Iceland: Reykjavík & the Northern Lights
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Watch the Land of Fire and Ice come to life in the winter light.
Is there anything like winter in Iceland? The sun creeps lower in the sky, occasional snowfall dusts Reykjavík, and the aurora borealis dances among the stars. This quick tour hits all the highlights, from the staggered columns of the Hallgrímskirkja church to the sparse expanse of West Iceland on the extension. And while we can’t guarantee you’ll see them, we’ll do everything we can to give you your moment with the northern lights.
Your tour package includes
- 4 nights in handpicked hotels
- 4 breakfasts
- 2 lunches
- 1 dinner with beer or wine
- 4 sightseeing tours
Included highlights
- Reykjavík
- The Golden Circle
- Great Geysir geothermal area
- Gullfoss
- Eyjafjallajökull volcano
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Day-by-day itinerary
Print itineraryBoard your overnight flight to Reykjavík today.
Welcome to Iceland! Meet your fellow travelers during a welcome lunch, then take the rest of the day to explore at your leisure. If you’re feeling peckish, check out Hlemmur Mathöll, a bus-station-turned-food-hall serving everything from Italian gelato to Danish smørrebrød, or open-faced sandwiches.
Alternatively, add an excursion—and what better way to decompress after an international flight than with a soak in the Blue Lagoon? The milky waters of this geothermal bath are prized for their restorative properties; go for a float and let them ease your post-travel tension.
Blue Lagoon Spa Visit
From $159 per person
Clean, green Reykjavík is part cosmopolitan capital, part Scandinavian fishing port. Take to its streets with your Tour Director today and get to know this one-of-a-kind city on a guided sightseeing tour.
- Build your mental map of Reykjavík at the Perlan, a glass-domed museum with a 360-degree observation deck. From your perch atop the Öskjuhlíð hill, you can see the city’s compact downtown, Faxa Bay, and twin mountains emerging from the horizon.
- See the stately Höfði—the house that hosted the 1986 summit between Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev—before continuing to Bessastaðir. Distinguished by its rich, clay-colored roofing and simple, yet dignified, exterior, this home serves as the official residence of Iceland’s president.
- Head to Miðborg, the downtown neighborhood more simply known as the 101, to visit the Hallgrímskirkja. Reaching almost 245 feet into the sky at its peak, this church is one of the tallest buildings in the city—and with its breathtaking curved spire, it’s one of the most distinct, too.
- Pass the Alþingishúsið, home of the national parliament, and the lakeside City Hall before stopping at the National Gallery of Iceland to view the work of renowned local artists like Ásmundur Sveinsson and Einar Jónsson.
Afterward, linger a while in the Hljómskálagarðurinn, Reykjavík’s principal green space, or add an afternoon excursion to explore one of Iceland’s fantastical lava tubes—caves formed over time by magma flowing beneath a hardened crust.
Once the evening rolls in, reconvene and set off as a group in search of the aurora borealis—the northern lights. Make the hour-long journey out of Reykjavík to the Icelandic countryside (less light pollution means clearer skies!), settle in, and keep watch for those ephemeral shimmers.
Please note: The evening northern lights excursion is weather-dependent and seeing them isn’t guaranteed.
The Lava Tunnel
From $155 per person
Running for 190 miles across pristine landscapes, the Golden Circle encompasses some of Iceland’s most magnificent natural wonders. Today, you’ll board your bus and drive some of this famous route.
- Begin at the UNESCO-listed Þingvellir National Park, a 92-square-mile tract of volcanic rock and golden scrubland. You’ll see the original site of the Alþing—“Althing” in English—an open-air governmental assembly that was established in 930 and continued to meet until 1798.
- Sit down for an included lunch at Friðheimar, a farm that grows tantalizingly fresh tomatoes and other produce in a greenhouse heated by geothermal energy.
- Enter the Haukadalur, a valley teeming with geothermal activity, and explore the area surrounding the Great Geysir. You could say it’s the original Old Faithful: After all, the English word “geyser” is derived from its name. While it hasn’t erupted since 2016, its nearby cousin, Strokkur, hasn’t stopped, spouting into the air every five to 10 minutes.
- Marvel at Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall that ranks as one of the most powerful in all of Europe. Some say its name comes from the legend of a Viking who dumped his treasure into its churning waters; others, the way the light catches the mist steaming off the cascade. Either way, it’s a sight to behold.
Don’t stop there. This evening, you’ll follow up natural beauty with a celestial show as you chase the northern lights outside of Reykjavík.
Please note: The evening northern lights search is weather-dependent and seeing them isn’t guaranteed.
Ready for more sensational sights? Embark on a journey to the South Coast, a lush lowland region filled to the brim with glimmering glaciers, black-sand beaches, and cozy villages.
- Eye the Eyjafjallajökull, an ice cap sitting atop an active volcano, then continue to the area’s famous beaches. Colored a deep, metallic black, their sands are the byproduct of centuries of eruptions and erosion. (And they make for stellar photos.)
- Park at the Seljalandsfoss, skirt the waterfall, and walk into a small cave behind it for a misty view of the surrounding plains.
- Marvel at the mighty Sólheimajökull. Spanning the gap between two volcanoes, this glacier’s moody blue ice makes it a popular hiking destination.
Celebrate your trip with your group at a farewell dinner this evening, served with beer or wine, and recount all your epic memories before turning in for the night.
Please note: The visit to Sólheimajökull is weather-dependent.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. If you booked this trip’s extension, sleep in a little—there’s more exploring to do in the wondrous wilds of West Iceland.
While some of your companions will be making their way home today, you’ll be rolling out to West Iceland, a geographically diverse wonderland that inspired Viking writers and continues to captivate travelers like yourself.
- Walk a one-mile loop and watch as Deildartunguhver—Europe’s most powerful hot spring—bubbles and flows without end. Water gushes out of the ground at a piping-hot 207 degrees and is used for heating in nearby towns.
- Behold two waterfalls, different in scale: the Hraunfossar, with its kilometer-long series of gentle rivulets, and the Barnafoss, a rapid cascade that lies at the heart of a dark local legend.
- Visit Reykholt, a historic village that was home to Snorri Sturluson, a 13th-century author and two-time leader of the Althing. Then, make your way to the Langjökull—Iceland’s second-largest glacier. Drive along the ice cap in a specially modified truck, then walk through its interior ice tunnels.
Sit down for an included dinner this evening, served with beer or wine, and prepare for tomorrow’s return trip to Reykjavik.
Please note: Langjökull’s ice tunnels are tight, enclosed spaces. We recommend that travelers with claustrophobia refrain from entering them.
On your way back to Reykjavík, stop in the town of Borgarnes, set on a peninsula jutting into the Borgarfjörður fjord. There, you’ll visit The Settlement Center: Built in two of Borgarnes’ oldest buildings, it shines a light on Iceland’s early history and one of its most famous figures—the Viking poet, warrior, and (supposed) sorcerer Egil Skallagrímsson.
Transfer to the airport to board your flight home.
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Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
Overall rating 4.6 out of 5
4 out of 5 stars
My favorite part of the tour was the event that was not listed on the itinerary. We were scheduled to go to the spa called Blue Lagoon, but concern for our safety and its proximity to the recently erupted volcano, we went to Sky Lagoon. This was the best part of the tour. I loved the size of Sky, a...
Hi Sue, We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed...
5 out of 5 stars
My daughter and I had a great time in Iceland. The tour director was excellent and knowledgeable and our bus driver was very accommodating and was an expert driver. The tour director ( Daniele) and bus Driver (George) went out of their way to keep us entertained and took us to extra places to make u...
5 out of 5 stars
Best vacation experience ever! The Icelandic people are wonderful and friendly. The scenery is amazing and other worldly. No place like it anywhere. Truly a land of contradictions. Fire and ice have shaped the landscape here, providing dramatic scenery. This will not be my last visit to Iceland. H...
Traveler photos
Hotels, flights & FAQ
Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.This modern hotel is located in the Hlemmur neighborhood. Guests enjoy a spa, bar, and restaurant. Nearby you’ll find the Sun Voyager sculpture, Hallg...
This modern luxury hotel is located in Húsafell in Iceland’s central highlands. Guests enjoy a pool, restaurant, and bar and lounge. Nearby, you’ll fi...
Flights
- Round-trip flight for your tour
- Airport transfers at your destination
- A great price locked in today
- 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
- Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
- Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
- Find out more about flights
FAQ
Print FAQ- In order to enter Iceland, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
- We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
- Beginning in 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
- Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2025, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
- If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code ICL.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Reykjavik.
- Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost if they are arriving or departing on the standard day.
- When you arrive in Reykjavik, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.
- Depending on the time of year, some travelers may be required to spend an extra night in the U.S. before boarding their connecting flight home. In these cases, Go Ahead Tours will reserve your hotel and you'll arrive home one day after the last day of the tour.
Physical Activity Level
This is a high physical activity-level tour. You can expect to be on the move on a regular basis throughout the course of the tour.
Tour Pacing
This is a very fast-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:
- Most days and evenings full of included activities (more if you add excursions)
- All transportation by motor coach
- Daily bus time varies and can be lengthy
Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements
- Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day - this includes city streets, unpaved paths, icy terrain, stairs, and hills.
- Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
- Please Note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour
Climate Considerations
- The winter season in Iceland occurs between October and March. It's strongly recommended that travelers are prepared for wet, windy and cold climate conditions.
- Weather can change quickly and frequently during this season. Travelers should be prepared for sudden changes to the itinerary to accommodate unfavorable weather.
- Daylight is limited during the winter; December sees on average only 4.5 hours of sunlight each day.
Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions
- Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
- Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
- If you have mobility concerns or tour pace questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team. We’re here to help!
- Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches.
- A checked bag may not be included in your airline ticket.
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
- Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
- Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
- Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at hotels.
- Winters in Iceland are generally cold. To ensure you’re comfortable for outdoor sightseeing and evening northern lights excursions, we recommend packing a warm coat, hat, gloves, winter socks, as well as rainwear.
- A warm sturdy pair of walking shoes or winter boots is strongly recommended for sightseeing. You may also want to consider bringing ice cleats for better traction.
- We also suggest packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can easily be layered. Avoid wearing cotton whenever possible, as it is an ineffective insulator.
- You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
- We recommend packing a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastic waste.
- We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
- We recommend packing your Insurance Card (from your primary insurance provider) in your carry on luggage.
- Go Ahead handpicks every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm.
- Accommodations are typically three to four star hotels.
- All accommodations include a private bathroom.
- Most rooms will include a safe for valuables.
- Your hotels will have Wifi, but it may be limited to common areas.
- Elevators in hotels are not guaranteed.
- Some hotels on this tour require travelers to walk with their luggage a few blocks as buses cannot drop travelers off right out front.
- Please be advised that the strength of the air conditioning in European hotels/buildings is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
- Iceland operates on 230 volts and uses Types C or F plugs with two round pins.
- We cannot guarantee that your hotel accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with the hotel once they are confirmed about 30 days prior to departure.
- Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.
- Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
- We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
- Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
- Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).
- At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
- If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
- If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
- The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code ICL.
- This tour includes two lunches and one dinner. Included meals may be plated set menus, buffet or family style depending on the location. Dinners include one glass of beer, wine, or soft drink and water, coffee and tea.
- Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
- Icelandic cuisine relies on traditional, locally sourced ingredients from the Atlantic ocean and the surrounding mountains. Both fresh and dried fish, including herring, cod, and shark, are important culinary staples. Other must-tries include Icelandic lamb, which is considered to be some of the best in the world, as well as pylsa (hot dogs) and skyr cheese.
- The included lunch at Fridheimar Farm typically includes the Friðheimar Tomato Soup served on a buffet with sour cream, home baked bread, cucumber salsa, butter and fresh herbs. Beverages include unlimited water and one soft drink.
- At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
- We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10-$12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
- If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
- Tips can only be paid in cash.
- The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.
- You will use the Icelandic krona on tour.
- Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
- We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
- You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
- International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
- Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your tour director, local guides, and bus drivers. We also recommend keeping coins in the local currency on hand, as some public bathrooms may charge a fee for use.
- To ensure you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend you download the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. The app is free and provides important deadlines, entry requirements, your detailed itinerary, packing tips and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the chat feature in the app.
- Wifi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
- There is no Wifi on any of the motor coaches.
- Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
- Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
- The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
- Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
- This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
- As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.
- When you travel with EF Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit, and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
- Travel, when done responsibly, can make an enormous socio-economic impact to communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at local businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
- Prepare for your trip: be aware of the monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market, learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette, and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
- When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
- EF Go Ahead Tours encourages our travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single use plastics. You can avoid single use plastics by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
- Environment: On this tour, we recommend the use of a reusable water bottle, as the local drinking water is safe for travelers. Your Tour Director can provide additional guidance on local water standards. Make sure to bring a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastics.
- Environment: When visiting national parks, reserves, or other protected areas, please do not remove anything from the natural environment or leave any litter. Carry out what you carried in.
- Animal Welfare: Take the philosophies of World Animal Protection to heart during included tour activities and your free time. Do not touch, do not feed, and maintain a respectful distance from wild animals. Wild animals encountered on tour should be able to exhibit natural forms of behavior. If you feel we are not meeting these commitments, please share your feedback with us.
- Animal Welfare: Avoid buying any exploitative wildlife products such as tortoise shell or shark fin soup.
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4.6 out of 5 stars