Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle — Self-Launched
5 days · Iceland
G Adventures charges £1,850
No-markup version: ~£605 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY winter version of G Adventures' 5-day Northern Lights & Golden Circle loop from Reykjavik — same lava cave, horse farm, Golden Circle and south coast waterfall stops, but self-organised on Iceland's public bus network (Strætó/Reykjavik Excursions), hostel dorms and a rural guesthouse near Hveragerði/Álftröð. Two nights outside the city give you dark skies for aurora hunting, and you book the caving and glacier hikes yourself via GetYourGuide or directly with local operators. Expect cold, changeable weather and pack for it.
Day-by-day
Arrive Reykjavik — city wander & aurora forecast check
Reykjavik
Fly into Keflavík and take the Flybus or Airport Direct coach into Reykjavik (~ISK 4,000–5,000, roughly £25–30) — the cheaper Flybus drops at BSÍ terminal then shuttles you onward. Check into a hostel dorm in the 101 district or near Laugavegur. Spend the afternoon walking the old harbour, Hallgrímskirkja and the Sun Voyager sculpture; if you want the Harpa Concert Hall (an optional extra on the original tour), walk-in lobby access is free and guided tours are ~£15–20. Pick up groceries at Bónus or Krónan — eating out in Iceland is brutal on a budget. Check the vedur.is and aurora forecast sites in the evening and set a phone alarm for clear-sky windows.
🚌Flybus/Airport Direct coach from Keflavík (~£27), walking in town
🛏Hostel dorm, central Reykjavik (~£35–45/night)
- →Hallgrímskirkja & old harbour walk
- →Harpa Concert Hall (free lobby / optional tour)
- →Grocery stock-up at Bónus
Lava cave, Icelandic horses & first aurora hunt
Reykjavik to Álftröð / Hveragerði area
Book the Leiðarendi lava cave tour in the Bláfjöll Mountains directly with a local operator (e.g. Arctic Adventures or a GetYourGuide listing, ~£60–75 including pick-up from Reykjavik). You'll crawl and scramble through a 900m tube formed by a volcanic eruption — bring gloves and sturdy shoes; helmets and headlamps are provided. In the afternoon transfer south by Strætó bus 51 (Reykjavik–Selfoss line, ~£10) to a guesthouse in the Álftröð/Hveragerði countryside. Several farm guesthouses here run horse-riding introductions on Icelandic horses (~£55–70 for an hour) — book ahead by email. After dark, walk 10 minutes away from the buildings and hunt for auroras on your own; rural guesthouse hosts usually know the best nearby dark spots.
🚌Operator pick-up for caving; Strætó bus 51 south (~£10)
🛏Icelandic countryside guesthouse, twin/dorm room (~£45–60/night)
- →Leiðarendi lava cave tour
- →Icelandic horse farm visit / short ride
- →Northern Lights hunt on foot
Golden Circle self-drive-by-bus
Álftröð / Hveragerði area
Do the Golden Circle independently: take Strætó bus 51 to Selfoss, then bus 72/73 toward Þingvellir (check timetables the night before — winter service is limited), or join a small-group Golden Circle day tour from Reykjavik via GetYourGuide (~£65–85) which covers Þingvellir, Geysir/Strokkur and Gullfoss in one loop. At Þingvellir walk the Almannagjá gorge between the North American and Eurasian plates and see Öxarárfoss. At Geysir watch Strokkur erupt every ~10 minutes, then Gullfoss's two-tier falls. Back at the guesthouse, cook dinner with your travel mates (the original tour does a group cook-off), then head out for a second night of aurora watching.
🚌Strætó buses or small-group day tour (~£75)
🛏Icelandic countryside guesthouse (~£45–60/night)
- →Þingvellir National Park
- →Geysir & Strokkur hot spring
- →Gullfoss waterfall
- →Guesthouse group dinner
- →Northern Lights hunt
Glacier, south coast waterfalls & back to Reykjavik
Álftröð to Reykjavik via south coast
Book a Sólheimajökull glacier hike direct with a local guiding company (e.g. Icelandic Mountain Guides or a GetYourGuide option, ~£95–120 including crampons and pick-up from the Reykjavik area) — the original tour offers this as an optional extra. Alternatively, take Strætó bus 51 to Selfoss and onward buses toward Vík if you just want to view the glacier tongue from the car park. On the way back hit Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the 60m curtain — expect to get wet) and Skógafoss (climb the 527 steps to the top). Return to Reykjavik in the evening and check into your hostel for the last night.
🚌Glacier tour transfer or Strætó buses (~£30–45)
🛏Hostel dorm, central Reykjavik (~£35–45/night)
- →Sólheimajökull glacier hike
- →Seljalandsfoss waterfall
- →Skógafoss waterfall & stair climb
Reykjavik farewell
Reykjavik
Breakfast at the hostel, then a final morning for a swim at a local geothermal pool (Sundhöllin or Laugardalslaug, ~£7–10 — much cheaper than the Blue Lagoon) or a coffee crawl along Laugavegur. Catch the Flybus back to Keflavík for your flight — allow 3 hours before departure. If you want the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, book it as an add-on either before or after these 5 days, as the original operator advises.
🚌Flybus/Airport Direct to Keflavík (~£27)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Local geothermal swimming pool
- →Laugavegur coffee & shops
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£605 | £1,850 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,245 per person (67%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£605
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £605 per person for 5 days in Iceland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,850 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £605 — a saving of roughly £1,245 (67%) per person.
How long is the Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Iceland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, budget trip through Iceland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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