South Iceland: Northern Lights Tour

Upon your arrival at Keflavik airport, pick up your rental car and drive yourself to your hotel in Reykjavik. Over the next two days, you can explore the city of Reykjavik at your own pace. Trendy Laugavegur street offers boutique stores and hip restaurants whilst the downtown area is famed for its quirky street art.

On day two, experience a magical natural phenomenon in the polar skies. Hop on a Super Jeep, and set off from Reykjavik, away from the city lights. Chasing the Northern Lights, make your way to secluded locations across the Icelandic countryside, based on the aurora forecast. After finding a perfect spot, settle down with a blanket to brave the winter chill. Witness the dance of the vibrant Northern Lights that illuminate the night sky and the snowy landscape below.

After breakfast, drive yourself from Reykjavík to Flúðir in your rental car. En route, you can stop to explore the highlights of the Golden Circle, such as Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and the Langjokull glacier. Afterward, visit the Secret Lagoon in Flúðir where you can soak in mineral-rich waters which are said to be beneficial for skin problems, asthma and other respiratory diseases. During winter, you can see the Northern Lights while relaxing in the warm water. You can also stroll on the pathway around the lagoon and witness other hot springs and steaming vents in the area.

In the morning, drive yourself from Flúðir to Vik, the southernmost town on the Icelandic mainland. A popular stop along the South Coast route, this charming village offers a range of experiences and activities. On your first day at Vik, enjoy a leisurely adventure on the Sólheimjökull glacier tongue of the magnificent Mýrdalsjökull.  The Sólheimjökull glacier features crystal-clear ice and various shades of blue, along with debris from previous eruptions. On the glacier walk, you can see ice formations such as deep crevasses, sculptures, moulins, caves, and ridges as you traverse the ice cap. Once you return, spend the rest of your day exploring the town and its surroundings.

Wake up early the next day and set to explore Iceland’s renowned black beach on an ATV and then visit the Sólheimasandur plane wreck with your guide. Later, you will also have a chance to go snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull, the country’s fourth-largest glacier. It covers nearly 232 sq miles and sits on top of the notorious Katla volcano. If the weather permits, you can see stunning views of south Iceland from the ice cap.

Take a two-hour drive on the Ring Road as you make your way from Vik to Skaftafell in your rental car. Located on the Öraefi county along the southeastern coast, Skaftafell is the showstopper of the expansive Vatnajökull National Park, a year-round destination with campgrounds and diverse natural attractions. Svartifoss, an iconic waterfall surrounded by black basalt columns, is nestled within this nature reserve. Winters offer spectacular opportunities for ice cave explorations and glacial lagoon excursions. You will also have the chance to explore the Fjallsarlon Iceberg Lagoon on a zodiac boat excursion and get a close look at floating icebergs on this glacial lake, located at the southern end of Vatnajokull Glacier.

Drive yourself from Skaftafell to the Blue Lagoon for a personalised spa experience and relaxing overnight stay. Blue Lagoon is a geothermal Spa fed by steaming hot waters from the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power station. Awarded by the prestigious Blue Flag certification for environmental sustainability for ten consecutive years, explore a massive complex of silvery towers, changing rooms, restaurants, sauna and bar, dotted with hot-pots and steam rooms. Swim in the warm seawater as you soak up the natural beauty of the surroundings and breathe in the crisp, clean air.