Northern Lights Quest of Iceland

Meet your guide at 2:00 PM in your hotel. Take an orientation tour and discover Iceland’s capital city. Explore Reykjavik’s settlement, history, and the natural beauty that surrounds it. You’ll be charmed by its architecture and the beautiful brightly colored rooftops. Visit the Perlan Observation Deck, which offers magnificent 360° views of Reykjavik and its surroundings. Return to your centrally-located hotel and enjoy a welcome drink and canapes with your group, followed by dinner on your own. Then, head to the harbor for your Northern Lights quest by boat. You’ll have beautiful views of the city and surrounding mountains as you sail away from the coastline of Reykjavik, watching for the aurora borealis.

Head out on the famed Golden Circle, starting with the spectacular Thingvellir National Park, a meeting place of old Icelandic clans. It is also where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet above ground. Journey to the Secret Lagoon: small and intimate, it’s where savvy travelers go to enjoy the Icelandic spa experience. Don’t forget your swimsuit! Enjoy a tasty lunch in the greenhouse of Fridheimar Tomato Farm. Then it’s on to the Strokkur Geysir, which erupts every 10 minutes. Stop at Gullfoss Waterfall, one of the most photographed spots in all of Iceland. Move on to your hotel below the Hekla volcano where you’ll enjoy a sumptuous dinner. Once darkness falls, you can take a soak in the hotel’s outdoor hot tub while watching for the Northern Lights. (B, L, D)

Begin the day with a special early opening at the LAVA Center to learn about Iceland’s volcanoes, and how their eruptions and lava flows have shaped the country over time. Visit the Skogar Folk Museum to explore Iceland’s cultural heritage and learn about the lives of Iceland’s early settlers through an array of tools, books, and handicrafts. Visit the nearby stunning Skogafoss Waterfall, where on sunny days a double rainbow is often visible. Save your appetite for dinner at your hotel tonight. Perfectly situated for Northern Lights viewing under an open sky, your hotel offers wake-up service if the lights are visible after bed time. (B, D)

Travel to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, dotted with crystal-blue icebergs. Marvel at small icebergs flowing into the Atlantic or breaking up along the black sand of Diamond Beach. Enjoy lunch with a view of the surrounding countryside. Visit Skaftafell Wilderness Area with its enormous glaciers, snow-capped volcano and nearby lava fields. Return to your hotel where you can dine independently. It may be another perfect night to step into the darkness and search for the elusive Northern Lights. (B, L)

Journey to the beautiful Seljalandsfoss Waterfall where, weather permitting, the sure-footed can walk the trail that takes you behind the 60-meter falls. This morning, you’ll travel back to Reykjavik, visiting en route any itinerary sites that might have been previously missed due to weather and enjoy the balance of the afternoon in the city exploring some of the many charming sites on your own. In the evening, you’ll be whisked away to the Blue Lagoon, a large man-made lake surrounded by a lava field that is also a geothermal spa. Share in a farewell dinner and lagoon entry with your group. Afterward, enjoy one last night-time drive for another possibility to see the famed Northern Lights. (B, D)

Your tour ends after breakfast. (B) All visits are weather dependent. B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner