The bright dancing lights of the aurora are actually collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere. The lights are seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. They are known as ‘Aurora Borealis in the north and ‘Aurora Australis in the south..
Auroral displays appear in many colours although pale green and pink are the most common. Shades of red, yellow, green, blue, and violet have been reported. The lights appear in many forms from patches or scattered clouds of light to streamers, arcs, rippling curtains or shooting rays that light up the sky with an eerie glow.
Historically when’s the best time to go to see the Northern Lights?
Although the absolute best time to look for the Northern lights is during solar maximum, when the sun is at its most active, you don’t need to wait until 2024 to see auroras in Norway. If you get to the country’s far north between September and April, it’s likely that you will see the Northern Lights if you can find clear skies. The key with Northern Lights hunting is to take advantage of the long nights of the Arctic winter. Put yourself in the right place at the right time — and stay there for as long as possible — and you might get lucky.
For 2024, what’s the forecasted best time to go?
Forecasting the Northern Lights means predicting solar activity, which is basically impossible with our current technology. We do know, however, that the Northern Lights are best seen between 65° north and 75° north latitude; Finnish Lapland’s latitude of 68° north puts it in the ideal position to experience the Northern Lights.
The months of the equinoxes (October to March) are known to be particularly good for viewings of the Northern Lights because of Earth’s tilt in relation to the sun.
Iceland (RING ROAD + NORTHERN LIGHTS)
Dates: 25-Oct’24 – 2-Nov’24
Summary :
Day 1: Reykjavik
Day 2: Selfoss
Day 3: Vik
Day 4: Hofn
Day 5: Egilsstaðir
Day 6: Akryuri
Day 7: Reykjavik
Day 8: Reykjavik
Day 9: Fly back to India or Join us for Finland & Norway
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
See the massive floating icebergs at the Glacier Lagoon
Explore the famous Golden Circle route
Traverse Iceland‘s beautiful national parks – Vatnajökull, Þingvellir and Snæfellsnes
Enjoy the cascading waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss
Photograph jagged basalt columns & sweeping black sand beaches
Walk the quaint streets of the capital city, Reykjavik
Discover the volcanic Lake Mývatn and its beautiful surroundings
Walk the quaint streets of Akureyri, the unofficial capital of north Iceland
Walk the Diamond Beach, seeing the scattered, glistening ice
Choose Your Car And Make Your Trip More Adventurous
Duster Dacia
Tesla Model 3
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Day 1
Airport pickups as per flight timings given.
You will be dropped at Blue Lagoon and your luggage will be in the car.
7 pm: we will start travelling towards the hotel in Reykjavik (70km) and check in at the hotel.
PS: (if we all get free before then we can go early as well)
Stay in Reykjavik, you can go out in the market and get a feel of the city life.
Day 2 : Approx 130-140 km
7-8 am Breakfast
9 a.m.: we will start with all the luggage and explore Golden Circle.
Silfra :
Silfra is a fissure between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates in Thingvellir National Park. The rift was formed in 1789 by the earthquakes accompanying the divergent movement of the two tectonic plates.
Geysers:
The great Geysir lends its name to describe the gushing hot springs, along with the English word ‘geyser’. The first thought that occurs to many people when they imagine Iceland is the image of a vast amount of superheated water gushing out of the geyser.
Gullfoss waterfall:
Geologists believe that Gulfoss was formed at the end of the last age, around 5,000 years ago. Run-off from Iceland’s second-largest glacier, Langjokull, flooded the landscape, creating the river Hvita that tumbles into the ravine and creates this waterfall.
Kerid Crater:
Kerid was a cone-shaped volcano, which erupted and exhausted its magma reservoir. The eruption made the foundation of the volcano fall on itself and resulted in the formation of the crater as we see it today.
We will reach our hostel around 5-6 p.m. and check in.
PS:
You can cook your dinner here and can buy something if needed from a nearby supermarket.
Day 3:Approx 70-80km VIK Town
7-8am: Breakfast
8 am: We will leave for our most awaited attractions of the entire trip, today will be a long day so we will start early.
Seljalandsfoss :
Seljalandsfoss is one of the most breathtaking waterfalls in South Iceland with a whooping 196 ft (60 m) cascade. The waterfall is loved by travellers because you can actually walk behind it! Step behind the curtain of water and marvel at Iceland’s South Coast from a completely new perspective.
Skogafoss
Skógafoss is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, with a drop of some 60 meters and a width of 25 meters. You can walk right up to it but be prepared to be drenched. It is overwhelming standing next to it.
Plane Wreck
The 1973 US Navy C-117D Sólheimasandur Crash, commonly known as the Sólheimasandur Crash, is a crashed US Navy Douglas C-117D located in Sólheimasandur [is] on the southern coast of Iceland. The remains of the aircraft – which crashed in 1973 – have remained relatively intact, leading to the crash site becoming a tourist destination.
PS: You can walk 45 min one way and 90 min both way or pay 2500 ISK and get on a bus.
Dyrholaey Lighthouse
In 1910, a Swedish iron-frame lighthouse was erected in Dyrhólaey, the first of its kind to be built in Iceland. A little later, in 1927, the lighthouse was built as the concrete structure we see before us now. You can see the black sand beach and GOT location.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
Reynisfjara was formed due to the volcanic activity in the area during the last few centuries. Each time the dangerous Katla volcano erupted, the lava reached the North Atlantic Ocean. Once lava and sea get in contact with each other, lava instantly cools down, hardens and becomes black.
PS: Our hostel is on the top of a hill and far from the city for a perfect setup to see the northern lights.
You can cook your dinner here and can buy something if needed from a nearby supermarket.
Day 4: Approx 270 km HOFN TOWN
7-8 am: Breakfast
8 am: We will leave for our most awaited attractions of the entire trip, today will be a long day so we will start early
Eldhraun lava field
The impressive Eldhraun lava field is the biggest lava flow in the world. It occurred during the Laki eruption of the late 1700s. The enormous site, which is 565 square kilometres (218 sq mi), is where the Apollo 11 crew trained for their moonwalk.
Skaftafell Glacier:
Skaftafellsjökull is an outlet glacier next to Skaftafell mountain, the glacier ice runs down a deep valley from the north part of Öræfajökull glacier the glacier is about 10 km long and about 2 km wide. The surrounding by Skaftafellsjökull glacier is beautiful with steep mountains and the glaciers Öræfajökull and Vatnajökull in the background.
Jökulsárlón Glacier
Jökulsárlón (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈjœːkʏlsˌaurˌlouːn]ⓘ; literally “glacial river lagoon”) is a large glacial lake in southern part of Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland. Situated at the head of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, it developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake has grown since then at varying rates because of melting of the glaciers. It is now about 8 km (5.0 mi) away from the ocean’s edge and covers an area of about 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi). In 2009 it was reported to be the deepest lake in Iceland, at over 284 m (932 ft), as glacial retreat extended its boundaries.[1] The size of the lake has increased fourfold since the 1970s.
Diamond beach:
The “diamonds” on Iceland’s Diamond Beach refer to pieces of 1,000-year-old icebergs that calved off from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, which is an outlet glacier of the largest icecap in Europe – Vatnajökull. The beauty of Diamond Beach is that it is a 365-day-a-year phenomenon.
We will reach our hostel around 7-8 pm and check in.
Stay in Hofn, you can go out in the market and get a feel of the city life.
Day 5: Approx 260 km EGILSSTAOIR TOWN ON MOUNTAINS
6-7am : Breakfast
7am: Today we willl start at 7am because we will be going into mountains and roads can get closed with a short notice.
Today will be majorly a scenic road trip with less attractions.
Stokksnes : Gerua movie point
irst off, it was one of Iceland’s first farm settlements, dating back to the 9th century. During World War II, the British then utilized the area as an army base. Shortly after the end of World War II, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) built a radar station on Stokksnes.
Hengifossa: Walk of 40 min one side (optional for people who wanna take rest in hostel in Egilsstaoir)
The stunning layering of red and black sediment can make anyone taking a picture feel like a professional photographer. In all directions, the landscape surrounding Hengifoss is pure beauty. This has also attracted many geologists, who have found fossilized trunks of coniferous trees between the layers. These trees are sensitive to cold weather, suggesting Iceland might have had a milder climate in the past.
Day 6: Approx 260 km AKUREYRI TOWN ON MOUNTAINS
6-7am: Breakfast
7am: Today we willl start at 7am because we will be crossing mountains and roads can get closed with short notice.
Myvatn Hverir : fuming boreholes
In spite of the intense smell of sulphur, its curious geothermal activity entices visitors to walk along Hverir’s trails and marvel at the natural wonders of Earth. Due to the high heat of the subsoil at Hverir, it’s very important not to leave the signposted paths, both to preserve the impressive landscapes and to avoid getting burned by the steam from the fumaroles or putting your foot in a boiling mire!
Mývatn is renowned for its volcanic origins and geothermal activity. The lake was formed approximately 2,300 years ago during a volcanic eruption, and various volcanic features, including pseudo-craters, lava formations, and hot springs, characterise its surroundings.
Dettifoss Waterfall: Purely depends on the weather, very dangerous road if snowing and in that case we will skip it. NO DISCUSSION OVER SAFETY ISSUES.
The Dettifoss waterfall is located in Vatnajökull National Park in Northeast Iceland, and is reputed to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe. It is also the largest waterfall in Europe in terms of volume discharge, having an average water flow of 193 cubic metres per second.
Day 7: Approx 400 km REYKJAVIK
7-8am : Breakfast
9am: Today we willl start at 9am ,we will explore Akureyri for some time and then start our long journey to Reykjavik.
Plan is to party tonight in the city
Day 8: : REYKJAVIK
8-9am : Breakfast
11am: we will explore the city by walking and explore places near by.
Free Day: you can plan iff your want to do Whale watching or shopping on your own.
Hallgrimskirka: the landmark of Reykjavik
This Reykjavik Church is the tallest church building in Iceland and was built between 1945 and 1986. This Reykjavik landmark is 74.5 meters high and it is the most famous symbol of Reykjavik due to its visible location from all over the city. The church is open almost every day. Tip: You can also climb the tower for a nice view over Reykjavik center. The Lutheran church is named after the cleric Hallgrímur Pétursson who is considered to be the country’s hymn writer because of his Passíusálmar. The architect is Guðjón Samúelsson and was inspired by the basalt parts of the landscape that can be found in Iceland. The unique church was seen as a mix of styles during its construction and is without a doubt one of the most important Reykjavik sights. The interior of the church is very modest, but the eye-catcher is the organ with 5275 pipes.
In front of the church is a statue of Leiff Eriksson, the son of Erik the Red and believed to have been the first European settler to have been in North America over 500 years before Columbus. The statue was donated by the United States in 1930 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Alþingi (Icelandic Parliament).
Harpa:
The Harpa should not be missing on the list of Reykjavik sightseeing. Harpa is a very large concert hall and convention center located on the harbor of Reykjavik. The concert hall has 1800 seats and the building was designed by Henning Larsen. This is a Danish architect and this was in collaboration with Olafur Eliasson. Construction started in 2006, but in 2006 and 2007 the credit crisis brought construction to a standstill. Nevertheless, the decision was made to complete this and the opening concert took place on May 4, 2011.
Sun Voyager:
About 500 meters further from the beautiful Harpa concert hall is a striking piece of art on the coast: the Sun Voyager. This landmark looks like a Viking ship and many people also think this because of the Icelandic Viking history, but this must represent a dream ship. It is made of stainless steel and pays tribute to the sun. The artwork represents hope, freedom and progress. The Sun Voyager is located close to the center on the waterfront promenade and provides beautiful photos due to the reflection during sunset. Between the Sun Voyager and the historic Höfði House you can also take a relaxing coastal walk where you will encounter some works of art.
The colourful Laugavegur
Laugavegur is the pleasant part of town to walk around, because here is the popular and eponymous shopping street for shopping and buying souvenirs. Here you will also find atmospheric restaurants and bars. Laugavegur also has many side streets where more shops, restaurants, terraces and art studios can be found. Laugavegur is known for the coloured and painted houses that really give the shopping street its own character
We all will play some games before we part ways.
Day 8: REYKJAVIK
Book your airport bus from our hostel, all buses start from our hostel only so you can book as per your flight timings.
There will be 4-5 people in one vehicle, you can choose your vehicle and your package will be based on the vehicle chosen by you.
Inclusion :
Basic Plan 110000 INR p.p
Stay in Hostels in Bunk beds
Airport Pick n Drop (for basic plan only pickup no drops)
Private vehicle (Duster) & fuel for the vehicle
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon: 2.4 lac p.p and other upgraded plans
Stay in a 3-4 star Hotel (Double occupancy+Hostel)
Breakfast
Airport Pick n Drop
Blue Lagoon Activity
Silfra Snorkeling Activity
Fuel, Tax, Toll for the vehicle
Exclusions:
Flight fare
Lunch/Dinner
Personal Expenses
Entry to any place
Visa (Our agent can help you)
Upgraded Insurance
Pay 1000 and we will arrange Breakfast for you (basic Plan),
Breakfast: In Icelandic hostels, breakfast is not served so we buy basic breakfast stuff from the market and provide you. It will be lean and we will provide bread, butter, eggs and coffee.
Cancellation Terms
Booking fee(Non-refundable) : INR 30,000/- (Inc. in total trip cost)
Minimum 50% payment to be completed 60 days prior to departure
The remaining payments to be completed 30 days prior to departure
Q. Is travelling during a pandemic is easy?
The pandemic is not allowing us to travel the way we were travelling in past and the future is not clear so you should be prepared for a sudden change in the plans without intimation. Things can change overnight and even countries can go under lockdown and in these situations, none can do anything. So if you are travelling with us then be prepared to take this kind of risk and then only finalise your plans.TBT will not be responsible for any such event and no refunds will be made, all the costs will be borne by the member who is joining us.
Q. Trip requirements?
A vaccine (both shots) certificate will be required and the trip will be based on the current guidelines of the EU for Indian travellers. If your 2nd dose is 9 months old then you must provide a booster dose certificate also.
Q.Which visa is needed for this trip?
Ans: As all the countries are part of Europe only so Schengen visa will be needed.
Q. Will, you help me to apply for a visa?
Ans: Although visas & flights do not come under our preview and you can contact your own agent but if you want then we will make you meet a visa expert agent, who will surely help you with the visa process. We will not be responsible for visas and flights or agents.
Q. Refund Policy
Ans: No refund 30 days before the trip. No reasons will be considered. Book after planning properly.
Q.I want to see your last trip pics.
Ans: Follow the link: PICTURES
Q. Can I drive it?
Ans: Yes you can drive if you have a valid Indian driving license and you can pay for the additional driver fee.
Q. Why this trip is less costly because all the trips to Iceland are starting from 1.5 lac?
Ans. We believe in passing the benefits to members also, as we are a group of passionate traveller who is running this company and not a business-oriented company.
Q. How will I meet the group if I come?
Ans: We will add you to our WhatsApp group for further communication and if you are coming alone then we will arrange an airport pickup for you by public transport.
Q.Do you have any referral discounts?
Ans: Yes, if someone joins us because of you or with you then you will get a discount of 2500 rupees.
Q.Any discount for a group?
Ans: Yes, if you are more than 2 then you will get a group discount of 3000 Rupees per head.
