flight around the country.

You can take a trip to Perlan, the capital’s iconic visitor destination, which includes a panoramic viewing deck, a natural history museum, an ice cave experience, and an excellent Northern Lights film.

Or you can soak up the stunning scenery with a shoreline walk from the opera hall Harpa to the famous Sun Voyager sculpture or up to the city’s most impressive landmark, Hallgrímskirkja, with its unbeatable church tower views.

Day 3 - Sunday - South Coast Tour

The third day of your tour of the magical Land of Fire and Ice takes you to Iceland’s sensational South Coast for a non-stop parade of waterfalls, mountains, volcanoes, glaciers, and black sand beaches.

Heading south from Reykjavík over a stunning mountain pass, we’ll take you along Iceland’s famous Ring Road, with panoramic views everywhere you look.

That includes Eyjafjallajökull, the infamous volcano that grounded air traffic for days when it erupted in 2010.

The glacier that covers the volcano feeds two of the South Coast’s most spectacular sights - Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss.

“Foss” is the Icelandic word for waterfall, and these two fantastic “fosses” tumble over 60 meters from the edge of Eyjafjallajökull.

We’ll visit Seljalandsfoss first, which has an incredible extra feature! 

There’s an enormous hollowed-out cave just behind the falls, and if conditions are safe, you can walk a path behind the cascade to see it from the other side!

Skógafoss is just a short drive away around the mountain, and you may recognize it from various films, music videos, and TV shows like “Game of Thrones”.

High and wide and decorated by rainbows on sunny days, some say this majestic waterfall is Iceland’s most beautiful “foss” - see what you think!

If you’re feeling fresh, you can take the stairs up to the top of Skógafoss and see it from above - but there are over 500 steps!

Some say a chest of gold coins is hidden behind the falls, but even if that is a myth, the views here are priceless!

From here, we’ll whisk you to Reynisfjara, an award-winning black sand beach picked by TripAdvisor and National Geographic as one of the world’s finest shoreline spectacles. 

Iceland’s fiery volcanic origins are on parade here, with the striking Reynisdrangar towering offshore and beautiful basalt columns clinging to the cliffs.

It’s the perfect end to your South Coast adventure! From here, we’ll return to the city, and you can take another shot at aurora hunting if you missed out on the first and second nights. 

Day 4 - Monday - Return to KEF with a stop at the Blue Lagoon

Iceland is famous for its geothermal spas, and the Blue Lagoon (Bláa Lónið) is the ideal pre-flight preparation, where you can soak up the views and soothe your body in one of National Geographic’s “25 Wonders of the World”.

After a few days of exploring the country, you can rely on our “Destination Blue Lagoon” service to pick you up from the city, take you to this magical place, and then deliver you safely to the airport in good time for your flight home.

One of the world’s best soaks, the Blue Lagoon is a mesmerizing place, with its milky-blue waters contrasting with the breathtaking black lava fields surrounding it. 

It’s Iceland’s most famous destination, and you’ll soon see why. Wade into the warming waters and feel yourself relaxing, almost like you’re entering another world.

The Blue Lagoon offers high-end changing facilities, steam rooms, saunas, in-water bars, a roof terrace, and a gift shop.

There’s no better way to end your time in the Land of Fire and Ice!