- Dates: Sep 22 - Oct 01, 2025
- Duration: 10 days, 9 nights
- Trip Level (1-4):2
- Arrive: Reykjavík, Iceland
- Depart:Reykjavík, Iceland
- Priced From: $11,360
This tour departs in
DAYS
Highlights
- Explore the historic yet modern capital of Reykjavík including the iconic Hallgrímskirkja Church
- Sink your toes into the black sand beach of Reynisfjara or Vik
- Take a zodiac boat tour of Fjallsárlón and walk amongst the resting glaciers on Diamond Beach
- Participate in a 3 hour Katla Cave Tour
- Experience the breathtaking landscapes on a sure-footed Icelandic horse ride
- Ferry to Westman Islands and visit Eldheimar museum and hike Volcano Eldfell
- Spend 5 nights outside with an astronomer ready to gaze at the lights in the sky
- Spend the day exploring the famous Golden Circle
In the northern reaches of the world, on the border of the Arctic Circle, Iceland offers one of the best vantages from which to view the Northern Lights. With heightened solar activity interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field, a spectacular celestial display is expected – visible from a remote haven in the Icelandic countryside. And conditions permitting, you will observe several dark nights worth of lovely auroras following the autumn equinox, with a veteran astronomer by your side.
TravelQuest has crafted this ten-day journey through Iceland, combining its most awe-inspiring and immersive experiences with a rare opportunity to witness the luminous sky display. Your journey begins in Reykjavík, from the lively waterfront to innovative museums and striking churches nestled along streets colonized with art. As you head east, you’ll stop at pristine waterfalls, and renowned black sand beaches with views of towering sea stacks rising from crystalline waters. You’ll trail along vast lava fields overgrown with lush moss and continue to ethereal beaches dotted with untouched icebergs.
As you travel among Iceland’s stunning natural landmarks, touring by land with ferries by sea, spotting unique and exotic wildlife, you’ll return each night to your secluded lodgings. Whether horseback riding across dramatic terrain, exploring ice caves, or marveling at towering cliffs, this carefully crafted journey invites you to experience Iceland’s diverse natural, cultural, and astronomical marvels. From geysers to lagoons, every stop brings you closer to the grand finale of your adventure—the breathtaking spectacle of the Northern Lights.
Under Icelandic Skies
By TravelQuest Astronomer Paul Deans
If you think it’s difficult predicting the weather a week in advance, consider attempting to forecast the appearance of the northern lights as far ahead as September 2025! That’s a tough assignment, and it’s impossible to be completely accurate, but we can make some generalized comments about what you might expect to see.
Solar activity is now on the upswing, so powerful coronal mass ejections (CMEs) will start to take place more often. When one impacts Earth’s magnetic field, the result can be a spectacular display of the northern lights. Lovely auroras also develop thanks to the frequent appearance of coronal holes–openings in the Sun’s magnetic field. These holes let strong gusts of the Sun’s solar wind escape into space. When one of these gaps is pointed toward Earth, a typical outcome is a beautiful celestial show. Even without aurora-generating CMEs or coronal holes, northern lights regularly appear over high-latitude locations such as Iceland thanks to the solar wind continuously buffeting Earth’s magnetic field. Of course, seeing the northern lights also depends on having good weather when we’re in Iceland.
Unfortunately, astronomers can’t predict the emergence of a coronal hole or the eruption of a CME. But when either is observed, astronomers can estimate when the charged solar particles will strike Earth’s magnetic field and cause the northern lights to dance. So, as well as checking the sky each night, we’ll be monitoring solar activity websites every day.
Lastly, for reasons yet unknown, aurora activity peaks during the equinoxes. This is why we plan to be in the dark skies of the Icelandic countryside around the time of the autumn equinox.
