Spirit of Iceland with Northern Lights

Your tour includes airfare from the U.S. You’ll take a nonstop overnight flight to Reykjavik on Icelandair. You’ll want to eat dinner prior to departure or be prepared to purchase a meal en route since Icelandair does not provide meal service on this flight. Also, as the flight is short, try to sleep as much as possible while in the air to avoid jet lag.

*Passengers who did not purchase flights will join the tour in Reykjavik on Day 2.

Get ready for a full day after an early arrival in the world’s northernmost capital, known for its creative soul and eye-popping design. You’ll be greeted at the airport and escorted to a restaurant in a nearby village for a welcome breakfast and orientation briefing with your group. Now energized, we’ll head to Reykjavik for a city tour. Highlights range from historic spots (like one of the oldest parliaments in the world) to the landmark Hallgrimskirkja church with its impressive tower, Asmundur Sveinsson Sculpture museum and Hofdi House, where presidents Reagan and Gorbachev held a summit that marked the end of the Cold War. After checking in to our centrally located hotel, you’ll have free time in the afternoon and evening to relax and explore. Tonight will be our first opportunity to view the magical, colorful display across the night sky known as the northern lights. Again, we must stress that there is no guarantee you will see the northern lights, but your smarTours® guide will make every effort! If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the excursion will be rescheduled for another evening. And don’t forget, your overnight in Vik affords the chance to see the northern lights at their best. 

Today is a free day for independent exploring in or around Reykjavik, or you can join a fascinating full-day optional excursion to the spectacular Snaefellsnes peninsula. See optional tours for more details on this must-see destination.

Our journey takes us through the stunning and diverse landscapes of Iceland’s south coast. This is the land of Njal’s Saga, a region of breathtaking scenery and legendary stories. On our guided excursion, we’ll encounter the dramatic sea cliffs of Dyrholaey and spectacular waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, as well as unforgettable views of Hekla and Eyjafjallajokul volcanoes. Tonight’s destination is the remote village of Vik, known for its black-sand beaches and considered one of the most magical places to see the northern lights. After dinner together in our countryside hotel, we can simply stroll outside to view this amazing phenomenon!

Our loop of incredible Iceland continues along the Golden Circle, which showcases the country’s most spectacular natural sights. Our first stop is the Geysir hot spring area and the lively Strokkur, which spouts water every 30 minutes. Get your cameras ready for an exciting show! We’ll head to the famous Gullfoss (translated as “Golden Falls”) with its spectacular two-tiered cascade. Next is Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the ancient Viking parliament met for centuries on the shores of Iceland’s largest lake. Here, we’ll witness the geological phenomenon of tectonic plates drifting apart. Later, we’ll return to Reykjavik for an evening at leisure. 

Today you’ll dip into Iceland’s fascinating history, unique geothermal wonders and one of its most popular attractions. Our exploration includes Hafnarfjordur, built on an ancient lava flow; the deep, mysterious Lake Kleifarvatn; geothermal areas at Krisuvik and Gunnuhver; the fishing village of Grindavik; and the country’s oldest lighthouse. We’ve saved the most relaxing stop for last, the famous Blue Lagoon, where you’ll bathe in mineral-rich, 102°F waters like the Icelanders do! After our return to Reykjavik, our day concludes with a farewell dinner.

Spend the morning at leisure before checkout. Visit the dazzling “Pearl,” a museum with a rotating glass dome (entrance to Observation deck included), then, your smarTours guide will take you to the Whales of Iceland Exhibition. The Whales of Iceland is the largest museum dedicated to whales in Europe and possibly the world. A team of expert craftsmen has sculpted 23 lifelike cetaceans found in Icelandic waters both to scale and based on specific individuals found in the wild! We’ll then depart to the airport for the return nonstop flight to the U.S. and the end of your incredible Iceland adventure.

*The tour will end for passengers who did not purchase flights on Day 7 in Reykjavik.