Iceland Northern Lights
Iceland Northern Lights
Iceland Northern Lights
5 Days Starting and ending in Reykjavik
Visiting: Reykjavík, Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Mýrdalsjökull, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara Beach, Seljalandsfoss, Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón, Gullfoss Falls, Þingvellir National Park, Geysir
Tour operator:
Tour code:
CZT
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
The Northern Lights can be dramatic, eruptive, fleeting and enigmatic. Never guaranteed, sightings rely on minimal light pollution, solar activity and clear skies. The key to any Aurora trip is enjoying the whole experience, regardless of what happens in the night sky. This is where Iceland comes into its own. Roaring waterfalls, icebergs littered on black volcanic sand and mighty volcanoes dotting the horizon. With a local guide on hand keen to show you 'their' Iceland, and alert to the prevailing conditions and the likelihood of a light show you will be well placed both literally and metaphorically, to see all that Iceland has to offer.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Reykjavik.
Location: Reykjavík
Accommodation: Hotel
Our tour begins at our hotel in Reykjavik in the late afternoon. Iceland’s
compact capital city is well worth exploring, and we strongly recommend a
couple of extra days before or after your tour. Two of the most striking
attractions are the Hallgrímskirkja Church; a fine example of expansionist
architecture with great views from the tower, and the beautiful Harpa
Concert Hall. The nearby old harbour is a great starting point to explore
the narrow streets of the old town.
Our trip begins with an evening briefing.This will usually be around 1830.
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Day 2 : Drive Along The South Coast Stopping At Seljalandsfoss And Skogafoss Waterfalls And Reynisfjara Volcanic Beach.
Location: Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Mýrdalsjökull, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara Beach, Seljalandsfoss
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we leave Reykjavik driving east along the scenic southern highway. Our
first stop is Seljalandsfoss, a 60-metre high waterfall. Here we have the
chance to walk behind the cascade providing conditions are not too icy.
Suitable footwear is a must, however the leader also carries a selection of
ice grips that can be put over standard walking boots to increase grip in
slippery conditions. We continue on through starkly beautiful countryside to
an area badly affected by the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull
volcano.
We continue on along the coast visiting the Skógafoss Waterfall, that falls
in a 25-metre wide sheet in a single drop of 60 metres. There may also be
time to visit the nearby Skóga Museum (entrance payable locally) and see how
Icelanders of centuries past survived in this harsh environment. After lunch
our next stop is the black volcanic beach at Reynisfjara, with its salt caves
and towering columnar basalts. The final part of our journey takes us across
the black expanse of the Myrdalssandur floodplains, created by the river
which formed after the eruption of a volcano under the Mýrdalsjökull
Glacier.
Our hotel for the night is the Laki, located just outside the small village
of Kirkjubaejarklaustur.
Day 3 : Drive Across Skeidararsandur Floodplains To Skaftafell For Stop And Visit; On To Svinafellsjokull Outlet Glacier For Easy Glacier Walk. Drive To Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon.
Location: Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We set out today across the massive Skeidararsandur floodplains, created in a
similar fashion to those at Mydalssandur. These floods however only occurred
in 1996, and there is still little vegetation. We head to Svinafellsjokull,
an outlet of the glacier where we go for a short walk. We will be using
crampons and ice axes however the terrain is not challenging and even those
with no similar experience should pick it up quickly. The glacier offers some
fantastic photo opportunities, with its walls of brilliant blue ice,
thousands of years in the making. Please note under certain circumstances it
may be necessary to use Solhimajokull glacier in the south. This is an
equally enthralling experience.
We travel onwards to the beautiful Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, created in the
1950’s as the glacier retreated from the coastline, leaving a 300m deep,
20sq km lake littered with icebergs. On the beach we can walk amongst the
large chunks of ice washed up on the black volcanic sand, creating some
beautiful shapes and formations.
The drive back to the hotel is approximately 90 minutes (125km), plenty of
time to reflect on the day's adventures.
Day 4 : Drive Along The South Coast Passing Eyjafjallajokull Volcano; Visit Gullfoss Waterfall, Spouts At Geysir And Explore The Rift Valley At Thingvellir N.P.; On To Reykjavik.
Location: Gullfoss Falls, Þingvellir National Park, Geysir
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We make our way back along the south coast, travelling inland from Selfoss.
We stop for lunch at the restaurant in the Fridhheimar greenhouses. Here a
local family have set up a successful tomato producing farm harnessing the
geothermal power so abundantly available.
From here we head on to visit the mighty Gulfoss Waterfall; one of
Europe’s most powerful. Hundreds of cubic tonnes of water a second pass
over the edge of the falls into the canyon below. We also visit Geysir, home
to the inimitable hot spouts. The most reliable eruption comes from Strokkur
and occurs every 5-10 minutes, firing jets of hot water and steam 30 metres
into the air, a spectacle not to be missed.
Our final stop before returning to Reykjavik is Thingvellir National Park,
where the world’s first democratic parliament sat in 930AD. It was not
until 1798, that it moved to the capital. Thingvellir is also the site of the
rift valley marking the Mid Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and
Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart, causing an area of around 7km to
literally sink into the earth.
Day 5 : End Reykjavik.
Location: Reykjavík
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our trip ends with a Flybus transfer to Keflavik Airport. Your leader will
not accompany you on the Flybus, however you will be provided with a number
to call for assistance should it be needed.
Should you have time you may wish to spend time exploring Reykjavik, visiting
one of the local thermal pools or the Blue Lagoon (see extra expenses section
for details).
Alternatively you may wish to extend your stay and learn more about this
incredible country. Please ask our sales team about pre and post tour nights.
What's Included
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All accommodation (see accommodation section)
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Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
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Tour leader throughout
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All breakfasts
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All transport and listed activities
What's Not Included
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Visas or vaccinations
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
Food
All breakfasts are included. There are a number of different lunch stops,
which we believe fit well with the itinerary such as the café near the
Skogafoss Waterfall, and the geothermal greenhouses at Friðheimar which
serves a menu based on its own produce, including the famous Friðheimar
Tomato Soup!
Whilst in the east of Iceland we will stop at local restaurants for dinner.
In Reykjavik there are plenty of restaurants to choose from catering for
all tastes and budgets. Traditional Icelandic dishes consist of salmon, cod,
lamb and puffin. Cafés in the old town are particularly cosy, packed with
comfy chairs, and antique furniture, with wonderful selections of coffees,
cakes and treats.
There will be vegetarian and vegan options available though in the east of
Iceland these may be more limited than in Reykjavik.
Accommodation
We aim to use hotels that provide good value for money (in Icelandic terms) along with a comfortable experience. In Reykjavik, we either stay at Hotel Klettur or Hotel Cabin, depending on availability.
Hotel Klettur
The property is approximately 15 minutes’ walk from the main shopping street, Laugavegur, so it’s easy to enjoy the cafes, bars and restaurants of the capital. If you’d prefer to relax at the hotel, there’s a ground-floor bar serving Icelandic beers and cocktails (look out for the happy hour from 5pm to 8pm) and a games room with a pool table and Northern Lights selfie wall.
Hotel Cabin
Hotel Cabin offers the same standard of accommodation and facilities, but is approximately 2,625ft (800m) further from the city centre. It also has a bar serving Icelandic beers and cocktails (with a happy hour on draft beer from 4pm to 6pm).
Hotel Laki
Along the south coast, we stay at this 64-room hotel, which is situated in a perfect location to see the rugged landscape of Iceland, with pseudo craters dotting the view. Run by farmers-turned-hoteliers Salome and Horður, the property has a restaurant serving locally sourced and seasonal produce and you can enjoy your meal with views of Vatnajokull glacier.
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
No visa required for British passport holders.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
There are no specific health risks.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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What is the maximum group size?
16
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Minimum 16 years old people can go on this tour
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.