Iceland - South Coast & Northern Lights Tour 5 days

Reykjavik - GOLDEN CIRCLE - Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon - SOUTH COAST - Reykjavik

itinerary & prices

Day 1 Arrive Reykjavik
Check in at your hotel around 2 PM and get settled before the tour. In the evening, make your way to the ticket office at the Old Harbor in Reykjavik and prepare to board the boat. Our guides monitor the aurora forecast and know the bay like the back of their hands, so finding the best spot to watch the Northern Lights is their specialty.  

The boat will take you away from the city lights to make sure you can get the best and unobstructed view of the Northern Lights. Sit back and relax as the boat sails across the North Atlantic waves and magical Aurora Borealis play in the sky above! We also offer overalls to those who wish to keep warm and comfortable on the deck. 

To make the trip even more entertaining, we’ll show you our video about the Northern Lights. The footage is packed with Icelandic folklore, photos, and fun facts. The boat has a cozy café and a bar, where you can keep yourself warm and busy while waiting for the lights to appear in the sky.  

After watching the natural show, we’ll take you back to the harbor and you can make your way to the hotel for the night.

The accommodation for the night will be in Hotel Island or similar.

Day 2 Golden Circle
Today the tour brings you to Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle and its three highlights: Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss.

The first stop is Thingvellir National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a historic location where Iceland’s first Parliament, Althingi (Alþingi) was founded in 930 CE. 

Thingvellir is also unique in its geology. A rift valley stretches between two tectonic plates, the Eurasian and North American. The plates slowly drift apart from each other, making Thingvellir ever-growing! 

The next stop is Geysir Geothermal Area. Once an active geyser, Geysir now lays dormant. However, its neighbor Strokkur puts on a show like no other! Watch Strokkur explode with a tower of water up to 25 meters high! You won’t have to wait long to witness the natural spectacle, as Strokkur bursts out every 10 minutes or so.

The third stop is Gullfoss (the Golden Falls), Iceland’s most popular waterfall. The powerful white water Hvita River roars down in two stages before the water plunges down into the rugged canyon. The falling water creates a golden mist, and rainbows are a frequent sight right by the falls.

After visiting the Golden Circle, we make our way toward the South Coast. If the weather allows, enjoy the views of Mount Hekla on the way to Seljalandsfoss. We’ll visit this unusual waterfall that you can walk behind!

Your hotel for the night is close to Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a charming town in the South. Away from light pollution, we have good chances to see the Northern Lights. With a little luck and the right weather conditions, we can enjoy the auroras dancing in the sky! Overnight at Adventure Hotel Geirland.

Day 3 Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Ice Caving
After breakfast at the hotel, We make our way towards the East, through lava fields, desert sands, and past glaciers resting on the horizon. One of them is Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in the country.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the nearby Diamond Beach are up next on our 5-day tour. The lagoon is dotted with floating icebergs of all shapes and sizes. Many of these sit on the black sand at Diamond Beach. Blue icebergs look like diamonds on the black canvas! See if you can spot playful seals resting on the beach.

From Jokulsarlon, we’ll head to Skaftafell for a new adventure. During the winter months (October-April), we’ll step on the Vatnajokull glacier, accompanied by a certified glacier guide. We’ll also have an opportunity to visit a natural ice cave during the tour. And during Setpember, we’ll go to Katla Ice Cave near Vik instead of a glacier hike. 

Tonight's stay is in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area again. Before heading for well-deserved rest, we’ll go on the Northern Light hunting adventure! Snowy peaks and glaciers make up a perfect background for watching auroras play in the sky.  Overnight at Adventure Hotel Geirland.

Day 4 South Coast Sightseeing & Northern Lights Minibus tour
Day 4 is dedicated to South Coast and its attractions. If the roads are clear, we’ll make a small detour to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, also known as the “Bieber’s canyon.” 

After that, we’ll get a chance to visit the iconic Eldhraun lava field and your knowledgeable guide will tell you was makes it so special. Then, we will head to Reynisfjara black sand beach. This black sand beach has been rated as one of the most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world. Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks tower right by the shore. Together with the powerful waves of the Atlantic Ocean, they create dramatic views. Skógafoss is our next stop. The water plunges down from 60 meters height, and if you’re up for a challenge, 527 steps lead to the top of the waterfall! If the visibility is good, you can even see the famous volcano, Eyjafjallajökull, lurking above the waterfall! 

After settling in at your hotel in Reykjavik, the adventure picks up again as night falls. A professional northern lights guide will take you out in a cozy minibus, following the latest aurora forecasts to find the clearest skies and best possible viewing spots for that night.  

With luck—and a little solar magic—you’ll watch green and purple lights ripple across the dark Icelandic sky. It’s quiet, surreal, and something you’ll never forget. Overnight at Hotel Island or similar.

Day 5 Depart Reykjavik
Today is all about exploring Reykjavik! You have an entire day for yourself and this is your chance to get to know the city and get closer to the local culture. There’s a lot to do in the city. Start with visiting local boutiques, cozy coffee shops, and museums. Some of them even offer the Northern Lights experience so you can see auroras in Reykjavik! If you prefer to stay in the fresh air, walk along the old harbor, or the shoreline by the Atlantic Ocean. Those who want the full Icelandic experience should bring their swimsuits! Relax in any of the many spas and swimming pools across the city. Last but not least, don’t miss a chance to try traditional Icelandic food and wash it down with local drinks!

This is an outdoor adventure tour, so dressing appropriately for Iceland’s changing weather is essential. Throughout the trip, we recommend wearing warm, layered clothing, including thermal underwear, a waterproof jacket and pants, a warm hat, scarf, and gloves. For the glacier hike, sturdy hiking boots are mandatory as they are the only type that works with ice crampons. If needed, hiking boots, waterproof jackets, and pants can be rented on-location for the glacier activity. To rent gear for the entire tour, please be sure to add the items to your booking at least 48 hours before departure. 

On Day 1, you’ll check into your hotel in Reykjavík and make your way to the Old Harbor for the Northern Lights boat tour. From Day 2 onward, hotel pick-up is provided each morning. 

Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and sightings are never guaranteed. Visibility depends on weather conditions, cloud cover, and solar activity. Your guides will always do their best to find clear skies and ideal viewing spots, but nature ultimately sets the schedule. 

Ice caves are natural formations that constantly change due to seasonal shifts, temperature, and weather. As a result, their appearance varies, and they may look different from photos or previous visits. While each visit is unique, guides will always take you to a safe, accessible cave based on current conditions. 

INCLUSIONS

• Pick-up & drop-off in Reykjavík

• Guided minibus sightseeing tour

• Accommodation with private bathroom for 4 nights

• Daily breakfast at your hotel (Days 2-5)

• Northern Lights boat tour from Reykjavík

• Northern Lights minibus tour in the countryside

• English-speaking local guide

• Natural ice cave tour

• Free Wi-Fi on the bus

EXCLUSIONS

• Lunch and inner

• International airfare

• Baggage porterage at airport/hotel

• Personal travel insurance (highly recommended)

• Swimsuit at the Blue Lagoon (rentals available)

• Round-trip transfers between airports and hotels

• Beverages, snacks, lunches, dinners unless otherwise noted in the itinerary

• Guaranteed early check-in (check-in time for most hotels in Iceland starts between 14:00 and 16:00 (2:00pm and 4:00pm)

• Guaranteed late check-out

• Any service not specifically listed under "Included

WHAT TO BRING

• Warm outdoor clothes

• Shoe Spike Grips (available to purchase while booking)

• Thermal underwear

• Waterproof jacket and pants

• Warm headwear

• Scarf

• Gloves

• Sturdy hiking boots

Highlights

• Golden Circle (Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss)

• Vatnajökull National Park

• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

• Diamond Beach

• Glacier Hike & Natural Ice Cave (from Oct 1st)

• Katla Ice Cave (until Sep 30)

• Skógafoss & Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls

• Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

• Northern Lights Boat Tour (Day 1)

• Northern Lights Minibus Tour (Day 4)

• Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon (weather permitting)

• Hekla Volcano (weather permitting)

• Eyjafjallajökull Volcano / Glacier Views (weather permitting)

Important:

• If you do not choose the single supplement you will be paired in a twin room with another participant of the same gender.

• A minimum of 3 passengers is required to guarantee each departure

• Northern lights are dependent on weather conditions and sightings are not guaranteed

• We reserve the right to alter routes without prior notice, due to road conditions

• Please advise us at booking time if you have food allergies or dietary preferences

Minimum age:

8 years.  We do not recommend escorted tours for children 5 years old and younger.