The Northern Lights Capitals Mini Break

Fly to Reykjavik. On arrival pick up your hire car and drive to Hotel Ranga ( 75 mins) to start your Lights-hunting break in Iceland.

Hotel Ranga offers luxury, serenity and relaxation in a secluded countryside area with no light pollution and therfore provides excellent opportunities for viewing the Aurora Borealis. Please see video opposite for footage of the Lights over Ranga. Overnight at Hotel Ranga.

You have the day at leisure to enjoy the magnificent surroundings of Hotel Ranga.

The world-famous volcano Mt. Hekla is clearly visible from Hotel Rangá's front door whilst the Highlands attract visitors seeking the distinctive lunar-type landscape, volcanic black-sand deserts, hot-springs, the colourful Landmannalaugar area, and the Thjórsárdalur Viking settlement.

Off the South Coast the Westman Islands offer spectacular views of mountains, seabirds and an extraordinary volcanic history.

Hotel Ranga is luxurious with a superb river side restaurant where looking out into the clear skies provide very good Aurora Borealis viewing. Sitting in one of the outdoor hot tubs with a drink in hand is the most wonderful place to watch the skies and marvel at the swaying Lights if they are on display. Overnight at Hotel Ranga.
For ideas of what to do this day download the detailed itinerary at the bottom.

Drive yourself to the Blue Lagoon, Iceland’s most famous attraction. Enjoy bathing and relaxing in the geothermal seawater, known for its positive effects on the skin. In addition to bathing there is a sauna with a view of the lagoon, a steam bath with white walls that resemble silica mud, and a cosy steam bath carved into a lava cave. Drive onwards into Reykjavik centre to drop the car off. Click here to see a live web cam of the Blue Lagoon and see how magical it is.

Your Icelandic Aurora break continues this evening with a Super-jeep adventure into the wilderness for a final search for the Northern Lights followed by a Lobster feast. Included in the 4WD trip is a stop to explore a lava cave with magical rock formations left behind by previous volcanic eruptions. The cave is also likely to be filled with glistening ice structures of all shapes and sizes. Please note this is proper caving and so a level of fitness is required.

Afterwards enjoy a Lobster dinner in one of Iceland’s most renowned seafood restaurants, located on the south coast, while with a little luck you will have the Icelandic Northern Lights dancing in the Arctic skies above. This trip can be done without the Caving and Lobster Feast if preferred. Overnight in Reykjavik at your chosen hotel

After breakfast enjoy a full day 4WD super truck adventure exploring Iceland’s dramatic landscapes and the magnificent Golden Circle.

Visit the spectacular Gullfoss waterfall, which can totally freeze in Winter; the Geyser where every 5 minutes an eruption takes place and finally visit the becalming beauty of Pingvellir, with its spectacular mini rift valley and home to the world’s first democratic Parliament founded by the Vikings.

To end the day we kick the action into a higher gear by going for a one hour snowmobile drive on Langjokull glacier.

Drop back at hotel early evening and the evening at leisure. Overnight in Reykjavik.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Kiruna in Swedish Lapland. Your flight is via Stockholm. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Arctic Eden to overnight and where you will be kitted out with complimentary Arctic Clothing.

Your guide will meet and transfer you to a spectacular valley near Kiruna for your snowmobile adventure. Explore the arctic wilderness in terrain that includes the frozen river and lake system of the Kalix river & Sami sacrifice areas with remarkable views before you. The valley is home to wild moose and reindeer so you will no doubt bump into a few on your travels.

The value of this experience cannot be underestimated as you will feel like you own the valley whilst you are exploring it!

Tonight transfer by bus from Kiruna to Abisko, the Northern Lights Capital of Europe. Enjoy a delicious 3 course dinner at Abisko Mountain Lodge prior to taking the chairlift up Mount Nuolja to the Aurora Sky Station, which offers visitors a panoramic view over Lapporten, the Abisko Alps and Tornetrask.

During the winter nights this is, dependent on weather conditions, one of the best places on earth for consistent sightings of the Merry Dancers.

To understand just why Abisko is the best place for seeing the natural wonder you may find the content on the link to the Abisko sky station of interest. Return late and overnight at Hotel Arctic Eden. Click on arrow on photo opposite to see video of Lights above Abisko

Continue your Aurora holiday with a Husky Safari adventure. After breakfast venture out on a 4 hour exploration of the Arctic wilderness driving your own sled dog team.

This for many is the highlight of a break to Lapland as you enjoy these incredible dogs gliding you through pristine snowy landscapes, over frozen lakes and through the woods, enjoying the beautiful wilderness scenery around you. Stop for a wilderness lunch midway.

This afternoon visit the IceHotel where you can spend a couple of hours touring the hotel, marvelling at the Ice Suites or having a drink in the Absolut IceBar. If you would like to spend a night in the IceHotel we can arrange this for you as an extra. Evening at Leisure and Overnight at Hotel Arctic Eden

Enjoy your morning at leisure prior to direct transfer to airport for flight home after your Northern Lights trip to Iceland and Swedish Lapland.