5-Day Northern Lights & Blue Lagoon Winter Vacation in Reykjavik with Trips to the Golden Circle

On day two of your winter package, you'll visit Iceland's most famous scenic route, the Golden Circle. This route will show you how diverse this little island at the edge of the Arctic Circle can be.

Your first stop today is the Thingvellir National Park, where the Viking settlers founded Iceland's parliament, Althingi, over a thousand years ago. This national park is a site of great historical importance and a geographical wonder as it’s neither located on the Eurasian tectonic plate nor the North American one but in a rift valley between them.

These plates slowly move apart, tearing up the landscape and creating cracks and canyons. One of those canyons, the Silfra fissure, is filled with crystal clear meltwater from the nearby Langjokull glacier.

Those aged over 14 can add on a snorkeling tour in the fissure and enjoy the unparalleled visibility of the canyon's clear waters. Participants need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim.

Next, you’ll head to Haukadalur Valley, rich in history and folklore, where you’ll witness the spectacular eruptions of Strokkur, an active geyser that shoots a 66-foot (20-meter) column of water into the air every five to ten minutes. Don’t forget to capture this natural spectacle with a memorable photo.

The last stop today is the majestic Gullfoss waterfall. Once again, the Langjokull glacier has helped shape Iceland's landscape. The Hvita River, fed by this mighty glacier, rushes forth from the highlands before plunging into an ancient canyon, creating this two-tiered waterfall.

For an extra adventure, you can add a snowmobile tour on the glacier, where you’ll have the opportunity to glide over the vast, white expanse for a unique perspective of Icelandic nature. With a valid driver's license, you can drive the snowmobile yourself, or for those over six, passengers can enjoy the ride from the back.

After a day full of adventure, you’ll head back to Reykjavik to spend the night.

On the third day of your winter vacation in Iceland, you'll explore the beautiful South Coast and see cascading waterfalls, majestic glaciers, and a stunning black sand beach.

In the morning, you'll be picked up in a minibus and taken to the first attraction of the day, the high and narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall. This stunning cascade flows over a concaved cliff face, revealing a cave behind the water curtain. In winter, the waterfall is illuminated, creating a magical atmosphere.

You'll then move on to another equally beautiful but utterly different waterfall, Skogafoss. It’s one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, with a width of around 82 feet (25 meters) and a 197-foot (60-meter) drop. 

As you travel between these cascading beauties, the glaciers Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull will be visible in the north. If you'd like to explore a glacier better, you can opt for a hike on Solheimajokull glacier, one of Myrdalsjokull's outlet glaciers. Glacier hiking is a fun, family-friendly activity where participants over eight can trek across the ice cap to discover a new world of ice sculptures and blue crevasses.

Alternatively, you can add an ice cave tour to your day. Participants over 12 years old will journey up the glacier that covers the Katla volcano to explore the stunning ice cave, where the blue and white of the ice meets the black volcanic ash, creating a striking contrast.

From there, you'll visit the stunning black sand beach at Reynisfjara. The beach is surrounded by cliffs of dark basalt columns, which create a fascinating hexagonal pattern in the cliff face. Just off the coast rises the 217-foot (66-meter) Reynisdrangar sea stack, said to be petrified trolls in Icelandic folklore.

For those wanting to explore further, you can choose to add an excursion to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. Here, you’ll witness massive icebergs floating serenely in the lagoon, sometimes accompanied by playful seals swimming by.

On your way back to Reykjavik, look up in the sky for a chance to see the elusive northern lights.

On the fourth day of your winter vacation in Iceland, you'll have a free day to explore Reykjavik, the world's northernmost capital.

You could learn about Viking settlers in the city's museums or check out the Laugardalur area's Family Park and Zoo. The zoo has Icelandic farm animals and wild mammals, such as sheep, foxes, seals, and the Icelandic horse.

If you'd like to get to know the friendly and gentle Icelandic horse better, you could opt for a horse riding tour through the Icelandic countryside. This activity is ideal for beginners and experienced riders over eight, allowing you to connect with these friendly, gentle creatures.

For animal lovers, you can also embark on a whale-watching tour from Reykjavik's Old Harbor, where you'll have the chance to see a variety of marine life that thrives off the city’s coast.

If you'd like to explore beyond Reykjavik, you can take a full-day excursion to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula or the Ice Cave Tunnels in Langjokull Glacier.

The Snaefellsnes Peninsula boasts natural wonders like waterfalls, black pebble beaches, and lava fields. It also has a tall and mighty glacier covering an ancient volcano featured in Jules Verne's classic novel 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth.'

At the ice cave tunnels in Langjokull Glacier, you'll travel through a maze of intricate tunnels carved into the glacier. These tunnels, usually reserved for scientists, offer a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn how glaciers form, move, and are affected by climate change, all while navigating through a labyrinth of stunning ice formations.

For a more thrilling experience, you could also take an adrenaline-filled ATV adventure. After being picked up from your Reykjavik accommodation, you'll head to the ATV base camp, where you’ll drive through dramatic Icelandic landscapes. You'll have plenty of stops along the way to capture stunning photos of the surrounding natural beauty before returning to your accommodation.

You'll then spend your last night at your accommodation in Reykjavik. If you wish, you can take some time to explore the city’s vibrant nightlife before concluding your Icelandic adventure.