Iceland: Searching for the Northern Lights

Arrive in Reykjavík
You’ll be met by your guide at the Reykjavík airport early this morning to start your adventure! If you are arriving into Reykjavík before the official start of the trip, meet your guide at 10am in the lobby of the Skuggi Hotel.

As soon as it gets a little bit lighter out, set off on a tour of Reykjavík on foot and by bus. Discover this small but charming Nordic capital, including its historic buildings, the main shopping streets, a sculpture garden, the Opera House, and the mighty Hallgrímskirkja Church which towers over the city center.

After lunch at a local bistro, head to Perlan, a huge glass dome on top of a hill. You’ll experience the ice cave, which is 100 meters long and made from 350+ tons of mountain ice, snow, and volcano ash. As you exit the ice cave, you enter a modern, interactive exhibition about glaciers where you will see, hear and feel the power of our earth, volcanoes, earthquakes, and geothermal energy come alive at your fingertips.

Enjoy a festive welcome dinner with the group tonight as you get to know your fellow AdventureWomen travelers.

Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Skuggi Hotel (2024 departures), Hotel Reykjavik Saga (2025 departures)

Reykjavík to West Iceland
Head out of Reykjavík via the under-sea tunnel and spend most of your day exploring in Snæfellsjökull National Park, enjoying stunning views all along the way. Declared a National Park in 2001, the area has an astonishing variety of natural landscapes, including moss-covered lava fields, pebbled beaches, and rugged cliffs. Explore with the other women on your trip on foot for different vantage points in this amazing natural setting.

Enjoy lunch on your own today.

Enjoy a soak in the geothermal pool before dinner. Spend some time outside this evening looking for the Northern Lights – you’re in the perfect location to see them here, as there is very little light pollution.

Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Hamar

West Iceland
Equipped with safety gear and led by a guide, you’ll head into one of Iceland’s largest lava caves in the Hallmundarhraun lava field. Experience the magnificent underground lava and, at some point, experience total and complete darkness.

Stop for a visit at the Icelandic goat farm owned by Johanna Bermann. In the year 2000, Johanna secured the last four horneless goats in Iceland, then on the brink of extinction, and bred them back to a sustainable population. She established the Icelandic Goat Conservation Center, and there are now over 800 Icelandic goats in the country. You may have the chance to come face-to-face with Bambi, the famous goat from Game of Thrones!

Enjoy lunch on your own today at a local restaurant.

Back up on the surface, visit the Hraunfossar lava waterfalls and Deildartunguhver, the largest natural hot spring in Europe. Drawing on the geothermal reserves in the area, it pumps out a staggering 180 liters of boiling water each second, and the billowing clouds of steam created by this mighty fissure are truly impressive.

Next to the hot spring is the Krauma Spa, where you can enjoy a sauna, various hot tubs, and a relaxation room with a crackling fireplace. Krauma has a total of six baths, five warm and one cold. No extra chemicals are needed to keep the pools clean, as the water is constantly being replaced because of the rapid natural flow rate of the hot springs.

Enjoy dinner at your hotel this evening, and make sure to spend some more time outside searching for the northern lights!

Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Hamar

West Iceland to Geysir
One of the highlights of your week is sure to be today’s 45-minute dogsledding excursion. Feel the power, excitement, and energy of these amazing sled dogs as they are harnessed to go. During the ride, your Musher guide will drive your team while sharing his knowledge and passion for dog sledding. Halfway through, you’ll stop for a quick photo break where you can cuddle with the dogs. Belly rubs are mandatory!

Your next destination is the historic Thingvellir National Park. You will see the spectacular natural amphitheater, where almost every important moment in Iceland’s history has taken place. Today, Thingvellir is still regarded with reverence by Icelanders, its historical weight reinforced by serene natural beauty. Thingvellir sits right on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and you can clearly see the dividing plates and the lake-filled valley that has developed between the plates.

Enjoy lunch on your own today.

Continue to the Great Geysir hot spring area and Gullfoss Waterfall (the Golden Waterfall), two of Iceland’s most famous sights. Although the Great Geysir itself has been inactive since the 1960s, its neighbor geyser, Storokkur, fires off a 30-meter- high spout every few minutes.

On your way to your hotel, stop for a soak in the natural hot springs of the Secret Lagoon. The pool’s steam rising into the air gives it a magical feeling, and the temperature of the hot springs water stays at 100-104 degrees Fahrenheit all year round.

Changing rooms with showers are on site.

Enjoy a tasty dinner with the group tonight.

Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Geysir

Geysir
Set out to discover the waterfalls of Iceland’s South Shore. If the weather is good, you might be able to walk behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall and up the stairs to admire Skógarfoss waterfall from above, complete with stunning ocean views!

Board a super truck and head to the top of Mýrdalsjökull glacier, an icecap covering one of Iceland’s largest volcano, Katla. Put on your gear and learn how to operate your snowmobile. Drive off up the mountain towards the amazing glacial landscape before you head off to explore. Two women will be on each snowmobile, and there will be a chance to switch drivers halfway through. You will need a valid driver’s license to drive the snowmobile.

Today you will pick up some food on your own to create a picnic lunch to enjoy during the snowmobiling experience.

Enjoy an exploratory walk along the Black Beach with your guide.

After enjoying dinner with a group, look up at the night sky outside of your hotel to see if you can catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights!

Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Geysir

Geysir to Reykjavík
This morning, head to Friðheimar, a charming farm where tomatoes are grown in geothermally heated greenhouses. The farm also breeds and raises prize-winning Icelandic horses which you will see during a visit to the stables. Enjoy lunch at the cozy Greenhouse restaurant.

After arriving in Reykjavík, spend some time at the brand-new Sky Lagoon for a soak in the warm, mineral-rich waters of this surreal outdoor spa. This oceanfront geothermal lagoon is a great way to relax after a busy day.

Enjoy a celebratory farewell dinner with your new friends to celebrate the end of a fantastic adventure!

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Skuggi Hotel (2024 departures), Hotel Reykjavik Saga (2025 departures)

Depart Reykjavík
Enjoy your last few hours in Reykjavik this morning before you check out of the hotel.

Depart Reykjavík and explore the Reykjanes peninsula on your way to the airport.

Breakfast

Please note: AdventureWomen will attempt to adhere to the itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, and cultural) may necessitate changes in the itinerary. AdventureWomen reserves the right to alter any itinerary at any time, if necessary. We will attempt to notify participants of changes as far in advance as possible. Costs incurred by such changes will be the responsibility of the participants.