Iceland Northern Lights Adventure

Our adventure begins today in Reykjavik. We use the public FlyBus shuttle bus service to transfer from Keflavik Airport (KEF) to our hotel. On arrival at Keflavik Airport please proceed to the FlyBus desk which is located in the arrival hall. A FlyBus representative will give you a voucher and direct you to the buses which leave every 35-40 minutes. The drive to the hotel takes approximately 45 minutes, via the main bus terminal where you will be asked to board a smaller bus for the final part of the journey to your hotel. On the drive from the airport to the hotel, you'll get your first glimpse of the blackened and rocky volcanic scenery found on this part of the island. There are no activities planned today so you're free to arrive at any time. After checking in to the hotel, you might have time to explore a little of the world's most northerly capital. Bustling with cosmopolitan energy and surrounded by pure, unpolluted nature, Reykjavik is a city of striking contrasts. Small colourful corrugated iron houses nestle next to futuristic glass buildings; state-of-the-art facilities lie beside rugged volcanic terrain and international influences mingle with Icelandic national traditions. All this creates a unique culture where the old embraces the new. On this holiday, our tour leader will join you for days 2 to 4 but this evening, you're free to settle in and enjoy this charming city. Travelling to Iceland in the winter months gives us the best chance to see the incredible natural phenomena of the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. Short daylight hours mean additional hours of darkness to watch the skies in the hope of spotting the ethereal green lights dancing across the sky. The 'lights' are actually electrically charged particles, high up in the atmosphere which make the thinner air fluoresce. Green is the most common colour to spot, purples and reds are seen when the lights are forming at higher altitudes. On this trip, we'll keep a close watch on the night skies in the hope of seeing the aurora. If you wish to capture the lights on camera you'll need a tripod or something to balance your camera on as a long exposure is needed. It's worth the effort though as the images captured by a camera are often far brighter than our eyes can see.

This morning, we'll meet our tour leader and spend the morning exploring Reykjavik. The city is a wonderful mix of traditional houses clad in corrugated iron and modern architecture. There are plenty of green spaces here but the highlight is walking along the waterfront. Fishing has long been Iceland's main industry and watching the ships coming in and out of the harbour shows us the lifeblood of this small island nation. A must-see for any visit to Reykjavik is Hallgrimskirkja, the Lutheran church that can be seen throughout the city. The dramatic design resembles the basalt columns we'll see later at Vik I Myrdal Beach. After exploring the city, we'll visit Thingvellir National Park, a rare site of both historical and geological importance. Meaning 'Parliament Plains', this was the location of Iceland's first National Assembly for 800 years from 930AD and as such, is hugely significant in the country's cultural heritage. The impressive landscape sits on a unique spot where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge can be seen on dry land before disappearing to the ocean floor. From here yon can clearly see the North American tectonic plate alongside the Eurasian plate. We'll then drive to our hotel, far away from any light pollution which will maximise the chance of a good sighting of the aurora.

We have a packed day ahead of us today as we explore the best of southern Iceland. This morning, we'll drive through the Eyjafjallajokull region, where in 2010 a volcanic eruption caused the now infamous ash cloud, disrupting European air travel for several days. The volcano is now quiet again and your local Leader will be able to talk about the impact the eruption had on the local community. We'll spend time at Reynisfjara, a rocky beach with its incredible basalt cliffs which are said to have inspired the church we visited yesterday. The beach is often incredibly windy and there are great photo opportunities of the waves crashing against the cliffs. After some lunch, we'll see one of Iceland's tallest waterfalls, Skogafoss. Standing at 62 metres/204 feet tall it's an impressive sight, and if we are lucky with the light we should spot rainbows in the spray. We'll also stop at the Lava Museum to learn about the geology that formed the country's dramatic landscapes. Seljalandsfoss waterfall is almost as tall as Skogafoss but, weather permitting, we'll have the chance to walk behind the curtain of water! The pathway shows off the falls from the front, circling around the back and emerging on the other side. Because of the constant spray, the path is always slippy and can be closed in winter when the path freezes over. We'll make our way back to our hotel for the evening to relax and look out for the Northern Lights.

Today, we'll explore the famous Golden Circle, which includes some of Iceland's most iconic sights. Our hotel is the ideal base from which to visit the magnificent Gullfoss waterfalls which is known locally as the 'Golden Waterfall', due to the way it cascades into a deep gorge with tremendous force. They may be biased but locals regard it as one of the most beautiful falls in the world! Close by is Haukadalur, home of the Great Geysir. With the claim to fame of being the first spouting spring known to Europeans, Geysir has given all such springs their name. However, it is the Strokkur, meaning 'The Butter Churn', which is the main attraction, due to its impressive 30 metre/98 foot eruptions every few minutes. There might be time for an optional visit to the Secret Lagoon to enjoy the thermal waters, alternaatively rest in thier cafe. We'll return to Reykjavik this afternoon. The food scene in Reykjavik is impressive and this evening is free for a final dinner in one of the capital's many restaurants.

Our trip ends after breakfast this morning. The transfer back to Keflavik Airport (KEF) will be by the public FlyBus shuttle bus service and your tour leader will provide you with details of your pick-up time and your voucher for the service. Please note, the itinerary for this tour is subject to amendment due to weather or road conditions. Winter is a beautiful time to visit Iceland, but the weather can be unpredictable, and snow can have a big impact on travel times. Consequently, it may be necessary to alter the order of the itinerary or to change inclusions whilst on tour.