starSend review printPrint

Iceland Complete Winter

9 days
8 nights

Rates

Dates

Rates:

USD
EUR

PER PERSON:

2023 departures
$ 2,550.00 (double / twin occupancy)
$ 3,170.00 (single occupancy)
$ 2,610.00 (triple occupancy*)
2024 departures
$ 2,650.00 (double / twin occupancy)
$ 3,290.00 (single occupancy)
$ 2,705.00 (triple occupancy*)

**Please note triple rooms / double rooms with extra bed are always upon request and Iceland Travel cannot guarantee that these rooms will be available.  Hotel rooms in Iceland are often smaller in size when compared to hotel rooms in countries such as the USA or Canada, and triple rooms will often be a double room with an extra bed with limited space in the room.

Children rate:

  • Children 6-11 years old travelling with 2 adults and sharing 1 DBL room: 25% discount (valid only per 1 child)
  • Children 12 years and older pay full price as adults
  • It is not recommended that children 0-5 years old travel on scheduled tou

Reserve an empty seat next to you: EUR 37 per person per day

Dates:

Oct 04, 2023 - Oct 12, 2023 
Oct 18, 2023 - Oct 26, 2023 
Feb 14, 2024 - Feb 22, 2024 
Mar 13, 2024 - Mar 21, 2024 
Apr 03, 2024 - Apr 11, 2024 

Hotels:

Accommodation - Quality Category

Quality category: These are quality hotels, guesthouses, and farmhouse accommodation, all with private facilities and breakfast included. In Reykjavik: 4-star hotel. In the countryside: The most comfortable accommodation available in each area. Most of the groups stay at the following hotels. Please note this is an advised hotel list and subject to change.

Day 1 - Hotel Grandi or Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura
Day 2 - Icelandair Hotel Vik
Day 3 - Hotel Hofn
Day 4 - Icelandair Hotel Herad
Day 5 - Fosshotel Myvatn
Day 6 - Hotel Siglo
Day 7- Icelandair Hotel Hamar
Day 8 - Hotel Grandi or Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura

Included:

  • Guided coach tour from day 2 to day 8
  • Expert professional English-speaking local guide from day 2 to day 8
  • Free Wi-Fi on board the motor coach
  • Accommodation 2 nights in a standard room with facilities in Reykjavik
  • Accommodation 6 nights in a standard room with facilities in the countryside
  • Icelandic breakfast (except arrival day)
  • Souvenir Icelandic Search and Rescue keyring  (Note: Valid only for October 2022 - April 2023 departures)
  • 6 three-course local-cuisine dinners in the countryside with coffee/tea (days 2-7)
  • Microbrewery visit and beer tasting in Breiddalsvik (day 4)
  • Entrance to Laufas Folk Museum including Icelandic-style refreshments (day 6)
  • Horse show in Skagafjordur (day 7)
  • Entrance to the Herring Era Maritime Museum (day 7)
  • Use of crampons/cleats (if needed) for walking on snow/ice covered surfaces
  • Great photo stops
  • Seat rotation during the tour
  • Northern lights guided hunt on foot one selected evening
  • Northern lights hunting kit (use of blanket and headlight)
  • Customer care service during office hours
  • 24-hour Iceland Travel emergency line assistance while you are in Iceland

Highlights & Experience:

  • Let us provide you with an excellent overview of Iceland and its unique wonders
  • We’ll take you to many of the classic natural wonders, including the Golden Circle, the Glacier Lagoon, Reynisfjara Beach, Dettifoss waterfall and Myvatn nature reserve
  • Enjoy a glimpse into Icelandic life with authentic local activities and delicious dinners– great experiences that also add great value
  • Discover and learn about Iceland from our hand-picked local guides, who are passionate and knowledgeable about Iceland

Optional Services:

You can book and pay for these tours in advance for your convenience and to ensure a spot for you on the tour. Let us know during the booking process.

Day 3: Evening SuperJeep or Snowmobiling tour on Vatnajokull Glacier – Get up on a glacier and see an amazing world of ice | Duration: 3 hours (1 hour on glacier) | Includes: Guided jeep tour onto glacier and snowmobiling on glacier (price based on 2 people per snowmobile), use of boots, overalls, helmets, gloves

Note - Minimum of 3 participants to guarantee departure

Day 5: Myvatn Nature Baths – Relax in an azure geothermal lagoon in a peaceful wilderness setting | Duration: Flexible time | Includes: Bathing fee | Not Included: Towel andSwimsuit (rentals available)

Itinerary:

It’s the “Aurora Edition” of our best-selling Ring Road Tour! You‘ll visit all the must-see attractions of the legendary Ring Road with the added beauty of an Icelandic winter. You‘ll also have the added value of overnighting in areas ideal for spotting northern lights on cold, clear nights!  Plus traveling during this time of the year means fewer crowds and more of Iceland’s peaceful, tranquil nature. Popular places visited include the Glacier Lagoon, Lake Mývatn and all the famous sights of the Golden Circle.

Day 1  : Arrival in Reykjavik

Please note: If you have added extra nights in Reykjavík before your tour, our guide will meet you and the group for the start of the tour on Day 2 according to the standard “Iceland Complete” itinerary.

Arrival at Keflavik International Airport. Transfers to Reykjavik are not included in the tour. We would be happy to arrange shared or private transfers for you, so let us know at booking time.

If you are arriving earlier in the day, you might consider adding a day tour. We would be happy to make suggestions based on your interests. One of our favorite activities after a long flight is to visit one of the neighborhood geothermal pools. It is so refreshing to relax in the warm water, breathing in the fresh Icelandic air. It’s a wonderful way to get to see Icelandic daily life and maybe meet a few locals. It’s also nice to take a stroll in the old city center, perhaps visiting one of the museums or relaxing with a cup of coffee in a cozy café.

Dinner this evening is at your leisure. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a wonderful way to get better acquainted with Iceland's capital.

Please note that hotels in Iceland start check-in around 14:00 (2:00pm), and early check-in is not guaranteed. Most hotels will be happy to store your luggage if you are not able to check in early.

Options: transfers
Day 2  : Geysir - Gullfoss - Skogar - Dyrholaey - Vik (201 mi)

Exploding Geysers – Waterfalls – Black Sand Beaches of the South Shore

Breakfast at your hotel. Your local guide will meet you at the hotel around 8:45 (8:45am). Please be in the lobby with your luggage, ready for an enjoyable day in South Iceland!

After a quick introduction to our home city of Reykjavik, head to the greenhouse village of Hveragerdi. Continue to the Golden Circle natural wonders. Explore Gullfoss, the "Golden Waterfall" and the nearby Geysir hot spring area to see the famous Strokkur, as well as numerous other hot springs and boiling mud pools. Continue along the south shore and stop to admire the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss before continuing to Dyrholaey and the black sand beaches of Iceland’s South Shore. Continue to the village of Vik.

Dinner and overnight in the Vik area.

If weather conditions are right, your guide will take you on a northern lights hunt on foot in the area outside your hotel tonight, or on one of the other evenings that you are staying in the countryside.

Day 3  : Vatnajokull National Park - Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon - Hofn (177 mi)

Lava Fields – Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs – Europe’s Largest Glacier

Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will be in a world of glaciers! You’ll be visiting the southern area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. The total park area covers almost 14% of Iceland, making it the largest national park in Western Europe! Drive through vast sand plains created by glacial outwashes as you head east. Visit the national park’s famous Skaftafell area, a site of outstanding natural beauty dominated by several magnificent glaciers. Then view Svinafellsjokull, one of the most beautiful glacial “tongues” that are slowly creeping down from Vatnajokull.

Visit Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon where you can enjoy the breath-taking sight of icebergs floating in the fantastic 180m (591 ft.) deep glacial lagoon (make sure your camera is loaded and ready!) Nearby is the dramatic beauty of the Diamond Beach, where shrinking icebergs settle on the black sands before they drift out to sea.

Dinner and overnight in Hofn, a fishing port in the shadow of Vatnajokull glacier.

Day 4  : Hofn - East Fjords - Egilsstadir (162 mi)

Narrow Fjords – Steep Mountains – Picturesque Coastline – Legendary Lake Monster

Breakfast at your hotel. Get ready to enjoy some amazing views today! Drive from Hofn through Almannaskard pass, stopping to admire the majestic coastline. Continue to the towering mountains plunging vertically into the sea that form the magnificent East Fjords. Keep your hand on your camera and keep an eye out for wild reindeer, which can sometimes be seen in the area during the winter months.

You will also pass villages, each with its own special history and charm. One of these is the tiny village of Breiddalsvik. Here, you’ll visit the local Beljandi microbrewery and sample some of the beer. You’ll meet one of the townsfolk and get a feel for life in a small town, as well as how great beer is made. The road next brings you to Egilsstadir town, located near Iceland’s largest forest and a lake said to be home to a legendary (friendly) monster. The area is also getting a name for itself for its excellent locally sourced cuisine, and you will surely enjoy some of it at dinner.

Dinner and overnight in the Egilsstadir area.

Day 5  : Lake Myvatn Area (158 mi)

Highland Desert – Bizarre Lava Formations – Geothermal & Volcanic Winter Wonderland

Breakfast at your hotel. Explore the empty vastness of the highland desert plateau Modrudalsoraefi as you head towards the Lake Myvatn area. On the way, stop at Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. Continue onwards to Namaskard pass with its boiling mud pools and vibrant colours. Explore the natural beauty of the Lake Myvatn area, including the pseudo craters at Skutustadir and the Laxa Salmon River. Dinner and overnight stay in the Myvatn area.

Day 6  : Lake Myvatn Area - Akureyri - Siglufjordur (137 mi)

“Waterfall of the Gods” – Turf-roofed Folk Museum – The Beautiful Troll Peninsula

Breakfast at your hotel. Start the day by exploring the peculiar lava formations at Dimmuborgir. The name means “Dark Citadels" in Icelandic, and they certainly look as though were built by fantasy creatures. There are local legends that elves do indeed live here.

Visit the magnificent Godafoss waterfall, one of the most important symbols of North Iceland, and the old turf farm Laufas. Enjoy a taste of some traditional Icelandic farmhouse refreshments and hear tales of life in the old days. Afterwards, visit Akureyri, the colorful northern “capital" of Iceland. The town has charming buildings and a beautiful view of the Eyjafjordur Fjord.

After spending some time in Akureyri, continue along the coastal roads of Eyjafjordur and the Troll Peninsula. This is a beautiful drive along steep mountains with amazing views over the Arctic Sea and the black sand coastline. The day’s destination is Siglufjordur, set in a beautiful fjord of the same name. This town has some of the finest timber buildings in the country, beautifully restored to their original glory. Siglufjordur is a very picturesque and easily walkable town for an evening stroll. You may even recognize some of the buildings; the town was a filming location for both seasons of the popular Icelandic thriller series Trapped.

Dinner and overnight in Siglufjordur. 

Day 7  : Skagafjordur - Borgarnes (193 mi)

Historical Museum – Fertile Farmlands – Glacial Rivers – Unique Viking Horse Demonstration

Breakfast at your hotel. This morning visit Siglufjordur’s award-winning Herring-Era Maritime Museum. The museum recreates the atmosphere of the early 20th century, when Siglufjordur was transformed into a frontier-like boom town, thanks to a large migration of herring. The museum will transport you back to that exciting time.

Afterwards, head along majestic mountains and narrow passes to Skagafjordur, considered to be one of the finest places in Iceland for horse breeding. Enjoy an introduction to the unique Icelandic horse breed with its special fifth gait, the tolt.

Continue towards the village of Blonduos, built on both sides of the river Blanda. This is a part of Iceland known from the Icelandic literary work Vatnsdaela Saga. Cross the Holtavorduheidi plateau taking you into West Iceland. Drive through Borgarfjordur, a region that has been getting international recognition for its diverse types of scenery and its Viking history.

Dinner and overnight stay in the Borgarnes area.

Day 8  : Borgarfjordur - Thingvellir - Reykjavik (130 mi)

Europe’s Largest Hot Spring – Picturesque Waterfalls – National Park with Geological Wonders (UNESCO)

Breakfast at your hotel. Visit some of the beautiful natural wonders of West Iceland. Drive to Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe. Stop to admire the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfalls, where brightly blue water rushes through black lava formations. Nearby is Barnafoss, a waterfall with an more brilliantly blue color. There is an interesting and poignant legend associated with this waterfall.

Drive through the scenic and mountain lined Hvalfjordur fjord to Lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland's largest lake, and Thingvellir National Park. This UNESCO heritage site is where the world’s oldest continuing parliamentary government was founded in the 10th century. It is also the place where the North American and European tectonic plates meet. You will have the unusual experience of walking between two continents! Afterwards, head to Reykjavik for a last night in the colorful capital city. Your guide will bid you farewell at your hotel.

Overnight stay in Reykjavik. Dinner is on your own.

Options: Northern Lights Stargazing, Northern Lights Boat Tour
Day 9  : Departure

Breakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning flight. Transfer on your own to the international airport for your departure flight. The airport transfer is not included, but we are happy to help you arrange shared or private transfers.

We recommend you depart your hotel no later than three hours before your departure flight. We wish you a pleasant trip back to your homeland and hope to see you in Iceland again!

Options: transfers

Notes:

Important:

  • A minimum of 3 passengers is required to guarantee each departure
  • We reserve the right to alter routes without prior notice, due to road conditions
  • Please advise us at booking time if you have food allergies or dietary preferences
  • Northern lights are dependent on weather conditions and sightings are not guaranteed
  • 6 years.  We do not recommend escorted tours for children 5 years old and younger.

Not Included:

  • Breakfast on arrival day
  • International airfare
  • Baggage porterage at airport/hotel
  • Personal travel insurance (highly recommended)
  • Round-trip transfers between airports and hotels
  • Beverages, snacks, lunches, dinners unless otherwise noted in itinerary
  • Guaranteed early check-in (check-in time for most hotels in Iceland starts between 14:00 and 16:00 (2:00pm and 4:00pm)
  • Guaranteed late check-out
  • Any service not specifically listed under "Included"