Golden Circle and Northern Lights from Reykjavik

Description

Join us for an action packed day in which we not only travel the famous golden circle route but also gives you a chance to hunt for the elusive aurora known as the northern lights

Highlights:

• Northern lights

• Golden circle

• Audio guide (offered in 10 languages)

Starting off the day early we head out from Reykjavik, pick up is included in your price so you will be fetched from either your accommodation or the nearest pick up point in Reykjavik. Just let us know where to get you.

We will begin by traveling along the famous golden circle route in which you will have a chance to see Þingvelir national park, Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall. Following on from that we will hunt for a spot to try and get a good view of the elusive northern lights. Along the whole way you will be accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who will have plenty of wisdom to share. You will also have the ability to plug into our GPS activated audio guide that can give you even more information.

When we reach our destinations you will have plenty of time to take some photographs and walk around. When we reach the spot for the northern lights just let your guide know if you need help setting up your camera and we also have a tripod that can be borrowed.

Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir (or Thingvellir) is an area of great natural beauty but it also contains a strong historical significance to the country as a whole. Within this site you can see the location of the world's first parliament. The spot where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates are separating as well as a number of other historical buildings. All of this and we have yet to even mention how stunning the nature is here!

Geysir

The great Geysir is an erupting hot spring. The english word Geyser actually derives from the name Geysir as this was the first geyser to be mentioned in print in Europe. Sadly the great Geysir no longer erupts of its own power but thankfully there is a geyser called strokkur very close by that goes off fairly frequently.

Gullfoss

Gullfoss, or the golden falls, is a huge waterfall that drops a staggering 32 meters over two stages. It is fed from the white river which originates from Iceland’s 2nd biggest glacier. More than just a pretty site though Gullfoss also has an amazing history that involves foreign investors trying to harness its power and one young girl's amazing efforts to preserve the nature.

Northern Lights

The amazing natural phenomenon that occurs high up in the upper atmosphere when charged particles from the sun collide with the magnetic layer around the planet. Best viewed between 10PM and 2AM on a clear night! Also known as the Aurora or the Aurora Borealis

Important information:

Pick-up can take up to 30 minutes. Please be ready at your pick up point with your voucher, either in digital or printed form.

Dress appropriately for the weather baring in mind that you will be out late at night so the temperatures can drop quite low. Further into winter you should also expect the possibility of snow or Ice so it’s important to wear sturdy shoes.

You will be traveling in a bus that holds up to 40 people, the bus is very spacious and comfortable however. There are no toilet facilities on the bus but you should expect frequent stops for anyone who requires such facilities.

This tour is 10.5 hours long including travel time and the time you spend on location.

Please note: that depending on your departure time there will be a 3-6 hour wait between your Golden Circle tour and your Northern Lights tour.

The ability for us to run this trip depends on weather conditions on the night.

Itinerary

• Starting off in Reykjavik from our Reykjavik terminal at Skógarhlíð 10 we will depart for Þingvellir, a 45-60 minute ride.
• The tour starts with Þingvellir National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you walk down the path into a rift valley and admire the view while learning about Icelandic history.
  
• The next stop is at Geysir Hot Springs, the home of the one-and-only original geyser and Iceland’s most iconic natural attraction. Steaming hot water erupts from the famous Strokkur Geyser every few minutes.
  
• The last stop is Gullfoss Waterfall, an awesome sight to behold. Here a powerful glacial river cascades down 32 meters on two levels and into a narrow canyon with a thunderous roar.
• We then drive you back towards Reykjavik to our Reykjavik Terminal. If you booked a SmartBus pickup, you will be taken back to your place of stay from here. 
• Later in the evening, we will head out again in search of the northern lights. Starting off in Reykjavik from our Reykjavik terminal at Skógarhlíð 10 we will head outside the city to get as far from light pollution as possible. The weather forecast plays a big influence on choosing the location, but we always try to get to the best possible sight with the best chances to view the northern lights. The location can be anywhere from 30-60 minutes from Reykjavik
• Once at the location we will stay for approximately 1.5-2hrs hunting the northern lights before returning back to Reykjavik. Depending on the forecast multiple locations may be chosen for searching for aurora.
• The tour lasts around 3 hours, so we will return to Reykjavik around 2.5 hours after starting the tour.

The Golden Circle tour is 7.5 hours long including travel time and the time you spend at each location. You spend at least 45 minutes at the major stops giving you plenty of time to enjoy nature and to take some pictures. The Northern Lights portion of the tour is about 3 hours.

Total distance covered: 290 km or 180 mi plus the distance covered during the northern lights hunt.

Important information

• Please show up at our Reykjavik Terminal (located at Skógarhlíð 10) 15 minutes prior to the departure time. We kindly ask you to be ready at your pick-up point with your voucher, either in digital or printed form. 
• If you have booked a hotel pickup with Smartbus™, please be at your chosen pickup location 30 minutes before the departure of the tour. Look for the Green Smartbus™ which will be outside your accommodation within 30 minutes of pickup. 
• You will be traveling in a coach that holds approximately 40-65 people but is very spacious and comfortable. The bus offers free wifi and USB charging ports.
• Lunch is not included, at Geysir & Gullfoss there are shops where you can buy food and drinks. After the Golden Circle tour, we recommend taking the time to grab dinner in Reykjavík before we pick you up for the Northern Lights Tour
• The Northern Lights are only visible over the winter months and departures are highly dependent on weather conditions. 
• Scheduled departures for the Golden Circle portion of the tour are at 08:00, 10:00, or 12:00 daily from August 15th - April 25th. The Northern Lights Tour start times are:
  • August 15th - August 24th at 22:30
  • August 25th - October 15th at 21:30
  • October 16th - March 14th at 20:30
  • March 15th - April 14th  at 21:30
  • April 15th - April 25th at 22:30
• There is no age limit for this tour
• Bring with you: Dress according to the weather. In Iceland it is always smart to dress in warm, waterproof clothes, weather changes can be sudden so expect the unexpected. Bring a waterproof jacket and pants, headwear and gloves. Good outdoor shoes are recommended.
• Duration: Total traveling time is around 10 hours, including a minimum 30-minute stop at Geysir Hot Springs, Gullfoss Waterfall and Þingvellir National Park and an aprox. 3 hour Northern Lights tour. Please note there is a break of 3-6 hours in Reykjavík between the Golden Circle Tour and the Northern Lights Tour.
• In-Bus-Audio-Guide: We recommend that you bring your own headphones, simply because they will fit you best. It is also great for the environment. If you don’t have your headphones, with you or forgot to bring them, no worries we sell earphones on board.
• Please note, that it will not be possible to refund this tour in the event of an unsuccessful northern lights hunt. However, you may re-book the tour and continue coming back on subsequent tours until you have a night of successful northern lights. If during your stay in Iceland the northern lights portion of the tour is canceled due to bad weather and you have no subsequent chance to reschedule, then this portion of the tour will be refunded.