Blue and white icebergs drifting in the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, with a snow-covered glacier behind

Northern Europe, North Atlantic

Iceland

An island still in the making — where the light changes everything you see every few hours.

Photo: Russell Moore / Unsplash

Iceland is one of the closest places where Europe still looks as it did before people arrived. Barely out of Reykjavik, the road runs across moss-covered lava fields, past steaming fissures and waterfalls pouring from old sea cliffs. For travellers from Lithuania it isn't a journey halfway round the world — but it very much feels like one.

The island changes completely with the seasons. In summer the sun barely dips below the horizon, the nights stay bright, the Highland roads open and the bird cliffs fill up. In winter the days are short and blue, the roads quieter, and on a clear night the northern lights may appear overhead — though they can never be promised.

In Iceland, time and flexibility matter most. The weather turns quickly, distances are longer than they look on the map, and the finest moments are often the unplanned ones: an empty beach in evening light, or a hot spring in the middle of a plain. That's why a route here is best built with room to spare.

Why go

01
The south coast and its glaciers
Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, the black-sand beaches near Vík and icebergs drifting through the Jökulsárlón lagoon to the sea. Along the way are lesser-known falls such as Kvernufoss, where you can often have the place almost to yourself.
02
Snæfellsnes and the Westfjords
Snæfellsnes is often called “Iceland in miniature”: Kirkjufell mountain, fishing villages, the basalt cliffs at Arnarstapi and the ice-capped Snæfellsjökull volcano. Further north lie the Westfjords, where roads wind round empty inlets and Dynjandi waterfall tumbles in tiers towards the fjord.
03
The Highlands
The island's uninhabited interior opens only in summer. The rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar are streaked with pink, green and gold, and after a hike you can soak in a natural hot spring. This is also where the celebrated Laugavegur trail to the Þórsmörk valley begins.
04
Northern lights and midnight light
From autumn to spring, on dark and clear nights, the northern lights may flicker over the island — a natural event no one can guarantee, though your chances are better far from town lights. Summer is the opposite: bright nights, when dinner on a terrace and a walk afterwards feel entirely natural.

Ways to travel

Ways to experience it

Ways to travel aren't separate paths — the best journeys often bring several together.

Tailor-made journeys
A route shaped around the season, the hours of daylight and your own pace — with spare days in case the weather turns.
Adventure & active travel
Hiking in the Highlands, guided glacier walks, kayaking in the fjords and, when conditions allow, winter ice caves.
Exceptional stays & escapes
Houses looking out over lava fields or glaciers, cosy farm stays in the fjords and lodgings where you can watch for the northern lights straight from the window.
Wildlife & nature
In summer, whale watching from Húsavík and bird cliffs where puffins come to nest. Sightings always depend on nature.
Family journeys
Short hops between waterfalls, geothermal pools and bright summer nights — Iceland easily enchants children and parents alike.
Honeymoons & special journeys
Private transfers, open-air hot springs and long evenings for two — bright in summer, and in winter with the hope of the aurora.

Iceland

Journey inspiration

Illustrative ideas for how a tailor-made journey could look. Not bookable packages: no prices, dates or inclusions are implied.

017–9 days
The Golden Circle and the south coast
Reykjavik, Þingvellir National Park, Geysir and Gullfoss, then waterfalls, black-sand beaches and the Jökulsárlón lagoon — unhurried, with overnight stops along the way.
Tailor-made journeys · Family journeys
Plan something like this
0212–16 days
Summer: Highlands, Snæfellsnes and the Westfjords
Hiking around Landmannalaugar, the Snæfellsnes coastline and the quiet roads of the Westfjords — long bright days and plenty of time outdoors.
Adventure & active travel · Wildlife & nature
Plan something like this
036–8 days
Winter light
Reykjavik, the south coast in winter colours, guided ice caves when conditions allow, and stays far from town lights — waiting for the aurora.
Honeymoons & special journeys · Exceptional stays & escapes
Plan something like this

Planning your journey

When to go

Summer (June–August) brings the longest days, the mildest weather and usually open Highland roads, though their opening dates vary each year. Spring and autumn are quieter, with softer light. Northern lights season generally runs from around September to April, but it depends on solar activity and clear skies — it can never be guaranteed. Whatever the season, the weather can change quickly.

How long to allow

A week is enough for Reykjavik, the Golden Circle and the south coast. To drive the full Ring Road and add Snæfellsnes or the Westfjords, we suggest at least 12–14 days. In winter, with short days, it's wise to plan fewer kilometres per day.

Natural combinations

Iceland works beautifully as a journey on its own, but pairs well with Norway's fjords or the Lofoten Islands — two different faces of the North. For a longer trip, the same northern wilderness awaits in Canada.

Areas to explore

Reykjavik and the Golden Circle
A colourful capital of pools and cafés, plus Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss.
The south coast
Waterfalls, the beaches around Vík, the Vatnajökull ice cap and the Jökulsárlón lagoon.
Snæfellsnes and the Westfjords
An ice-capped volcano, fishing villages and empty fjord inlets.
The Highlands
Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk — coloured mountains, hot springs and trails, reachable in summer.
The north
Akureyri, the Mývatn area and whale watching from Húsavík.

General guidance only. Weather, seasons and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.

Sample journey