Northern Lights Exploration

Northern Lights Exploration 8 days | Starts/Ends: Reykjavik

Explore the best of West and South • Eyjafjallajökull Glacier: see the site of the • Visit to multi media presentation at Iceland on our most inclusive famous eruption of April 2010 that halted Eyjafjallajökull Volcano Information Northern Lights tour. Start and end international air travel for a week Center • South Coast: take in the beauty at • Entrance into Skogar folk museum and in Rekyjavik, discover the Golden Skógafoss waterfall, black lava beach & turf houses Circle, climb a volcano, meet bird cliffs at Reynisfjara beach • Entrance with towel into the Blue Lagoon Icelandic horses and relax in the • Vatnajökull National Park region: witness • Services of an English Speaking Icelandic Blue Lagoon. Cruise along fjords Western Europe's largest national park Guide and taste fermented shark all whilst and glacier • Transportation in heated coaches with • looking out for the spectacular Vik: roam Lava fields, black lava beach free Wi-Fi on board and Seljalandsfoss waterfall • Northern Lights programme during 6 Northern Lights on this soft cultural • Blue Lagoon: take a relaxing dip in a evenings with a combination of lectures, adventure. natural geothermal spa surrounded by a presentations, film and guided searches lava field for the Northern Lights and midnight HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS • Icelandic Countryside: stay up for a night refreshments showing of the Northern Lights • Use of winter and Northern lights explorer Trip Highlights equipment simple non-slip snow and ice What's Included grippers spikes for shoes and a flash light • Reykjavik: step foot in the Capital of • that is helpful when walking in the dark Iceland 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner. and operating a photo camera at night • Borgarfjördur Valley: climb volcanoes, (traditional Icelandic dinner at Northern • This tour is operated in conjunction with watch waterfalls and warm up next to Light Inn Hotel) • our trusted partner and you will join Europe's most powerful hot springs 7 nights standard hotels and cottage travellers from different operators, not • Snaefellsnes Peninsula: wander across accommodation • solely On The Go. rugged mountains, charming fishing Arrival and Departure Transfer with The sightseeing group may vary in size villages and fjords FlyBus from Keflavik Airport • from 10 - 45 persons. • Borgarnes: explore the Icelandic Fjord Cruise on Breidafjördur fjord Settlement Centre and geothermal pools including lunch • What's Not Included • Golden Circle: tour Geysir geothermal Visit to traditional shark curing farm, • fields, the Gulfoss Waterfall, Strokkur tasting of geothermally cooked bread and International Flights and Visas • geyser and Thingvellir National Park - a eggs Gratuity for your tour guide. Tipping your • UNESCO World Heritage Site Visit to Icelandic horse stables & tour guide is an entirely personal gesture geothermal greenhouse COVID SAFE GUIDE

Northern Lights Exploration - 8 days updated on 30-09-2021 04:56:45 www.onthegotours.com This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to UK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] this itinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa AUS 1300 855 684 [email protected] requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours. NZ 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 - 1 - USA 1 866 606 2960 SA 0800 990 311 Northern Lights Exploration

Northern Lights Exploration

Day 3 : Mountains & Lights Borgarnes - Golden Circle - Selfoss. This ITINERARY morning we travel along the scenic shores of the Hvalfjörour fjord, stopping at an Icelandic Day 1 : Reykjavik wool outlet store before continuing inland to Reykjavik. Welcome to Iceland and the start of Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World your Northern Lights adventure! Your transfer Heritage site. After a stop at the park, we to our accommodation is by Flybus shuttle. continue to the Geysir geothermal fields, The remainder of the day is at leisure. where there's a variety of hot springs and Overnight - Reykjavik (B) bubbling pools. The original geyser is now Day 2 : City Tour & Hot dormant but Strokkur, "the Churn“ is very much still active and erupts every 5-10 Springs Borgarnes - Snaefellsnes Peninsula - minutes. When we get to Geysir, we visit the Breidafjordur fjord cruise - Borgarnes. Today restaurant and taste freshly baked hot spring we explore the Snaellsnes Peninsula or the bread served with delicious Icelandic butter, Peninsula of the snowy mountain. A rugged geothermally boiled eggs and local herring. mountain chain runs its length. We travel to This is best served with a small glass of ice the charming fishing town of Stykkishólmur for cold (nearly frozen) Geysir Schnapps. Leaving a lunchtime cruise on the Breidafjördur fjord. the geyser fields, we stop at the last site on Iceland's Golden Circle - Gullfoss “the golden Afterwards we can stroll around the sheltered falls“. This double waterfall tumbles 34 meters harbour exploring this charming town with into the Hvítá River. Reykjavik - Borgarfjorour Valley - Borgarnes. its many old wooden houses. A uniquely This morning we meet our tour guide and Icelandic “treat “awaits you at our next This afternoon, we learn about the history depart on a Reykjavik city tour exploring some stop, Bjarnarhöfn, where they make Hákarl - of the hardy Icelandic horse and the special of the highlights of Iceland’s capital before delicious fermented shark. Depending on the qualities they possess. We also visit a heading west to Borgarfjorour. conditions, we may also visit the fishing village geothermal greenhouse, before reaching our of Grundarfjorour to admire the beautiful accommodation in South Iceland. coastline and Mt Kirkjufell which overlooks the Borgarfjorour valley is known as the bay. Saga valley of West Iceland because Tonight, we step into the darkness and search many important historical events took place for the elusive Northern Lights, which are best there. You get a chance to climb the Today our guide gives us some practical tips enjoyed from the comfort of the hot tub in Grabrok volcano crater and warm up at of how to photograph the Auroras as part the garden of the hotel amidst the peace and Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot of the Northern Lights Academy program. stillness of rural Iceland. spring, producing 180 litres of nearly boiling Once darkness falls, we venture into the Overnight - Selfoss (B) water (97°c) per second. hotel garden and relax in the outdoor hot tubs to hopefully await an appearance from Day 5 : Black Lava Beach the breathtaking Northern Lights. Overnight - We continue to Hraunfossar, a series of Borganes (B, L) waterfalls pouring from beneath a wide lava field. Barnafoss - the Children’s falls, is nearby Day 4 : Golden Circle & with its own tragic tale. We spend the next Horses two nights at Borgarnes in West Iceland. This afternoon includes a lecture about the Northern Lights and after dinner we head into the garden to search for the Northern Lights, followed by a hot cup of chocolate or tea. Overnight - Borganes (B) Hella - Eyjafjallajökull - Kirkjubaejarklaustur. Today we travel along the South coast. At our first stop of the day we will learn about the geology and the active volcano's in Iceland at the Lava & Volcano Exhibition centre.

Northern Lights Exploration - 8 days updated on 30-09-2021 04:56:45 www.onthegotours.com This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to UK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] this itinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa AUS 1300 855 684 [email protected] requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours. NZ 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 - 2 - USA 1 866 606 2960 SA 0800 990 311 Northern Lights Exploration

Northern Lights Exploration

Further east we visit one of Iceland's finest Tonight we enjoy a movie presentation about Today our Northern Lights Icelandic folk museums. This museum contains an the Northern Lights as a part of the Northern experience comes to an end with included outstanding collection of farm and domestic Lights Academy program before hopefully FlyBus transfer to Keflavik Airport. artefacts typical of Iceland’s past as well seeing the Northern Lights shimmering and as several turf-built houses. Nearby is the dancing across the night sky. waterfall of Skógafoss which stands 60 Overnight - Kirkjubaejarklaustur (B) HOTELS meters tall and is one of the most impressive Highlighted below are some of the hotels waterfalls in Iceland. Day 7 : Lava Fields & Lagoon which we frequently use on this tour, though we reserve the right to substitute these This afternoon we take a stroll along black hotels to ones of a similar standard. lava beach and the bird cliffs at Reynisfjara Please refer to your Tour Voucher for your beach in South Iceland. We spend the next confirmed arrival hotel and further arrival 2 nights near Kirkjubæjarklaustur in the information. Vatnajökull National Park region, located in complete darkness and ideal for Northern Centrehotel Plaza Lights search. In the main square of Reykjavik, the Overnight - Kirkjubajarklaustur (B) Centrehotel Plaza offers travellers a Kirkjubaejarklaustur - Vik - Reykjavík. This warm welcoming atmosphere. Guest Day 6 : Vatnajökull NP morning we depart Kirkjubæjarklaustur and rooms offer bright and modern decor head across the Eldhraun lava field to the with lots of contemporary oak furnishings. village of Vik where we make a photo stop. We Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in each take a stroll on the black lava beach and along room as well as flat screen tv, mini bar and the bird cliffs at Reynisfjara beach in South excellent en suite facilities. The hotel also Iceland. Further west we reach the high but boasts the elegant Plaza Bar - the perfect narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall which plunges place for a tipple before heading out for an over the mountain. Those wishing to get a bit unforgettable night in Reykjavik. Be sure to closer can take a trail that goes behind the make it for happy hour! Located in the heart falling water but be prepared to get wet! of the city - just a short walk to the harbour, Kirkjubaejarklaustur - Jökulsárlón - shopping and restaurants. Kirkjubaejarklaustur. Today is all about In the afternoon we return to Reykjavik where glaciers, ice and icebergs. This morning we we have a couple of hours to explore Iceland's travel to Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon which is capital on our own, visit museums, do some filled with floating icebergs. Exploring this shopping or simply rest after all this touring. extraordinary site we keep an eye out for This evening we head to the famous Blue seals swimming in the freezing Arctic waters. Lagoon for a relaxing soak, followed by a We then can walk along the black sandy traditional Icelandic dinner at the Northern beach where some large icebergs have Light Inn Hotel and finishing off with one last Hotel Klettur gotten stranded. nocturnal tour to seek the Northern Lights. Just a short walk to the main shopping Around midnight we reach Reykjavík for one street of Laugavegur, Hotel Klettur is a last night. Overnight - Reykjavik (B, D) This afternoon we visit the tiny turf church modern hotel believed to be home to in the town of Hof before heading to the Day 8 : Reykjavik many elves! Guest rooms are clean and National Park. The Vatnajökull National Park brightly furnished with comfortable beds covers about 12,000 square kilometres and and excellent ensuites. A typical Icelandic is the largest National Park in Europe. Here breakfast is served in the Breakfast Room we find Iceland’s highest mountains, an alpine and there is also a bar serving Iceland's best environment, and Europe's largest glacier beers! Head outside to the local pizzeria for which the park is named after. Alternatively dinner and look out for the elves that live we can take an optional Ice Cave tour under the rocks in the corridor! (between Nov 15th and March 15th only) - see Trip Notes for more details.

Northern Lights Exploration - 8 days updated on 30-09-2021 04:56:45 www.onthegotours.com This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to UK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] this itinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa AUS 1300 855 684 [email protected] requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours. NZ 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 - 3 - USA 1 866 606 2960 SA 0800 990 311 Northern Lights Exploration

Northern Lights Exploration

A cosy countryside hotel, Hotel Eldhestar is attached to the famous Eldhestar riding school and was the first hotel in Iceland to be given the Nordic Swan ecolabel. Guest rooms are decorated in calm tones with luxurious beds and private entrances onto the garden. The hotel also benefits from Icelandair Hotel Hamar outdoor hot tubs, free Wi-Fi and an onsite PRICES / DATES INFO Surrounded by an 18 hole golf course, restaurant. Icelandair Hotel Hamar is one of Iceland's Departure dates noted with a 'G' most picturesque locations. Guest rooms are guaranteed to operate. All other are all single-storey and open out directly onto the grounds - allowing fantastic access departure dates are guaranteed with a and views. Guests can take advantage of minimum of 4 persons. The 'Twin Share' complimentary Wi-Fi in public areas as well price is per person when there are 2 as outdoor hot tubs - perfect for relaxing in people sharing a room. The 'Solo Room' and spotting the Northern Lights! The onsite Fosshotel Nupar price is applicable to all solo travellers or restaurant serves up a fantastic array of Surrounded by lava fields and famous local and international cuisine - with a great if your booking party cannot reach the Vatnajokull, Fosshotel Nupar offers influence on local produce. Well located just minimum of 2 persons in a room. Solo comfortable accommodation in a 5 minutes from the town of Borganes. Rooms can also be booked by any other picturesque setting. Guest rooms are simply furnished with bright interiors and hardwood person wanting the comfort and privacy floors as well as excellent en-suite facilities of their own room. that include heated floors! The hotel offers complimentary Wi-Fi as well as an onsite PRICES / DATES 2021 restaurant and bar with breakfast included Date Twin Share Single with all stays. Well located a short distance 04 Apr ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 from Lakagigar, Skaftfell National Park and 10 Sep ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 Fosshotel Hekla unique Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. 24 Sep ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 Situated close to Mount Hekla, Fosshotel 08 Oct ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 Hekla offers comfortable accommodation 22 Oct ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 in the south of Iceland. Guest rooms are 05 Nov ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 beautifully furnished and immaculate in 19 Nov ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 design. Hard wood floors feature throughout 03 Dec ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 and all guests can take advantage of the outdoor hot tubs for a classic Icelandic PRICES / DATES 2022 experience. The on site restaurant serves Icelandair Hotel Klaustur up a delicious array of locally sourced Set in spectacular surroundings, Icelandair Date Twin Share Single meals - most ingredients hand delivered by 07 Jan Hotel Klaustur is a comfortable country hotel. ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 the local farmers each morning! Perfectly 21 Jan Guest rooms are smartly furnished with ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 located close to Selfoss, Skogafoss and 04 Feb modern colours and excellent amenities. ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 Eyjafjallajokull. 18 Feb The hotel also boasts a first class restaurant ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 04 Mar serving up a variety of local and international ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 18 Mar cuisine. The restaurant is set in a beautiful ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 01 Apr terrace area which is lovely during summer ZAR 38,900 ZAR 48,800 days. Why not try the signature 'Fire and Ice' desert which is a hot fruit suit combined with ice cream - delicious! Well located in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, halfway between Hotel Eldhestar Myrdalsjokull and Vatnajokull.