Chasing the northern lights starts with a plan. This 5-day Reykjavik-based tour strings together major Iceland sights in winter-friendly order, then turns the aurora hunt into an actual routine with lectures and guided night searching.

I like how the tour gives you Blue Lagoon on a set timetable, not as a last-minute idea. I also like that you get 4 nights with breakfast and private shower/wc, so you spend less time figuring out where to sleep and eat.

One thing to consider: the tour includes budget lodging, and you meet at Hotel Klettur and Hotel Cabin. Your actual room location can vary, so if hotel feel matters a lot to you, double-check what you’re assigned before you go.

Quick hits before you commit

• Two aurora evenings with talks and guided night searches, plus midnight refreshments
• Blue Lagoon entry and towel included, timed so you’re not rushing or doubling back
• Reykjanes Peninsula stops with lava features, bird cliffs, and a bridge between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates
• Big day coverage: waterfalls, Skógar Museum, Reynisfjara black sand beach, and the Golden Circle core
• Sólheimajökull glacier walk is optional (not included), but equipment like crampons and an ice axe is provided
• Tour caps at 40 people, with a small-coach feel that matters when roads get icy

Day 1 in Reykjavik: ease in, then go all-in

Your first day is built for adjustment. You settle into Reykjavik and either relax at your hotel or walk the city at your own pace. The meeting point is Hotel Klettur or Hotel Cabin, and the location is handy for getting your bearings on foot.

This day matters more than it sounds. Iceland mornings can hit fast in winter—short daylight, slippery sidewalks, and weather that changes the vibe by the hour. A low-pressure start helps you show up fresh for the longer driving days that follow.

Reykjavik highlights, Reykjanes lava, and the Blue Lagoon fix

Day 2 is where the tour starts stacking the wow moments.

First, you meet your guide at 09:00 in the hotel lobby and do an Iceland-capital highlights loop. It’s a short intro, but it helps you understand what you’re looking at once you’re outside the bus window later.

Then comes Reykjanes Peninsula (about 3 hours). This area is all volcanic reality: old lava flows, steaming geothermal zones, and rough shorelines with breaking surf. One of my favorite details here is the stop near a tall lighthouse with sea stacks nearby. It’s dramatic, but also very “Iceland,” because the coast is constantly reshaped by the Atlantic.

You’ll also get the unique chance to cross a small bridge between the American and Eurasian continental plates. In plain terms: you walk over a tectonic boundary that’s changing the map over time.

After that, you hit the Blue Lagoon for about 2 hours. Admission and a towel are included, and that’s a big value add because you’re not piecing it together yourself. Expect geothermal steam, milky water, and that iconic lava-field setting. The timing is set up so you’re not scrambling for tickets while the light is fading.

Practical note: this is one of the stops that feels busy. Keep your swimwear simple, and pack any basics you’ll want once you’re wet and cold.

Waterfalls, Skógar Museum, and an optional Sólheimajökull glacier walk

Day 3 is a classic winter Iceland mix: waterfalls first, then cultural stops, then glacier country, then black sand beach.

You start with the story around the volcano under Eyjafjallajökull and the 2010 eruption that disrupted European air traffic for a week. That context is useful because it turns what looks like simple geography into something with consequences.

Then it’s straight into Seljalandsfoss (about 40 minutes). This waterfall drops from an overhanging cliff, and you can walk behind it. Just don’t plan on staying dry—water sprays over the path, and you’ll feel it.

Next comes Skógar Museum (about 1 hour). This is a folk museum with a standout collection of farm and domestic artifacts, plus turf-built houses. If you want to understand how people actually lived here before modern comforts, this stop pays off fast.

Then Skógafoss (about 30 minutes): a 60-meter waterfall in the village of Skógar. It’s a short stop, but it’s the kind of sight that makes you stop talking and start photographing.

In the afternoon, you have the optional Sólheimajökull glacier walk (about 3 hours total). This part isn’t included, but it’s designed for a range of visitors. No technical requirements are stated, and the glacier guide teaches you how to use basic glacier equipment like crampons and an ice axe (equipment is provided). Minimum age is 10.

What you need to bring: warm clothing, rain gear, and hiking boots. On this one, do not treat layers like a suggestion. If you run cold, you’ll spend the walk wishing you’d dressed warmer.

After the glacier area, you end the day with Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach (about 40 minutes) and a photo stop in Vík (about 30 minutes). Reynisfjara is known for black lava sand, bird cliffs, caves, and columnar basalt rock formations. It’s also a place where waves look calm until they aren’t, so stay within safe viewing zones.

The Golden Circle, plus horses and geothermal greenhouses

Day 4 is built around Iceland’s most famous “big three” style sights—without making it feel like only driving and checking boxes.

You begin at Fridheimar (about 1 hour). You learn about the Icelandic horse and its history, then visit a geothermal greenhouse. This is the kind of stop that gives you a different side of Iceland: not only raw nature, but also how people use geothermal power and keep farming going in tough conditions.

Next is Geysir (about 1 hour 30 minutes). The original geyser is dormant, but Strokkur erupts every 5 to 10 minutes. That repeat timing makes the experience easier to enjoy. You don’t have to stand around wondering if anything will happen—something usually does.

Then it’s Gullfoss (about 40 minutes). The Golden Falls is a glacial river dropping in a double cascade, about 32 meters. A sunny day can bring rainbows in the spray, but even without sun, it’s loud, powerful, and unmistakably Iceland.

Finally, you visit Þingvellir National Park (about 45 minutes). This UNESCO World Heritage site has deep cultural meaning and major geology. You’ll walk around a sacred area connected to the Alþingi, the oldest existing national parliament in the world. You’ll also see a dramatic rift landscape right beside Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest lake.

This is the stop that often clicks for people. It links human history to tectonics—how land and society shape each other.

Northern lights program: two guided nights, plus the gear to move safely

Aurora chasing is always a gamble. What this tour does well is make the gamble smaller by giving you a structured approach.

You’ll do a northern lights program during two evenings. The package includes lectures, presentations, and film, then guided searches for the aurora. You also get midnight refreshments—small, but it helps you stay out longer without feeling wrecked.

The tour also provides winter and Northern Lights Explorer equipment: simple non-slip snow and ice grippers (spikes for your shoes) and a flashlight useful for walking in the dark and operating a camera at night. That last detail is surprisingly practical. In aurora weather, you’re juggling cold hands, camera settings, and uneven ground.

A few guides get named for their attitude in best feedback—people like Simone, Thor, Tor, Petur (Peter), Hillmar, and Andreas (Andy). Across those descriptions, a common thread is calm leadership on winter roads and a serious effort to get people pointed the right way when the sky changes.

Still, don’t expect guaranteed lights. What you can expect is effort, instruction, and safer night movement than doing it DIY with no plan.

Price and value: why $1,306 can make sense

At $1,306.11 per person, this tour isn’t cheap. The question is whether that price saves you time, risk, and decision fatigue.

Here’s what you’re getting that adds up quickly:

• 4 nights of budget accommodation with private shower/wc plus breakfast (4)
• Airport transfer via Flybus Plus shuttle (no guide)
• Fully escorted tour days on an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi, parking fees included
• Blue Lagoon with admission and towel
• Northern lights program for two evenings, including lectures and guided searching
• Use of aurora/night equipment (spikes and flashlight)
• Specific included admissions like Thingvellir, Geysir, and the museum stops

If you were trying to plan this yourself, the hardest parts are usually not the sights. It’s stitching them together with winter driving, correct timing, and aurora logistics. This tour takes on that work so you can focus on experiencing.

One cost you should plan for: additional meals and drinks are not included. Also, the glacier walk is not included, even though it’s one of the most memorable options on the route.

Logistics that matter in winter: transfers, coach comfort, and tight schedules

A few practical notes help you travel smarter.

Airport transfer is by Flybus Plus shuttle. It takes about 45 minutes to the BSI bus station in Reykjavík. From there, you’ll either continue on the same bus or move to a smaller coach to reach your accommodation, depending on the driver’s instructions.

The tour runs “full days” by design. One key review theme was that it feels busy but not chaotic. That matches the itinerary: you’re doing multiple stops in a single day, often with short time windows.

Coach comfort can be mixed. In some past experiences, people said leg room can feel tight on longer stretches. If you’re tall or have a bad back in winter seats, bring a thin cushion and wear warmer layers for the ride.

Also, use your own judgment about energy. If you want to soak in every waterfall like it’s a pilgrimage, you might feel time pressure. This is a tour for people who like a strong sight-and-story pace.

Who this tour is best for

This is a strong fit if you:

• want a guided northern lights experience without doing the planning math
• prefer a winter-friendly route that avoids solo driving stress
• like variety: coast, waterfalls, cultural stops, geothermal stops, and tectonic scenery
• value included logistics like accommodation with breakfast and Blue Lagoon entry

You might want to consider another option if you:

• care a lot about hotel location and don’t want “budget category” tradeoffs
• dislike tight schedules or short photo stops (some viewpoints are quick by necessity)
• only want one or two highlights and would rather go slower

Should you book this 5-day northern lights tour from Reykjavik?

If you want Iceland with a strong structure, I’d book it. The biggest reasons are simple: two aurora nights with guidance, a “great hits” route that covers Reykjavik plus Reykjanes, waterfalls, the Golden Circle core, and Þingvellir, and included items that would cost you time and money if you DIY.

Before you pay, do two smart checks:

• confirm what hotel you’ll actually use (since meeting points include both Hotel Klettur and Hotel Cabin)
• if you plan to add the Sólheimajökull glacier walk, keep your booking details organized and bring what the tour asks for: warm layers, rain gear, and hiking boots

If those boxes work for you, this tour is a practical way to chase the aurora and still see real Iceland.

FAQ

How many days and nights is the tour?

It’s approximately 5 days, with 4 nights of accommodation included.

Does the tour include airport transfers?

Yes. You get an arrival and departure airport transfer by Flybus Plus shuttle (no guide). The transfer takes about 45 minutes to the BSI bus station in Reykjavík.

What’s included in the northern lights experience?

You get a northern lights program during two evenings with lectures, presentations, film, guided searches, and midnight refreshments. You also get winter aurora equipment, including spikes for shoes and a flashlight.

Is Blue Lagoon admission included?

Yes. Blue Lagoon admission and a towel are included, and the stop is about 2 hours.

Is the glacier walk included?

No. The Sólheimajökull glacier walk is optional and not included. Minimum age is 10, and you’re told to bring warm clothing, rain gear, and hiking boots. Crampons and an ice axe are provided for the walk tours.

What size group is this tour?

The tour has a maximum of 40 travelers.

Are meals besides breakfast included?

Breakfast is included for 4 days. Additional meals and drinks are not included.