September, 2025: Northern Lights and Geology of Iceland
Iceland | September 25-30, 2025
Iceland will enchant you with its many wonders, including volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, and the dazzling Aurora Borealis. One of the only places in the world where geology is an active participant in day to day life, explore Iceland with Sirius Travel and our scientist guides will bring their understanding of the natural phenomena to share with you. While in Iceland you will feel welcomed by the friendliness of the Icelandic culture as you search for the elusive aurora and visit amazing geologic sites. The dates for this 6-day trip were carefully selected to optimize your chances to view the aurora under dark and clear skies with enough daylight to see the spectacular landscapes.
Aurora video credit: Travis Rector. Photo credit: Sirius Travel, Iceland tourism
Activity Level:
Moderate
Price:
$4,800 Double Occupancy
Duration:
5 nights / 6 days
Trip Highlights
On this tour you will visit Iceland’s most iconic sites including waterfalls such as the colossal Gullfoss, the enchanting Seljalandsfoss, and the breathtaking Skogafoss. We will explore Thingvellir National Park and walk through the valley where the tectonic plates are drifting apart, tracing the steps of Iceland’s early settlers where brutal Viking-age justice was carried out and the Althingi parliament was founded. You will watch in awe as the geyser Strokkur launches boiling water into the air in the Geyser geothermal area. You will behold the striking basalt columns, supernatural black sand, and immense sea stacks of Reynisfjara on the south coast’s black sand beaches. Included in the itinerary are visits to two impressive hot spring spas. First, the newly opened but already well-known Sky Lagoon which opens out over the North Atlantic and, later in the tour, an afternoon luxuriating in the warm, mineral-rich waters of the Blue Lagoon*. Starting and ending in Reykjavik, you will have time to explore this unique and friendly northern capital from our centrally located hotel within easy walking distance of the majority of popular sights.
* Our visit to the Blue Lagoon and Seltún will depend on the status of the currently encroaching volcano
Pricing and Terms
Payment
- $4,800 per traveler (11 and older) – based on double occupancy
- Single supplement: $850
- Lower age limit is 11 years old.
- To secure a reservation, initial deposit ($1,000) with a completed reservation form is required.
- Cancellations must be made in writing by email or mail to Sirius Travel.
- 2nd payment ($2,000) due March 25, 2025
- Final payment due June 25, 2025
Cancellations
- Cancellations made prior to September 26, 2024 are fully refundable.
- If cancellations are made:
- 09/26/2024 – 05/28/2025 (364-120 days prior to travel):
65% of your total tour cost is refunded. - 05/29 – 07/27/2025 (119-60 days prior to travel):
35% of your total tour cost is refunded. - 07/28 – 08/26/2025 (59-30 days prior to travel):
10% of your total tour cost is refunded
- 09/26/2024 – 05/28/2025 (364-120 days prior to travel):
- There are no refunds after August 26, 2025
Detailed Itinerary
Lunar Phase: Waxing Crescent but moon sets at 6:27pm (D)
DAY 1
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Travelers will begin their tour at the hotel in Reykjavik. In the late afternoon there will be an introductory talk where travelers will meet the guides, receive the final itinerary, and connect with each other. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner in the evening followed by an opportunity to view Northern Lights if weather permits.
Accomodation: Central Hotel, Reykjavik or similar.
Meals: Dinner
Lunar Phase: Waxing Crescent but moon sets at 5:58pm (B)
DAY 2
Friday, September 26, 2025
Today you will enjoy a City tour of Reykjavik’s top attractions:
- The old Höfði house (where the summit between the Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbatsjov took place in 1986)
- Harpa concert hall
- City Centre
- Hallgrímskirkja church
- Bessastaðir (the official residence of the President of Iceland)
- Flyover Iceland
- Sky Lagoon
Evening opportunity to view Northern Lights if weather permits.
Accomodation: Central Hotel, Reykjavik or similar.
Meals: Breakfast
Lunar Phase: Waxing Crescent but moon stays below the horizon all night (B, D)
DAY 3
Saturday, September 27, 2025
After breakfast, you will take a full day tour of some of the best known natural phenomena surrounding Reykjavik. From spouting geysers, massive tumbling waterfalls, and ancient volcanoes, this excursion will introduce you to the world-renowned pristine natural beauty in the heart of Iceland’s Southern Region, stopping at some of Iceland’s most iconic sites:
- Þingvellir National Park
- Gullfoss waterfall.
- The Great Geysir
- Friðheimar greenhouse
- The Þjóðveldisbærinn Farm
- Hjálparfoss double waterfall
Overnight near Hella in a great dark-sky location so that if wether permits, our chances to see the northern lights is optimized!
Accomodation: Stracta Hotel or similar.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Lunar Phase: Waxing Crescent but moon stays below the horizon all night (B,D)
DAY 4
Sunday, September 28, 2025
After breakfast, we will leave for a full day excursion to Iceland’s southern coast. Our experience today will include:
- Icelandic horses and a demonstration of their unique gaits
- Iceland’s southern coast road
- Eyjafjallajökull glacier view
- Seljalandsfoss waterfall
- Skógafoss waterfall
- Vík í Mýrdal (or just Vík to the locals)
- Reynisdrangar sea stacks
- Reynisfjara black sand beach
- the LAVA exhibit in Hvolsvöllur
Accomodation: Stracta Hotel or similar.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Lunar Phase: 1st Quarter but moon stays below the horizon all night (B, D)
DAY 5
Monday, September 29, 2025
After breakfast we will make our way back to Reykjavík seeing the following en route:
- the Seltún geothermal area (if the roads are open)
- the Hellisheiði geothermal power plant
- the Blue Lagoon and relax in its remarkable waters.
On your return to Reykjavik you will have some time at leisure before our farewell dinner. If the weather permits we will have an evening opportunity to view Northern Lights.
Accomodation: Central Hotel, Reykjavik or similar.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Lunar Phase: Waxing gibbous but moon stays below the horizon all night (B)
DAY 6
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
After breakfast you will check out of the hotel and have several hours to do some last minute shopping before the afternoon transfer to the airport. Transfers to the airport will be provided on this day.
Meals: Breakfast
Included
- Astronomer / Scientist guides
- Professional bilingual guide
- All ground transportation
- 4-star accommodations
- Airport transfers on 9/25 and 9/30 (other dates are not included)
- Meals (as described in itinerary)
- Lectures: Astronomy/science talks throughout the tour.
- Sky Lagoon entrance fee
- Blue Lagoon entrance fee
- Flyover Iceland admission
- LAVA Center museum entrance
- Hellisheiði power plant entrance
- Þjóðveldisbærinn Farm entrance fee
- Friðheimar greenhouse
- Horse demonstration entrance fee
- Park entrance fees
Not Included
- International flights
- Items of a personal nature
- Alchoholic beverages (unless specifically included)
- Tips for drivers and guides
- Meals not specified in the itinerary
- Activities or services not mentioned in the itinerary
- Travel insurance
Other Information
Trip cancellation, health, and accident insurance is recommended but not required. It can save you money if you are forced to cancel or alter your trip. We recommend TravelGuard trip insurance (www.travelguard.com) and we recommend that all travelers purchase their insurance within 7 days of their initial reservation to take advantage of any pre-existing condition clause.
Precautions should always be taken seriously and pre-trip education on what to eat or to avoid should be planned. Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC website.
It is every traveler’s responsibility to consider all appropriate medical advice regarding whether or not they are fit to take this trip prior to booking their reservation. We recommend that all interested travelers check with their healthcare provider before signing on. COVID-19: Sirius Travel passengers will be required to comply with all Icelandic recommendations and requirements in place at the time of travel. The latest Icelandic regulations may be reviewed on their official website here: https://www.covid.is/english
Children 11 and older are welcome on this tour but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian if they are under 18. Please note that most countries have very strict entry/exit requirements for minors (under the age of 18 years old), especially minors traveling with only one parent. Please review the requirements before choosing to travel with a minor.
If you are traveling alone, you may save quite a bit of money by opting to share a room. We will match solo travelers of the same gender so that they can share a double occupancy room with two beds. We will do our best to match travelers but if we cannot find a match for you then you will be required to pay the single occupancy price.
Historical weather prospects in Iceland: Statistically, the chance of clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy skies is at least 40% throughout September. The weather is usually dry (average precipitation is 67mm) and the average temperature is 7.4°C (45.3°F) but it can go as high as 10-15°C (50-59°F). Wind is frequently the main issue and wind/rain gear is essential. If you don’t block the wind it will feel very cold.
We recommend bringing warm clothes and being prepared for everything, the weather is very unpredictable and it can rain, be sunny and windy, sometimes at the same time. Layers are the key as you want to be able to strip off clothes when it is warm and put them back on when it gets colder. Links here are the same as those on our “packing suggestions” page and are Amazon affiliate links.
- Hiking boots – You will be traveling around the country and walking outside. You need good waterproof hiking shoes that will keep you warm.
- Base layer – Warm layers under the clothes might be the best thing you bring to Iceland. We recommend wearing long wool or thermal underwear, you can buy it in outdoor clothing stores in Iceland.
- Fleece or wool – An Icelandic wool sweater or fleece is a must. Icelandic wool sweaters can be bought all over the country in local stores.
- Parka or water and windproof jacket – Usually you don’t need a parka in September but, if you have space in your suitcase, why not bring it? Swim Parkas are fantastic so if there is a swimmer in the house.. you may need to borrow that. At minimum a water and windproof jacket over the wool/fleece sweater is essential.
- Water and windproof pants – It is windy in Iceland and it rains so bring the pants.
- Hats, gloves and warm socks – Bring at least two sets of everything, a lighter pair and a thick one as well. Consider the wind which can get through a single knit layer easily. Again, if you need to upgrade while in Iceland, there are stores that carry these items everywhere.
- Swimsuit – You are going to want to relax in the warm swimming pools or hot springs after a long day outside. It is possible to rent a swimsuit at the spas if you forget yours.