Local Living Iceland — Northern Lights & Reykjavík (Self-Launched)
5 days · Iceland
G Adventures charges £1,499
No-markup version: ~£610 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 5-day self-launched version of G Adventures' "Local Living Iceland—Northern Lights & Reykjavík": base yourself in a Reykjavík hostel or guesthouse, hunt the aurora with an independent minibus tour, wander the Kolaportið flea and fish market, soak in a local geothermal pool, cook Icelandic dishes yourself, and use your free days for the Golden Circle or Sólheimajökull Glacier. All transport by local public bus and bookable day tours. Costs are approximate per person in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Reykjavík & first aurora hunt
Reykjavík
Land at Keflavík and take the Flybus or Strætó bus 55 into the city centre (~£20-25 one way). Check into a downtown hostel — Hlemmur Square, Kex Hostel, or a Reykjavík City Hostel dorm bed runs roughly £30-45/night in winter. Settle in, grab a cheap grocery dinner (Bónus or Krónan supermarket), and if the aurora forecast is good, join an evening Northern Lights minibus tour booked independently via GetYourGuide (~£40-55). Most operators offer a free retry if the lights don't appear.
🚌Flybus or Strætó bus 55 from Keflavík (~£20-25)
🛏Downtown Reykjavík hostel dorm or budget guesthouse (~£30-45/night)
- →Keflavík airport transfer by Flybus/Strætó
- →Northern Lights minibus tour (booked via GetYourGuide)
- →Self-catered dinner from Bónus supermarket
Reykjavík on foot, Kolaportið & Icelandic cooking
Reykjavík
Do a self-guided walking loop of the city: Hallgrímskirkja church, Harpa concert hall, the Sun Voyager sculpture, and the old harbour. Visit Kolaportið flea and fish market (open weekends) to browse and buy fresh fish for a self-cook dinner. In the afternoon, soak at a local geothermal pool — Sundhöllin or Laugardalslaug — where entry is only ~£7-9. Back at the hostel, cook a hearty Icelandic meal (plokkfiskur or lamb soup) using market fish.
🚌Walking; occasional Strætó city bus (~£3/ride)
🛏Downtown Reykjavík hostel dorm or budget guesthouse (~£30-45/night)
- →Self-guided Reykjavík walking tour
- →Kolaportið flea & fish market
- →Sundhöllin or Laugardalslaug geothermal pool (~£8)
- →Cook Icelandic dinner with market fish
Golden Circle self-launched day tour
Golden Circle
Free day: join an independent Golden Circle coach tour (Þingvellir National Park, Geysir hot springs, Gullfoss waterfall) booked via GetYourGuide or Klook, ~£55-75 for the day including transport. Cheaper alternative: take Strætó bus 51 toward Selfoss and use local connections, but a tour is simpler from the city. Evening back in town; try another aurora hunt if skies are clear.
🚌Golden Circle coach tour (included in tour price)
🛏Downtown Reykjavík hostel dorm or budget guesthouse (~£30-45/night)
- →Golden Circle day tour (Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss)
- →Optional second aurora attempt
- →Pub or café night in downtown Reykjavík
Glacier or Blue Lagoon free day
Sólheimajökull / Blue Lagoon
Another flexible day: choose the Sólheimajökull glacier hike with a local guide (~£90-120 including transport and gear), or head to the Blue Lagoon (entry from ~£50 plus return bus ~£25) or the cheaper Sky Lagoon. Alternatively, explore the Reykjanes peninsula or Reykjavík's museums (Perlan, National Museum). Evening farewell dinner at a budget restaurant or self-cooked at the hostel.
🚌Operator bus for glacier/Lagoon tour (typically included)
🛏Downtown Reykjavík hostel dorm or budget guesthouse (~£30-45/night)
- →Sólheimajökull glacier hike OR Blue Lagoon/Sky Lagoon
- →Museum visit or Reykjanes peninsula exploration
- →Self-catered or budget restaurant farewell dinner
Departure
Reykjavík
Check out and take the Flybus or Strætó back to Keflavík for your flight (~£20-25). Those with late flights can squeeze in a final geothermal pool dip or a last Kolaportið browse before heading to the airport.
🚌Flybus or Strætó bus 55 to Keflavík (~£20-25)
🛏Not included (checkout day)
- →Flybus/Strætó transfer to Keflavík
- →Optional final pool soak or market visit
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£610 | £1,499 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £889 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£610
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 Local Living Iceland — Northern Lights & Reykjavík (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £610 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 £1,499 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £610 — a saving of roughly £889 (59%) 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 slow-travel, culture, adventure 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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