Iceland short break Northern Lights tour
Highlights
Northern Lights excursions on two nights | Thingvellir National Park | Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon | Golden Circle | Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls | Reynisfjara volcanic beach | Geysir | Leidarendi lava tube cave | Blue Lagoon | Optional: Snowshoeing, glacier walkingDescription of Iceland short break Northern Lights tour
If you want to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, short breaks are an excellent idea for travellers who just don’t have the time or the inclination to opt for an extended experience away from home.This five day short break in Iceland packs in the southern highlights from Reykjavik to the edge of Vatnajokull National Park; with evening excursions to watch the Northern Lights complementing the daily excitement of creaking glaciers, tumbling waterfalls and spouting geysers.
Although catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights in Iceland on a short break is never guaranteed, every effort will be taken to maximise chances of success with regular forecasts being monitored by our experienced guides to ensure we know where and when the Aurora Borealis will appear.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.com
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Small group holiday
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modelled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and dealing with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, travelling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. If you’re heading off on a gap year your, perhaps – but for those with a two-week holiday, a small group tour will save valuable planning time.The leaders are not guides – they’re not there to shepherd you around. Instead, they’ll let you know which local restaurant serves great value food – without running the risk of travellers’ tummy. They’ll allow you to avoid hour-long queues at train stations and attractions.
We like to think of small group travel as the Goldilocks option. It is independent travel without the fuss, worry and bunk beds – and organised travel without the coaches. And it’s cheaper than a tailor made tour. It’s sits somewhere in the middle – and we think it’s just about right.
Have big, life-enriching experiences that would be impossible to organise without lots of time and insider knowledge.
Simplicity
Make the most of your holiday time by letting someone else do the hard work and boring logistics!
Peace of mind
Small group tours take care of the security aspects – and provide a safety net should anything unexpected happen.
If you don’t have three months to spend exploring, small groups trips let you cover more ground in less time. Your days are not spent queuing for tickets or finding hotels – so you can squeeze more into your holiday.
Solo travellers who’d like company
Likeminded travel companions plus peace of mind for those travelling alone. Single supplements are usually available – providing privacy if you want it.
Less confident travellers
Stray from the tourist trail without worrying about getting lost, and meet local people without dealing with the language barrier.
Couples and friends have private rooms, and you can choose to eat alone or not. Single supplements give solo travellers their own room.
“There won’t be any free time”
Free mornings or afternoons let you explore on your own, or just relax.
“The accommodation will be basic”
Trips are as high or low end as you like. Though off the beaten track destinations won’t have luxury hotels, this is all part of the adventure.
“I won’t like the other travellers!”
Tour operators try to create groups with a similar demographic – age, families, activity levels... Chances are, you’ll even make new friends.
“Will we be following an umbrella?”
No.
Story: The first British woman to climb Manaslu, Valerie climbed Everest for her 50th birthday. She’s spent fourteen Christmas Days trekking to Everest Base Camp, and is involved insetting up Responsible Tourism initiatives in the Himalayas.
Story: Roshan has led over 130 trips – he adores showing travellers around Sri Lanka. He won the company Leader Award in 2010, but his career highlight was working on their Tsunami Project – which earned him a responsible tourism award.
Responsible tourism
Responsible tourism: Iceland short break Northern Lights tour
UK office
It all starts at home so we have first worked to reduce our carbon footprint in our UK offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies in place, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
Leaders & local suppliers
This tour has been designed to both operate in a way that minimises our impact on the environment that we visit and to maximise the benefit that our clients can have on the host community. We use a locally based operator and have established a long-term partnership, assisting with local staff training in all aspects of their jobs, thereby investing in the people to help improve their knowledge and future prospects.
This itinerary goes to the Southern part of the Island and in many instances Accommodation is usually shut in the winter months. It has only been in the last few years that accommodation is open year round allowing guests to Experience the Northern lights and thus provide a valuable source of year round income.. Our Accommodation is locally run by a Husband and Wife team and the food is superb all sourced locally. As this accommodation is on a working farm expect an invitation to go and feed the animals after diner.
Group size
We operate small group tours that have a low impact on the communities we visit and we always ensure our operations do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. This allows us to stay in unique and characterful accommodation that would not have benefitted from tourism due to their limited size.
Activity
Few holidays have as little detrimental impact on the environment and local residents as a walking trip. It is a quiet, low impact activity requiring comparatively little resources to support. Erosion on and adjacent to popular paths is a growing problem and our trip leaders encourage clients not to stray from paths to minimise this
4 Reviews of Iceland short break Northern Lights tour
Reviewed on 22 Oct 2014 by Carmel Brown
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Difficult to pinpoint so overall the amazing landscapes in Iceland. We saw a range - from icebergs in a beach with black sand to the current naughty volcano on the horizon. I also loved the tectonic plates setting at the Golden Circle for its early political-parliamentary symbolism.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't assume you will see the aurora with the naked eye. If you do you are lucky! But cameras pick up the physics and the light shows.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We were a pretty responsible lot! I noticed that our leader even made conversation on a couple of occasions when members of the public were crossing environmental care boundaries. The local presenters were terrific.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was terrific. You have one extraordinary leader in Kristian. He bought out the best in the group and was informative as well as engaging. I hesitate to say I am reborn but it was a startingly good 5-days!
Reviewed on 17 Mar 2014 by Amanda Porter
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Walking on the glacier then watching the parts of the glacier which had broken off float into the sea past the mesmerising lagoon; Gullfoss - completely spectacular waterfall but frankly it is really hard to say as it was truly wonderful day, in day out.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring lots of layers - the weather changes all the time.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - it was lovely to stay in a guest house run by a family and to have the owner accompany us on the glacier and tell his family's stories of growing up on and next to it.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
An absolutely wonderful holiday. Even though we went to see the Northern Lights and they did not appear for us, it was a spectacular holiday in every other respect - really well run, with an outstanding guide. Every activity was beautifully organised with excellent provision of kit which was obviously not enjoyed by those on other tours. The group size (10) was also perfect. Food was good throughout.
Reviewed on 01 Mar 2014 by Elizabeth Boait
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Lava Tube caves, but insufficient time was allocated to this activity.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Not the adventure I had hoped for. Very little activity, mostly sitting on the bus.
Reviewed on 19 Mar 2013 by Gillian Girling
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Glacier walking in the beautiful sunshine; the amazing glacial lagoon and ice bergs on the beach; the waterfalls, the walks, Spectacular holiday
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Travel light as you are moving around so no chance to unpack properly. Take ski clothes if possible. Then need little else. I wore my walking boots all the time & didn't really need another pair of shoes. And no need to take a skirt or dress. Just spare trousers & layers
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes,
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Spectacular
Thank you
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