The Land of Northern Lights

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Iceland (50 km/31 mls)

Upon arrival, take the Flybus shuttle to your hotel in Reykjavík where you will spend the night. You will also receive some recommendations for exploring the capital on your own during the afternoon before spending the night at Hotel Cabin*** or Hotel Klettur****. 

Day 2: Reykjavik City Tour, The Blue Lagoon & Reykjanes Peninsula (220 km/137 mls)

At 09:00 this morning you will meet with your tour guide who will showcase some of the best Reykjavik has to offer before heading to the Reykjanes Peninsula. Here you will be treated to the breathtaking natural landscape of mountains, hot springs and bird cliffs, as well as visiting some stunning light houses and quaint fishing villages. Wind down at the Blue Lagoon where the wildly blue mineral waters are known for their healing properties. Finally, learn about the Northern Lights while waiting for darkness to fall at the Árhús Cottages before hopefully seeing the Aurora Borealis lighting up the sky. There is a choice of accommodation in simple cottages or there is an option to upgrade to a room at the Stracta Hotel in Hella.

Day 3: South Iceland Adventure (200 km/124 mls)

Today you will travel along the coast to see some of Iceland’s best natural phenomena surrounding the Eyjafjallajökull glacier. Visit the tall and narrow Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, and experience walking the trail behind the cascading water if you don’t mind getting a bit wet! Explore the black lava beach near Vík at Reynisfjara to see the amazing birdlife in their natural habitat. Later in the afternoon, head to the vast, 60 metre high Skógafoss waterfall and the nearby folk museum with its historical artefacts and turf-built houses. You may also opt to book a Glacier Hike. Enjoy another night of hopefully watching the Northern Lights dart across the pitch black sky, before spending the night at the Árhús Cottages or the Stracta Hotel.

Day 4: Icelandic Horses & Golden Circle (210 km/130 mls)

In the morning, after learning about the native Icelandic horses you will visit a geothermal greenhouse to prepare for your visit to some of the most famous geothermal sites in Iceland. Travelling the Golden Circle Route you will witness the bubbling and exploding hot springs in the Geysir geothermal fields, and the Strokkur geyser erupts every 5-10 minutes, so you won’t miss this natural phenomenon. Next you will see the spectacular Gullfoss double waterfall, as well as visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Þingvellir National Park. You may opt to book a Northern Lights cruise for the final evening if the weather permits. Spend the night in Reykjavík. 

Day 5: Farewell Iceland (50 km/31 mls)

Take the Flybus airport shuttle from Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport for your flight home.

Accommodation:

For this program we use budget accommodation in order to offer an attractive package price. You get great value for money. First and last night are at Hotel Cabin in Reykjavík, offering good standard, simple rooms with private shower/wc. The hotel features a breakfast room and bar/lounge area with TV. Hotel Cabin is located about 5 minute drive to the center of Reykjavík. 2nd & 3rd night are at Árhús Cottages in Hella, South Iceland, where 23 rooms with shower/wc are located in simple cottages in the large garden right on the river banks in the village of Hella. Árhús Cottages are popular with outdoor active guests and families travelling with children. All cottages are equipped with a small kitchenette and free Wi-Fi. There is a restaurant on premises, and a public swimming pool and supermarket are in walking distance.

Hotel Upgrade Option:

In Reykjavik overnight will be at Hotel Klettur in downtown Reykjavík. In Hella overnight will be in 24m2 studio rooms with kitchenette at Stracta Hotel, which offers a restaurant, hot tubs and sauna on its premises. It is a 10 minute walk from Stracta Hotel to Árhús Cottages in Hella where the guide gives the Northern Lights lectures and presentations. The Northern Lights movie is also shown at Stracta Hotel. Please contact our team for a quote on upgrades.

Dinners:

In Reykjavik, the dinner is on your own. There are many restaurants for both fast food and a fine a la carte dining in Iceland's capital. The Árhús Cottages and Stracta Hotel in South Iceland offer a limited a la carte menu with a selection of fish, meat and vegetarian as main course. Lunch stops are made at small country restaurants or petrol station diners.

Nature Fees:

There is a possibility that some of the nature attractions around Iceland might charge an entrance fee during the trip. These entrance fees are not included in the tour price and need to be paid by all tour members additionally on the spot, when entering any of these nature sites. Locations, amount of entrance fee, form of payment and other details are not known at the present time and are subject to change. 

Northern Lights:

This program includes during 2 evenings a combination of presentations, lectures, film and guided Northern Lights searches in the garden of Árhús Cottage in Hella, South Iceland, about 10 minute walk from Stracta Hotel.  Árhús Cottages and Stracta Hotel in South Iceland offer a Northern Lights wake up call for guests that register for that special service at the reception. The tour is dependent on weather and therefore sightings are not guaranteed. The Northern Lights are in the northern hemisphere from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natural wonders, the Northern Lights are ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone (it is not a TV show that you can just turn on and off). But it is worth the patience which is much required. Because they are a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside while looking for them. It is best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await patiently this truly outstanding event. For the best photos we recommend using a tripod.  

You'll see...

• Geysers & hot springs in Iceland »
• Hot Springs Iceland »
• Northern Lights »
• Northern Lights in Iceland »
• Photographing the Northern Lights »
• Reykjavik City »
• The Pearl »
• The Saga Museum »

Will I see the Northern Lights?

Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:

Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.

Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm. 

In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.

Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.

The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.

As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.

Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:

Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.

Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.

Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.

Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.