Iceland: Reykjavik & the Northern Lights
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Discover a whole new side of “The Land of Fire and Ice.”
Iceland develops a completely different appeal during the winter months. Occasional snowfalls make the landscape even more otherworldly, roaring waterfalls freeze into icicles, and the night sky often lights up with one of nature’s most staggering phenomena: the northern lights. Discover the sites of Reykjavik’s city center before setting off to admire glaciers, geothermal marvels, and the ethereal beauty of the aurora borealis.
Your tour package includes
- 4 nights in handpicked hotels
- 4 breakfasts
- 2 lunches
- 1 dinner with beer or wine
- 4 sightseeing tours
Included highlights
- Reykjavik
- The Golden Circle
- Great Geysir geothermal area
- Gullfoss
- Eyjafjallajökull volcano
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Day-by-day itinerary
Print itineraryBoard your overnight flight to Reykjavik today.
Welcome to Iceland! Meet your fellow travelers during a welcome lunch.
Then enjoy free time for the rest of the day in Reykjavik, or add an excursion.
Blue Lagoon Spa Visit
From $219 per person
Get a feel for Reykjavik, often called "the greenest city on Earth," with your Tour Director leading the way.
- Soak in views of the city from the Perlan Observation Deck.
- See the iconic Höfði House and the presidential residence at Bessastadir.
- Visit Hallgrim’s Church and the University District.
- Pass the Old Town Center, Parliament House, and modern City Hall.
- Glimpse the artwork of Ásmundur Sveinsson and Einar Jónsson, both famous Icelandic artists.
Spend a free afternoon in the city or add an excursion.
Tonight, set off in search of the famous northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis. You’ll transfer one hour outside of Reykjavik, where less artificial light pollution makes for clearer night skies.
Please note: This excursion is weather-dependent and seeing the aurora borealis is not guaranteed.
The Lava Tunnel
From $215 per person
Leave the bustle of Reykjavik behind as you travel along the Golden Circle, a ring of some of Iceland’s most magnificent natural wonders.
- Stop at Thingvellir National Park to see the Althing, an open-air governmental assembly that was established in 930 and continued to meet until 1798.
- Sit down for an included lunch at Fridheimar Farm, where fresh produce is grown in a greenhouse heated by geothermal energy.
- Explore the Great Geysir geothermal area, located in the Haukadalur Valley.
- Discover Gullfoss, or “the Golden Waterfall,” a natural wonder and one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe.
Then, head out of the city to “chase the lights” as you search the sky for the aurora borealis.
Please note: This excursion is weather-dependent and seeing the aurora borealis is not guaranteed.
Embark on an excursion to the South Coast, a lowland region of lush farmland, striking waterfalls, beaches, glaciers, and picturesque villages.
- View the Eyjafjallajökull volcano.
- View the South Coast’s black sand beaches.
- Stand behind the impressive Seljalandsfoss waterfall.
- Marvel at the beauty of the Sólheimajökull glacier (weather permitting).
Celebrate your trip with your group at a farewell dinner this evening.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to continue exploring Iceland.
Travel to West Iceland today, stopping to admire the region’s dramatically varied landscapes.
- Marvel at Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring.
- Admire Hraunfossar, clear falls that stream over a lava field, and see the nearby cascades of Barnafoss.
- Visit Reykholt, a historic village that was home to medieval writer and chieftain Snorri Sturluson.
- Drive in a specially modified snow truck on the Langjökull Glacier, Iceland’s second largest, and walk through the glacier’s interior ice tunnels.
Sit down for an included dinner this evening.
On your way back to Reykjavik, stop in the town of Borgarnes to visit an Icelandic settlement exhibition and learn more about Viking history.
Transfer to the airport to board your flight home.
Book for just $99 down
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Reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall rating 4.5 out of 5
5 out of 5 stars
Awesome
5 out of 5 stars
This trip was simply amazing! Everything was well coordinated and organized. Greta, our tour director, was absolutely wonderful! She was so sweet, knowledgeable, funny, and extremely helpful! The only downside was that we weren't able to see the northern lights, which is out of EFs control. I do ...
4 out of 5 stars
We had a great time! The landscape was beautiful and our tour guide, Greta, was great! EF made everything SO easy and smooth, totally a stressfree experience! I would recommend the tour overall. Our only problems were NOT under EFs control at all. Despite having three different scheduled excursions ...
Hello, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're...
Traveler photos
Hotels, flights & FAQ
Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.This modern hotel is located in the Hlemmur neighborhood. Guests enjoy a spa, bar, and restaurant. Nearby you’ll find the Sun Voyager sculpture, Hallg...
This modern luxury hotel is located in Húsafell in Iceland’s central highlands. Guests enjoy a pool, restaurant, and bar and lounge. Nearby, you’ll fi...
Flights
- Round-trip flight for your tour
- Airport transfers at your destination
- A great price locked in today
- 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
- Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
- Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
- Find out more about flights
FAQ
Print FAQ- In order to enter Iceland, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
- We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
- Beginning in 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
- Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2025, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
- If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code ICL.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Reykjavik.
- Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost if they are arriving or departing on the standard day.
- When you arrive in Reykjavik, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.
- Depending on the time of year, some travelers may be required to spend an extra night in the U.S. before boarding their connecting flight home. In these cases, Go Ahead Tours will reserve your hotel and you'll arrive home one day after the last day of the tour.
Physical Activity Level
This is a high physical activity-level tour. You can expect to be on the move on a regular basis throughout the course of the tour.
Tour Pacing
This is a very fast-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:
- Most days and evenings full of included activities (more if you add excursions)
- All transportation by motor coach
- Daily bus time varies and can be lengthy
Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements
- Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day - this includes city streets, unpaved paths, icy terrain, stairs, and hills.
- Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
- Please Note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour
Climate Considerations
- The winter season in Iceland occurs between October and March. It's strongly recommended that travelers are prepared for wet, windy and cold climate conditions.
- Weather can change quickly and frequently during this season. Travelers should be prepared for sudden changes to the itinerary to accommodate unfavorable weather.
- Daylight is limited during the winter; December sees on average only 4.5 hours of sunlight each day.
Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions
- Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
- Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
- If you have mobility concerns or tour pace questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team. We’re here to help!
- Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches.
- A checked bag may not be included in your airline ticket.
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
- Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
- Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
- Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at hotels.
- Winters in Iceland are generally cold. To ensure you’re comfortable for outdoor sightseeing and evening northern lights excursions, we recommend packing a warm coat, hat, gloves, winter socks, as well as rainwear.
- A warm sturdy pair of walking shoes or winter boots is strongly recommended for sightseeing. You may also want to consider bringing ice cleats for better traction.
- We also suggest packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can easily be layered. Avoid wearing cotton whenever possible, as it is an ineffective insulator.
- You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
- We recommend packing a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastic waste.
- We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
- We recommend packing your Insurance Card (from your primary insurance provider) in your carry on luggage.
- Go Ahead handpicks every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm.
- Accommodations are typically three to four star hotels.
- All accommodations include a private bathroom.
- Most rooms will include a safe for valuables.
- Your hotels will have Wifi, but it may be limited to common areas.
- Elevators in hotels are not guaranteed.
- Some hotels on this tour require travelers to walk with their luggage a few blocks as buses cannot drop travelers off right out front.
- Please be advised that the strength of the air conditioning in European hotels/buildings is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
- Iceland operates on 230 volts and uses Types C or F plugs with two round pins.
- We cannot guarantee that your hotel accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with the hotel once they are confirmed about 30 days prior to departure.
- Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.
- Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
- We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
- Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
- Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).
- At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
- If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
- If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
- The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code ICL.
- This tour includes two lunches and one dinner. Included meals may be plated set menus, buffet or family style depending on the location. Dinners include one glass of beer, wine, or soft drink and water, coffee and tea.
- Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
- Icelandic cuisine relies on traditional, locally sourced ingredients from the Atlantic ocean and the surrounding mountains. Both fresh and dried fish, including herring, cod, and shark, are important culinary staples. Other must-tries include Icelandic lamb, which is considered to be some of the best in the world, as well as pylsa (hot dogs) and skyr cheese.
- The included lunch at Fridheimar Farm typically includes the Friðheimar Tomato Soup served on a buffet with sour cream, home baked bread, cucumber salsa, butter and fresh herbs. Beverages include unlimited water and one soft drink.
- At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
- We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10-$12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
- If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
- Tips can only be paid in cash.
- The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.
- You will use the Icelandic krona on tour.
- Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
- We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
- You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
- International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
- Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your tour director, local guides, and bus drivers. We also recommend keeping coins in the local currency on hand, as some public bathrooms may charge a fee for use.
- To ensure you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend you download the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. The app is free and provides important deadlines, entry requirements, your detailed itinerary, packing tips and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the chat feature in the app.
- Wifi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
- There is no Wifi on any of the motor coaches.
- Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
- Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
- The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
- Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
- This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
- As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.
- When you travel with EF Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit, and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
- Travel, when done responsibly, can make an enormous socio-economic impact to communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at local businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
- Prepare for your trip: be aware of the monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market, learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette, and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
- When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
- EF Go Ahead Tours encourages our travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single use plastics. You can avoid single use plastics by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
- Environment: On this tour, we recommend the use of a reusable water bottle, as the local drinking water is safe for travelers. Your Tour Director can provide additional guidance on local water standards. Make sure to bring a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastics.
- Environment: When visiting national parks, reserves, or other protected areas, please do not remove anything from the natural environment or leave any litter. Carry out what you carried in.
- Animal Welfare: Take the philosophies of World Animal Protection to heart during included tour activities and your free time. Do not touch, do not feed, and maintain a respectful distance from wild animals. Wild animals encountered on tour should be able to exhibit natural forms of behavior. If you feel we are not meeting these commitments, please share your feedback with us.
- Animal Welfare: Avoid buying any exploitative wildlife products such as tortoise shell or shark fin soup.
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