Northern Lights

This program includes 5 evenings of presentations, lectures, film and guided evening walks or excursions at spots likely to offer a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis – the Northern Lights. The tour is dependent on weather and therefore sightings are not guaranteed. 

The Northern Lights are in the northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone (it is not a TV show that you can just turn on and off). But it’s worth the patience required.

Prepare!

Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hat. For the best photos we recommend using a tripod.

Read more about the Northern Ligths in our "Facts about Iceland" section!

Day 1, Friday: WELCOME to ICELAND (50 km/31 mls)
Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from Keflavik airport to your accommodation in Reykjavík where you‘ll spend the night. We‘ll provide some ideas to help you explore Iceland's capital on your own. Dinner suggestions as well!

Day 2, Saturday: SEALS, HORSES, FJORDS & MOUNTAINS (400 km/248 mls)
Meet your tour guide and travel west. We pass the town of Borgarnes and climb the Grábrók volcano crater. In the afternoon we visit a natural history & seal museum in a small fishing village and stroll around the local harbour. Later we'll stop for coffee & cake at a horse farm, where we can also learn about the history and special gaits of the Icelandic horse. Then we travel along the scenic fjord landscape and over several challenging mountain passes until we reach Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland. This charming town of 17000 inhabitants offers many nice options for dinner which is on your own. In the evening, if conditions look good, we’ll take a little walk to search for the northern lights.

Day 3, Sunday: ICELAND'S NORTHERNMOST TOWN (255 km/158 mls)
Today we drive along Eyjafjörður, Iceland's longest fjord which offers an amazing mountain panorama. The Tröllaskagi peninsula is named after the giant trolls, who according to Icelandic folk tales, each spring ran into the peninsula's towering glaciers, deep valleys and alpine mountains to hide from the ever present arctic sun. We pass several small and friendly fishing villages. Along the way, we’ll have a stop at a deserted fjord valley that even most Icelanders have not seen yet. Today's destination is Siglufjörður, Iceland’s northernmost town, known as the herring capital of the North Atlantic. In Siglufjörður we visit the herring museum.

After we leave Siglufjordur, we go back to route 1 and head to Lake Mývatn where we’ll stay for the next three nights. Along the way we stop at a local brewery and taste one of Iceland's many micro-beers. Lake Myvatn is known as a winter wonderland. Join an evening lecture about northern lights and after dinner, don't miss the chance to search for the magical auroras.

Day 4, Monday: EXPLORE LAKE MÝVATN (50 km/31 mls)
Lake Mývatn is known for its geological wonders and active bird life, but also for having Iceland's coldest temperatures. There’s a busy day planned, and we will take in as much around as weather and road conditions allow us - it's a winter adventure after all. In the morning we take an easy walk through the bizarre lava formations and landscape at Kálfaströnd followed by a walk around the Höfði peninsula. Here you can enjoy great view to the lake, bird life and trees. In the afternoon we travel to the hot spring area of Námaskarð with bubbling mud pools and steaming solfataras. We have some time to take pictures and see the Lake Mývatn Nature Baths where we taste traditional dark bread baked underground in the geothermal heat. Lunch and dinner are included.

In the evening we take a relaxing soak at Lake Mývatn Nature Baths that contains a unique blend of minerals, silicates and geothermal micro-organisms and whose warm soothing waters benefit both skin and spirit alike. This will get us revived to be ready to chase the elusive Northern Lights.

Day 5, Tuesday: SEARCH FOR THE TROLLS & SNOW ADVENTURES (30 km/19 mls)
This morning we go for a snowshoe trip in a lava labyrinth (or a hike if there is no snow) through the lava formations of Dimmuborgir “the dark castles”, hoping to get a glimpse of the trolls who are said to live there. Good hiking boots, winter clothing, hat and gloves are required. Guidance, snowshoes and poles are included! Back at the hotel, enjoy some warm soup after your outdoor adventure. The afternoon is free at leisure to walk along the many pseudo craters or walk along the lake shores. Or just relax and enjoy the wonderful light of a northern winter afternoon.

In the afternoon you might join an optional tour on cross-country skis. The trail depends on the snow conditions and number of participants. Whether you are a beginning or experienced skier we find the right place to enjoy a true adventure is the winter wonderland by Lake Mývatn. Winter clothing, hat and gloves are required. *Guidance, skis, shoes and poles are included!

In the evening enjoy a video presentation about Northern Lights as a part of the Northern Lights educational program. After a delicious dinner, join for a hot drink around an open fire and under the stars on the hotel terrace. Don't forget to keep an eye out for the northern lights.

Day 6, Wednesday: BIRDS, CHRISTMAS GARDEN & THE CAPITAL OF NORTH ICELAND (120 km/75 mls)
We start the day with a visit at the Lake Mývatn bird museum, where the owner, Mr Sigurgeir had a passionate interest in Icelandic birds and his museum now has over 80 species, all in a well organized exhibit which is interesting to people of all age. Then we travel to Goðafoss, the waterfalls of the Gods, an important spot in Icelands history. Next stop is the Christmas Garden, a small museum and shop where you will find countless items connected to the festive season from all parts of the world. Of course, Icelandic Christmas traditions are given priority, such as legs of smoked lamb hanging from a beam and the decorative “leaf bread” in many patterns, as well as the Yuletide Lads and their parents, who play such an important role in the Icelandic Christmas celebrations. Quality handwork, crafted by many artists from all parts of the country deck the shelves, making this a place which appeals to all the family. We reach Akureyri around noon time. The afternoon is free at leisure to explore the capital of North Iceland on your own. There are some excellent local museums and a great geothermal swimming pool. If you prefer more action, you might like to do some optional horseback riding or skiing. Dinner on your own. And of course, it’s always wise to look up in the sky - and perhaps see the Aurora Borealis.

Day 7, Thursday: HISTORY & DESIGN IN SKAGAFJÖRÐUR (420 km/261 mls)
We travel back west over the mountains to Skagafjörður, known as the valley of horses, and home to many ancient farms. The turf church of Víðimýri has been extensively restored to its original form and is widely considered one of the purest and most beautiful examples of traditional architecture. The timbers of the church were selected from the driftwood coming ashore along the Skagafjörður peninsula. The churchyard gate with its bells is situated exactly where it was originally built – which is said to have been since Christianity was adopted in Iceland, around the year 1000. We visit the folk museum and turf farm at Glaumbær. The buildings of the farm date from slightly different periods in the 18th- & 19th-centuries. This style of the turf construction was universal in rural areas of Iceland until about 1900, when it was gradually replaced mainly by reinforced concrete, which is typical in most contemporary Icelandic construction today. Extensive turf construction evolved in Iceland owing to the acute shortage of large trees. A turf building, in districts of moderate rainfall, can last up to a century.

After the lunch break you experience leather and tanning in Sauðárkrókur, in the only tannery in Europe which makes fish leather. Enjoy a guided tour of the actual tannery, where fish-skin is expertly processed to make high-quality leather and where the tannery’s products by outstanding designers and craftspeople are offered for sale. Fish leather from Atlantic Leather has caught the imagination of internationally-known fashion houses and brands such as Prada, Dior and Nike. Later on you will have some time to explore the fishing town of Sauðárkrókur on your own before we travel south and reach Reykjavík in the evening. Overnight in the capital.

Day 8, Friday: DEPARTURE (50 km/31 mls)
Individual transfer by Flybus airport shuttle from your accommodation in Reykjavík to Keflavík airport.

Departures

To be announced

Prices

TBA ... € per person in twin or triple room with private facilities.

Single room supplement: ... €