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Adventure · Iceland

Iceland Northern Lights & Glaciers: 6 Days

Northern lights, the Golden Circle, a glacier hike and the Blue Lagoon, with every pickup booked. Easy and safe for one.

  • 6 days / 5 nights
  • Starts at Keflavík (KEF)
  • No car needed
Reykjavík rooftops and Hallgrímskirkja church at sunrise, with snowy mountains across the bay

Attractions

What you will see as you travel the route, day by day, and how to make the most of each stop.

9sights on the route
1northern lights tour, with a free retry
1guided glacier hike
5nights in your own room
ReykjavíkGolden CircleSouth CoastReykjavíkBlue LagoonKeflavík
1Day 1

Arrive and settle in

An easy first walk

Harpa and the Old Harbour

On your own

Why it is worth itReykjavík’s glass concert hall on the waterfront, at the end of an easy walk down Laugavegur, the main shopping street.

Insider tipStep inside Harpa; the glass facade looks its best from the inside.

2Day 2

Golden Circle, then northern lights (first try)

The Golden Circle, then the lights

Þingvellir National Park

Why it is worth itA national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site where you walk through a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian plates. Iceland’s parliament first met here in 930.

Insider tipWalk the Almannagjá gorge path between the rock walls; it is an easy, mostly level walk.

Geysir and Strokkur

Why it is worth itThe geothermal area that gave every geyser its name. Strokkur erupts every few minutes, so you will not wait long.

Insider tipStand upwind of Strokkur so the spray does not soak you, and stay on the paths; the water is boiling.

Gullfoss

Why it is worth itA powerful two-tier waterfall on the Hvítá river that drops into a deep canyon.

Insider tipBring a waterproof layer for the lower path; the spray carries a long way.

Northern Lights Tour

Weather permitting

Why it is worth itAn evening tour out of the city lights to look for the aurora. If it does not run or the lights do not show, you can rebook for free on another night.

Insider tipDress for standing still in the cold: warm boots, a hat and gloves.

3Day 3

Glacier hike and the South Coast

Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss

Why it is worth itTwo of the South Coast’s best-known waterfalls. At Seljalandsfoss a path runs behind the falling water; Skógafoss has a staircase to a viewpoint at the top.

Insider tipBring a waterproof jacket; you will get wet behind Seljalandsfoss.

Sólheimajökull glacier hike

Why it is worth itA guided hike on Sólheimajökull, an outlet glacier of the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap. Crampons and gear are provided.

Insider tipWear warm, waterproof layers and sturdy boots.

Reynisfjara black sand beach

Why it is worth itA black volcanic sand beach with basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks just offshore.

Insider tipStay well back from the water. Sneaker waves here are dangerous and come in without warning.

4Day 4

A free day in Reykjavík

Taste the city

Optional add-on

Wake Up Reykjavik Food Walk

About 3 hours on foot through downtown Reykjavik with a local guide, with Icelandic tastings at family-run spots.

$235 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

5Day 5

Reykjavík on foot, then a hot pool

The city at your own pace

Hallgrímskirkja

On your own

Why it is worth itReykjavík’s landmark church, with basalt-column lines and a tower lift to a viewing deck over the whole city.

Insider tipGo up early; the lift is small and lines build by midday.

Sun Voyager (Sólfar)

On your own

Why it is worth itA steel sculpture of a dreamlike ship on the waterfront, with Mount Esja across the bay behind it.

Insider tipWalk the seafront path from here to Harpa; it is flat and takes about 15 minutes.

Sundhöllin

On your own

Why it is worth itThe city’s oldest public pool, with outdoor hot tubs where locals meet to talk. A short walk from Hallgrímskirkja.

Insider tipShower without a swimsuit before you get in; it is the rule at every pool in Iceland, and staff will remind you.

6Day 6

Blue Lagoon and home

A last soak on the way home

Blue Lagoon

Why it is worth itA geothermal spa in a lava field on the Reykjanes peninsula, with warm, milky-blue water. It is close to the airport, so it is an easy last stop.

Insider tipPut conditioner in your hair and try to keep it out of the water; the minerals leave it stiff for days.

The order of stops can shift with the weather, and access to some sites can change with the season or local conditions. See Day by day for the full plan.

Why this trip

This trip is built for traveling on your own without the stress. Iceland ranks #1 on the 2026 Global Peace Index, which is a big part of why it made the list. You stay in one central hotel the whole time. The airport bus drops you at the hotel, and every day out is a guided group tour that picks you up near the hotel. No one has to drive icy roads in the dark. The northern lights tour comes with a free retry if the lights don't show, so spare evenings are left for a second try. You get your own room, a one-page plan, and one person to message from booking to landing.

  • Golden Circle, then northern lights (first try)Guided Golden Circle Classic day tour with pickup: Þingvellir National Park, Geysir (Strokkur erupts every few minutes) and Gullfoss.
  • Glacier hike and the South CoastA full-day minibus tour (about 11 hours, up to 18 people) with hotel pickup: Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, a guided hike on the Sólheimajökull glacier (crampons and gear provided), and Reynisfjara black sand beach.
  • A free day in ReykjavíkSleep in and take the day at your own pace. Or add the Wake Up Reykjavík Food Walk (about 3 hours): Icelandic food and the stories behind it with a small group, an easy way to meet people (optional add-on).
  • Reykjavík on foot, then a hot poolA self-guided walk from Hallgrímskirkja tower down the rainbow street to the Old Harbour and the Sun Voyager, then the hot tubs at Sundhöllin, the city’s oldest public pool.

Trip at a glance

Length
6 days / 5 nights
Starts / ends
Keflavík Airport (KEF)
Getting around
No car needed; airport bus and tour pickups booked
Pace
One base, one guided day at a time
Best time to go
Late September to mid-April, for a chance at the northern lights
Great for
Solo travelers, or two friends sharing
Accommodations
Comfort Plus
Flights
Not included. You book; timing tips in your pre-trip guide

Day by day

Day 1 and day 6 are travel days. The order of the days in between is flexible and can shift with the weather.

Day 1Arrive and settle in
Flights from the US usually land early in the morning. Flybus from KEF to your hotel (the "Flybus to hotel" fare includes the drop-off). Check-in is in the afternoon; the hotel can hold your bags. Take an easy walk down Laugavegur to Harpa and the Old Harbour, then an early night.
Day 2Golden Circle, then northern lights (first try)
Guided Golden Circle Classic day tour with pickup: Þingvellir National Park, Geysir (Strokkur erupts every few minutes) and Gullfoss. In the evening, the Reykjavík Excursions Northern Lights Tour (about 3.5 hours, weather permitting). If it doesn't run or the lights don't show, you can rebook for free on another night.
Day 3Glacier hike and the South Coast
A full-day minibus tour (about 11 hours, up to 18 people) with hotel pickup: Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, a guided hike on the Sólheimajökull glacier (crampons and gear provided), and Reynisfjara black sand beach.
Day 4A free day in Reykjavík
Sleep in and take the day at your own pace. Or add the Wake Up Reykjavík Food Walk (about 3 hours): Icelandic food and the stories behind it with a small group, an easy way to meet people (optional add-on). Evening free, or the northern lights retry if you need it.
Day 5Reykjavík on foot, then a hot pool
A self-guided day in the city, on an easy route. Start at Hallgrímskirkja and take the lift up the tower for the view over the colorful rooftops. Walk down Skólavörðustígur, the rainbow-painted street, to Tjörnin, the city pond beside City Hall, then follow the waterfront to the Sun Voyager sculpture and back past Harpa. In the afternoon, warm up like a local in the hot tubs at Sundhöllin, the city’s oldest public pool, a short walk from the church. Prefer Sky Lagoon or Perlan? Just ask and it can be booked for you. If the northern lights have not shown yet, tonight is your spare night for the retry.
Day 6Blue Lagoon and home
Check out and take the shuttle to the Blue Lagoon (Comfort entry), then the shuttle on to KEF for your afternoon flight.

What’s included

Included

  • 5 nights in your own room at Fosshotel Reykjavík
  • Flybus airport transfer from KEF to the hotel
  • Golden Circle Classic guided day tour
  • Glacier hike, South Coast waterfalls and black sand beach day tour
  • Northern Lights Tour, with a free rebooking if there are no lights
  • Blue Lagoon Comfort entry, with transfers Reykjavík → Blue Lagoon → KEF
  • A day-by-day plan, a one-page solo safety sheet, and one point of contact from booking to landing

Not included

  • International flights
  • Rental car (not needed)
  • Meals; hotel breakfast is extra
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional add-ons on your free day, tips and personal spending

Optional add-ons: Wake Up Reykjavik Food Walk ($235 per person). Add them in the booking box or in Attractions.

Your hotels, experiences, transfers and guides are booked for you. Flights are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips.

Questions

What if I need to cancel?
Plans change. If you need to cancel, you'll receive trip credit toward another itsTripEasy trip: within 24 hours of payment, 100% trip credit, so you can swap to a different destination; 90 or more days before your trip start date, 100% trip credit; less than 90 days before, no trip credit, unless you added Flexible Cancellation: with it, you get 100% trip credit if you cancel at least 10 days before your trip start date, for a trip you take within 12 months. Other trip credits never expire. To cancel or change your dates, use the cancellation request form. For a date change, choose the reason "I'd like to change my dates".
Do I need a car?
No. Car-free. Airport bus to the hotel door, guided tours with pickups, a Blue Lagoon transfer on the way home. No winter driving.
Are flights included?
Flights are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips so your arrival and departure fit the plan.
Can the trip be customized?
Yes, right in the booking box: add up to 3 extra nights at the start or end of your trip and choose how many travelers share each room.

Good to know

  • Weather and nature. Weather, road and natural conditions are outside anyone’s control and can change quickly. They may change the plan, close roads, or delay, shorten or cancel tours and activities, and the order of days may shift.
  • Your choices. You are responsible for your own decisions, safety and choices while traveling, including which activities you take part in, and following local guidance, posted warnings and your guides’ instructions.
  • Photos. Photos on this page are for inspiration. They may not show the exact location, hotel, season or conditions of your trip.
  • Not included. Flights aren’t included; you book those yourself.
$7,198
2 travelers · 6 days / 5 nights
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