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Overview

A winter bestseller group outing with up to 98% sighting of the Northern Lights! Now also in German!

Experience the Icelandic winter from its most beautiful side. Our Northern Lights exploration trips are designed to encompass the highlights of Iceland and maximize the chances of seeing the elusive Northern Lights. In addition to seven nights' accommodation with breakfast, this programme includes our special Northern Lights Academy, a combination of evening presentations, lectures, films and guided observations of the Aurora Borealis – the Northern Lights. Experience the Icelandic winter as it couldn't be more beautiful. Get out into nature: from the regions of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the west to the Vatnajökull glacier in the southeast. Enjoy the Northern Lights far away from the big city.

English-language departures (maximum 40 people) every Friday
Small English-speaking groups (maximum 16 people) every Tuesday
Departures for German participants (maximum 40 people) on Sundays

Detailed Itinerary

Fly bus transfer from Keflavik International Airport to your accommodation in Reykjavik.

Hotel: Hotel Klettur or similar

Meal: No Meal

At 9:00 AM, meet your guide at Hótel Klettur, Mjölnisholt 12-14 105 in Reykjavík, who will show you the highlights of Iceland's exciting capital. Then we continue westwards. We stop in Borgarnes and learn more about the beginnings of Iceland in the settlement center. After that, we continue to Borgarfjörður, also known as the Saga Valley because of its many important historical events. You will have the opportunity to climb the Grábrók volcanic crater and visit Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe. Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls that originate under a wide lava field. The Barnafoss – the children's waterfall – with its own tragic history and the Hraunfoss are nearby. In the afternoon, there will be a lecture about the Northern Lights. After dinner, you can go in search of the Northern Lights in the hotel garden and then have a hot cup of chocolate or tea.

Hotel: Hotel Hamar or similar

Meal: Breakfast

The Snæfellsnes peninsula, "the peninsula of snow-capped mountains", protrudes from Iceland's west coast like a long arm with a clenched fist at the tip and is in many ways a microcosm of the whole island. A rugged mountain range stretches along the entire length of the island. Visit the fishing village of Grundarfjörður, a place with an impressive coastline and mountains, lakes, and waterfalls behind the village. One of Iceland's most photographed and famous mountains, Kirkjufell, juts out into the bay. We will take you 35 meters underground and about 200 meters into the lava tube under the Snæfellsjökull glacier! Visit Arnarstapi and Hellnar. On the way back to Borgarnes, the guide will give you some practical tips for photographing the Northern Lights as part of the Northern Lights Academy program. Of course, as soon as it gets dark, we go to the hotel garden to watch the Northern Lights and take a dip in the hotel's hot tubs.

Hotel: Hotel Hamar or similar

Meal: Breakfast and Lunch

Cruise along the Hvalfjörður fjord. Continue inland to Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first Icelandic parliament was held in Þingvellir. Drive along the Golden Circle route and see the steam rising from the geothermal fields of Geysir. The chef of the Geysir restaurant invites you to try freshly baked hot spring bread with Icelandic butter, boiled eggs and herring. Continue to the double waterfall of Gullfoss. In the afternoon, learn about the Icelandic horse, its unique characteristics, and history, and visit a geothermal greenhouse before reaching your accommodation in South Iceland. Tonight, you'll plunge into the darkness and search for the elusive Northern Lights in the peace and quiet of rural Iceland.

Hotel: Land hotel in Hella or similar

Meal: Breakfast

Today we drive along the south coast. At the Lava & Volcano Exhibition Center, you'll learn about geology and active volcanoes. Further east, we will visit one of Iceland's best folk museums, the Skógar Museum. This museum houses an outstanding collection of peasant and domestic artifacts from Iceland's past, as well as several turf houses. Nearby is the 60-meter-high Skógafoss waterfall, one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country. In the afternoon, take a walk along the black lava beach and along the bird cliffs at Reynisfjara in South Iceland. We spend two nights near Kirkjubæjarklaustur in the region of Vatnajökull National Park, which is in darkness and ideal for searching for the Northern Lights.

Hotel: Fosshótel Núpar or similar

Meal: Breakfast

Today's programme is all about glaciers, ice and icebergs. We will drive to Jökulsárlón, a glacier lagoon with floating icebergs, and explore the amazing place and maybe see seals swimming in the Arctic waters. You can walk on the black sand beach, the so-called Diamond Beach, where large icebergs are stranded. In the afternoon we visit the tiny peat church in Hof and spend time in Europe's largest national park with the highest mountains in Iceland, an alpine environment and the largest glacier in Europe. In the evening, you will enjoy a film screening about the Northern Lights as part of the program of the Northern Lights Academy. Be careful not to go to bed too early in this secluded and quiet spot, or you might miss another chance to see the shimmering Northern Lights dancing across the night sky.

Optional ice cave tour is offered between October and April (weather permitting). On day 6, experience a spectacular crystal ice cave in Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajökull. It's like standing under a frozen blue ocean or in a frozen cathedral, surrounded by millions of shades of blue. Deep beneath Iceland's massive Vatnajökull glacier, beautiful ice caves form in summer due to meltwater rivers. In spring and summer, it is too dangerous to visit them, as they threaten to collapse. The cold winter temperatures strengthen the ice and make exploration possible between November 15 and March 15 (subject to change). The tour takes about 2.5 hours in total – about 30 minutes by off-road vehicle from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and 5-15 minutes hike (one way). You will spend about an hour in the ice cave. You will need good hiking shoes and warm clothing that will protect you from the dripping water in the ice cave. The minimum age is 10 years. The ice cave tour can only be booked on day 2 of the Northern Lights exploration tour. You must fill out and sign an order form, after which cancellation is no longer possible. Bookings for the ice cave tour must be completed with the guide by dinner on day 2 of the tour. Later bookings can no longer be considered due to the limited space available. Payment is made on the 6th day in Icelandic kroner at the organizer of the ice cave tour – in cash, with Visa and MasterCard! The ice cave explorers will meet their local guide at the glacier lagoon at 2:00 PM and will be returned to the hotel after the ice cave tour, while the rest of the group continues the official tour program. The ice cave explorers will miss part of the official tour program as there is not enough time for everything, but the stop and visit to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is included for all group members.

Hotel: Fosshótel Núpar or similar

Meal: Breakfast

From Kirkjubæjarklaustur we drive across the Eldhraun lava field to the village of Vík, where we make a photo stop. The black lava beach with its high bird cliffs and the roaring waves is impressive. Further west, we reach the tall but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which cascades down from the mountain. In the afternoon, we will have the opportunity to swim in the famous Blue Lagoon. In the evening we reach Reykjavík for one last night.

The visit to the Blue Lagoon takes place in the afternoon. The tour ends around 7 pm.

Hotel: Hotel Klettur or similar

Meal: Breakfast

Individual transfer by Fly bus airport shuttle from a bus stop near your accommodation in Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport.

Meal: Breakfast

Inclusions

• 7 nights in comfortable tourist class hotels
• 7x breakfast
• 1x lunch
• 6-day accompanied bus tour with English-speaking guide/driver-tour guide
• Transfer from/to the airport by Flybus shuttle (without guide)
• Visit to the Settlement Center in Borgarnes
• Guided tour to Vatnshellir Cave
• Tasting of hot springs with geothermally cooked bread and eggs
• Visit to the Icelandic horse stable and geothermal greenhouse
• Visit to the lava center
• Skógar Folk Museum & turf houses
• Entrance to the Blue Lagoon with towel                                                                                           • Northern Lights program

Exclusions

Any private expenses
Any additional services
All meals not listed under “included”
Single supplement (mandatory when in a single room)
International airfares
Optional activities
Other meals, drinks, tips and other personal expenses or services not specified on the program
Travel insurance
Gratuities
Voluntary tips for guides or drivers
Travel and medical insurance
Any items not mentioned as included

Notes

HIGHLIGHTS & TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
An 85-98% chance of seeing the Northern Lights
Experience amazing Icelandic landscapes mixed with gentle adventures and cultural experiences during the day
Climb a volcanic crater and hike between two continental tectonic plates
Visit the settlement center in Borgarnes
Descend 35 meters deep into Vatnshellir Cave under the Snæfellsnesjökull glacier
Relax in the Blue Lagoon and learn about life with volcanoes
See Icelandic horses and sample freshly baked hot spring bread
Five evenings of the Northern Lights Academy
Optional ice cave tour on the Vatnajökull glacier for departures between October and April (weather permitting)

HINT: Accommodations are subject to change.

HINT: Itineraries may be adjusted in the event of last-minute weather changes, and certain outdoor activities/day trips may be cancelled during the winter season in Iceland. In these rare cases where force majeure applies, excursions/activities cannot be refunded, but the local guides will do their best to find reasonable alternatives whenever possible.

Additional services:
• Entrance fees
• Free Wi-Fi on the bus
• Use of crampons for shoes
• Use of a flashlight
• Extra night in Reykjavik before/after the tour – on request.
• Upgrade for private airport transfer - on request.
• Optional visit to an ice cave from October to April (depending on weather conditions)

CHILD DISCOUNT: 20% discount for children aged 8-11 sharing a room with 2 adults. The tour is not recommended for children under the age of eight. Triple rooms are double rooms with an extra bed and are ideal for two adults and one child.

Start and end point: Keflavik Airport (Flybus Departure Transfer)
Meeting time for the tour: Pick-up at 09:00 a.m. on day 2 in Hotel Klettur or similar.

NOTE: Itineraries may be subject to change at short notice during severe weather conditions and certain outdoor activities/day trips may be cancelled during the winter season in Iceland. In these rare cases, where situations of force majeure apply, excursions/activities cannot be refunded but the local guides will try their best to find reasonable alternatives where and whenever possible.

Max People : 40 pax.

Program Touring / Guide

Escorted Experience

Trip Highlights

Reykjavik City Tour - Borgarfjordur Saga Valley - 3Snæfellsnes Peninsula - Lava Cave - Golden Circle, Geothermal Taste & Icelandic Horse - Natural Wonders of South Iceland & Eyjafjallajökull Volcano - Vatnajökull National Park & Glacier including Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach - South Shore & Blue Lagoon

Departure Period
01 Nov, 2024 to 30 Apr, 2025

Hotel
AUD 4,030 P P twin share
AUD 5,195 P P single
AVAILABLE

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