S&T’s 2024 Iceland Aurora Adventure

Come along on the 10th edition of our popular one-week tour of Iceland! You’ll explore this fascinating island’s unique culture and geology during the day. Then, each night we’ll seek out the breathtaking aurora borealis — an awe-inspiring spectacle not to be missed!

Join Sky & Telescope for a one-week Iceland tour and the chance to see the Northern Lights! With our tour partner Spears Travel and a local Icelandic guide, we’ll explore this fascinating island’s unique culture and geology during the day, then each night we’ll scan the sky for Iceland's famed aurora borealis. Watching the fantastic colors of the Northern Lights dance across the arctic sky is an unforgettable experience, and Iceland is one of the best places to see them. Late September to early October is a good time for aurora-watching, as the nights are full and dark, and the weather prospects are better than deep winter.

The friendly people of this island nation have a culture that’s a fascinating mixture of both ultramodern elements and customs that date back to the original Viking settlers more than 1,000 years ago. We’ll stay at premium hotels both in and outside the capital city of Reykjavík and sample delicious Icelandic cuisine. Iceland’s tourist infrastructure is modern, and the nation is one of the cleanest and safest in the world. Most Icelanders speak at least some English, so it’s very easy to interact with the local population.

This tour begins on Saturday, September 28, 2024 (your departure from the U.S. is the previous evening) and ends on Saturday, October 5th. You’ll also be able to stay for an optional extra day to explore the breathtaking Snæfellsjökull National Park. We’ve selected a week when moonlight won’t interfere with nighttime viewing, and our lodgings are far removed from the city lights to give you the best chance of witnessing this spectacular natural phenomenon. You’ll simply need to step outside of the hotel and look up into the sky. (Even during your evenings in Reykjavík, we’ll provide transportation to dark-sky sites outside the city.)

During the trip, a Sky & Telescope representative will give talks on the science of auroras as well as detailed information on how to successfully photograph the phenomenon. Although the Northern Lights are elusive and unpredictable, this year’s tour will coincide with the predicted maximum of the Sun’s 11-year activity cycle. Your odds of seeing one or more displays will never be better — in fact, we have seen them on all nine Iceland expeditions that S&T and Spears Travel have offered!

Click below to get the full details:
• Accommodations for this tour
• Itinerary for our 8-day/7-night tour of Iceland and its amazing landscape
• Itinerary for our optional 1-day tour of Snæfellsnes peninsula
• What is and isn’t included; what conditions to expect
• Pricing, Payments, and Terms
• Reserve today using this online registration form

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Accommodations for S&T's 2024 Aurora Adventure

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Itinerary for S&T’s 2024 Iceland Aurora Adventure

Date	Itinerary at a Glance	Accommodation	Meals
Saturday, Sept. 28	Arrive in Iceland / Blue Lagoon	Hotel Grimsborgir	B, D
Sunday, Sept. 29	Þingvellir National Park / Gullfoss waterfall	Hotel Grimsborgir	B, L, D
Monday, Sept. 30	Seljalandsfoss waterfall	Hotel Laki	B, L, D
Tuesday, Oct. 1	Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon	Hotel Ranga	B, L, D
Wednesday, Oct. 2	Heimaey (Westman Islands)	Hotel Ranga	B, L, D
Thursday, Oct. 3	Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant	Hotel Borg	B
Friday, Oct. 4	Sightseeing in Reykjavík	Hotel Borg	B, D
Saturday, Oct 5	Depart for home (or . . . )	—	B
	Snæfellsnes Peninsula (optional)	Hotel Borg	B, L, D
Sunday, Oct. 6	Depart for home	—	B

Day 1 (September 28, 2024):  Arrival in Iceland / Blue Lagoon
Welcome to Iceland! Once you’ve landed at Keflavík Airport, head through customs and collect your luggage. Then proceed into the arrivals hall to meet your tour guide, who will escort you to a private coach waiting outside. We’ll head to the Viking World Museum for a group, buffet breakfast.

(For those arriving on an earlier date or on afternoon flights, you will be responsible for your own transfer on your day of arrival and for any additional hotel nights that may be required. We can arrange these for you, at an extra cost.)

Refreshed by a hearty breakfast, we’ll follow the western coastline of the Reykjanes Peninsula, visiting Gunnuhver Hot Springs and the Bridge Between Two Continents, a footbridge over the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Then it’s time to relax at the world-famous Blue Lagoon spa. The Blue Lagoon is a unique wonder: an artificial lagoon with pleasantly warm, mineral-rich geothermal water in the middle of a black lava field. The high natural levels of silica and other minerals give the lagoon its electric-blue color and its purported healing power. Group admission, towel rental, and complementary drink are included. The facilities include modern changing rooms and showers, an indoor geothermal pool, a restaurant, and other services. Don’t forget to pack your bathing suit (and water shoes, if you prefer to not go barefoot) in your carry-on luggage for easy access. Lunch is on your own.

After your time at the Blue Lagoon, we’ll drive about 90 minutes to the plush, 5-star Hotel Grimsborgir in the Selfoss area, to check in for a two-night stay. The rest of the afternoon is free to have a short rest, go for a walk in the fresh air, and to get ready for the group Welcome Dinner this evening.

Day 2 (September 29):  Iceland’s “Golden Circle” (Þingvellir / Geysir / Gullfoss / Kerið)
After breakfast, we’ll check out and head northeast of Reykjavík to visit some of Iceland’s most amazing natural features — what’s known as the “Golden Circle.”

Our first stop is Þingvellir, a remarkable geological site and the most famous historic site on the island. (The “Þ” consonant is pronounced very similarly to “th”.) Þingvellir is the site of the world’s oldest democratic parliament, founded in 930. Located by Lake Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest lake, Þingvellir is now a national park. The beautiful canyon running through the park is actually the meeting point of two of Earth’s tectonic plates, literally the dividing line between North America and Europe. Þingvellir’s combination of natural phenomena and historical significance have made it a symbol of Iceland’s national identity.

Leaving Þingvellir, we’ll drive through some of the fertile farmlands of southern Iceland (and have lunch amid tomato greenhouses) on our way to the famous Geysir, which has given its name to spouting hot springs all over the world. You will see one of the most active geysers in the area, Strokkur, which sends a jet of superheated water to heights of up to 30 meters (90 feet).

Then we’ll continue to Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall, one of the most impressive waterfalls in Europe. Its broad cascades have a total drop of about 32 meters (105 feet). Here you will see thousands of tons of icy water thunder majestically down in double falls into a deep canyon.

Our final stop will be the impressive Kerið caldera, a lake-filled volcanic crater. An estimated 6,500 years old, this caldera is 270 m (890 feet) across and 55 m (180 feet) deep. Then it’s back to Hotel Grimsborgir for a presentation about auroras, followed by a hearty dinner and aurora watching.

Day 3 (September 30): Iceland’s Southern Coast
After breakfast we head along the southern coast and explore the land of Njal’s Saga, a region of breathtaking scenery and legendary stories. During our drive we’ll encounter the wonderful variety of this area — from the wide alluvial plains formed by glacial rivers to sea inlets with views of volcanic mountains and moss-covered lava fields. We’ll stop to admire the sheer sea cliffs of Dyrhólaey, whose basalt columns are similar to the Giant's Causeway in Ireland. Following that are the spectacular waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss, followed by Reynisfjara, a wide black-sand beach beside the small fishing village of Vík í Mýrdal.

A group lunch will be served in Vík. Then, for something unique and completely different, we’ll take our seats to watch a demonstration of an actual flow of molten lava — under carefully controlled conditions. It’s the hottest show on Earth! Later we’ll stop at the stunning serpentine canyon of Fjaðrárgljúfur (“feather river canyon”) , whose steep walls are up to 300 feet tall and more than 1 mile long.

We’ll continue east to the Kirkjubaejarklaustur (Kirk for short!) area, where we’ll have a look around the town before heading farther east on the main highway to reach our night’s lodging, Hotel Laki, which offers amazing views of Vatnajökull glacier and (of course) an excellent location for viewing the northern lights after our group dinner.

Day 4 (October 1): Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach
After a leisurely breakfast this morning we’ll head to the incomparable Vatnajökull National Park, which comprises massive glaciers, ice caves, active geothermal areas, and snowy mountain peaks.

After a group lunch, we’ll travel a short distance to the stunning glacial lagoon at Jökulsárlón, where icebergs float in a lagoon of icy, azure-blue water, runoff from a huge glacier. Sometimes seals can be seen sunning themselves on the icebergs or at the edge of the glacier. We’ll enjoy a boat ride on the lagoon, floating among the icebergs.

After iceberg-gazing, we will continue on to the dramatic cascades of Skógafoss, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. We’ll also pay a visit to the nearby Skógar Folk Museum, a complex of three sites exploring early Icelandic history with folk relics and a model turf-house village.

After an eventful day we head westward along Iceland’s rugged southern coast and check in at the 4-star Hotel Ranga. Steep yourself in its rustic charm and indulge in the fine dining you’ll experience at dinner. Situated far from any artificial lighting, it’s an ideal location for watching the curtains of auroral light dance overhead.

Even better, the hotel features its own observatory, equipped with high-quality telescopes (including a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain) in a permanent roll-off structure. If the skies are clear, you’ll be able to get in some serious stargazing.

Day 5 (October 2): Westman Islands (Vestmanayaer)
Once we’ve had a good breakfast to start our day, we’ll head south to the port of Landeyjahöfn and board the ferry to Heimaey, the largest of the Westman Islands. We’ll tour this fascinating island and learn about the various volcanic eruptions that formed it — including the Eldfell eruption of 1973, which buried much of the main town (roughly 400 houses) under a thick blanket of ash and nearly filled in the town’s harbor. A visit to the Eldheimar museum, dedicated to the eruption, is included.

Following our group lunch on the island we’ll board the ferry to return to the mainland and back to Hotel Ranga. Enjoy our group dinner at the hotel, then we’ll again scan the sky for auroral displays and have use of the hotel’s observatory.

If the northern lights decide to make an appearance, all we will have to do is step outside and marvel at Nature’s own light show! Wake-up calls for aurora appearances during the night can be arranged with reception.

Day 6 (October 3): Hellisheiði and Reykjavík
Following breakfast and check-out, we’ll enjoy the countryside scenery on the drive to the capital city of Reykjavík. A visit to Hellisheiði is first on the day’s agenda! The Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant produces hot water (for heating homes and businesses in the capital area) and electricity. Completed in 2006, Hellisheiði has a capacity of 200 megawatts in thermal power and 303 MW in electricity — ranking as the second largest of its kind in the world. A hydrogen-sulfide abatement unit at the plant uses the so-called Carbfix method, which reduces carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere.

Westward bound again to the capital city of Reykjavík, we arrive at Hotel Borg, our home for the next two nights. Centrally located, it’s a short walk from Reykjavík’s City Hall and City Library. After check-in, there will be plenty of time to grab lunch (on your own), take a walk around the city center, and have dinner (on your own). And if the sky is clear, our bus driver will take us beyond the city for an optional northern lights viewing session.

Day 7 (October 4): Exploring Reykjavík
After breakfast, enjoy a morning-long bus tour of Reykjavík with stops at Hallgrimskirkja, Perlan (with admission to its observation deck), and the National Museum (with admission and guided tour). Here’s some information about these signature destinations:

After the guided tour, you have the rest of the afternoon free to explore the city, with lunch on your own today. Here are a few suggestions for places to see on your free time:

• The Settlement Exhibition, just steps from the hotel, showcases an excavated long house that provides a unique window on Iceland’s early inhabitants. (Tour members will receive a voucher good for free admission.)

• Reykjavík Art Museum, also known as Hafnarhús (translating as Harbor House), serves as the institute of contemporary art. New developments in art are explored through diverse exhibitions of Icelandic and international artists. An exhibition of paintings by the pop artist Erró is a permanent feature.

• Shopping: Reykjavík has become known for cutting-edge design, international and design jewelry, hip fashion, art galleries, and a vibrant music scene. The trendy 101 quarter in the city center around the main shopping street of Laugavegur and the nearby Skólavörðustígur offers fabulous shopping at very affordable prices.

• Cheap eats: Stop at a local hot-dog stand and try the famous Icelandic hot dogs (called or pylsur ) with all the special trimmings. This is very popular among the locals, and you will see long queues, especially on weekends.

This evening we gather at a local restaurant for a sumptuous farewell dinner. Afterward, if the sky was cloudy the previous night but clear tonight, our bus driver will take us beyond the city for an optional northern lights tour. Otherwise, enjoy a stroll on your own during the rest of the evening.

Day 8 (October 5): Main Tour Ends; Depart for Home
All good things must come to an end, including your visit to Iceland. After breakfast and check-out, we’ll board a bus to Keflavík airport for flights home. Once there, our guide will assist with check-in. We schedule this transfer to reach the airport 2½ to 3 hours before the earliest flight departure of the group’s members. Should you be leaving substantially earlier or later than the main group, individual transfers can be arranged for you at a small extra fee.

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Day 8 (October 5): Optional Tour of Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Stay an extra day, if you wish, and enjoy a tour of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and its national park. About 90 km (60 miles) long, this region to the north of Reykjavík offers breathtaking scenery, the glistening ice cap of the volcano Snæfellsjökull, waterfalls, lava fields, and quaint fishing villages.

You’ll have lunch at a local spot this afternoon, followed by a stop in Arnarstapi, which is near Mount Stapafell and have a look around. Continue to the sandy beaches of Djupalonssandur, which once was a thriving fishing village but now uninhabited. Finally, view the Kirkjufell Mountain en route back to Hotel Borg, where you’ll enjoy dinner with fellow travelers on your final evening.

Day 9 (October 6) — Depart for Home
After breakfast and check-out, we’ll be transferred by private bus to Keflavík airport for our departure flight. Once there, our guide will assist with check-in.

Góða ferð! (Have a good trip!)

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WHAT THE TOUR DOES & DOESN'T INCLUDE

Included in S&T’s 2024 Iceland Aurora Adventure (main tour):

• Private coach with English-speaking guide for the program as outlined
• Breakfast buffet at Viking World Museum*
• Blue Lagoon Comfort Entrance (use of towel, one drink of your choice)
• 2 nights’ accommodation at Hotel Grimsborgir
• 1 night's accommodation at Hotel Laki
• 2 nights’ accommodation at Hotel Ranga
• 2 nights’ accommodation at Hotel Borg
• VAT on accommodation and lodging fee
• Breakfast daily at each hotel*
• Four 2-course group lunches including coffee/tea*
• Six 3-course group dinners including coffee/tea*
• All daily tours and entrance fees as described above
• Free admission to Settlement Exhibition at Reykjavik City Museum
• Guided transfer Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport on day of departure

Included in S&T’s 2024 Iceland Aurora Adventure (Snæfellsnes extension):

• Private coach with English-speaking guide for the program as outlined
• 1 night's additional accommodation at Hotel Borg
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner including coffee/tea*
• VAT on accommodation and lodging fee
• All entrance fees as described above
• Guided transfer Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport on day of departure

Not included in S&T's 2024 Iceland Aurora Adventure:

• International airfare
• Drinks with lunches and dinners other than coffee/tea and any meals not mentioned
• Guide on day of departure
• Extra fees for porterage, grab-and-go lunches, room service, items of a personal nature
• Unexpected fees introduced for access to nature sites on private land
• Transfers for individual arrivals
• Entrance fees not mentioned above
• Access to hotel room outside of normal check-in/check-out times
• Personalized activities and/or additional nights of accommodation
• Tips and gratuities for tour director and bus driver (at your discretion)
• Travel insurance (highly recommended — we can send you a quote)
• Medical insurance
• Medical or quarantine expenses
• COVID-19 testing before, during, or after the tour
• Anything else not mentioned under “included”

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What to Expect on the Tour

This exclusive Sky & Telescope expedition ts designed for travelers who are interested in experiencing nighttime displays of the aurora borealis, along with the geology and superb natural landscapes of Iceland.

October is late autumn in Iceland, with typical daytime temperatures in the range of 42°-50°F and evening temperatures in the range of 39°-46°F. So layered clothing suitable for cool-to-cold weather with occasional rain is recommended.

To enjoy this experience, participants must be in good physical and mental health and be able to keep up with the pace of the group. Participants requiring extraordinary assistance must be accompanied by someone who can and will provide all required assistance. Travel segments by private motorcoach will be up to 4 hours long. Daily activities will often involve some walking over uneven terrain for distances of up to ¼ mile; a few locations are not suitable for traversing by wheelchair. In certain situations, such as near thermally active geysers or waterfalls, deviating from the marked pathways could put you at risk of injury.

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PRICING, PAYMENTS & TERMS FOR S&T’s 2024 ICELAND AURORA ADVENTURE

Tour Pricing (per person)	Double occupancy	Single occupancy
Main Tour of Iceland & Northern Lights (7 days)	$5,950*	$7,775**
Main Tour & Full-day Tour of Snæfellsnes Peninsula (8 days)	$6,550*	$8,675**

Pricing: All tour prices are based on costs and U.S. dollar exchange rates in effect at the time of posting. As such, prices listed here are subject to change. Spears Travel and/or AAS Sky Publishing LLC will inform clients of any changes prior to departure.

To make a reservation: A reservation request can be submitted by completing this form. Reservations are recorded and acknowledged in order of receipt. Spears Travel handles all invoicing.

Deposits and final payments: A deposit of US$2,000 per person is required to secure your reservation. Initial deposits may be charged to a credit card or by check payable to “Spears Travel” and mailed to: Spears Travel, P. O. Box 1256, Bartlesville, OK 74005. Final payment is due by July 8, 2024, and can be paid by credit card or by check payable to “Spears Travel” and mailed to the address above. Note, however, that when a credit card is used for final payment, a processing fee of 2.75% will be assessed. Reservations made after July 8, 2024, must include full payment at the time of booking.

Cancellations and Refunds:  Deposits are fully refundable until May 31, 2024. Cancellations received after May 31, 2024, but on or before June 30, 2024, are subject to a penalty of US$1,000 per person. Cancellations received after June 20, 2024, but on or before July 8, 2024, are subject to a penalty of US$2,000 per person. No refunds of deposits or final payments will be made after July 8, 2024. Notification of cancellation must be received in writing by Spears Travel.

Terms and Conditions: In offering this tour itinerary or any other travel arrangements for sale, Spears Travel acts only as an agent. Spears Travel maintains no control over the personnel, equipment or operations of any supplier and assumes no responsibility for, and shall not be expected, asked, or required to pay for any financial loss, personal injury, property damage, other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity which you may experience either by reason of: (1) nonperformance by any supplier for whatever reason; (2) wrongful, carelessness, negligent or unauthorized acts or omissions on the part of any supplier or its employees or on the part of any other party not under the control of Spears Travel; or (3) any defect, breakdown or other failure of any aircraft , train, automobile, ship accommodations or other equipment or instrumentality owned, operated or otherwise used by a supplier. Spears Travel is not responsible for weather conditions causing difficulties in viewing astronomical events. Prices are subject to change without notice. Reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made where necessary or deemed advisable for the comfort and well being of the passengers by Spears Travel. Spears Travel reserves the right to cancel this trip for any reason and agrees to refund all monies paid by passengers less non-refundable deposits paid to suppliers and contractors. On advancement of deposit, the depositor agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions stated. All rates quoted by the tour company are based on double occupancy and do include taxes for air, hotel or other transportation unless otherwise stated.

Release: You hereby agree to release AAS Sky Publishing LLC, Spears Travel, and their respective affiliates from any liability for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or other irregularity which may be caused by the defect of any aircraft or vehicle or the negligence or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out or performing any of the services involved, and for losses, injury, damages, or expenses of any kind due to sickness, weather conditions, considerations of the safety of the transportation being used (for which the transportation operator shall be the sole judge), earthquake, strikes, local laws, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, quarantine, force majeure, injury including: eye injury, animal or insect bites, altitude related sickness, or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws of the country and jurisdiction in which they are provided.

Included in S&T’s 2024 Iceland Aurora Adventure (main tour):

• Private coach with English-speaking guide for the program as outlined
• Breakfast buffet at Viking World Museum*
• Blue Lagoon Comfort Entrance (use of towel, one drink of your choice)
• 2 nights’ accommodation at Hotel Grimsborgir
• 1 night's accommodation at Hotel Laki
• 2 nights’ accommodation at Hotel Ranga
• 2 nights’ accommodation at Hotel Borg
• VAT on accommodation and lodging fee
• Breakfast daily at each hotel*
• Four 2-course group lunches including coffee/tea*
• Six 3-course group dinners including coffee/tea*
• All daily tours and entrance fees as described above
• Free admission to Settlement Exhibition at Reykjavik City Museum
• Guided transfer Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport on day of departure

Included in S&T’s 2024 Iceland Aurora Adventure (Snæfellsnes extension):

• Private coach with English-speaking guide for the program as outlined
• 1 night's additional accommodation at Hotel Borg
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner including coffee/tea*
• VAT on accommodation and lodging fee
• All entrance fees as described above
• Guided transfer Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport on day of departure

*Please inform us of any special dietary requirements including food allergies.

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Not included in S&T's 2024 Iceland Aurora Adventure:

• International airfare
• Drinks with lunches and dinners other than coffee/tea and any meals not mentioned
• Guide on day of departure
• Extra fees for porterage, grab-and-go lunches, room service, items of a personal nature
• Unexpected fees introduced for access to nature sites on private land
• Transfers for individual arrivals
• Entrance fees not mentioned above
• Optional tours
• Travel insurance (highly recommended — we can send you a quote)
• Room outside of normal check-in/check-out times
• Tips and gratuities
• Anything else not mentioned under “included”

Tour Note: In rare cases a change of itinerary may be necessary during our program in Iceland should weather or road conditions not allow operation of the scheduled itinerary. Certain outdoor activities may be canceled. In this case, no refund will be given but a reasonable alternative will be substituted where and whenever possible.