Iceland and the Northern Lights

Depart the U.S.

Depart your home city for Reykjavík, Iceland.

Arrive in Reykjavík, Iceland

Arrive at Reykjavík Keflavik International Airport. Proceed through immigration to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After a customs screening, meet a Gohagan & Company representative and travel to the legendary Blue Lagoon, stopping for breakfast at Kaffi Gola on the way.

Hvalsnes Church & Blue Lagoon. After breakfast, stop at Hvalsnes Church, one of the country’s oldest stone churches. The church is constructed entirely from cut lava stone, sourced from nearby fields — a rare sight in Iceland where turf or timber churches are more common. Its craftsmanship reflects 19th-century Icelandic stone masonry, blending durability with quiet elegance. Continue to the Blue Lagoon. Surrounded by rugged lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula, the milky blue, mineral-infused waters of the Blue Lagoon are famous for their revitalizing and healing properties. A blend of 70 percent seawater and 30 percent freshwater, these geothermal spa waters are heated by volcanic activity some 6,500 feet below the earth’s surface. Enjoy a soak in the lagoon’s soothing waters or opt to visit the viewing deck for an unforgettable panorama.

Hallgrímskirkja Church. Continue to Reykjavík, where you will begin your discovery of Iceland’s capital city with a visit to Hallgrímskirkja. This modern church is the largest in Iceland and was named after Hallgrímur Pétursson, the country’s beloved religious poet and hymn composer. The church also is home to Iceland’s largest organ, an instrument with 5,275 pipes.

Seek out a local eatery for lunch on your own before checking in to Hótel Borg, ideally located near 
Austurvollur Square. A Gohagan & Company representative will be available at the hotel hospitality desk to assist with restaurant recommendations, as well as suggestions for touring in the area with maps provided.

Join your fellow passengers for a Welcome Reception in the hotel this evening, followed by dinner on your own at one of Reykjavík’s many restaurants.

Reykjavík’s cuisine is a rich blend of tradition and innovation, deeply rooted in Iceland’s natural resources — fresh seafood, free-roaming lamb, wild herbs and geothermal-grown produce — yet evolving into one of the most creative and exciting culinary scenes in the Nordics.

Reykjavík

Following breakfast at the hotel, enjoy an enriching lecture, followed by a city excursion.

Gather with Saever Bragason, a science educator and communicator, for an educational lecture.

Reykjavík City Tour. Known as the “smallest big city in the world,” Iceland’s capital dates to 870. An Augustinian monastery was founded here during the medieval era, followed by centuries of settlers who fished, farmed and established a center for wool production. Today, this modern, cosmopolitan city is rich with culture, natural beauty and a thriving tourist economy. Behold panoramic views of Reykjavík from the 360-degree observation deck at Perlan, a glass-domed natural history museum built atop six geothermal water tanks. Find a nearby restaurant for lunch on your own, followed by an afternoon at leisure.

Join Elin Bjork Jonasdottir, head of the Icelandic Meteorological Office’s natural hazard monitoring and weather forecasting department, for an enriching lecture tonight.

Dinner is on your own this evening. The hospitality desk will be available for recommendations.

Tonight, weather conditions permitting, you may embark on the first of your evening excursions in search of the Northern Lights. This natural phenomenon, also known as the aurora borealis, is a sight to behold. They appear as shimmering curtains, waves or spirals of green, pink, purple and sometimes red or blue light dancing across the night sky.

Reykjavík | Golden Circle

Wake this morning to breakfast at the hotel. Then, set off to experience the wonder of Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle. Admire the rugged splendor of the “big three” — Gullfoss, Strokkur geysir and Þingvellir National Park — on this unforgettable tour.

Golden Circle. First, learn more about the power source that keeps Iceland running as we stop by the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant, one of the largest geothermal power stations in the world. During a tour, you may see real equipment, cross-sections of geothermal pipes and multimedia displays.

After, gaze in wonder at the marvelous Strokkur geyser, which shoots a jet of boiling water and steam into the air approximately every 10 minutes. The cycle repeats quickly, making Strokkur one of the most consistent geysers on the planet — unlike its famous neighbor Geysir, which rarely erupts anymore. You’ll first see a blue, dome-like bubble form just before the eruption — have your camera ready! Then, watch the glacier-fed Hvítá River plunge 96 feet over two falls and seemingly disappear into a crevasse at the “golden waterfall” of Gullfoss. When the sun hits just right, mist from the falls often creates vivid rainbows, adding to its golden name and magical reputation.

Continue to the family-owned Fridheimar Stables and Greenhouses. Here, tomatoes are grown year-round using sustainable methods of geothermal heat and green energy. Learn about the farm’s eco-friendly practices and sit down to a lunch featuring homemade soup and bread.

Finally, witness the natural lava plains and cultural beauty of Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the nation’s top attractions. The site, which is the birthplace of the world’s oldest parliament, symbolizes Iceland’s democratic traditions and cultural heritage. The park lies in a rift valley where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet and slowly drift apart … about 2 c.m. every year!

Back in Reykjavik, set out to find dinner is on your own this evening. Consult the hospitality desk for restaurant recommendations.

Reykjavík | Siglufjörður

Depart Reykjavik and enjoy a scenic drive to Siglufjörður, the northernmost town of the mainland. Stop for lunch at Hotel Laugarbakki.

Hestasport Horse Farm Visit. Step into the world of one of Iceland’s most treasured national symbols with a visit to a local Icelandic horse farm. This up-close encounter offers a rare chance to connect with a breed known for its gentle nature, strength and unique gaits. Start your visit with a guided tour of the stables, where you’ll meet these purebred horses — descendants of Viking-age stock brought to Iceland over 1,000 years ago. Thanks to centuries of isolation and strict breeding laws (no horses are allowed into Iceland, and once a horse leaves, it can never return), the Icelandic horse remains genetically unchanged from its ancestors. During a riding demonstration, you may see the breed’s famous gaits, including tölt, a smooth, four-beat gait that provides an incredibly comfortable ride over rough terrain, and the flying pace, a fast, two-beat gait used in competitions and known for its speed and thrill. Wrap up your visit with a warm and cozy coffee-and-cake break, giving you the chance to relax, chat with your hosts and ask any final questions about these exceptional animals

Continue to Siglufjörður and find dinner at your leisure. You may find seafood-focused menus, bar-style dishes, Scandinavian meals and more in town.

If weather permits, you will bundle up for another outing in search of the Northern Lights.

Hauganes Village | Siglufjördur

Hauganes Village & Baccala Presentation. Visit the village of Hauganes. Here, visit the family-run Baccalá Bar and enjoy a tasting of the renowned salted codfish. Iceland’s salted codfish — known locally as “saltfiskur”— is a national staple and one of the country’s most renowned export products, with a legacy that spans centuries of fishing, trade and culinary tradition.

Enjoy lunch at the restaurant.

Siglufjördur. Return to Siglufjördur. During the first half of the 20th century, was the center of the herring fishing industry in not just Iceland, but the North Atlantic. Stroll through Siglufjördur and step into its past at the Herring Era Museum — featuring five restored buildings, including a salt house, factory and former freezing plants. Each building offers immersive exhibits and hands-on exhibits that tell the remarkable story of the “herring boom,” a period that transformed Iceland’s economy, identity and way of life during the 20th century.

Gather friends for a dinner at leisure. For something quick and delicious, fish and chips are always a good choice. Or, find hearty sandwiches and home-cooked favorites at Kaffi Rauoka, a local hangout.

If weather permits, enjoy another outing in search of the Northern Lights.

Godafoss | Mývatn | Námaskarð

Following breakfast, depart for an excursion filled with glistening waters, bubbling mud pots and misty waterfalls.

Northern Iceland’s Unique Sites. Begin at Lake Mývatn, one of Iceland’s most unique and fascinating natural destinations. It’s known for its strange lava formations, geothermal landscapes and extraordinary birdlife — all concentrated around a shallow, shimmering lake formed by a volcanic eruption over 2,000 years ago. Travel on to Námaskarð, known for its steaming fumaroles, bubbling mud pots, and sulfuric smells — a landscape that looks more like Mars or another planet than Earth

Continue to Godafoss Waterfall. falling 40 feet, the waterfall fed by the Skjálfandafljót River earned its name from the time when Christianity was introduced to Iceland and ultimately prevailed as the country’s main religion. Under pressure from Norway to convert from its polytheistic traditions, the country was under threat of a potential Norwegian invasion. Legend has it that Thorgeir Thorkelsson, a law speaker in the Althing, Iceland’s parliament, threw wooden idols of Norse mythology into the falls, which angered Thor, Loki and other Norse deities. The gods split the waterfall into two and the majestic falls have been known as “Waterfall of the Gods” ever since.

Explore the town for dinner at leisure tonight. Egils Gull is one of Iceland’s most famous lagers. Or, enjoy Iceland’s signature spirit, Brennivín, a potent and unsweetened schnappps. Try it in an Icelandic Mule or served with native herbs and berries.

Siglufjördur | Glaumbær Turf Farm | Reykjavik

Check out of your hotel for a return to Reykjavik.

Glaumbar Turf Farm. Nestled in the peaceful Skagafjörður valley in North Iceland, Glaumbær Museum offers one of the most authentic and engaging windows into Iceland’s rural heritage. This beloved open-air museum is housed inside a cluster of turf-roofed farm buildings, some of which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The site is considered one of Iceland’s best-preserved examples of traditional turf architecture. As you step through the low doorways and into the hobbit-like interiors, you’ll find yourself walking through a network of interconnected rooms, each one historically furnished to reflect the everyday lives of Icelanders from centuries past. The rooms — bedchambers, storerooms, a kitchen and communal living spaces — are all connected by a long central passageway, giving you a real sense of how families, workers, and even farmhands lived close together in shared warmth and resilience. This was more than just a home—it was a self-sustaining world, shaped by Iceland’s harsh winters and close-knit communities.

After your tour, enjoy a final group lunch at Ashus Café, located in a charming timber house that was built in the early 1900s and now forms part of the museum grounds. Then, continue to Reykjavík and check in to the Hótel Borg.

Farewell Dinner: Join fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.

Reykjavík/Return to Home City

Transfer to the airport for your flight back to your home city.