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 dont 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
Check dates, prices & availability
Responsible tourism
Iceland short break Northern Lights tour
Carbon reduction
Your holiday will help support local people and conservation. We must also reduce CO2. Learn about the CO2 emissions of this holiday and how to reduce them.
Environment
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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