Unique 7-Day Northern Lights Winter Vacation to Iceland

Spend your first full day in Iceland exploring the Snaefellsnes Peninsula with an expert guide.

The adventure begins when your guide collects you from your accommodation in Reykjavik. You'll meet the other members of your travel group and take a minibus out of the city toward the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.

Locals often refer to this region as "Iceland in miniature," thanks to its massive variety of natural attractions here. You'll spend the day visiting volcanic cliffs, waterfalls, mountains, coastal villages, black-sand beaches, and a glacier-capped volcano.

Your first stop will be the Gerduberg cliffs. These basalt cliffs consist of columns in perfect hexagons — they look hand-carved, but they were actually formed naturally due to volcanic activity. Your guide will explain their formation as you enjoy the view.

Next, you'll continue along the peninsula's southern coast until you reach the Ytri-Tunga beach. The beach has golden sands, which is unusual for Iceland — most have volcanic black sands instead. It's also worth visiting to see the seals that reside here. 

Other beautiful sights today include the black church at Budir and the picturesque fishing villages of Hellnar and Arnarstapi. Before your journey continues, you'll have a little time to explore the cliff-top coastal path linking these settlements. Gaze down at the dramatic ocean waves below and admire the views.

You'll also visit the Djupalonssandur black sand beach. To reach it, you'll have to walk through a bizarre maze of volcanic pillars and structures — it's like something from another planet.

The main attraction of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula is the Snaefellsjokull National Park, home to the glacier-capped stratovolcano Snaefellsjokull. The enormous volcano is visible from miles around and dominates the peninsula's skyline. It's no wonder that it's inspired so many works of literature — your guide will tell you more about it, and you'll have time to explore the park.

After a busy day, you'll retire at a hotel on or near the peninsula in Western Iceland. You'll be ideally placed to watch for the northern lights if they appear, so keep your eyes peeled.

Today, you'll start a two-day journey along the South Coast, visiting waterfalls, beaches, and the crown jewel of Iceland, the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

You'll board a minibus in Reykjavik and meet the guide leading your small-group excursion. They'll drive you out of the city and along the South Coast stretch of the Ring Road, stopping at various landmarks along the way.

Your first stop will be the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls. 

Both are about 197 feet (roughly 60 meters) tall, but that's where the similarities end. Seljalandsfoss is narrow and gentle, while Skogafoss is broad and powerful. Visiting both waterfalls on the same day gives you an excellent point of comparison and lets you see how diverse Iceland's cascades can be.

Driving along the coast, you'll enjoy ocean views on your right and dramatic glacier views on your left. You'll pass the Myrdalsjokull glacier, covering the Katla volcano, and the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which halted European air travel when it erupted in 2010.

Next, you'll visit the Reynisfjara black-sand beach, one of Iceland's best-known beaches. It's appeared in various TV shows and films, including Game of Thrones and Star Wars: Rogue One, so you might recognize it. The volcanic sands contrast beautifully with the white snow and ice of winter.

Walk along the shore and enjoy the views of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks and the Dyrholaey rock arch. Your guide will ensure you don't stray too close to the water's edge — dangerous sneaker waves can appear from nowhere, so be careful.

Your group will stop for refreshments in the picturesque fishing village of Vik, one of the southernmost settlements in mainland Iceland. 

Your final destination for the day is undeniably the best. You'll head into the Skaftafell Nature Reserve in Vatnajokull National Park to see the stunning Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. 

Enormous chunks of ice break off a glacier's tongue to float in the lake's waters. The icebergs drift slowly out to sea and often wash ashore on the Diamond Beach, a volcanic beach dotted with vast icy structures.

You'll have time to take photos and enjoy the marvelous view here. Watching the icebergs rotate, break apart, and cruise through the lagoon is unforgettable. If you're lucky, you'll get the chance to see the aurora borealis dancing in the skies above the lagoon before you retire for the night.

Your accommodation today is in a country hotel in Southeast Iceland.

On the penultimate day of your week in Iceland, you'll explore a crystal-blue ice cave beneath the Vatnajokull glacier.

After breakfast at your accommodation, you'll meet the experienced glacier guide leading your morning's adventure. Iceland's ice caves appear every winter as the glaciers melt and refreeze — they're constantly changing, so every visit to the caves is unique. The guides choose caves carefully to ensure your group's safety.

Your guide will take you onto the Vatnajokull glacier in a Super Jeep, a specially modified vehicle perfect for off-roading. You'll receive all the safety gear and any preliminary information you need before taking a short walk across the ice cap to reach the selected cave.

As you descend into the cave, you'll be blown away by the mesmerizing beauty before you. Visiting an ice cave is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people and will surely be a highlight of your trip.

The caves' interiors are bright blue and white, with bizarre shapes and structures formed by the ice as it melts and freezes. They feel like something from a fantasy novel. You'll have plenty of time to marvel over the colors, formations, and textures, and you can ask your guide questions about the processes that create these frozen shapes.

After creating memories that will last a lifetime, you'll begin your journey back to Reykjavik, stopping first at Jokulsarlon once more to see it in a new light. If you didn't have time yesterday, you can also visit the nearby Diamond Beach. 

The sun will set as you travel along the South Coast. If the northern lights appear in the sky, your driver will stop to ensure everyone gets a good look at the incredible natural phenomenon.

You'll arrive in Reykjavik ready for a final evening in the city. We recommend making the most of your last night by visiting the bars and pubs that comprise much of the city center. Grab a drink with the locals before saying goodbye to Iceland tomorrow.