Iceland isn’t just all about the Aurora Borealis; it is also a prime location to travel to take in and witness the natural wonders as much as the Northern Lights themselves
Northern Lights Holidays to Iceland
While waiting for the Northern Lights to potentially paint the sky for you in the evening, during the day, you will find yourself surrounded by Iceland’s otherworldly landscapes—majestic waterfalls like the powerful Gullfoss, the contrasting black sand beaches of Vik, geothermal wonders like the Blue Lagoon, and rugged volcanic terrains.
We have a number of self-drive tours, private tours, and escorted tours to take advantage of when visiting Iceland—and you can always combine it with multiple countries to make your journey specifically epic
Holidays
Classic Short Breaks in Iceland
Escorted Iceland
Exclusive Aurora Breaks in Iceland
Self Drive Breaks in Iceland
Useful information
Why go to Iceland on a Northern Lights Trip? Where do we start? We have always firmly believed that on a Northern Lights Holiday you should pack your days full of activities whilst you wait for night to fall and the Northern Lights to appear. Iceland over delivers on this front with the most dramatic volcanic scenery to entertain you during the day.
Our starter range of Classic Iceland Breaks are for first timers and include some of the “Must do” activities such as the Golden Circle. On the Golden Circle whether you are self-driving explorers or go on a superjeep tour you will witness the Strokkur Geyser, which erupts every 5 mins, the spellbinding Thingvellir mini rift valley where the Vikings set up their first parliament in the heart of the Rift and where any witches were drowned and the impressive Gullfoss Waterfall which sometimes can even freeze in the winter. We specialise in including some incredible superjeep tours on all of our Northern Lights Trips which get you off the main tourist route to explore more of Iceland’s volcanic wonders and true wilderness so you see more than what is offered on the bulk of tours.
Our Iconic Northern Lights Break in Iceland is a popular break with first timers to Iceland.
For those looking to explore further afield on an inspiring longer aurora trip then we would recommend combining a visit to the South of Iceland with the North of Iceland or with Sweden or Norway so you can experience more variety of landscapes and activities.
In the North of Iceland there is the most extraordinary superjeep experience to the Askja Volcano across Volcanic lava fields, Ash deserts and pumice fields to a geothermal caldera that you can swim in!. Who doesn’t want the story to tell their grandchildren that they swam in a volcano?! Askja is truly in the middle of nowhere and you have an excellent chance of seeing the Northern Lights as you travel back across the mesmerising Highland plains. However due its isolated location you would only be able to access this in the autumn (and in the summer), as thick snow will still be lying on the ground even in May.
A recommended activity when visiting the North of Iceland is to visit the warm geothermal Myvatn Baths and you even have a chance of swimming with the Northern Lights dancing overhead if you time it right. The beauty of Myvatn Baths is that it is much quieter than the Blue Lagoon in the South of Iceland so it is possible to be more spontaneous and visit when it suits your itinerary and the forecast.
When travelling with us in the North of Iceland we also include other superjeep tours so you can also explore the bizarre lava shapes of Dimmuborgir, Europe’s most powerful waterfall Dettifoss as well as the bubbling pools of Hverir. If travelling in early autumn you can self-drive many of these areas, but we would not recommend self-driving a visit to Askja, in the heart of the Highlands at any time of the year, including the autumn. In autumn we would recommend the Iceland Autumn Aurora Indulgence break which combines self-driving with a Superjeep tour to Askja and a Superjeep Northern Lights Hunt.
In winter the Ultimate North and South Iceland Encounter is an incredible break sharing with you the very best that Iceland has to offer with adventure tours and transfers throughout. It is a more expensive option as a result but very popular with those that don’t want to self-drive, who have a bit longer and want to see as much as possible of Iceland’s amazing and dramatic scenery.
We know of course that for many it’s all about seeing the Northern Lights and we would recommend you include one of the Northern Lights Superjeep tours that we offer in both North and South Iceland. Never fixed to one area, the guides will use their local knowledge as well as current forecast to try and track the Northern Lights down. Sometimes it feels like they are wizards as they get you to the perfect spot cloud-free to watch them whilst the clouds hide them only a mile away. There are mini microclimates with holes in the clouds so trust the Northern Lights guides-they know what they are doing! They will also try to choose locations with stunning foreground to complement the Northern Lights Display. Myvatn lake or a river crossing in the North of Iceland are popular spots, whilst waterfalls and the black volcanic beaches in the South are often chosen. It of course all depends on the Aurora Forecast that particular night.
Snowmobiling and Husky Sledding is available in the heart of the winter in the North of Iceland, whilst snowmobiling is available year round on the glaciers in the south. A surreal experience is snowmobiling with the Ocean beneath you, whilst in North Iceland it is possible to snowmobile and Husky Sled across the vast frozen lake of Myvatn! The Iceland Husky Sledding Aurora Adventure will give you a really good feel for how a Northern Lights break in the North of Iceland would look, but we are always able to tailor a break specific to you.
The local Iceland guides we work with are second to none with their passion, enthusiasm and ability to take you in their superjeeps to remote and beautiful places. For example we will take you up Eyjafjallajokull volcano (the one that erupted in 2010 and shut down the airlines) for incredible views across the Atlantic one way and the surrounding Glaciers the other. We will even take you up Eyjafjallajokull volcano at night so you can experience the Northern Lights “up close” feeling as if you can touch the Auroras! (Obviously the Auroras are not really that close but it will feel like it!)
If you want to feel like you are visiting Mordur, from Lord of the Rings, then a Porsmork Superjeep tour is a must. By the way when we say Superjeeps imagine a child’s toy with huge outsized tyres and you will have a pretty good picture in your mind of what it will be like. How much fun is that?!
For many combining these amazing superjeep tours with a stay in a private wilderness cabin exclusively to yourselves is the perfect break and our Northern Lights Wilderness Iceland Escape is the perfect solution.
If self-driving at any time of our year all of our breaks include a 4 Wheel Drive car. We also recommend when and where to go, and when it is better to have a fully guided break instead as the weather can get too severe in certain parts. Generally speaking North Iceland has more severe arctic conditions than in the South.
We also have created a select choice of Exclusive Iceland breaks that we can craft for you offering the opportunity to combine private accommodation in your own private cabin as well as the opportunity to upgrade to your own private guide with transfers and superjeep tours throughout. Everything we do is tailored to you but to give you a feel for how the itinerary could flow see our Iceland Aurora Mecca Break. These exclusive breaks are popular with those celebrating a special occasion such as an anniversary, birthday or even planning a proposal or honeymoon.
We are not trying to confuse you but we do have a range of Midnight Sun Holidays in Iceland where you are guaranteed NOT to see the Northern Lights but instead you will see the other Arctic Wonder the Midnight sun!
We offer a select range of incredible breaks to Iceland and Greenland under the 24hr sun in the summer. We just couldn’t resist offering this contrasting choice and a trip to Greenland to see calving glaciers and icebergs up close, which for many is the trip of a lifetime and bucket list experience. Take a boat out to Disko bay and watch fluking whales in front of icebergs under the pink glow of the midnight sunset at 11 o clock at night.
Greenland’s Icebergs under the midnight sun is a surreal, breathtaking beautiful break where you get to really experience wilderness whilst staying in the most northerly 4 star hotel on the planet. If you are in for a penny go in for a pound and combine with Iceland on the Greenland and Iceland Midnight Sun Wilderness Break
For those who don’t want to go all the way to Greenland but are still looking for a longer journey under the midnight sun then our Midnight Sun breaks In the Footsteps of the Astronauts and Iceland Whale and Volcano Extravaganza share the most spectacular scenery in Iceland as well as take you to where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin trained for their Moon landing as it was thought it was the most similar place on the planet. When you go you will understand why!
So now we have tempted you take a look at our full range of Iceland breaks to see which the perfect one for you is!
See what our clients say
Superb holiday to Iceland, well organised, advice regarding trips informative and far exceeded our expectations (Glaciers and ice Cave) run by South Coast. Hotel Ranga is a lovely hotel, perfect to see Northern Lights (which we did see on our 3rd night), very comfortable, food excellent, staff helpful and informative. SouthCoast Adventure tour company were excellent, guides knowledgeable, and clearly very experienced.
We did the aurora nights break and had a great time overall. Everything related to flights, hire car, and hotels ran smoothly. There were a few issues largely relating to the weather and driving conditions (we travelled in mid March), but what we did manage to do was amazing.
The blue lagoon was easy to access from the airport and was a brilliant experience. We booked the standard package and it came with a free drink and face mask. Facilities were clean and organised with free toiletries in the shower rooms, which helps if you’ve gone there straight from the airport.
The drive to Hotel Ranga afterwards was long but fine (check out the road on google streetview to know what to expect). The hotel and staff were great. We were limited to one option as vegetarians on the bar and a la carte menus, but the food was lovely and if you are a meat eater you will see options of unusual dishes like puffin and reindeer.
Our northern lights super jeep trip was cancelled on both nights due to a poor forecast, but we were lucky enough to get an aurora wake up call from Hotel Ranga the first night. We couldn’t use the hottubs as there are only a few and they were always taken in the limited time we spent at the hotel, so don’t go expecting to get lots of time in one and you won’t be disappointed. View them as an add on if you can time it right. We were travelling with an 11 year old, so we didn’t stay up really late. If you are a couple you probably have a better chance of getting one later on.
The glacier/volcano super jeep trip was outstanding. Our driver, Íbí was excellent. She went above and beyond and gave us such an awesome experience. We were also super lucky with the weather the first two days and had great views across Iceland.
The ice cave tour was also incredible and the guides running it were excellent. The group size was much bigger than expected (especially after the more exclusive volcano super jeep tour), but it was broken down into smaller groups that were managed well, with plenty of time factored in for photographs. There were several unexplained delays getting to the cave during the tour that meant we weren’t able to ‘mini tour’ the rest of the South Coast afterwards, so if you plan to do the ice cave don’t overplan for the afternoon as you may not have much time. Not a huge disappointment for us as we got to experience the cave, but I imagine someone who planned a full itinerary afterwards might be frustrated by the estamiated timings not always being right and subject to change with the weather (which was wicked that day).
Driving around Reykjavik was a horrible experience as we arrived around rush hour and weren’t prepared for all the traffic, having only experienced quiet roads along the south coast. It was difficult finding a parking space, so be prepared to drive around a little when you arrive. If you haven’t driven on the right before and are not a confident driver this could leave you feeling stressed. Again, check out the roads into Reykjavik on Google maps to get a sense of what awaits if you aren’t used to self-driving.
We didn’t get to tour the golden circle because of road conditions/ice/road closures, so we spent the day in Reykjavik instead. This turned out okay for us as we did some of the attractions (Lava Centre and Fly Over Iceland – both hughly recommended), but it ended up being an extra expense and we missed out on the golden attractions. Again, not a big issue if you are aware this could happen. The weather is so changeable that having a plan B is a good approach.
Weekend a la Carte sent us a text warning us about the bad weather conditions, which we’d already seen on the Safe Iceland app, but we were grateful for anyway. It was good to know they were looking out for us!
All in all, a remarkable trip, with some unique experiences. If you book this in the knowledge that nature will have her own way, and you may not see everything you want (especially in winter), you will have a great time. Ranga is definitely the best place to maximise your chances of seeing the lights.
Dear Abigail, We have safely returned from Iceland and we wanted to say a huge and sincere thank you for all the plans that you put into place to make this one of the most memorable holidays we have ever had. It was simply beautiful each and every day. The cabin was idyllic and so cosy and warm. The tour guides were so knowledgeable and friendly and the scenery was breathtaking. All the arrangements worked so well and we will remember the trip for a long time to come.
Thank you once again.
This vacation has without without doubt, has been the best experience we have ever had. The organisation from the minute we landed in Kiruna until we departed at the close of our trip was second to none. The transition between hotels was always seamless and punctual. Everywhere we stayed was beautifully clean and the meals were top quality. Every driver was polite, entertaining and very knowledgeable, furnishing us with invaluable information about Sweden and the activities in which we were to participate. The snowmobiling was wonderful giving access via our guide, to stunning panoramic views of the mountain whilst viewing reindeer in their natural habitat.
Our guide demonstrated how to use the snowmobile safely he was pleasant and informative. When visiting the reindeer on the Sami reservation; we found the brother and sister team who hosted lovely. Again they were so hospitable and helpful and feeding the reindeer up close was a wonderful experience.
They provided additional activities for us to try and we were treated to a traditional Sami lunch in their hut. They provided us with invaluable information appertaining to their culture and caring for their reindeer. The reindeer were in superb condition and happy in their environment. Similarly, when out with the dog sleds the experience was magical. Two hours of beautiful scenery, and frozen lakes, finishing with a one-on-one experience massaging the dogs. Magic! We were so impressed with the care that was placed upon ensuring the dogs were comfortable, well-nourished and so loved by their owners/handlers.
Now to the photographic experience. A large group of us were treated to a demonstration of how to operate some serious camera equipment with tripod. Each of us was loaned the camera and given assistance setting up the camera on a frozen lake in preparation for the appearance of the Northern Lights. We were taken to this lake on large wooden sleighs pulled by a snowmobile. We cannot speak too highly of the two young men who accompanied us on this experience. They could not do enough for us. They were there to offer assistance with our cameras throughout the two-plus hours we were on this beautiful lake.
They advised where to position the camera and when the Lights appeared, what a performance. We had a two-hour display of this most breathtaking phenomenon. We were so fortunate to be able to experience this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence for which we are so grateful. We will never forget this memorable holiday and cannot thank you and everyone who assisted in making a lifetime dream come true. Karen & Andrew Adamson
A fantastic short break which fulfilled all expectations. Well organised with a polished delivery, we could not have asked for more. The accommodation was perfect for us and the guides knowledgeable and helpful. Every day was packed with adventure, each lasting longer than scheduled but we were never rushed; the guides took pride in showing and explaining their beautiful country. We would certainly use Weekend a la carte again and recommend them to others.
1. Gourmet Cabins was excellent and Johan was a friendly and knowledgeable host. The food, cabins, hot tub and sauna were brilliant.
2. Dog sledge was a fantastic experience and we were given the opportunity to drive our own sledge
3. Snow Mobile – really got off the beaten track and into the spectacular mountains
4. Saw the Northern Lights twice in two days. There is no description that can really do them justice
We had a fantastic 4 nights that included glaciers, waterfalls, geysers, the aurora borealis and more! Lovely hotels, especially Hotel Ranga. We filled every moment and felt thoroughly invigorated on our return.
Thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The Abisko Mountain Lodge was fantastic, every member of staff was friendly welcoming and charming. Accommodation, upgraded room was excellent. The food in the lodge definitely deserves the high reviews. Good breakfast, great hime made lunch soups and extremely tasty evening dinners.
The included trips were great. The only let down was the camera night, couldn’t see the lights no one fault, but we were walked through thigh high snow to be left on a frozen lake for the duration of the trip. There was no warning of the difficult walk and we had a 91 year old with us and I have hip problems! That said the guide was great, as were the ones on the skimobile and husky rides. We went up to the sky station in a snow storm with high winds, added to the experience!
Would go back in a heart beat.
We had little communication with Weekend a la carte, no need as all communications were clear and contained all the information we needed. Very informative emails
Would use again if going back
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