Road Trip: Iceland’s Northern Lights

Here are our recommendations of what to do in Reykjavik. Explore the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik at your own pace. You could begin your day with a visit to the splendid Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral. Visible across the city, the design of the shrine draws inspiration from the natural geological formations in the country. Enjoy beautiful views of the city from the observation deck at the top of the cathedral. Head to Harpa Concert Hall, one of Reykjavik’s most iconic landmarks with it sleek, colored glass façade and modern design. You could enjoy a guided tour or a live performance at this all-purpose cultural center. Afterwards, walk along the city’s waterfront, halting to take pictures of the gleaming Sun Voyager steel sculpture. Make your way to the trendy Laugavegur street with its boutique stores and hip restaurants. Enjoy a hearty meal or grab a quick bite before you check out the quirky street art lining the paths along the downtown area. (Self-explore Activity; Transfers, entrance fees and meals are not included; Choose from our recommendations what best suits your interests and pace. Please note that you may not be able to do all recommended activities)

Enjoy a beautiful night out to experience a magical natural phenomenon in the polar skies. Hop on a Super Jeep, and set off from Reykjavik, away from the city lights. Chasing the Northern Lights, make your way to secluded locations across the Icelandic countryside, based on the aurora forecast. After finding a perfect spot, settle down with a blanket to brave the winter chill. Witness the dance of the vibrant Northern Lights that illuminate the night sky and the snowy landscape below. Your knowledgeable guide will share information about the aurora borealis. Having enjoyed this unique event, return to your accommodation with awesome memories. (Duration: Half Day; Shared Activity; No Transfers; Please wear warm clothes with waterproof layers and comfortable shoes with wooly socks; Please note that the Northern Lights is a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed)

Feel rejuvenated after experiencing a seven-step Icelandic ritual that combines the healing power of heat and cold. Start the process by immersing yourself in the warm geothermal waters of Sky Lagoon, which looks out over the North Atlantic Ocean. Then stimulate your immune system with a dose of cold therapy by walking around in the cold or taking a dip in the cold plunge pool. Follow that up with a five to 10 minute spell in the sauna, which has the largest single window in Iceland, so you can enjoy views of the landscape. Having heated up, it’s time to cool down again with a slow walk through the cold fog-mist space. Then apply the lagoon’s signature Sky Body Scrub to exfoliate your skin and leave you glowing. Take a warm steam bath before completing the ritual with a gentle shower. Emerge refreshed, relaxed but also energized. (Duration: booked on entry time, no maximum duration within the same day; No transfers; No meals; Min age: 12; Fitness level: easy; Entrance tickets included – Pure Admission with open changing facilities by gender’ rental towel and ritual; Please bring bathing suit & change of clothes; Address: Vesturvör 44-48, Kópavogur)

If you have the time and weather allows it, we recommend exploring the Golden Circle on your way from Reykjavik. Begin your exploration at the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park. This scenic park was the site of the country’s first Parliament and is home to waterfalls and aquifers. Capture stunning images of the scenery, made famous by Game of the Thrones series. Journey on to the Geysir geothermal area that sits tucked into the Haukadalur valley. Stop at Great Geysir and Strokkur Geysir for breathtaking views. Drive on to the gorgeous Gullfoss waterfall and watch it cascade into a river canyon. From your vantage point, you can also take in splendid views of Langjokull glacier. (Enroute; Self-explore Activity; Entrance fees and meals are not included; Fitness level: easy; Please wear comfortable hiking boots; Depending on your personal itinerary, weather conditions, and time available to you, it may not be possible to do all recommended activities)

Enjoy a leisurely adventure on the Sólheimjökull glacier tongue of the magnificent Mýrdalsjökull, in Southern Iceland. Arriving at the base camp, gear up in safety harness, and accompany your expert glacier guide across this surreal terrain. First, walk across the valley on black volcanic ash, around seasonal glacial lagoons. Armed with crampons and ice axes at the glacier edge, step into this raw and rugged frozen wonderland. The Sólheimjökull glacier features crystal-clear ice and various shades of blue, along with debris from previous eruptions. See amazing ice formations such as deep crevasses, sculptures, moulins, caves, and ridges as you traverse the ice cap. Listening to anecdotes and learn about the natural history of the region. You can notice the impact of climate change on the everchanging volcanic landscapes around. Upon reaching the plateau, take in panoramic vistas of the surrounding snow-capped mountains and the southern coast before heading back. (Duration: 3 hrs; Shared Activity; Max group size: 15 guests; No Transfers; Meeting point: Sólheimajökull parking area, 20 mins before departure; Fitness level: Easy; Meal included: Coffee/Tea; Please wear warm clothes with waterproof layers and comfortable hiking shoes; Minimum shoe size provided during the activity is US 2.5)

If you have the time and weather allows it, we recommend exploring the scenic seaside surrounds of Vik, a remote village on Iceland’s southern coast. Explore the safe hiking routes on Mýrdalsjökull and Solheimajökull glaciers. See the Yoda-like geological formation at Hjörleifshöfdi cave. Walk on historic trails across the picturesque cape, while learning about the region’s famous Viking settler Hjörleifur Hróðmarsson. Head to the Dyrholaey peninsula, which has a natural arch and a century-old lighthouse perched on a cliff. You may spot puffins and arctic terns at this bird sanctuary. Spot an abandoned US Navy plane that crashed on a beach nearby. Back in town, drop by the hilltop Vikurkirkja church for panoramic village vistas. Stroll down the Reynifjara Black Sand beach, home to the dramatic Reynisdrangar Rocks. Sign up to see the Icelandic Lava Show. Unwind in Vik’s outdoor geothermal pools after a busy day. Finish off with a few craft beers at Smidjan Brugghús! (Self-explore Activity; Transfers, entrance fees and meals are not included; Fitness level: easy; Depending on your personal itinerary, weather conditions, and time available to you, it may not be possible to do all recommended activities)

Start your tour at the Arcanum Base (Mýrdalsjökull Base) near Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Meet your guide, collect all the necessary gear and receive a short safety briefing. You must have a valid driver’s license in order to drive a quad bike. Then set off on your ATV to explore Iceland’s renowned black beach. Your guide will take you through stunning coastline that provides breathtaking views of the surroundings. After exploring the beach, head to the famous Sólheimasandur plane wreck. In 1973 a US Navy Douglas C-117D was taking supplies to the US Naval Air Station in Keflavik when severe icing forced the crew to make an emergency landing. The Navy wrote off the plane and the wreck has been there ever since. Finally, drive to the Jökulsá river, then up the foot of the mountain and back to Arcanum Base. (Duration: 2 hrs; Start time: 1230 & 1500 hrs; Transfers not included; Shared guide; Meals not included; Minimum age: 8; Min age to drive: 17; Valid driver’s license required)

Drive a snowmobile on top of a glacier on this exciting tour. Mýrdalsjökull is located in the south of the Icelandic highlands and is the country’s fourth largest glacier. It covers nearly 232 sq miles and sits on top of the notorious Katla volcano. Meet your guide at Mýrdalsjökull Base Camp. From there, take a thirty-minute ride in a glacier truck to reach the roots of the glacier. Expert guides then show you how to handle your snowmobile before you hop on it to explore the ice cap. Discover stunning glacier landscapes and enjoy breathtaking views over south Iceland. The views are dependent on the weather, of course. You must be at least 17 years old and have a valid driver’s license to drive the snowmobile. (Duration: 2 hrs; Start time: 1000, 1230 & 1500 hrs; Transfers not included; Shared guide; Meals not included; Min age: 8; Min age to drive: 17; Valid driver’s license required)

If you have the time and weather allows it, we recommend visiting Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon and waterfalls combined with a hike to Svartifoss. Set off from Vic for the majestic Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon now made famous as the stunning locale in Game of Thrones series as well as Justin Bieber’s “I’ll show you” video. Hike along the winding lengths made by the Fjaðrá river and take in the windswept, rugged expanse stretching to the horizon. Next head to historic Kirkjubækjarklaustur region for the Systrafoss or the Waterfall of the Sisters, named after convent that used to exist here in the12th century. Marvel how the river Fossá runs in two separate streams, making for two slender waterfalls, flowing side by side down the rocky walls. Another delicate looking falls is the Foss á Síðu, which flows down in elegant cascades from Lake Þórutjörn. For a truly distinctive sight, hike up to the Svartifoss falls, set in the heart of black basalt columns surrounded by the vast green expanse of Skaftafell National Park. (Enroute; Self-explore Activity; Entrance fees and meals are not included; Please note when snow covers the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, the paths become slippery and icy. In mid-winter, it is required to bring hiking crampons or spikes; Depending on your personal itinerary, weather conditions, and time available to you, it may not be possible to do all recommended activities.)

Set out for a leisurely excursion on the Skaftafell outlet glacier, located within the Vatnajökull National Park in southern Iceland. Meeting your certified glacier guide at the base, get fitted with special gear and receive a safety briefing. Start with a short hike on the valley, flanked by Iceland’s tallest mountain range and the Hvannadalshnúkur peak. Next, heading up the Skaftafell glacier, explore its stunning icy landscape, which features deep crevasses, sculptures, moulins, caves, and ridges. Further ahead, make your way into the spectacular ice caves and tunnels, naturally formed when the glacial meltwater freezes in winter. Lit up in shades of striking blue, marvel at the beautiful setting and soak in the silence. Later, back on the glacier surface, gain an understanding of the everchanging landscapes here. Finish off with sweeping vistas of the Skaftafell Nature Reserve and the distant North Atlantic coast, before returning to camp. (Duration: Half Day; Shared Activity; Max group size: 12 guests; No Transfers; Meeting point: Skaftafell base next to the National Park Visitor Center; Fitness level: difficult, not suitable for guests with mobility issues; Please note that the tour is weather dependent; Please wear warm clothes with waterproof layers and comfortable hiking shoes. Minimum shoe size provided during the activity is US 2.5. Please carry snacks and water.)

Experience the ethereal beauty of Blue Lagoon with your complimentary Silica Hotel access. Pamper your senses in the lagoon’s iconic blue geothermal heated waters. Soak in the goodness of the water or explore the wellness options of a sauna and steam room. Rejuvenate with the healing properties of silica, algae and mineral salts at the mask bar, and later relax with in-water facilities for refreshments. (Duration: Full Day; Activity includes complimentary access to the hotel’s private Silica Lagoon and 1 premium admission per guest to the Blue Lagoon, 3 masks, use of towel, bathrobe, slippers & first drink of your choice; Meals Not Included; Guests from 2-15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult guardian)

Treat yourself to luxurious wellness experiences at the Retreat Spa, included in your Hotel Blue Lagoon stay. Wake up to a refreshing Yoga session, followed perhaps by a guided group hike. Next, head to the sprawling Retreat Spa to rejuvenate your senses with a wide range of therapies, from hot-stone massages to signature beauty treatments. Explore mystical subterranean spaces or bask in crisp outdoor settings. Experience in-water treatments infused with geothermal ingredients like silica, algae and mineral salts. Later, enjoy complimentary coffee and Icelandic pastries in the lounge before you wind up a blissful day. (Duration: Full Day; Activity includes complimentary access to the hotel’s private Retreat Lagoon and 1 premium admission per guest to the Blue Lagoon, 3 masks, use of towel, bathrobe, slippers & drink of your choice, Blue Lagoon skin care amenities and 15% off Blue Lagoon skin care products; Meals Included: Coffee & Icelandic Pastries; Guests from 2-15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult guardian)