The Iconic Northern Lights Break

On arrival in Reykjavik, pick up your pre-arranged 4WD hire car and self-drive to Hotel Ranga in South Iceland.

This is a 2 hour trip on Iceland’s main road. Hotel Ranga has an excellent reputation for Northern Lights sightings due to its location in a rural area, with a higher frequency of clear nights. Don’t forget the team at the hotel are also keen to ensure that if the Aurora are out you don’t miss them and so they offer an aurora wake-up service in case they should appear in the depth of the night.

Overnight at Hotel Ranga.

After breakfast adventure out into the unique landscapes of South Iceland – probably the most dramatic Geography field trip you will ever experience!

We work only with local guides who are both passionate about their country and want to share their insights with you but who are also trained as part of the mountain rescue team. They will have fascinating stories to share about the volcanic eruption that occurred in 2010.

We continually receive fabulous feedback on this day from satisfied clients who enjoy this personalised, relaxed guided day experience from enthusiastic local guides who are keen you have an extra special experience.

SuperJeeps take up to 8 people but the norm is for 4 people for a very personal tour. Note, this is in sharp contrast to the coach tours that are available through other companies, who also cannot access many of the areas we take you to.

Choose between the following adventures: EITHER Eyjafjallajökull’s Volcano Tour This tour will take you as close as is possible to the new large crater in Eyjafjallajökull Volcano from the 2010 eruption and to places where no hire car can go. We drive up the slopes of the glacier in a highly equipped SuperJeep and on our way take in the astonishing view over the whole South coast of Iceland with it’s glaciers, and back across the Atlantic including the Westman-Islands.

This tour gives you the perfect glacier experience; an exciting SuperJeep drive in the snow, walk on the glacier and the magnificent view over the south. This is real adventure! OR Þórsmörk Valley Tour . Your guide will take you up between the three glaciers; Myrdalsjokull, Eyjafjallojokull and Tindfjallojokull. In your specially adapted SuperJeeps you will have the thrilling drive of fjording glacial rivers and driving across the flood plain to see the lasting effects and landscape changes following Eyjafjallajökull’s 2010 eruption.

You will be surrounded by an imposing mountain ridge and see spectacular landscapes. Stop at the stunning Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, which you can walk behind and be mesmerised looking back through the falling water. If you wanted to see the “Raw Iceland” this is hard to beat!

Tonight be sure to use one of the outdoor hot tubs if the Northern Lights are out. Lying back in the warm waters, taking in South Iceland’s unique ambience whilst having the Aurora flash above you is one of life’s great experiences! Alternatively, Hotel Ranga have built their own first observatory a short stroll from the hotel in order to minimize light pollution, and they have an expert in there every cloud-free night with two high quality 11 inch computerized telescopes who can teach you about the stars and the Northern Lights if they are out.

View amazing detail on Jupiter, see the rings of Saturn, and details on Mars. During the day you can observe the Sun, including sunspots in great detail and activity such as prominences and filaments. Overnight at Hotel Ranga.

Today you have at leisure to explore the south coast before your drive to Reykjavik.

Head off in your car along the South coast with the dramatic Glaciers and Volcanoes of Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull to your left and the Atlantic Ocean on your right.

Continue to the charming small village of Vik to visit the Black Beaches and dramatic rock formations of Reynisdrangar with its famous archway. Visit Seljalandsfoss, one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland, where you will be mesmerised as you walk behind it and stare out through the falling water across the flat landscape towards the South Beaches.

Also visit the dramatic and thundering Skogar Waterfall – one of the highest in Iceland at 60m and certainly worth a few photos! Time allowing, stop at the Skogar Folk Museum which shares one man’s lifetime collection of Icelandic artefacts gathered since 1949.

The slightly eccentric Thordur Tomasson still runs the museum and is as much of an attraction as the museum itself! We would also recommend a stop at Eyjafjallajokull Visitor Centre, which has a 20 minute film depicting the personal experience of a farmer on the recent eruption which will give you a more intimate insight as to how the Icelanders coped with the eruption.

Onwards drive to Reykjavik to overnight. Alternatively you can drive straight to Reykjavik and explore this quirky town with its unusual shops and museums. For ideas of things to do in Reykjavik.

Today explore the “must see” Golden Circle at your own pace using your own 4WD vehicle. The day is packed full of surprising landscapes and Geological marvels.

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.

We would also recommend you visit the spot where the first democratic parliament was established in 930 AD overlooking the stunning plains of Pingvellir. Evening at leisure to try one of the many excellent seafood restaurants and overnight in Reykjavik.

For our local insider top tips of things to add to your trip when self driving.

This morning drive to the Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s most famous sites.

Here you can bathe in the warm bright geothermal waters which are particularly good for your skin. Put Silica mud on your face or try out the Sauna and Steam rooms which are carved into the lava.

Relax for a couple of hours and perhaps have a meal in one of the restaurants with lovely views of the Lagoon. We would also recommend the in-water massage treatments which are just heavenly!

Afterwards drive the 20 minutes to the airport for your flight home. If this wasn’t quite perfect for you why not consider the Northern Lights Paradise break

We have an extensive Northern Lights Information Hub if you need further information

Covering popular topics such as:

• What are the Northern Lights?
• When can I see the Northern Lights?
• Where can I see the Northern Lights?
• Practicalities of Visiting Arctic Regions