NORTH ICELAND AURORA CHALLENGE – 8 days

NEW - SMALL GROUP TOUR: WINTER ADVENTURE CLOSE TO THE ARCTIC CIRCLE

Experience the Arctic North! This tour takes you on an exploration of West and North Iceland, known for its winter adventures in a veritable nature paradise. Enjoy a relaxing visit to the Mývatn Nature Baths, join a snowshoe walk in a lava labyrinth, climb a volcano crater, travel along scenic fjord routes where you can almost touch the Arctic Circle. Do you want to go to places where most people do not go in the winter time? Are you looking for some very unique but not arduous outdoor activities and a chance to search for the Northern Lights that appear in high latitudes when the skies are clear? Well, perhaps you are ready to take the North Iceland Aurora Challenge!

HIGHLIGHTS and EXPERIENCES:

• Small group tour, maximum 16 persons
• Visit places where most other tour groups do not go in the winter time
• A lot of museums,  special visits and culinary experiences included
• Snow shoe hike (or hike if no snow) in a lava labyrinth
• Soak in the mineral rich waters of the Mývatn Nature Baths
• Spend two nights in Reykjavik and 5 nights in North Iceland
• Stay at Iceland’s northernmost town, almost at the Arctic Circle
• 5 evenings of lectures, presentations, film and guided searches for Northern Lights
• Stay one night in the new Hotel Siglufjörður, almost at the Arctic Circle

ITINERARY:

Day 1, TUE: WELCOME TO ICELAND (50 km/31 mls)

The Flybus shuttle (no guide) brings travelers from Keflavík International Airport to the accommodation in Reykjavík where you spend the night. We provide you with ideas how to explore Iceland's capital on your own, dinner suggestions too! Food lovers will be pleased and perhaps even impressed by the number of diverse restaurants in Reykjavík. Many award winning chefs create delicious Icelandic cuisine that is characterized by an imaginative use of local ingredients such as fresh seafood, organic lamb and wild game; but be sure to try the fabulous Icelandic hotdog and pizza too! 

Day 2, WED: VOLCANO CRATER, SEALS, FJORDS & MOUNTAINS (400 km/248 mls) 

Meet your tour guide and travel west, passing the town of Borgarnes and climb the Grábrók volcano crater. We visit a natural history & seal museum and further north we stop at the turf church of Víðimýri. We travel along scenic fjords and over several challenging mountain passes until we reach Siglufjörður, Iceland’s northernmost town. We overnight at the new and beautifully located Hotel Siglo which offers spectacular geothermal hot tubs built into the local fjord. In the evening, if weather permits, we take a little walk or drive to search for the Northern Lights.

Day 3, THU: ICELAND'S NORTHERNMOST TOWN (170 km/106 mls) 

In the morning we explore Siglufjörður, Iceland’s northernmost town, known as the herring capital of the North Atlantic. In Siglufjörður we visit the herring museum, the largest seafaring and industrial museum in the country. In the afternoon we drive along Eyjafjörður, Iceland's longest fjord which offers an amazing mountain panorama and explore Tröllaskagi Peninsula. Along the way, we stop at a deserted fjord valley that even most Icelanders have not yet seen. Later we stop at a local brewery and taste one of Iceland's micro-beers. We continue to Lake Mývatn, a winter wonderland, where we stay for 3 nights. Join an evening lecture about Northern Lights and don't miss the chance to search for the magical auroras after dinner.

Day 4, FRI: SEARCH FOR THE TROLLS & SNOW ADVENTURES (30 km/19 mls) 

This morning we go for a snowshoe trip (or a normal hike if there is no snow) through the lava formations of Dimmuborgir “the dark castles”, hoping to get a glimpse of the trolls who are said to live there. The afternoon is free at leisure to explore the many pseudo craters or walk along the lake shores. Also available is an optional tour on cross-country skis or snow-mobiles. In the evening we take a relaxing soak at Lake Mývatn Nature Baths and get ready to chase the elusive Northern Lights.

Day 5, SAT: EXPLORE LAKE MÝVATN (50 km/31 mls) 

Lake Mývatn is known for its geological wonders and active bird life, but also for having Iceland's coldest temperatures. We take an easy walk through the bizarre lava formations and landscape with great views to the lake, bird life and trees. Later we explore the hot spring area of Námaskarð with bubbling mud pools and steaming solfataras. We taste traditional dark bread baked underground in the geothermal heat. In the evening enjoy a video presentation about Northern Lights as a part of the Northern Lights educational program. After a delicious dinner, don't forget to keep an eye out for the Northern Lights. 

Day 6, SUN: BIRDS, CHRISTMAS GARDEN & THE CAPITAL OF NORTH ICELAND (120 km/75 mls) 

We visit the Lake Mývatn bird museum and travel to Goðafoss, the waterfalls of the Gods. Next stop is the Christmas Garden, a small museum and shop where you find countless items connected to Icelandic Christmas traditions. The afternoon is free at leisure to explore Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland on your own. There are some excellent local museums and a great geothermal swimming pool. Depending on weather there is a short excursion into the darkness to hunt the Aurora Borealis. 

Day 7, MON: HISTORY, DESIGN & HORSES IN SKAGAFJÖRÐUR (420 km/261 mls) 

We travel back west over the mountains to Skagafjörður, the valley of horses and home of many ancient farms. We visit the folk museum and turf farm at Glaumbær. Enjoy a guided tour through the only tannery in Europe which makes fish leather. Later we stop for coffee & cake at a horse farm, where we learn about the history and the special gaits of Icelandic horses. We reach Reykjavík depending on weather and road conditions between 18:00-20:00 where you stay one night in Iceland's capital.  

Day 8, TUE: DEPARTURE HOME (50 km/31 mls)

Individual transfer by Flybus airport shuttle from your accommodation in Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport.