Women-Only: 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, as well as the dazzling “Pearl,” a museum with a rotating glass dome (entrance to Observation deck included), 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. 

Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina (through Spring 2023) Grandi Hotel Reykjavik (Fall 2023 Onward) or similar | Breakfast

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.

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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. Today’s first visit will be to Bakkastofa, where author, leader, and storyteller, Ásta Kristrún and her husband Valgeir, one of Iceland’s foremost songwriters, live and work. They’ll share stories and legends referencing the history and politics of Iceland before inviting us to enjoy coffee and Icelandic cake on the second floor of their home. Ásta just published a new novel, and she also has a background in politics and teaching and can speak to the current state of women in Iceland. Next, 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!

Hotel Katla or Icelandair Hotel Vik or similar | Breakfast, Dinner

We’ll depart this morning for our full-day tour. First, we’ll travel to the Geysir hot spring area with the lively Strokkur, which spouts water every 30 minutes. We’ll get our cameras ready for an exciting show! After an independent lunch, we’ll continue to the famous Gullfoss (translated as “Golden Falls”) with its spectacular two-tiered cascade.  We’ll continue to Friðheimar Greenhouse where they cultivate tomatoes year-round. Here we’ll enjoy a greenhouse tour with tastings of food and drink made with the produce cultivated and grown on the farm. Sample the greenhouse’s unique “Healthy Mary” drink with time to discuss the meaning behind this project. From Friðheimar we make our way to Laugarvatn Fontana, where we’ll see the power of geothermal energy first hand. We’ll dig out a pot of fresh bread from the hot black sand with the chance to enjoy a taste as we learn more about this Icelandic tradition. 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.

Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina (through Spring 2023) Grandi Hotel Reykjavik (Fall 2023 Onward) or similar | Breakfast

Note: We recommend you bring water shoes on today’s excursion.

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.

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Spend the morning at leisure before checkout. 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.

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