Scenic Iceland & the Northern Lights

Welcome to Iceland. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a relaxed gathering with wine and canapés – a wonderful opportunity to get to know one another. Afterwards, set out in search of the most spectacular show on Earth: the Northern Lights. Marvel at the breathtaking night sky illuminated by the aurora borealis and its stunning spectrum of color. Please note that the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Take a journey along Iceland’s south coast through the country of Njál’s Saga, where dramatic landscapes come with legendary stories. Begin with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Hellisheiðavirkjun, Iceland’s newest geothermal and electric power station. Then visit the interactive Lava Center to explore the volcanic and seismic forces that shape the island. Continue to the showstopping waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, with distant views of Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull, before arriving in Vík. Stretch your legs on the black sand beach then settle in. This afternoon, choose an Optional Experience at The Lava Show in Vík to hear local folklore, learn the science of lava and watch real molten lava up close. After dinner, perhaps sign up for the hotel’s northern lights register so you can be called when conditions are at their strongest.

Embark on a day of discovery around Iceland's Golden Circle, taking in some of the famous landmarks this remarkable island has to offer. Begin with an Optional Experience to the Caves of Hella, where evidence of Celtic life predating the Vikings offers a thought-provoking perspective on Iceland’s early history. Continue to the mighty Gullfoss waterfalls – often compared with Niagara Falls – and the exploding hot springs at Geysir. Visit Friðheimar, a family-run vegetable farm specialising in tomatoes, to learn about Icelandic greenhouse horticulture, explore the steamy greenhouses and sample the sweet distinctive flavor of the crop. Your final stop today is the Secret Lagoon, or Gamla Laugin, Iceland’s oldest pool, where an Optional Experience invites you to soak in warm natural waters.

Your first visit today will be to Thingvellir National Park, a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site that lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. The first meeting of the Icelandic parliament was held here in A.D. 930. Journey along the trail of Viking warrior and poet Egill Skallagrímsson. In Borgarnes, learn about Iceland's history with a fascinating visit to the Icelandic Settlement Center. Enjoy the views of the Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls, and Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring, as you traverse glorious landscapes before stopping at Sturlureykir Horse Farm, a local family-run breeding farm.The farm also features a natural hot spring, where geothermal water is used to bake rye bread underground. Savor the taste of this freshly baked rye bread, a family recipe for over 100 years.