Start with a Reykjavik hotel pickup, and travel inland by Super Jeep, a comfortable 4x4 designed to negotiate rugged terrain.
As you travel, hear from your guide about Iceland’s volcanic geology and perhaps use the flexible itinerary to adjust the times you spend at each site, according to your group’s wishes.
Stop first at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. Learn how the landscapes have been formed over millennia, and absorb the contrast between the lush green vegetation and rich, black ground. See Lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest natural lake, and stop at Althing, where the world’s first parliament met in AD 930.
Travel on to Geysir, a geothermal field of hot springs, steam vents and the remnants of an old volcano. Stroll around the boiling mud pools and view Strokkur; the geyser that shoots hot water high in the sky every few minutes.
Continue to Gullfoss Waterfall, whose name means ‘Golden Falls,’ a reference to the shimmering, multi-colored mists that can sometimes appear above the waters. Admire the waterfall, whose waters plunge into a canyon, and if the weather permits, get close to the cascades.
As dusk falls, begin your quest for the Northern Lights. Iceland is one of the world’s best places to see them, and your all-terrain 4x4 and knowledgeable guide will allow you to identify and access the best potential viewing sites.
On your search, hear how the lights appear when cosmic rays, solar wind, and magnetospheric plasma interact with the upper atmosphere. Make stops to survey the dark skies, and with luck, enjoy a sighting. The pulsating colors of the lights, usually green and blue, split the darkness and sometimes shine brighter than the moon.
Your tour finishes with a hotel drop-off.
