Three Day Aurora Hunt and Glacier Lagoon Tour with Snæland Travel

Reykjavik

Hotel pickup in Reykjavík, then a full day on the Golden Circle route through South Iceland.

Thingvellir National Park

First stop is Þingvellir, where the Great Atlantic Rift is plain to see: the North American and European tectonic plates pull apart here by 2-6 cm a year. Iceland's ancient parliament was founded on this spot in 930.

Geysir

Next comes the Geysir hot spring area. The original Geysir, which gave every other geyser its name, no longer erupts, but its neighbour Strokkur goes off every few minutes.

Fridheimar

At Friðheimar, a geothermal greenhouse, you see how tomatoes and other plants are grown all year on sustainable energy.

Gullfoss Falls

Then Gullfoss, the golden waterfall, known for the sheer force of its cascades.

Vik

Drive to the hotel near Vík, home for the next 2 nights. In the evening, a northern lights hunt: it depends on the weather and aurora activity that day, and may be moved to the second night in the countryside.

Jokulsarlon

East along the southern shore to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, which formed around 60 years ago as icebergs kept calving off the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier tongue. The ice comes in two shades, milky white and bright blue, depending on how the light passes through the crystals. Fish drift into the lagoon from the sea with the tides, and in winter seals gather in large numbers at its mouth to catch them.

Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach is close by: black volcanic sand scattered with icebergs from the glacier lagoon that have washed ashore. The contrast between the ice and the dark sand makes it a favourite with photographers, and the pieces of ice on the beach are never arranged the same way twice.

Vatnajokull National Park

The return leg crosses Vatnajökull National Park, a large protected area around Europe's largest glacier, with steep peaks, waterfalls dropping into deep valleys and glacial rivers. Traces of old volcanic activity show through the green vegetation, in a landscape shaped by both ice and fire.

Vik

Second night at the hotel near the village of Vík.

Reynisfjara Beach

This day follows the south coast road, with glacier tongues, waterfalls, rugged hills, black sand beaches and the area's well known volcanoes along the way. At Reynisfjara you see the rock formations and the waves breaking on the black sand. Keep well back from the water: the waves here can be dangerous.

Skogafoss

Next is Skógafoss on the Skógá River, one of Iceland's largest waterfalls, dropping 60 metres (200 feet) over a rocky cliff. On sunny days the spray often throws up rainbows, which is why so many visitors and photographers stop here.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall

Then Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the falling water. Dress for it: the mist back there will get you wet.

Blue Lagoon

The last stop before Reykjavík is the Blue Lagoon, which National Geographic lists among its 25 wonders of the world. Soaking in the mineral-rich water with its silica mud is an optional extra.

Costo extra