Iceland Complete Winter Aurora Edition
9 Days

ITINERARY

9 days / 8 nights

Tour Overview:
Experience the special “Aurora Edition” of our best-selling Ring Road tour! You’ll visit all the main attractions of the legendary Ring Road, but with the added beauty—and northern lights—of an Icelandic winter.

Day 1: Arrival and Optional Northern Lights Tour

Please note: If you have added extra nights in Reykjavík before your tour, the guide will meet your group for the start of the tour on Day 2 according to the standard “Winter Iceland Complete” itinerary.

Upon arrival, head through passport control, collect your bags and go through customs to the Arrival Hall. The FlyBus transfer shuttle is waiting outside the arrival hall. Please show your confirmation information to the attendant on board and let him or her know the hotel you are using in Reykjavík. Important: The FlyBus is a shared bus transfer. You will not be met directly in the airport by a driver.

Overnight stay in Reykjavik.

Ingolfur Arnarson, the first settler of Iceland, built his farm on the peninsula where Reykjavík stands today. The town got its name “Smoky Bay” after the columns of steam that rose from the hot springs in the area and made such a deep impression on the first settlers.

Dinner is on your own. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital.

Please note guaranteed early check-in is not included in the price. Most hotels begin check-in between 14:00 and 16:00 (2:00pm and 4:00pm)


Day 2: Geysir – Gullfoss – Skogar – Dyrholaey – Vik

Exploding Geysers – Waterfalls – Black Sand Beaches of the South Shore

Breakfast at your hotel. Start the day with a short city sightseeing of Reykjavik. From Reykjavik head through the greenhouse village of Hveragerdi. Head on to the Golden Circle natural wonders. Explore Gullfoss, the “”Golden Waterfall””, and the nearby Geysir hot spring area to see the famous Geysir and Strokkur, as well as numerous other hot springs and boiling mud pools. Continue along the south shore and stop to admire the waterfalls Seljalandsfossand Skogafossbefore continuing to Dyrholaey and the black sand beaches of Iceland’s South Shore. Continue to the village of Vik.

Dinner and overnight in the south coast area.

Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this evening


Day 3: Vatnajokull National Park – Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon – Hofn

Lava Fields – Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs – Europe’s Largest Glacier

Breakfast at your hotel. Continue your journey on the Ring Road. Cross Eldhraun, the largest lava flow recorded on the planet in historical times. Visit Kirkjubaejarklaustur town, the former site of a 12th-century Catholic convent. The tour continues over Skeidararsandur sands to Skaftafell, a beautiful glacial area within Vatnajokull National Park. Continue to the stunning Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon to see the birthplace of icebergs. Throughout the day you will also enjoy magnificent views of the mighty Vatnajokull Glacier.

Dinner and overnight stay in the Hofn area.

Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this evening


Day 4: Hofn – East Fjords – Egilsstadir

Narrow Fjords – Steep Mountains – Picturesque Coastline – Legendary Lake Monster

Breakfast at your hotel. Drive from Hofn through Almannaskard pass, stopping to admire the majestic coastline. Continue to the towering mountains plunging vertically into the sea that form the magnificent East Fjords. Enjoy the amazing views: keep an eye out for wild reindeer, which can sometimes be seen in the area during the winter months. You’ll also pass villages, each with its own special history and charm. The road brings you to Egilsstadir town, located near Iceland’s largest forest and a lake said to be home to a legendary (friendly) monster. The area is also getting a name for itself for its excellent locally-sourced cuisine.

Dinner and overnight stay in the Egilsstadir area.

Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this evening


Day 5: Lake Myvatn Area

Highland Desert – Bizarre Lava Formations – Geothermal & Volcanic Winter Wonderland

Breakfast at your hotel. Explore the empty vastness of the highland desert plateau Modrudalsoraefias you head towards the Lake Myvatn area. On the way, stop at Dettifoss, Europe’s largest and most powerful waterfall.Continue onwards to Namaskard pass with its boiling mud pools and vibrant colours. Explore the natural beauty of the Lake Myvatn area, including the pseudo craters at Skutustadir and the Laxa Salmon River. Dinner and overnight stay in the Myvatn area.

Northern lights Wake-up call option available this evening”


Day 6: Lake Myvatn Area – Akureyri – Siglufjordur

“”Waterfall of the Gods”” – Turf-roofed Folk Museum – The Beautiful Troll Peninsula

Breakfast at your hotel. Start the day by exploring the peculiar lava formations at Dimmuborgir. Visit the magnificent Godafoss waterfall and the old turf farm Laufas. Afterwards, visit Akureyri, the colourful northern “capital „of Iceland. The town has charming buildings and beautiful view of the Eyjafjordur Fjord. After spending some time in Akureyri, continue along the coastal roads of Eyjafjordur and the Troll Peninsula. This is a beautiful drive along steep mountains with amazing views over the Arctic Sea and black sand coastline. The destination is Siglufjordur, set in a beautiful fjord of the same name. This town has some of the finest timber buildings in the country, beautifully restored to their original glory. Siglufjordur is a very picturesque and easily walkable town for an evening stroll.

Dinner and overnight in Siglufjorður.

Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this evening


Day 7: Skagafjordur – Borgarnes

Historical Museum – Fertile Farmlands – Glacial Rivers – Unique Viking Horse Demonstration

Breakfast at your hotel. This morning visit Siglufjordur’s award-winning Herring-Era Maritime Museum. The museum recreates the atmosphere of the early 20th century, when Siglufjordur was transformed into a frontier boom town, thanks to a large migration of herring. Afterwards, head along majestic mountains and narrow passes to Skagafjordur, considered to be one of the finest places in Iceland for horse breeding. Enjoy an introduction to the unique Icelandic horse breed with its special fifth gait – the tolt. Continue towards the village of Blonduos, built on both sides of the river Blanda. Hrutey Island, a protected nature reserve, sits within the centre of this popular salmon river. Cross the Holtavorduheidi plateau through Borgarfjordur to the beautiful town of Borgarnes.

Dinner and overnight stay in Borgarnes area.

Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this evening


Day 8: Borgarfjordur – Thingvellir – Reykjavik

Europe’s Largest Hot Spring – Picturesque Waterfalls – National Park with Geological Wonders

Breakfast at your hotel. Drive to Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe. Stop to admire the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfalls before continuing via Hvalfjordur fjord to Lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest lake and Thingvellir National Park. This UNESCO heritage site is where the world‘s oldest continuing parliamentary government was founded in the 10th century. It is also the place where the North American and European tectonic plates meet.

Overnight stay in Reykjavik. Dinner is on your own.


Day 9: Departure

Breakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight. Transfer to the airport not included. We advise departing your hotel no later than three hours before your international flight.

Transfer to the international airport by bus for your departure flight.

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DATES/PRICING/ACCOMMODATIONS

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INCLUSIONS

Inclusions:

  • Guided Coach Tour from day 2 to day 8
  • Expert local English speaking guide from day 2 to day 8
  • Free Wi-Fi on board motor coach
  • Accommodation 2 nights in a standard room with facilities in Reykjavik
  • Accommodation 6 nights in a standard room with facilities in the countryside
  • 8 Icelandic breakfasts ***
  • 6 three-course local-cuisine dinners in the countryside with coffee/tea
  • Entrance to Laufas Folk Museum incl. Icelandic-style refreshments (day 6)
  • Horse Show in Skagafjordur (day 7)
  • Entrance to the Herring Museum (day 7)
  • Use of crampons/cleats (if needed) for walking on snow/ice covered surfaces
  • Great photo stops
  • Seat rotation during the tour
  • Northern Lights guided hunt on foot one selected evening
  • Northern Lights hunting kit (use of flashlight, blanket and a hot drink)
  • Customer care service during office hours
    24-hour Iceland Travel emergency line assistance while you are in Iceland
  • Round-trip airport/hotel transfers on Fly/Bus airport shuttle
    *** Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight.
  • Value-Added: Northern lights wake-up calls at hotels on Days 2-7. The hotels offer the option that you will be awakened if northern lights are seen in the vicinity of the hotel during the night.

Exclusions:

  • Breakfast on arrival day
  • International airfare
  • Baggage porterage at airport/hotel
  • Personal travel insurance (highly recommended)
  • Beverages, snacks, lunches, dinners unless otherwise noted in 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”

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