Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle — Self-Launched
5 days · Iceland
G Adventures charges £1,259
No-markup version: ~£495 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 5-day winter loop from Reykjavik covering the highlights of G Adventures' "Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle" tour — lava caving, Icelandic horses, the south coast waterfalls (Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss), the Golden Circle (Geysir and Gullfoss) and aurora chasing — but booked independently using public buses, self-drive or day tours, and budget guesthouses and hostels instead of a guided group departure. Costs are rough backpacker estimates and exclude flights to/from Iceland.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Reykjavik
Reykjavik
Land at Keflavík and take the Flybus or Strætó bus 55 into Reykjavik (~£20-25, 45 min). Check into a downtown hostel or budget guesthouse. Spend the afternoon walking the compact centre — Hallgrímskirkja church tower, the Sun Voyager sculpture and the old harbour. Optional: Harpa Concert Hall (the tour offers this as a paid extra; entry to the building is free, guided tours ~£15). In the evening join an independent northern lights minibus chase if skies are clear (~£45-60) — book via GetYourGuide or a local operator. Self-cater or grab a cheap hot dog or soup for dinner.
🚌Flybus or Strætó bus 55 from Keflavík airport (~£20-25)
🛏Downtown Reykjavik hostel or budget guesthouse (dorm ~£25-35 / private room ~£60-90)
- →Flybus transfer to Reykjavik
- →Hallgrímskirkja church and tower
- →Harpa Concert Hall (free to enter)
- →Optional northern lights minibus chase
Lava caving and Icelandic horses
Reykjavik / Álftröð
Head out of the city for the tour's signature experiences done independently. Book a lava cave tour (e.g. Leiðarendi or Víðgelmir) and an Icelandic horse riding session through GetYourGuide or directly with a local farm — many operators combine the two on the way to the Golden Circle area. Alternatively, if you have a car, drive the Blue Lagoon / Reykjanes route and stop at a horse farm yourself. In the evening, travel onward toward the Álftröð / Hveragerði area or stay an extra night in Reykjavik, and try another aurora hunt if conditions allow.
🚌Local tour minibus or self-drive rental car; public bus options limited in winter
🛏Guesthouse or farmstay near Hveragerði/Álftröð (~£60-100 private) or Reykjavik hostel
- →Guided lava cave tour
- →Icelandic horse riding
- →Evening aurora viewing
South coast waterfalls — Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss
South Coast
Take a south coast day tour or self-drive Route 1 to the two headline waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss (60m) lets you walk behind the falling water — bring waterproofs. Continue to Skógafoss (60m), where the mist often throws rainbows. Optionally add a glacier hike on Sólheimajökull (the operator sells this as a paid extra from about £80; book independently via a local glacier guide for around the same price). Overnight in the Vík or Skógar area. Winter daylight is short, so start early.
🚌South coast day tour (~£85-110) or self-drive rental car on Route 1
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Vík/Skógar (~£40-70 dorm/private)
- →Seljalandsfoss waterfall (walk behind it)
- →Skógafoss waterfall
- →Optional Sólheimajökull glacier hike
Golden Circle — Geysir and Gullfoss
Golden Circle / Reykjavik
Do the classic Golden Circle circuit: Þingvellir National Park (the rift between tectonic plates, the tour's Day 2 hiking stop), the Geysir geothermal area with the reliably erupting Strokkur every ~10 minutes, and the powerful Gullfoss waterfall. A full-day Golden Circle bus tour costs roughly £60-80, or self-drive the ~300km loop. Return to Reykjavik in the evening and enjoy a final aurora attempt or a soak at a local geothermal pool (e.g. Laugardalslaug, ~£8).
🚌Golden Circle day tour (~£60-80) or self-drive on the Golden Circle loop
🛏Downtown Reykjavik hostel or budget guesthouse (~£25-35 dorm / £60-90 private)
- →Þingvellir National Park
- →Geysir and Strokkur erupting hot spring
- →Gullfoss waterfall
- →Optional local geothermal pool soak
Depart Reykjavik
Reykjavik
Final morning to wander the city — pick up Icelandic wool souvenirs, visit a bakery for a cheap breakfast, or squeeze in any Reykjavik sight you missed. Take the Flybus or Strætó bus 55 back to Keflavík for your flight home.
🚌Flybus or Strætó bus 55 to Keflavík airport (~£20-25)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Reykjavik city stroll
- →Souvenir shopping
- →Flybus transfer to Keflavík
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£495 | £1,259 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £764 per person (61%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£495
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 £495 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 £1,259 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £495 — a saving of roughly £764 (61%) 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, slow-travel 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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