NORTHERN LIGHTS ADVENTURE Experience the Aurora Borealis & Iceland's Incredible Countryside Firsthand

Iceland Encounter’s  five-day Northern Lights adventure includes two nights in Reykjavik and two nights in the countryside, where conditions for viewing the Aurora Borealis are optimal. The best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is from mid-September into April. They can be seen anywhere in Iceland and are most likely to appear on cold, clear evenings.

Day 1 – Welcome to Iceland!

Our car service will pick you up at the airport and drive you to Reykjavik, where you check into your downtown hotel. Spend the day at leisure with recommendations from us.

Day 2 -Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss

This morning, your private guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the location of Iceland’s Parliament between the years 930 and 1798. Thingvellir is also one of the few places in the world where you can clearly see the effects of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pulling apart. After lunch, we explore the Geysir hot spring area and Gullfoss waterfalls. We overnight in the countryside, where conditions for viewing the Northern Lights are optimal. Optional activities today include a visit to a horse ranch and one hour riding tour or a snowmobile ride on Langjökull glacier.

Day 3 -South Coast Exploration

After breakfast, we start our adventure along the south coast of Iceland. First we stop at beautiful Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where you can walk behind the waterfall. Then it’s onto Solheimajokull glacier for an optional glacier-walk. Wearing crampons and other necessary glacier gear, we’ll explore the amazing world of this run-off glacier. On our way back to your hotel, we will stop at Skogafoss waterfall and explore the black-sand beaches. In the evening, we will have another opportunity to look for the Northern Lights.

Day 4 -Thorsmork Wilderness Area

Today, we head into the dramatic wilderness area called Thorsmork (Thor’s Forest) north of Eyjafjallajokull, the volcano that erupted in the spring of 2010. Here we’ll travel to run-off glacier Gigjokull, where torrents of glacial melt water transformed the surrounding landscape during the eruption. Later in the day, and depending on conditions, we’ll either hike up to one of many viewpoints in the area or explore one of the countless gullies and ravines that dissect the north face of the volcano. Return to Reykjavik by evening.

Day 5 -Blue Lagoon and Departure

We’ll provide private airport transfers 3-hours before your scheduled departure time. Guests leaving in the afternoon may want to consider a day at the Blue Lagoon spa, in which case we’ll pick you up at your hotel at 11 AM. After spending up to 90 minutes in the Lagoon’s warm aqua-blue waters–renowned for their healing powers–we’ll drive you to the airport in time for your afternoon flight.