Upon arrival at Keflavik Airport, you will be welcomed before being transferred to your accommodation at Hotel Exeter in downtown Reykjavik. This will be your first introduction to the unique landscape of Iceland with its endless lava fields, glaciers and dramatic volcanic backdrop.

You will be provided with an information pack and a timetable detailing the next few days of your programme and then the rest of the afternoon and evening are free for you to begin exploring vibrant Reykjavik. If you are arriving on an afternoon flight, there will be a welcome meeting at approximately 7 pm at the hotel.

Just a short walk from the hotel you will be at the exciting heart of the city and there is an array of attractions to tempt visitors here. Nearby the hotel is the National Theatre, the National Gallery of Iceland, the Icelandic Opera and the two main shopping streets of Reykjavik.

Dinner is not included tonight but there is a wide and varied choice of options available in the city. Alternatively, the hotel is attached to a street food restaurant, Lekock & Tail, which is open daily

Included Meals:  None

After breakfast in the hotel, your day is your own. You can explore the city at your own pace and take in the cafés, shops and cultural attractions. If you want to up the pace a little we can help arrange a variety of activities – a visit to the world-famous Blue Lagoon, glacier hike and even snorkelling between tectonic plates are all possible from here – see the ‘Personalise’ section for details.

It would be easy to spend a huge amount of time in Reykjavik but tonight you will be setting off into the rugged countryside. Any Aurora hunter appreciates the need to be far away from light pollution to seek out a perspective display.

Your dedicated Aurora guide will be aware of the local weather forecasts and any recent solar activity and will be able to take you into an area where the chances of a display are high. There may be numerous vehicles out on any given night and the guides all communicate with each other to ensure that if there is an Aurora sighting then everyone can congregate in the same area. Generally, these tours are operated in super jeeps.

During your evening adventure, you will break at a restaurant for dinner, with one of its bestselling dishes (usually lamb or fish) as your set main. If Northern Lights luck isn’t on your side then do not despair, tomorrow you are off to Hotel Ranga. This hotel is one of the most famous Aurora destinations in Europe.

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast at the Hotel Exeter, it is time to bid farewell to the city and explore the island further.

You will check out of your hotel this morning and be picked up by your private driver/guide who will accompany you for the next two days. Your transport is in super jeeps, large off-road vehicles that allow you to get into the ‘harder-to-reach’ areas that elude the more typical coach trips.

Today’s itinerary includes visits to three of the most renowned natural wonders in Iceland (together they form the famous Golden Circle) and throughout the day you will really begin to appreciate the incredible natural beauty of Iceland. It is really unlike any other place in the world.

Your first point of call is the Thingvellir National Park and the Silfra Fissure where you will see one of only two rift valleys in the world. The Icelandic rift valley has been formed by the pulling apart of the European and American tectonic plates. It was also the location for the Viking parliament and assemblies were held here until the early 20th Century making it a location of huge political and social significance.

Your journey continues to Geysir where you will find the erupting hot springs. The biggest geyser is Strokkur, which spouts boiling water metres into the air every few minutes. The natural power on display here is a remarkable sight to see.

From Geysir, your final point of call is Gullfoss waterfall where the torrents of the Hvita River plummet into a canyon 32 metres high. In the winter months, sections of the waterfall freeze and the effect is quite dramatic as large sections of ice blanket the powerful river water.

After your introduction to Iceland’s rugged and dramatic countryside, your journey will continue on to Hotel Ranga, where you will be staying for the next two nights. This hotel has an exceptional Northern Lights record which makes it one of the most popular hotels in Iceland.

Ranga’s reputation is based on its remote and wild location. The rooms either have views of Mt Hekla volcano or the East Ranga River. This location is ideal for Aurora hunting as the distance from any artificial light pollution creates a pitch black sky – the perfect backdrop for any displays of the Northern Lights. They take the Aurora very seriously here at Hotel Ranga – the staff are obligated to check outside every 15 minutes to see if any sign of a display is showing if so they will contact you in the rooms (if you have signed up for this service at reception).  In the hours of darkness, they also turn off all outside lighting (including the lights in the car park) to give you the best possible chance of seeing the Aurora.

This evening you will enjoy dinner in the excellent restaurant, tucking into a delicious meal (payable locally). Afterwards, you may like to relax in one of the outdoor hot tubs.

Included Meals:  Breakfast

After breakfast at Ranga, your guide will return to show you more of this incredible land.

You will start by exploring the South Shore which is famous for the spectacular waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. At Skogafoss, you can get behind the water chute to enjoy a unique viewpoint.

During your day, you will come across one of the most infamous European volcanoes – Eyjafjallajökull, responsible for a great deal of travel disorder in 2010. Hekla, one of the most active volcanoes is also close by and your guide will take you to the best viewpoints. 

You will travel close to the Myrdalsjokull Glacier where you will be able to get a real appreciation of the gigantic scale of these powerful forces of nature.

Once again, you can enjoy a delicious dinner at the hotel (payable locally). Please remember to take a warm coat with you to dinner as the Aurora tend to ignore the sanctity of meal times and you may need to abandon the restaurant and head outside at short notice.

There is also a small observatory for guests at Hotel Ranga to enjoy – this is a small structure which is sheltered from the elements and has a telescope to do some star-gazing if the Northern Lights are not active.

Included Meals:  Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, your guide will drive you back to the airport for your return flights. 

If you would like to spend more time in Iceland, then the ‘Personalise’ section of this page for details of the options available.

Included Meals:  Breakfast