This 3-night Reykjavik winter break is perfect for the first-time northern lights holiday visitor short of time. Enjoy everything the city has to offer and go in search of the aurora!
Reykjavik Aurora Short Break
You will see some of the extraordinary scenery that Iceland has to offer, as well as have the opportunity for some aurora hunting!
This is a wonderful outdoor adventure whilst still enabling you to stay in the capital and enjoy the sumptious restaurants Reykjavik has to offer.
Overview
Highlights
- SuperJeep Northern Lights Hunt
- Golden Circle SuperJeep Tour with Snowmobiling, Pingvellir Rift Valley, Gullfoss waterfall and Strokkur geyser
- Bathe in the warm geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon
- 3 nights in central Reykjavik in 4-star hotel
What’s included
- 3 nights accommodation with breakfast at Alda Hotel
- Golden Circle Super Jeep Tour with Snowmobiling
- SuperJeep Northern Lights Hunt
- Transfers
A note on flights
While flights are not included in the holiday price, our team will happily provide a quote and arrange them for you. Simply ask one of our Travel Experts for details of the available options.
Day by Day Itinerary
Fly to Reykjavik and transfer into city centre
Fly to Reykjavik and meet your transfer who will take you to your hotel. Reykjavik is spoilt with excellent fish restaurants and we would recommend you try one tonight.
Overnight in Reykjavik.
Golden Circle SuperJeep Tour with Snowmobiling, Pingvellir Rift Valley, Gullfoss waterfall and Strokur Geyser
This guided SuperJeep Tour is a must for anyone that has not been to Iceland before. You will walk in a dramatic mini rift valley created by Tectonic plate movement, gaze at the thundering Gullfoss waterfall which can totally freeze in winter, and marvel at the Strokkur Geyser which erupts every 5 mins.
To finish off the day you will be taken on a 1 hour snowmobile thrilling ride over the Langjokull Glacier before returning early evening to Reykjavik.
Please note the maximum number of passengers in the SuperJeep is 6 in order to give you a very personal and individual tour. This is in sharp contrast to the coach tours that are available through other companies, or the very large SuperJeep Tours with 12 people in.
Evening at leisure and overnight in Reykjavik.
SuperJeep Northern Lights Hunt
Day at leisure to enjoy Reykjavik. Reykjavik has many excellent museums and is a lovely city situated on the sea. There are plenty of culturally interesting places as well as relaxing places to chill. For ideas of things to do in Reykjavik.
This evening you will be taken out from Reykjavik in a Super-jeep into the wilderness for a final search of the Northern Lights. Given cloudless skies sightings can occur from autumn to early spring. The elders say that the colder the nights the more vibrant & intense the colours will be. Swirling and swaying overhead, displays are usually greenish yellow but white, red and pink lights also frequently appear.
Please note the maximum number of passengers in the SuperJeep is 6 in order to give you a very personal and individual tour. This is in sharp contrast to the coach tours that are available through other companies, or the very large SuperJeep Tours with 12 people in.
For those looking for an extended evening this trip can be extended to include a visit to the black volcanic beaches and a Lobster Feast as an optional extra. (Please see below)
Overnight at Reykjavik.
Visit Blue Lagoon, Transfer Airport for flight home
After breakfast check out before a flybus transfer to the Blue Lagoon, one of Icelands most famous sites whose geothermal waters are particularly good for your skin. Here you can bathe in the warm bright blue waters, put Silica mud on your face or try out the Sauna and Steam rooms which are carved into the lava.
You can easily while away a couple of hours away and there is also a choice of restaurants with lovely views of the Lagoon. We would also recommend the in-water massage treatments which are just heaven!
Afterwards your flybus transfer will take you to the airport for your flight home.
We have an extensive Northern Lights Information Hub if you need further information
Covering popular topics such as:
Where You'll Stay
Alda Hotel, Reykjavik
Discover the Alda Hotel Reykjavik, a lifestyle hotel nestled on Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street. This boutique-style accommodation is designed to offer a peaceful haven amid the bustling city, allowing guests to absorb and reflect on their Icelandic adventures. Situated on the quieter upper stretch of Laugavegur, we are approximately a 15-minute stroll from the city center.
While our location places us in proximity to shops, cafes, and restaurants, we are strategically positioned away from the central nightlife hub, ensuring a tranquil stay. Experience the perfect blend of a fantastic location and a harmonious atmosphere at Alda Hotel Reykjavik.
Enquire Now
Please fill out the enquiry form below to receive a quote for this package.
"*" indicates required fields
See what our clients say
We had the most fabulous time and everything worked like clockwork. The guides were extremely knowledgeable and extremely competent. The food was excellent and the experiences, especially Husky Homes, were brilliant. We saw the aurora lights at the mountain top in Abisko where the photography tour will be an enduring memory of a wonderful time. I would very much recommend Weekend a la Carte as a proficient tour operator.
A well organised trip which was tailored to our specific requests. The arrangements all ran perfectly and any queries prior to the holiday were handled very quickly and professionally. The standard of accommodation and organised tours was very high. I would use this company again and recommend them.
We had a fantastic 4 nights that included glaciers, waterfalls, geysers, the aurora borealis and more! Lovely hotels, especially Hotel Ranga. We filled every moment and felt thoroughly invigorated on our return.
1. Gourmet Cabins was excellent and Johan was a friendly and knowledgeable host. The food, cabins, hot tub and sauna were brilliant.
2. Dog sledge was a fantastic experience and we were given the opportunity to drive our own sledge
3. Snow Mobile – really got off the beaten track and into the spectacular mountains
4. Saw the Northern Lights twice in two days. There is no description that can really do them justice
We did the aurora nights break and had a great time overall. Everything related to flights, hire car, and hotels ran smoothly. There were a few issues largely relating to the weather and driving conditions (we travelled in mid March), but what we did manage to do was amazing.
The blue lagoon was easy to access from the airport and was a brilliant experience. We booked the standard package and it came with a free drink and face mask. Facilities were clean and organised with free toiletries in the shower rooms, which helps if you’ve gone there straight from the airport.
The drive to Hotel Ranga afterwards was long but fine (check out the road on google streetview to know what to expect). The hotel and staff were great. We were limited to one option as vegetarians on the bar and a la carte menus, but the food was lovely and if you are a meat eater you will see options of unusual dishes like puffin and reindeer.
Our northern lights super jeep trip was cancelled on both nights due to a poor forecast, but we were lucky enough to get an aurora wake up call from Hotel Ranga the first night. We couldn’t use the hottubs as there are only a few and they were always taken in the limited time we spent at the hotel, so don’t go expecting to get lots of time in one and you won’t be disappointed. View them as an add on if you can time it right. We were travelling with an 11 year old, so we didn’t stay up really late. If you are a couple you probably have a better chance of getting one later on.
The glacier/volcano super jeep trip was outstanding. Our driver, Íbí was excellent. She went above and beyond and gave us such an awesome experience. We were also super lucky with the weather the first two days and had great views across Iceland.
The ice cave tour was also incredible and the guides running it were excellent. The group size was much bigger than expected (especially after the more exclusive volcano super jeep tour), but it was broken down into smaller groups that were managed well, with plenty of time factored in for photographs. There were several unexplained delays getting to the cave during the tour that meant we weren’t able to ‘mini tour’ the rest of the South Coast afterwards, so if you plan to do the ice cave don’t overplan for the afternoon as you may not have much time. Not a huge disappointment for us as we got to experience the cave, but I imagine someone who planned a full itinerary afterwards might be frustrated by the estamiated timings not always being right and subject to change with the weather (which was wicked that day).
Driving around Reykjavik was a horrible experience as we arrived around rush hour and weren’t prepared for all the traffic, having only experienced quiet roads along the south coast. It was difficult finding a parking space, so be prepared to drive around a little when you arrive. If you haven’t driven on the right before and are not a confident driver this could leave you feeling stressed. Again, check out the roads into Reykjavik on Google maps to get a sense of what awaits if you aren’t used to self-driving.
We didn’t get to tour the golden circle because of road conditions/ice/road closures, so we spent the day in Reykjavik instead. This turned out okay for us as we did some of the attractions (Lava Centre and Fly Over Iceland – both hughly recommended), but it ended up being an extra expense and we missed out on the golden attractions. Again, not a big issue if you are aware this could happen. The weather is so changeable that having a plan B is a good approach.
Weekend a la Carte sent us a text warning us about the bad weather conditions, which we’d already seen on the Safe Iceland app, but we were grateful for anyway. It was good to know they were looking out for us!
All in all, a remarkable trip, with some unique experiences. If you book this in the knowledge that nature will have her own way, and you may not see everything you want (especially in winter), you will have a great time. Ranga is definitely the best place to maximise your chances of seeing the lights.
Fantastic trip with great hosts & made even more special by seeing the Northern Lights twice!!
Hotel Ranga was perfect, with amazing food. It is in the middle of nowhere, very quiet and with the weather being bad there wasn’t the possibility of leaving the hotel in the evening so mightn’t suit all for that reason. Super Jeep tour we thoroughly enjoyed with 2 lovely guides.
Hotel Borg was in the perfect location. For us, one night in Reykjavik would be ample.
Blue Lagoon was a wonderful experience only heightened by the appearance of the northern lights on our walk home from dinner. All in all we had the best holiday and we plan to return to Iceland hopefully sooner rather than later.
Thank you for arranging a fabulous holiday, we had a really enjoyable time and would love to return in the future. Hotel Ranga is a lovely place to stay and the owner greeted guests in the restaurant, which was an unexpected welcoming touch. We didn’t see the Northern Lights due to the weather and the trip to the Eyjafjallajokull glacier and volcano was substituted by an excursion to Thorsmork, also due to the weather, which we thoroughly enjoyed; the brochure description doesn’t do it justice. We found Iceland and the people there really charismatic. Although the wind and snow cut short the amount of travelling we could do, we still covered a reasonable amount of what we wanted to see and our appetites are whetted for a return, perhaps in Spring or Summer. We found a couple of great places to eat near the Hotel in Reykjavik. Messin does tasty fish dishes and the Icelandic Street Food restaurant was excellent, offering simple but hearty soups with refills included in the price – great value.