Tour overview

This 9-day winter trip travels right round Iceland when it is at its most dramatic, with a tour leader and a group of no more than eighteen. You stay eight nights in hotels, several in remote countryside where the Northern Lights may appear, with breakfast daily and two lunches included.

From Reykjavík you drive north to Akureyri for two nights, taking a ferry to the island of Hrísey. A super jeep carries you into the snowy mountains, and you visit Goðafoss and soak in the Mývatn Nature Baths, then see the thundering Dettifoss on the way east.

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The coast road leads past a small brewery to Höfn and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach, before a final night in Vík and the Golden Circle of Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss on the way back to Reykjavík.

The physical rating is low, though winter conditions mean long drives and cold days. This trip suits travellers who want Iceland under snow.

Trip highlights

  • Hrísey island (Day 3)
  • A super jeep ride (Day 4)
  • Mývatn Nature Baths (Day 4)
  • Dettifoss (Day 5)
  • Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach (Day 7)
  • The Golden Circle (Day 8)

Your route

15 stops from Reykjavik to Reykjavik

9-day route: Reykjavík – Akureyri – Mývatn – Egilsstaðir – Höfn – Vík – Reykjavík
  1. Reykjavik Day 1
  2. Akranes Day 2
  3. Akureyri Days 2–3
  4. Hrísey Island Day 3
  5. Goðafoss Day 4
  6. Lake Mývatn Day 4
  7. Dettifoss Day 5
  8. Egilsstaðir Day 5
  9. Breiðdalsvík Day 6
  10. Hotel Smyrlabjorg Day 6
  11. Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon Day 7
  12. Vik Day 7
  13. Gullfoss Day 8
  14. Thingvellir National Park Day 8
  15. Reykjavik Days 8–9

Why choose this tour

Iceland under snow, with Northern Lights chances. A super jeep and the Nature Baths included.

Best suited to

  • Northern Lights hunters
  • Winter travellers
  • Photographers
  • Solo travellers
A super jeep crossing deep snow in Iceland

Day-by-day itinerary

9 days from Reykjavík, Iceland to Reykjavík, Iceland

  1. Day 1 · Reykjavík Reykjavík

    Arrive in Reykjavík.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Akureyri Akureyri

    North to Akureyri.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  3. Day 3 · Hrísey Akureyri

    An island by ferry.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  4. Day 4 · Goðafoss, Lake Mývatn, Mývatn Nature Baths Lake Mývatn

    Super jeeps and hot baths.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Dettifoss, Egilsstaðir Egilsstaðir

    Europe's mightiest waterfall.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Breiðdalsvík, Höfn Höfn

    The east coast.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach, Vík Vík

    Ice and black sand.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Reykjavík Reykjavík

    The Golden Circle.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Reykjavík Reykjavík

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Goðafoss waterfall framed by ice in winter

Where you stay

  • Reykjavík (1 night) Hotel
  • Akureyri (2 nights) Hotel
  • Lake Mývatn (1 night) Hotel
  • Egilsstaðir (1 night) Hotel
  • Höfn (1 night) Hotel
  • Vík (1 night) Hotel
  • Reykjavík (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 8 nights in hotels
  • Meals 8 breakfasts and 2 lunches
  • Airport shuttle transfers
  • Transport, including the ferry to Hrísey
  • Super jeep excursion
  • Mývatn Nature Baths
  • Tour leader from Day 2 to Day 8

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 5 lunches and 8 dinners
  • Most lunches and all dinners
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Akureyri beneath snow-capped mountains

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You dislike the cold
  • You want most meals included
  • You dislike long drives
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–9 · Lunch: Days 2–3 · Dinner: none included
Glacier ice on the black sand of Diamond Beach

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,860 per person, twin share, tour only. 7 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for Iceland?

No, UK citizens can visit Iceland visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180.

Will I see the Northern Lights?

There is a good chance on clear nights, but sightings can never be guaranteed.

How cold is it?

Often around freezing or below, so warm, waterproof layers are essential.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast every day and two lunches.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement may be available; otherwise solo travellers share with someone of the same gender.

How many people travel together?

No more than eighteen travellers, with a local leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary
From £2,860
See dates & prices