Iceland Winter Activity Tour For 9 Days

Welcome to your Iceland Northern Lights holidays! Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your accommodation in the heart of Reykjavík. In the afternoon we recommend visiting the Northern Lights Center where you can learn something about the science behind this amazing phenomenon and can read about Northern Lights legends all around the world. In the evening you can have a relaxed time in one of the restaurants or you join an optional Northern Lights boat tour where you can see the aurora borealis out on the Atlantic Ocean with the city lights in the background. Overnight in the heart of Reykjavík.

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After having received your rental car in the morning you are ready to hit the road. You will start your adventure discovering Snæfellsnes peninsula and visit Vatnshellir lava cave. There are several stunning natural attractions along the way to Vatnshellir like Arnarstapi, the small church in Búðir and Eldborg crater. Vatnshellir is in the Snæfellsjökull National Park and is 8000 years old. On the lava cave tour, you follow a lava path about 200 meters into the cave and then approximately 35 meters below the surface to see stunning colours and lava formations. Search for the Northern Lights in the evening and overnight on the peninsula. You will find your accommodation in this area.

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Another adventure is on the schedule for today, a winter whale watching tour, departing from the town Grundarfjörður (only available from December to April). This is one of the best places in the world to see orcas (also called killer whales). It truly is the perfect opportunity to watch these gigantic mammals in their natural environment. In between, you have the chance to see some groups of dolphins. After having spent some time sailing in the fresh ocean breeze you will hit the road again and drive west back to the west of Iceland. If the weather allows you should check out Hraunfossar waterfalls coming from underneath the lava and Deildartunguhver, Europe´s most powerful hot spring on the way back (optional). You will stay the night around Borgarfjörður fjord.

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After breakfast, start by driving to Þingvellir National Park, via the underwater tunnel and visit one of the most important historical sites in Iceland where you´ll find unique geology and natural beauty. Continue towards Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir hot spring. In the afternoon you can relax in either Fontana Spa in Laugarvatn or the Secret Lagoon in Flúðir with a chance of seeing the northern lights in the late evening. Afterwards, you will drive to the area of Selfoss where you´ll stay overnight and if you are lucky some northern lights might light up the sky.

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Today we have another exciting activity waiting for you. Start your day by leaving the Golden Circle area behind and continue driving towards Mýrdalsjökull glacier. On the way there you can stop at Seljalandsfoss and experience a waterfall that you can walk behind but be prepared to get a little light drizzle on you. A little closer to Mýrdalsjökull you´ll find a small road #222 and there you´ll find the glacier base camp, where your 1 hour-long Black Beach Buggy ride tour begins. You will navigate through small rivers and streams and admire the expansive black coastline extending to Dyrhólaey. After your buggy adventure, make your way towards the town Vík, where you´ll find beautiful black beaches. Overnight around Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

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Yet another exciting activity waits for you today. Leave Kirkjubæjarklaustur and drive towards Skaftafell; an oasis between the black desert and the magnificent Vatnajökull glacier. On the way you will find several interesting attractions, such as the church floor – columnar basalt that looks like tiles (exit at Geirland) and Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, which is often overseen by visitors. When you reach Skaftafell you will meet up with your tour guides and they will take you on a 3-hour long glacier walk on Svínafellsjökull, which is a breathtaking outlet glacier of the Vatnajökull glacier. After your guided glacier walk, you will continue driving east towards Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and explore the area, before heading back to Kirkjubæjarklaustur where you will stay for the second night.

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Your Iceland Northern Lights holidays continue with a horseback riding tour today. On your way back along the South Coast you can make a photo stop at Skógafoss. Just after you have reached the small town Hella, you will find a nice horse farm where you will enjoy a one-hour long horseback riding tour where you will meet the Icelandic horse. This is the only breed of horse in Iceland, and it displays two gaits in addition to the typically walk, trot, and canter/gallop commonly displayed by other breeds. You will stay for the night in this area.

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Today you will discover the geothermal wonders of Reykjanes peninsula with its endless lava fields and black beaches. You will find several geothermal areas around, and you should visit the Krýsuvík area and the Gunnuhver area. Both geothermal fields are situated in the middle of the fissure zone in the mid-Atlantic ridge which traverses Iceland. Make a stop at the Blue Lagoon and relax after the last couple of days of travelling before driving back to Reykjavík where you drop off your rental car and stay overnight for your last night in Iceland.

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Sadly, your vacation in Iceland is coming to an end. We hope you had a wonderful time experiencing the Icelandic winter. You will be picked up from your accommodation and transferred to Keflavík International Airport in time for your departing flight. We wish you a nice journey back home and hope you will leave our island with fond memories of Iceland and its inhabitants.

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