Iceland Circle Tour - Guided

Itinerary

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

Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik Natura Berjaya in Reykjavík where you spend the night. If you book the tour without accommodation the transfer is offered to BSI bus station. We provide you with ideas how to explore Iceland's capital on your own. Dinner suggestions as well!

Day 2, Sat: Volcano Crater, Fjords & Mountains (415 km/258 mls)

At 09:00, meet our tour guide and depart from Icelandair Hotel Natura. Travel west along the scenic Hvalfjörður fjord and the town of Borgarnes. Easy hike on Grábrók volcano crater in the middle of a greenish lava field. Further north stop at the turf church of Víðimýri and then continue along scenic fjord landscape and over several mountain passes until we reach Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland. The overnight location at Akureyri allows you to walk around the town. 

The overnight location is Icelandair Hotel Akureyri or similar.

Day 3, Sun: The Capital Of North Iceland, Lake Mývatn & Geothermal Baths (120 km/75 mls)

In the morning we explore Akureyri, a charming town of 17000 inhabitants, visit the botanical garden and enjoy the panoramic view over Eyjafjörður fjord. In the afternoon we travel to an important spot in Iceland’s history, Goðafoss, the waterfalls of the Gods. Then explore Lake Mývatn, known as a geological wonderland and for its abundant birdlife. See the strange lava formations at Kálfaströnd, the pseudo craters at Skútustaðir and the tephra cone Hverfjall. Finally, end the afternoon relaxing in the geothermal Mývatn Nature Baths with a fantastic view over the whole area. 

The overnight location is either at Mývatn Berjaya or a hotel in the Húsavík area.

Day 4, Mon: Lava Labyrinth, Hot Springs & Travel East (250 km/155 mls)

In the morning, walk in the lava labyrinth at Dimmuborgir, “the dark castles”, hoping to get a glimpse of the trolls who are said to live there. In the afternoon, visit the hot spring area of Námaskarð with bubbling mud pools and steaming solfataras. Head through the uninhabited highlands and moon-like surroundings to East Iceland. From June to August, the tour includes a detour to the powerful waterfall Dettifoss. The overnight location is either at Icelandair Hérað Berjaya or similar in Borgarfjörður-Eystri.

Day 5, Tue: East Fjords (260 km/161 mls)

It’s a day to admire the dramatic fjord landscape and its tiny fishing villages at the end of twisty roads in the East Fjords and on route we visit an interesting stone and mineral collection. In the afternoon we see Vatnajökull – Europe’s biggest glacier that is visible all over Southeast Iceland.

There is a possibility of seeing the Northern Lights during the evening from September to mid-April.  

The overnight location is either at Icelandair Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon or similar.

Day 6, Wed: Vatnajökull National Park, Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach & South Coast (380 km/235 mls)

Start the day with a stop at Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs, and explore the extraordinary site where you might see seals swimming in arctic waters. A boat tour between floating icebergs is included in the program from May through September. You can walk on the so-called Diamond Beach across the street, where large icebergs get stranded. Travel along the southern part of the glacier Vatnajökull and get a glimpse at Europe’s second-largest national park, which has Iceland’s highest mountains, an alpine environment, and Europe’s largest glacier.

In the afternoon, a beautiful drive with many natural wonders awaits us as we head across the Eldhraun lava field, cross the sandy desert of the south coast, overlooked by mountainous cliffs, glaciers and waterfalls. Stroll along the black lava beach of Reynisfjara near Vík. In the small village of Skógar, there is Skógafoss waterfall which is 60 meters high and is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country. Iceland’s past comes alive at one of Iceland’s finest museums, the Skógar folk museum, with its turf houses assemblage of traditions of territorial relics on display. Continue to the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which plunges over the mountain. An exciting trail goes behind the fall – if you are prepared to get wet!

There is a possibility of seeing the Northern Lights during the evening from September to mid-April.

The overnight location is at Stracta Hotel Hella or simialr.

Day 7, Thu: Icelandic Horses & Golden Circle (160 km/99 mls)

Explore classics today as we travel the route of the Golden Circle sights. Start the day at Friðheimar, where you learn about the Icelandic horse, its unique qualities and history and visit a geothermal greenhouse. Later on, see steam from the Geysir geothermal fields as we arrive. There is a variety of hot springs and bubbling pools. The original geyser is now dormant but has been replaced by Strokkur, “the Churn”, which erupts at 5-7 minute intervals. Continue to Gullfoss, “the golden falls “, a double waterfall that tumbles 32 meters into the Hvítá river and attracts travellers in summer and winter. Travel inland to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. As we return to Reykjavík, we will take you for a short city tour to show highlights of the world’s northernmost capital.

Northern Lights: From September to mid-April, optional Northern Lights evening tours can be booked at the lobby of your hotel, should weather conditions be favourable.

Overnight is at

Reykjavík Natura Berjaya Iceland Hotel or similar.

Day 8, Fri: Departure Home (50 km/31 mls)

Individual transfer by Flybus airport shuttle to Keflavík Airport.

Practical Tour Information:

Daily driving: Total mileage without airport transfer is 1.645 km (1.020 miles) which is an average of 205 km (127 miles) per day. You spend about 4 hours per day on the bus, depending on road conditions, traffic and daily distances. On some days the driving might be longer than on some other days.

Note: During the off season, from September to May, in rare cases, a change of itinerary might be necessary especially for winter programs in Iceland, should snow, road and weather conditions not allow to follow the scheduled itinerary, and certain outdoor activities might be cancelled. In this case no refund will be given, but we will try to find reasonable alternatives where and whenever possible.

Departures: Every Friday all year round
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Tour start: Arrival in Iceland is on Fridays. Guided bus tour starts on Saturdays at 09:00
End of tour: The guided tour ends on Thursdays between 16:00-18:00 for a last overnight in Reykjavík. Departure from Iceland is on Fridays.
Languages: English only
Meals: 7x breakfast 
Accommodation: Tourist-class accommodation, in rooms with shower/wc

Information regarding dinners & lunches: 7x breakfast is included. All dinners and lunches are on your own. 
In Reykjavík and Akureyri there are many restaurants for both fast food and a fine a la carte dining. In the countryside hotels dinner options are very limited. If you have any special diet requests or allergies, please let us know at the moment of your booking. For lunch the group stops at small country restaurants, road side shops or petrol station diners on route.

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.

This map uses Google Maps, so you can zoom and interact with it as we hope it is familiar to you.

For a larger version of this map which opens in a new window, click here

The lines shown give you an indication of our destinations and are not the exact route used.

You'll see...

• Geysers & hot springs in Iceland »
• Golden Circle Tour Iceland »
• Hot Springs Iceland »
• Midnight Sun »
• Northern Lights in Iceland »
• Photographing the Northern Lights »
• Reykjavik City »
• The Blue Lagoon Iceland »
• The Pearl »
• The Saga Museum »
• Videy Island »
• Northern Lights »

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.