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Ice cave in Iceland Photo: Michael Howard

South Iceland Adventure

Northern Lights & Nightlife

(5 days / 4 nights)

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Travel, taste and drink in the Icelandic Culture

Looking for a fun adventure during your winter break? This guided small group tour, designed for travellers aged 20-39, allows you to see natural wonders by day, and enjoy northern lights hunting and happy hours at night. You will tour the Golden Circle, the many photogenic waterfalls, and the dramatic glacier lagoon and diamond beach, and also experience cool activities like a pub crawl in the lively capital city of Reykjavík, a tour of an ice cave and the chance to search for the unbelievably colourful northern lights. This is the perfect tour to take your Instagram photos to the next level! Enjoy the knowledge and personal interaction with a local guide while visiting exciting natural attractions, all during the tranquility of the winter season.

Contact us for availability

Why book with Nordic Visitor

  • Groups limited to 16 travellers
  • Hassle-free travel experience
  • Quality & value for your money
  • Trusted local experts in Iceland
  • 100% guaranteed departures

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Tour Highlights

  • Touch the intense blue ice in a natural ice cave
  • Watch the northern lights dance and flicker in the sky
  • Visit the massive floating icebergs at the Glacier Lagoon
  • Walk the Diamond Beach, seeing the scattered, glistening ice
  • Feel the power of the thundering waterfall Gullfoss
  • Marvel at eruptions at the Geysir geothermal region
  • Photograph the jagged basalt columns & sweeping black sand beaches
  • See the cascading waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss Skógafoss
  • Enjoy a pub crawl and explore the nightlife scene in downtown Reykjavík

Travel style

Guided Small Groups i

Interest

Classic i, Northern Lights i

Activity level

Level 2/4 (Moderate) i

Season

March

Max group size

16

Driving distance

1028/638 km/mi

Itinerary

A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.

  • Day 1: ARRIVAL & SIGHTSEEING IN REYKJAVÍK

    On arrival at Keflavik International Airport, you will be greeted by a driver who will drive you to your accommodation in Reykjavík’s city centre. After settling in, the rest of the day is free for you to explore the vibrant capital city with its abundance of museums, restaurants and bars to suit all tastes. Head to the main street, Laugavegur, and enjoy its various shops and cosy cafes.

    Spend the night at the Hótel Klettur or similar.

    For those arriving early today you have the option to upgrade your journey from the airport with a visit to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa before heading to Reykjavik. It´s the perfect way to start your Iceland adventure!

    Included:
    • Private meet & greet airport transfer on arrival

    Average Driving Distance: 49 km / 30 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 50 Minutes

    Attractions Accommodation details See Activities for this day
  • Day 2: WATERFALLS & BLACK SAND BEACHES

    Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before being picked up by your guide. The first leg of our journey is travelling along the south coast toward Kirkjubæjarklaustur. We will visit sights including the Seljalandsfoss waterfall—where you can walk behind the roaring cascade on a footpath, followed by Skógafoss waterfall. You will continue towards the volcanic black sand beaches. One of the highlights is visiting Reynisfjara, one of the most famous beaches in Iceland. You can also get some great photos with the unique Reynisdrangar basalt columns jutting out of the ocean.

    Next, you will travel to your hotel, situated far from the city lights to give you the best chance of seeing the northern lights. 

    In the evening, meet up with your fellow travelers for happy hour at the hotel bar, while waiting for the northern lights to hopefully make an appearance*.

    Spend the night at the Hótel Klaustur or similar

    Included:
    • Breakfast: Continental Breakfast Buffet at the Hotel

    Average Driving Distance: 285 km / 176 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 9 - 10 Hours

    *Please note that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon. If weather conditions and visibility are not favourable, the guide will inform you.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Accommodation details
  • Day 3: THE ICE CAVE, THE GLACIER LAGOON & NORTHERN LIGHTS

    Today, you and fellow travellers will join an ice cave and glacier walking tour to Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe! It´s truly a once in a lifetime experience exploring an ice cave, and it is suitable for travellers that can comfortably walk on uneven surfaces*.

    Then head to the spectacular Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, famous for its floating icebergs. Next to the glacier lagoon we will stop at the Diamond Beach where you will see big chunks of ice that have washed ashore after being polished in the surf of the glacier lagoon.

    After our icy adventures for the day, you will end the evening by putting on some warm clothes for going out to gaze at the sky waiting for the northern lights to appear.

    Spend the night at the Hótel Klaustur or similar

    Included: 
    • Ice Cave and Glacier Walking Tour (3.5-4 hours)
    • Breakfast: Continental Breakfast Buffet at the Hotel

    Average Driving Distance: 260 km / 161 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 9 - 10 Hours

    *The ice cave and glacier walking tour is a natural experience and dependent on weather conditions. Please find more details about ice caves in the tour information section below.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Accommodation details
  • Day 4: THE CLASSIC GOLDEN CIRCLE

    Today, the group will explore the famous Golden Circle. Your first stop is the picture perfect two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall, where you can see water thrash and tumble before falling metres below. Next, you will be driven to the Geysir area and explore the bubbling mud pots and spouting Strokkur geyser, which erupts steam and boiling water metres into the air every few minutes, giving you the chance to capture that elusive geyser selfie.

    We end the day with a visit to Þingvellir National Park before heading back to Reykjavik. Þingvellir was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for being historically significant to the founding of Icelandic democracy and a place of immense natural beauty. The park is home to the north Atlantic ridge, where visitors can dive the fissure, between continental plates.

    In the evening, you will join a pub crawl tour. Reykjavik might be a small city compared to other European capitals, but it has a thriving nightlife scene. Stop by bars with live music or local DJs playing an array of music, where you can buy drinks at a special happy hour price.  

    Spend the night at the Hótel Klettur or similar.

    Included:
    • Breakfast: Continental Breakfast Buffet at the Hotel
    • Pub crawl with an experienced nightlife guide (drinks not included)

    Average Driving Distance: 385 km / 239 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 8 - 10 Hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Accommodation details
  • Day 5: DEPARTURE FROM ICELAND

    When it’s time for your Iceland adventure to end, you will be picked up from the hotel for your airport transfer by a shuttle bus about three hours before your flight. If you’re flying in the afternoon, you have the option to visit the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa to relax in the warm mineral waters before continuing to the airport (optional: not included).

    If you are interested in extending your stay, we can book extra nights and activities in the Reykjavík area or even combine this tour with a visit to one of our other Nordic destinations.

    Included:
    • Breakfast: Continental Breakfast Buffet at the Hotel
    • Shuttle Transfer to Keflavík International Airport on Departure

    Average Driving Distance: 49 km / 30 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 50 Minutes

    Attractions See Activities for this day

Optional extras

Customise your adventure with these Optional Extras.

We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.

Map

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

Accommodation

Relax in spacious, characterful hotels that are highly rated by visitors and handpicked by local travel experts.

Look forward to staying in accommodation with plenty of charm. All the hotels on your tour are ideally located and feature high-quality amenities and restaurants. Rest assured that you’ll stay in the best possible properties, which have all received excellent reviews from previous customers.

Hótel Klettur is a modern hotel located close to the city centre of Reykjavik. The hotel has 166 rooms with views of the city and surrounding nature. The hotel has a comfortable com...

Hotel Klaustur is a comfortable modern country hotel with a magnificent view of Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe. Its 57 rooms are spacious and decorated in stylish Scandina...

Hotel Klaustur is a comfortable modern country hotel with a magnificent view of Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe. Its 57 rooms are spacious and decorated in stylish Scandina...

Hótel Klettur is a modern hotel located close to the city centre of Reykjavik. The hotel has 166 rooms with views of the city and surrounding nature. The hotel has a comfortable com...

The hotels mentioned are our first priority for this tour. Please note that although we have included specific accommodations in the tour, these are subject to change in rare cases. We reserve the right to substitute a named property in the same locality for one of a similar standard. We will send you the final list of hotels before you arrive for your tour.

Tour Information

IMPORTANT & USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TOUR 
We recommend that all our travellers read through the following information about what the tour includes, what to pack for your holiday and useful information about the activities included on the tour.  

OUR NORDIC VISITOR GUIDES 
Our team of local expert guides at Nordic Visitor are highly recommended by our travellers and staff with years of experience. What they offer is local knowledge, love for their country, their stories, favourite places and sites where travellers, on their own, would not hear about or visit. They always have some trick up their sleeves and hidden gems to surprise our clients and therefore we recommend that you join our guided small group tours to get a personal experience for your Icelandic adventure. There will be one guide per tour, who will drive and lead the tour. 

For winter tours, our guide will provide you with blankets and crampons to borrow at any time.

Please be advised that this tour is not recommended for families with young children.

ACCOMMODATION
Our team of local travel experts at Nordic Visitor have compiled a list of wonderful hotels for your stay in Iceland. The hotels that we use are based on our favourites in Reykjavik and in the countryside, with an emphasis on quality, excellent ratings and comfort. As one of our main aims for our winter tours is to increase your chance of seeing the northern lights, we have selected hotels located in rural areas, far from city lights.

Note: Triple rooms are not available for this tour, only single and double rooms.

FOOD & DRINK  
A daily breakfast buffet is included at the hotels during your stay. Other meals are not included, but the guide will make sure to stop along the way for you to pick up snacks, drinks and lunch. Drinks are also not included during the trip. You will find a great selection of restaurants in Reykjavik during your stay for the first and last night in the city centre. 

The average cost of meals depend on the type of restaurant, but for lunch we’d say that the average cost is from 2500 ISK to 3500 ISK. The average cost of dinner can range from 3000 ISK up to 6500 ISK for the main entree. Three course dinners at restaurants are priced around 7000 ISK to 11000 ISK. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE ICE CAVE, GLACIER WALK & NORTHERN LIGHTS 
Please be advised that the ice cave & glacier walk tour is dependent on weather conditions. Sometimes the tour must be cancelled with short notice due to weather or other safety concerns. After periods of adverse weather, the caves can become flooded, unstable or unsafe to enter. If this happens, a full refund will be provided for the ice cave portion of the tour. Also, please keep in mind that your group might not be the only group visiting the ice cave during the tour.

Please note that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon and sightings cannot be guaranteed. You will stay in a rural hotel to maximise your chances of seeing the northern lights. 

WHAT TO PACK 

  • A small backpack to store your items on the bus
  • Warm outdoor clothing. including a thermal base layer
  • Warm socks 
  • Waterproof jacket and pants 
  • Hats and gloves
  • Sturdy hiking boots
  • Camera 
  • Lip balm & moisturiser 
  • Swimsuit & towel are recommended 
  • Water bottle to enjoy the clean Icelandic water 
  • For more information on what to pack, please visit our Online Travel Guide.
     

LUGGAGE
To ensure comfortable seating for everyone on our tour, we need to limit the size and amount of luggage on the van. Each guest is allowed one suitcase or large bag that can be stored in the back of the van and one smaller item (e.g., a small backpack or daypack) to keep inside the van for daily essentials like camera, wallet, medications and so forth. Unfortunately, carry-on suitcases (cabin bags) are too large to store inside the van in the overhead racks. If you have any questions about luggage, your Nordic Visitor travel consultant will be able to assist you.

SAFETY, DAYLIGHT HOURS & WEATHER CONDITIONS 
Please note that the programme is dependent upon weather and road conditions, and may be altered if conditions are not favourable. In the case of major changes to the programme, you will be notified and we will do our best to make sure that your experience will not be affected.

For information on weather conditions and daylight hours we recommend visiting our extensive Online Travel Guide

CURRENCY RATE
All bookings are charged in Icelandic Króna (ISK), the official currency of Iceland. Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate as issued by the Central bank of Iceland. Therefore, conversions from ISK to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day. 

AFTER BOOKING WITH NORDIC VISITOR
After booking your package with Nordic Visitor, you will be contacted within two working days by one of our travel consultants, who will serve as your dedicated contact person for all of your travel needs before, during and even after your holiday. Your travel consultant will provide you with details about your booking and your remaining payment (if not paid in full). You will also receive more information about what to expect during your holiday.

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