Iceland in Autumn - Glaciers, Icebergs & Waterfalls

Tour Code: ISL03

A 7-day holiday to southern Iceland focusing on the island's spectacular landscapes, migrating birds and the Northern Lights.

7 days from
£2,795 (Inc flights)

Land only price from
£2,495

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Highlights

Summary

Iceland is one of the main staging posts along the Atlantic ‘flyway’ for birds breeding further north, and this tour is timed to coincide with this exciting annual migration as well as another of nature’s most impressive phenomena, the Northern Lights. On this holiday we will visit several of southern Iceland’s key geological – and most scenic – places, beginning with a stay at Thingvellir, which sits astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Next we’ll visit the stunning waterfall and geysers at Gulfoss before heading to Skaftafell National Park, Europe’s largest single protected area. We end the tour with a 2-night stay in Keflavik where we’ll be hoping for clear nights and impressive displays of the Northern Lights by night, and do a whale-watching cruise, weather permitting, during our last full day.

Gyrfalcon, Golden Plover & Whooper Swan among many expected bird highlights
Whale-watching trip from Keflavik to look for Minke Whale & dolphins
Visit the ice-lagoon at Jokulsarlon on the edge of the Breidamerkurjokull Glacier
See Snow Bunting, Great Northern Diver, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Sanderling & Knot
We’ll be based for two nights at Skaftafell National Park
Golden grasslands, black lava formations & rhyolite mountains en route to Skaftafell
Majestic icebergs calved from a glacier in Jokulsarlon ice-lagoon
Good chances of witnessing the Northern Lights

Grading

Easy walks, although sometimes on rough terrain.

At the junction of two continents, on the outermost fringe of habitation, Iceland was born millions of years ago from the depths of the ocean. This spectacular island sits astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, that great cleft in the Earth’s crust that runs north to south through the Atlantic Basin and which is slowly, centimetre by centimetre, widening the Atlantic Ocean and pulling the Americas and Europe/Africa apart. This irrepressible force of nature has created an island blessed with some of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth, a place where geology and geography text books come to life and where the explosive processes of land formation can be watched in action.

While Iceland’s vast interior covers more than 50,000 square kilometres and is dominated by volcanoes, glaciers and endless stony deserts, its coastal regions are, by contrast, vibrant, colourful and productive, and none more so than at Oræfasveit in the south-east. Oræfasveit is one of the most beautiful and multifaceted regions in the whole of Iceland, isolated and squeezed between the Atlantic’s pounding surf and the enormity of the Vatnajökull ice cap. Although popular in the summer, few travellers venture here in September to enjoy the spectacular scenery in all its autumnal glory.

Iceland is also one of the main staging-posts along the Atlantic ‘flyway’ for birds breeding further north, providing an opportunity to refuel on their long migration south. The plaintive cries from flocks of Golden Plover drift over russet-coloured moorlands, while Gyrfalcons patrol overhead and small parties of geese briefly reunite, joining Whooper Swans to graze the autumn grasses before continuing south. Along the coastline Purple Sandpiper, Sanderling, Dunlin and Knot eagerly feed and are joined from time to time by chattering flocks of Snow Buntings. The unambiguous sound of Great Northern Divers enhances the otherworldly atmosphere at Thingvallavtn, and Barrow’s Goldeneye are often encountered on the River Sog.

We begin our holiday with a 3-hour flight from Heathrow to the international airport at Keflavik. From here we will drive, by minibus, through ancient lava fields to our first hotel close to the most celebrated of all Iceland’s landscapes, Thingvellir. This is a very special place. Not only is Thingvellir an iconic place in Iceland’s history (the setting for the world’s first parliament), but it sits astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge itself and is one of the few places where you can walk from Europe to America in just a few steps! In September the heathland is also awash with the subtle russet-brown, yellow and fiery-red hues of autumn. Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most spectacular waterfalls, thunders nearby, while no visit to the region is complete without time-watching the geothermal features and boiling mud pools at Geysir.

Next we head east along the south coast to Skaftafell, passing an inspirational landscape of golden grasslands, soft cushions of green and grey Rhacomitrum mosses, weird black lava formations and lofty rhyolite mountains en route. It is no surprise that the area surrounding Skaftafell and the Vatnajökull ice cap was declared a national park in 1967 and, covering nearly 5,000 square kilometres, Vatnajökull National Park is the largest single protected area in Europe. Our hotel for the next two nights lies in the shadow of Iceland’s highest mountain with views of its dramatic snow-bound 2,200-metre peaks.

One of the most majestic natural spectacles in Iceland is the ice-lagoon at Jokulsarlon on the edge of the Breidamerkurjokull Glacier. The lagoon is filled with icebergs of every conceivable shape and size which have calved off the glacier and then become trapped. Jokulsarlon is renowned for its unique interplay of light and ice and, since there is no better way to appreciate this spectacle than from the water, our tour includes a boat ride on this amazing lagoon.

All too soon we must retrace our journey back to Keflavik, through a landscape of countless waterfalls that plunge from towering cliffs into the valleys below. For our final two nights we will be staying near Reykjavik and have a chance to explore the lava fields that erupted in 2021. Finally, on our last full day, we will explore the capital before — weather permitting — taking a whale-watching cruise out of Reykjavík. This will offer an opportunity to enjoy some of the amazing marine mammals that inhabit Iceland’s rich coastal waters, as well as an interesting variety of seabirds. Sightings usually include Minke Whale and White-beaked Dolphin, and perhaps even Orca or Humpback Whale for the fortunate few — a fitting finale to our time in Iceland before we return to Keflavik Airport for our flight home.

DETAILED INFORMATION

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1

Fly Keflavik and transfer Thingvellir

Day 2

Thingvellir

Day 3/4

Vatnajökull National Park

Day 5/6

Greater Reykjavik

Day 7

Fly London

Download Full Itinerary

What's Included

What's Included?

Flights
Accommodation:
Comfortable hotels throughout, all rooms with private facilities.
Food:
All included in the price except for evening meals. Allow £50 per day for these.

Reviews

Waterfalls, geysers, glaciers, stunning scenery, northern lights, whales and dolphins - we saw it all! An interesting, well-organised trip to Iceland featuring great weather, fabulous scenery, interesting geology, good food, comfortable unpretentious hotels and pleasant travelling companions. I've been on two trips with Naturetrek and both have been very well organised with good tour leaders, good hotels and plenty of wildlife and scenery. Great holidays for lovers of the outdoors who are no longer wanting to hike up mountains but just prefer to potter along, looking at the scenery, birds and flowers.
R.H. Oxfordshire, Sept 23
I went on this trip with Naturetrek specifically to visit Thingvillir. Here I wanted to see the tectonic plates, but also the site of the ancient Althing, the embrionic democratic parliament. I was not disappointed. Although my desire to see this area was satisfied by the end of the second day, the rest of the trip was far from an anticlimax. Our next stop was Skaftafell, via two magnificent waterfalls, at the base of one of which I found myself actually standing IN a rainbow. Skaftafell itself was beautiful with more waterfalls and a richly coloured forest of dwarf birch trees. We finished our trip with a visit to Reykjavik and a whale watching trip. On our way back to the airport on the last day, we visited a large recently formed steaming vent set in a science fiction landscape. There was much much more along the way which impressed, and beguiled. A holiday I will always remember.
B.J. Middlesex
Only our second Naturetrek trip and with much to live up to after a wonderful mid-summer exploring the Lofoten Island, Norway, in 2014. Marcus, our tour leader, Naturetrek and Iceland did not disappoint! From meeting us at the airport, Marcus spared no effort to ensure that our trip lived up to its title and to our expectations. The arrangements, itinerary, accommodation and travel were all of the same high standard we had experienced previously with Naturetrek. As for Iceland, it was without doubt, the star of the show. On our very first night, at Gullfoss, we were treated to an awe-inspiring display of the northern lights as our after dinner entertainment! The aurora were just the start of the show. Bubbling mud pools and erupting geysers, cascading waterfalls with near-permanent rainbows, glaciers grinding down from immense ice caps and icebergs rolling and bobbing in a lagoon only to be swept out to sea along a very short and equally fast-flowing river were all part of the daily scene for us. Just how many rolls of film would we have needed if it were not for our digital cameras and memory cards? As for the geological history, we barely scratched the surface. Walking over rocks that didn't even exist at the time of the Norman conquest was almost impossible to believe. Fantastic!
P. & S.M. West Yorkshire

Packed full, the tour took us from the Northern lights to hot springs, geysers, lava fields, black sands, ice lagoons, glaciers and waterfalls. We also did a fair amount of birdwatching and saw minke, seals and dolphins. It was thrilling to see birds I had last seen in Scotland now here. It's a great holiday for anyone interested in geology, wildlife, birds and Iceland. On the comfort side the food was excellent and the hotels very comfortable indeed. There were two days of long drives but only two and the scenery and well judged stops along the way made even these full of interest - nothing but praise for the guide who was kind, cheerful and knowledgeable and very attentive to our different needs. A wonderful group of people to travel with as well.
J.K. West Yorkshire

Given that our guide had very good local knowledge and an evident fascination for the landscape and nature of the region - we learned a great deal. Iceland is an expensive country but the company is aware of this and strove to provide value for money. The hotels were very good and there was a good choice of interesting restaurants and cafes - and very stimulating dinner table conversation! We are currently looking at further trips with Naturetrek.
T.H. Suffolk

Best holiday I've ever had. Very varied, excellently planned and constructed.
J.K. Kent

Dave's knowledge of Iceland made a marked contribution to the success of the holiday. He was able to adapt our itinerary to the vagaries of the weather and he was very good at seeking the interests of the group members and responding to them.
C.P. Somerset

We were extremely lucky to have such amazing weather on this trip, enabling us to appreciate the stunning scenery. We had great views of the Northern Lights. Marcus [our tour leader] managed to take us to lots of interesting sights, and still find time for coffee and cake stops covering the needs of everyone on the trip! The itinerary was excellent - Iceland is a wonderful country and we would like to return on another trip someday.
P.W. Clwyd

We had an excellent mixture of birding, botany, geology and sightseeing, in fact the holiday greatly exceeded my expectations.
J.M. Selkirkshire

We enjoyed the variety of the days and the enthusiasm of Marcus [our tour leader]. He had researched the tour and worked hard to make sure every day catered for all interests. He was flexible in his approach and he read the group’s interests extremely well. Iceland is an amazing country with both nature and geology to enthral, and we had an excellent introduction to it all.
S & P. West Yorkshire

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Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost

Sun 7th Sep – Sat 13th Sep SPACES £2,795

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Regional Departures:

On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.

Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£2,495

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£350

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Seeing whales in the wild is one of the top 10 things most people want to do during their lifetime. Scanning the water, waiting to hear a blow or see a dorsal fin, is one of the top wildlife experiences in the world, and it can get addictive! A sighting of whales in their natural habitat is consistently rated in the top 10 wildlife experiences in the world. These gentle giants of the ocean hold a special place in our hearts. Our dedicated small group tours offer the thrilling opportunity of an up-close-and-personal encounter in the wild; scanning the water, waiting for the sound of a blow or the sight of a dorsal fin is both thrilling and addictive.
Naturetrek Whale Watching Tours
Our dedicated small group whale-watching holidays encompass a range of destinations all over the world to offer the best chance of sightings on short trips or longer cruises. Whether it’s a day excursion in the UK or an extended 14-day cruise to an exotic far-flung location, we offer the chance to encounter these giant cetaceans in all of the world’s oceans, from the tropics to the Polar regions. 
Depending on the location, our itineraries can focus on one or several of the planet’s 86 key species, including Blue and Killer Whales, or form part of a broader wildlife-watching experience to encounter dolphins, birdlife and other marine species. Led by expert biologist or naturalist guides, our tours often allow participants to get thrillingly close to one of the most fascinating animals on Earth. We've been organising specialist wildlife tours for 32 years and our experience, passion and knowledge have earned us a reputation as the best in the business. Our range of whale-watching holidays is so popular that we are rapidly expanding our programme to include some of the most exciting, wildlife-rich places in the world.
Why book a Naturetrek whale & dolphin watching holiday?

Expert biologist-led & wildlife photographer-led holidays
Dedicated whale-watching tours focusing on one or a few key species
Many of our whale-watching tours offer the chance to see dolphins as well (and vice versa)
A range of tours from day trips out on small boats to week-long liveaboard cruises
A chance to look for cetaceans in all of the world’s oceans, from polar waters to the tropics
A wide range of the world’s 86 species are seen on our whale-watching holidays, including Blue Whales & Killer Whales
A wide range of the world's dolphin species have also been seen, from Bottlenose and Risso’s, to Spinner, Striped and Heaviside’s


Our specialist recommends...


"In the UK I'd recommend our full-day dolphin tours to look for White-beaked dolphins off Lyme Bay. Madeira offers a good variety of dolphins close to shore including Risso's, Atlantic Spotted and Common, while if you fancy warm tropical waters Sri Lanka or the Maldives offer a good range of acrobatic species in sunny conditions!" 

Sara Frost - Tour Leader & Marketing Manager

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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.

Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:

Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar

Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
 

Our specialist recommends...


"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."

Byron Palacios - Tour Leader

  
 
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It is many people’s wish to experience for themselves the fantastic celestial phenomenon of the Northern Lights. Caused by particles from the sun disrupting the upper atmosphere and exciting atoms in the sky, it is an ephemeral, unpredictable and thrilling marvel of nature. One moment there might be a faint green glow on the horizon, the next minute there can be pulsating ribbons of green, magenta or even red light spreading across the sky. Every display is unique!
Auroral activity can be seen throughout the long, far northern winter, but it can be variable. At Naturetrek, we combine looking out for Aurora Borealis, as Galileo called it, with daytime searches for wildlife, ranging from winter birdlife to cruises for whale watching.
 

Our specialist recommends...


"If you travel to northern latitudes during the winter months you stand a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Our tours in Iceland visit remote regions with little light pollution so when the skies are clear, we will be on the lookout for Aurora. I recommend the 'Iceland - Northern Lights & Winter Wildlife' holiday for stunning winter landscapes, winter birds including Gyrfalcon, whale watching and Northern Lights. ” 

David Phillips – Operations Manager 
 

All Northern Lights Tours
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire

Tour Reports

Tour report - September 2019

Tour report - September 2018

Tour report - September 2017

Tour report - September 2016

Tour report - September 2015

Tour report - September 2014

Tour report - September 2013

Tour report - September 2012

Tour report - September 2011

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Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!