Iceland Northern Lights: Self-Launched Aurora Adventure
5 days · Iceland
Exodus charges £2,310
No-markup version: ~£525 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Chase the aurora borealis across southern Iceland's dramatic landscapes — from thundering waterfalls and glacier walks to icebergs on black volcanic sands and the Golden Circle — all without the guided group price tag. This self-launched version follows the exact same route as the Exodus tour, swapping the minibus and tour leader for a hire car (your greatest freedom in Iceland), budget-friendly guesthouses with dark-sky access, and self-bookable activities via GetYourGuide and direct operators. Iceland is one of the most self-launchable destinations in the world: roads are well-signed, aurora apps are free, and the country rewards independent travellers handsomely. Costs are estimated per person based on two people sharing a hire car and accommodation.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Reykjavik — Explore the Capital
Reykjavik
Fly into Keflavik International Airport (KEF). Pick up your hire car on arrival — this is essential for Iceland and far cheaper than joining a guided group. Budget rental companies like Sad Cars, Geysir Car Rental, or Lotus Car Rental offer small 4WDs from around £40–60/day. Take the Flybus or Airport Direct shuttle into Reykjavik (~£20pp) if you'd rather collect the car in the city the next morning. Check into your guesthouse and spend the afternoon exploring the compact capital on foot: walk up to Hallgrímskirkja church, stroll the Laugavegur shopping street, and head to the Harpa Concert Hall waterfront after dark — away from city light pollution — for your first aurora watch of the trip. Download the Vedur Iceland Met Office app and Aurora Forecast app to track real-time activity. No guide needed.
🚌Flybus or Airport Direct shuttle from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik (~£20pp one-way); hire car collected on arrival or in city next morning
🛏Reykjavik Hostel Village, Hlemmur Apartments, or Kex Hostel — dorm from £30pp/night or private room from £55pp/night sharing
- →Pick up hire car at Keflavik Airport (book in advance — Sad Cars, Geysir, or Lotus Car Rental from ~£45/day for a small 4WD)
- →Explore Hallgrímskirkja church and Laugavegur street on foot (free)
- →Walk to Harpa Concert Hall waterfront for first aurora watch of the trip (free)
- →Download Vedur Iceland Met Office app and Aurora Forecast app for real-time aurora tracking (free)
Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss Waterfalls — Head South, Hunt the Lights
South Iceland (Seljalandsfoss / Skógafoss / Vík area)
Leave Reykjavik early and drive east along the Ring Road (Route 1) — a well-marked, scenic highway. Your first stop is Seljalandsfoss waterfall (195ft/60m), where you can walk behind the cascade in winter — bring microspikes/ice grips, available cheaply from Bonus supermarket or hiking shops in Reykjavik (~£8–12). Continue to the equally dramatic Skógafoss waterfall, a 195ft drop falling in a wide sheet. If time allows, detour to Dyrhólaey peninsula for coastal views, then drive to Reynisfjara black sand beach to see the famous Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks. Cross the vast Mýrdalssandur floodplains and check into your countryside guesthouse or rural hotel — the dark-sky location is exactly what you need for aurora hunting. Step outside after dinner and scan the sky using your aurora app. No guides required; all sites are publicly accessible.
🚌Self-drive hire car east along Ring Road (Route 1), approx. 180km from Reykjavik to Vík area — ~2.5hrs driving. Fuel cost approx. £15–20 for the day.
🛏Guesthouse Carina (Vík), Hótel Vík í Mýrdal, or Katla Guesthouse — budget rooms from £55–80pp/night sharing
- →Walk behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall — entry car park fee ~£6 (covered by national parks pass if purchased)
- →Visit Skógafoss waterfall (free access)
- →Optional detour to Dyrhólaey peninsula viewpoint (free)
- →Walk Reynisfjara black sand beach and see Reynisdrangar sea stacks (free)
- →Aurora hunting from countryside accommodation using Vedur app (free)
Falljökull Glacier Walk & Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon — Diamond Beach at Dusk
Vatnajökull / Jökulsárlón / Diamond Beach
An early start for one of Iceland's most spectacular days. Drive further east along the Ring Road to Falljökull glacier. Book a guided glacier walk in advance via GetYourGuide or direct with local operators like Icelandic Mountain Guides or Glacier Guides — these are small-group, self-bookable experiences that include crampons and ice axes (~£55–70pp). The terrain is accessible for beginners. After the glacier, continue to the stunning Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, where you can walk the shoreline freely and watch icebergs float past (no guide needed, no entry fee). Cross the road to Diamond Beach, where ice chunks wash up on black volcanic sand in extraordinary formations — one of Iceland's most photogenic spots. Drive back (~90 mins) to your guesthouse in time for another aurora watch. Check your app and be ready to step outside quickly if activity spikes.
🚌Self-drive hire car further east from Vík to Jökulsárlón (~150km, ~2hrs). Return to same accommodation. Fuel approx. £20–25.
🛏Same guesthouse as Day 2 (Vík area) — budget rooms from £55–80pp/night sharing
- →Glacier walk on Falljökull with crampons & ice axes — book via GetYourGuide or direct with Icelandic Mountain Guides or Glacier Guides (~£60pp)
- →Walk Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon shoreline (free)
- →Walk Diamond Beach — ice on black volcanic sand (free)
- →Evening aurora hunting from rural guesthouse (free)
Golden Circle: Gullfoss, Geysir & Þingvellir National Park — Back to Reykjavik
Golden Circle / Reykjavik
Drive back west along the south coast, then turn inland via Hvolsvöllur to join the famous Golden Circle route — Iceland's most visited day-trip circuit, and perfectly doable independently with no guide. First stop: Gullfoss, one of Europe's most powerful waterfalls, with two-tiered cascades plunging into a canyon (free entry). Then Geysir hot spring area, where the Strokkur geyser erupts every 5–10 minutes, blasting water 30m into the air — spectacular and completely free to watch. Finally, Þingvellir National Park: site of the world's first democratic parliament (930 AD) and the visible Mid-Atlantic Ridge rift valley where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart. All sites have free or low-cost entry. Pick up a packed lunch at a petrol station or the Bonus supermarket. Return to Reykjavik in the evening. Tonight's your last chance for an aurora sighting — head to the seafront or a dark suburb.
🚌Self-drive hire car: south coast back to Golden Circle loop, then into Reykjavik (~250km total). Fuel approx. £20–25.
🛏Return to Reykjavik — Kex Hostel, Reykjavik Hostel Village, or similar — budget room from £55pp/night sharing
- →Visit Gullfoss waterfall (free entry, car park fee ~£6)
- →Watch Strokkur geyser erupt at Geysir hot spring area (free)
- →Explore Þingvellir National Park rift valley and parliament site (free; national park fee ~£6 if applicable)
- →Final aurora watch from Reykjavik seafront or dark suburb (free)
Reykjavik Morning — Fly Home from Keflavik
Reykjavik / Keflavik Airport
Return your hire car at Keflavik Airport or Reykjavik city (confirm drop-off location when booking). If your flight is in the afternoon, use the morning for any Reykjavik highlights you missed: the National Museum of Iceland (~£15), a soak at Sundhöllin geothermal pool (~£8) or the famous Blue Lagoon if pre-booked (~£65–90 — book well in advance as it sells out). Take the Flybus or Airport Direct shuttle to Keflavik (~£20pp) in time for your departure. Trip ends at Keflavik International Airport.
🚌Hire car return at Keflavik Airport; Flybus/Airport Direct shuttle from Reykjavik BSÍ terminal to airport (~45 mins, ~£20pp)
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Optional: National Museum of Iceland (~£15)
- →Optional: Sundhöllin geothermal pool in Reykjavik (~£8) — a local favourite over the touristy Blue Lagoon
- →Optional: Blue Lagoon geothermal spa (~£65–90, pre-book online)
- →Flybus or Airport Direct shuttle to Keflavik Airport (~£20pp)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£525 | £2,310 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,785 per person (77%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£525
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: Self-Launched Aurora Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £525 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 Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £2,310 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £525 — a saving of roughly £1,785 (77%) 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, culture, hiking 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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