Iceland: The Golden Circle

See Iceland just as summer begins to give way to aurora season. Spend five nights in Reykjavík with the Golden Circle, a soak in the Secret Lagoon, whale watching from the harbour and an evening Super Jeep trip beyond the city lights in search of the Northern Lights.

Highlights

Follow the Golden Circle to Þingvellir National Park, the erupting Strokkur geyser and Gullfoss waterfall before bathing in the geothermally heated Secret Lagoon.
Head out from Reykjavík harbour on a whale-watching trip, looking for minke and humpback whales, harbour porpoises and white-beaked dolphins.
Leave Reykjavík after dark in a 4x4 Super Jeep, travelling into the countryside to search for the Northern Lights away from the city’s glow.
Keep time free for Reykjavík itself, from Hallgrímskirkja and the waterfront to Laugavegur, Harpa and the city’s cafés and restaurants.

Reykjavík

Stay five nights in Reykjavík, with Laugavegur just a short walk from your hotel. Walk down towards the waterfront and Harpa concert hall, head up Hallgrímskirkja for views across the city, then spend an evening trying some of the restaurants and bars around the centre.

With all three included trips leaving from Reykjavík, you can use the days between them to explore the city without having to keep moving hotels.

Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon

Spend a full day travelling the Golden Circle, beginning at Þingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet and Iceland’s early parliament was established.

Continue to the Geysir geothermal area to watch Strokkur send boiling water into the air, then walk to the viewpoints above Gullfoss, where the Hvítá River drops through a two-stage waterfall. The final stop is the Secret Lagoon at Flúðir, a naturally heated geothermal pool where the water stays around 38 to 40°C.

Whale Watching

The following morning, head out from Reykjavík harbour for around three hours on the water. The surrounding bay is home to species including minke whales, humpback whales, harbour porpoises and white-beaked dolphins.

There are indoor seating areas and outdoor viewing decks on board, so you can move around the boat as the crew look for signs of wildlife and point out what is being spotted.

Northern Lights Super Jeep Adventure

On your final included experience, leave Reykjavík in the evening aboard a Super Jeep and head into the countryside in search of clearer skies and darker viewing spots.

The route is chosen according to the conditions that night, giving the guide flexibility to move away from cloud or city light where possible. Hot chocolate and cookies are included while you wait, and if the aurora appears, the guide can also help capture photos. Northern Lights sightings depend entirely on weather and solar activity, so they cannot be guaranteed.

Terms and Conditions

Return economy flights from Dublin to Reykjavík with Icelandair, departing 25/08/2027, with checked baggage. 5 nights at Fosshotel Reykjavík in a Standard Room with breakfast, a full-day Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon small-group tour, whale-watching boat trip with audioguide and a Northern Lights Super Jeep adventure. Based on 2 adults sharing. 5 nights from €1,990 per person.

5 Nights | From €1,990 per person

The Small Print

All bookings are subject to Travel Counsellors' standard booking conditions, copies of which are available on request. Travel Counsellors Ireland is licenced and bonded with the Irish Aviation Authority, licence number TA 621. We strongly recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking. Prices are per person based on the stated number of passengers sharing and are subject to availability at the time of booking.