Take part in a small group adventure that will take you to Iceland's most remarkable sights. For five days, visit the famed Golden Circle's features, an ice cave, Diamond Beach, and beautiful waterfalls. Then, join thrilling searches for the Northern Lights after sightseeing, and view the natural light display in the most unexpected places. Finally, admire the auroras while sailing across the North Atlantic Ocean.
Highlights
Explore the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon with strewn icebergs of diverse sizes and forms
Enjoy the Skogafoss Waterfall, where the water descends from 60 meters
Witness the Strokkur Geyser's natural spectacle bursts
Visit the Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Get situated before the excursion by checking in to your hotel around 2:00 PM. Then, go to the ticket office at the Old Harbor in Reykjavik in the evening and get ready to board the boat. Expert guides closely monitor the aurora forecast and are adept at finding prime viewing spots in the bay.
The boat will navigate away from city lights to ensure an optimal, unobstructed view of the Northern Lights. Enjoy the tranquil sail across the North Atlantic while witnessing the mesmerizing Aurora Borealis overhead. Watch video presentations featuring Icelandic folklore, photos, and interesting facts about the Northern Lights.
For added comfort, the boat has a cozy café and bar, where you can stay warm and entertained while awaiting the light show. Overalls are also available for those wishing to remain comfortable on the deck. After the spectacle, transfer back to the harbor to return to your hotel for the night.
Today's tour takes you to Iceland's renowned Golden Circle, featuring three main attractions: Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss.
Your journey begins at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic site of Iceland's first Parliament, founded in 930 CE. Thingvellir's unique geological features include a rift valley between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, continuously expanding as the plates drift apart.
Next, visit the Geysir Geothermal Area, where the dormant Geysir is overshadowed by the active Strokkur geyser, erupting spectacularly every 10 minutes with jets of water reaching up to 25 meters high.
The final stop on the Golden Circle tour is Gullfoss, Iceland's most famous waterfall, where the Hvita River cascades in two stages, creating a golden mist and often accompanied by vibrant rainbows.
After exploring the Golden Circle, continue towards the South Coast, offering picturesque views of Mount Hekla en route to Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which you can walk behind for a unique perspective.
Spend the night near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, providing an ideal opportunity to witness the Northern Lights away from city lights. You may be treated to a dazzling display of auroras dancing across the night sky with favorable weather conditions.
After breakfast, your journey heads eastward, passing through diverse landscapes, including lava fields, deserts, and glimpses of distant glaciers, notably Vatnajökull, Iceland's largest. This 5-day tour continues with visits to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach, where icebergs float serenely and resemble sparkling diamonds on the black sand. Afterward, head to Skaftafell for a winter glacier hike or a summer visit to Katla Ice Cave near Vik. The night's accommodation is in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area, followed by an adventurous Northern Lights hunt against snowy peaks and glaciers.
Hótel Geirland or similar
The minimum age requirement for a Glacier Hike is eight years old.
Day 4 of the itinerary focuses on exploring the South Coast and its highlights. Weather permitting, a brief detour may lead to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, famously known as "Bieber's Canyon."
Following this, you can discover the iconic Eldhraun lava field with insights from a knowledgeable guide. The journey continues to Reynisfjara black sand beach, renowned as one of the world's most beautiful non-tropical beaches. It features towering Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks and dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The next stop is Skógafoss waterfall, where water plunges 60 meters. For the adventurous, 527 steps offer access to the top of the waterfall, where, weather permitting, you can view the prominent Eyjafjallajökull volcano.
In the evening, travelers return to Reykjavik for accommodation in a city hotel. En route, you may stop to chase the Northern Lights, weather and conditions permitting.
Reykjavik Lights Hotel or similar
Day 5: Free Day in Reykjavik
1 Breakfast
Today's agenda is dedicated to exploring Reykjavik! With the entire day at your disposal, you can immerse yourself in the city's culture.
Reykjavik offers a plethora of activities. You can start by exploring local boutiques, quaint coffee shops, and museums, some of which offer immersive Northern Lights experiences.
For those preferring outdoor activities, a stroll along the old harbor or the Atlantic Ocean shoreline awaits.
Guests seeking the quintessential Icelandic experience should remember to pack their swimsuits! Relaxation awaits at the numerous spas and swimming pools scattered across the city.
Finally, indulging in traditional Icelandic cuisine and local beverages is a must-do to complete the day's exploration.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$1,2732-3 travelers
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
We are so glad that we chose Adventure Life. The service is top-notch. Everything is well taken care of and we just have to print the documents and go. Franny even gave us timely updates on possible airport strike.
KC Chan
TrustScore 4.8 | 254 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 254 reviews on
1 day ago
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
1 day ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
1 day ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
6 days ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.