Iceland Northern Lights

• Accommodation: 4 Classic nights (hotels)
• Flybus transfer to meet any flight
• Travel by air-conditioned minibus
• Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16

Iceland has a notoriously fickle climate and on any winter day you may experience sunshine alternating with short or long showers of snow, sleet or rain. Away from the coast, in most winters, there is good snow cover for much of the season. Average daytime temperatures in Reykjavik are 0C to -5C (32F to 23F). In the interior, it can be several degrees colder, and in windy weather, which is common, the windchill factor can be significant.

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

It includes three-and-a-half days’ sightseeing with visits to areas of natural beauty.

Northern Lights: We are pleased to say most of our groups see the aurora in some form, but as it is a natural phenomenon, we cannot guarantee what you will see. However, according to the latest solar activity reports, it’s thought that 2024 and 2025 are going to be particularly good years for seeing the Northern Lights.

We give ourselves the best chance of seeing them by choosing locations and times based on the latest information. We will not go out every night, instead we monitor conditions and reports on the geomagnetic activity to see where and when excursions may be successful.

Our accommodation in the east is fairly remote, so is well placed when skies are clear. If the lights are visible here, it is likely we can simply see them from the viewing terrace of our hotel.

Other excursions: We also venture out onto a glacier equipped with a helmet, ice axe and crampons, sticking to flat sections of the ice. This experience is very accessible and designed for all abilities. To make the most of this trip you do not need previous experience, but a reasonable level of fitness is recommended.

Please note, Iceland has become hugely popular in recent years and you may find some of the main sites rather busy at certain times.

Weather and seasonality: Icelandic weather is unpredictable. Please come prepared for cold, wet and windy conditions. As this trip runs from October to March, daylight hours will vary depending on departure date, from around five hours in January to 10 hours in March. Outside of daylight there are twilight hours, particularly before sunrise, when there is enough light to see by. Naturally, the Aurora will not be visible during daylight, but March has some of the best opportunities to see the Northern Lights (close to the spring equinox).

Please note that, on occasion, severe weather can affect our ability to undertake some of the outdoor activities and we cannot rule out changes to the itinerary for these reasons. Any such decisions would always be taken with the safety of the group in mind. We always endeavour to provide suitable alternatives in this instance.

Drives: We cover a lot of ground and, as such, have a few long drives. We make frequent photo stops to admire the spectacular landscapes.