Glacier Snowmobiling, Golden Circle & Northern Lights

by Arctic Adventures · Northern lights · Snowmobiling · Golden Circle

4.60· 5,195 Google reviews of the operator

Beginners welcome
Fine on your own

from €403.08 per person

Next departure: Tue 27 Oct

Book Tue 27 Oct · €403.08 Other dates

Glacier Snowmobiling, Golden Circle & Northern Lights — Arctic Adventures

Glacier Snowmobiling, Golden Circle & Northern Lights, photo 2

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11 photos from Arctic Adventures. Tap any one for the full-size original.

Duration
16 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Season
Sep – Apr
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Hotel pickup included
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
08:30
Minimum age
8
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before

About this experience

We'll start this adventure packed day with pick up from your selected pick up location in downtown Reykjavík before setting off on a small group minibus tour of the world renowned Golden Circle.

Our first stop will be Þingvellir (Thingvellir). This historic site is not only important to the history and politics of Iceland but it's a geological wonder. Situated between the Eurasian and north American tectonic plates, Þingvellir symbolises the pulling apart of the mid-Atlantic ridge. This site is a geologists dream. Þingvellir is also the historic site where parliament in Iceland was first established, also making it one of the oldest parliaments in the world.

Next we will venture to Geysir Hot Springs where you'll witness the power of geothermal energy that Iceland is known for. You'll have the opportunity to see Strokkur erupting to a height of around 40 metres into the air every 7-10 minutes but also enjoy fumaroles, bubbling hot springs and hot water being released from the ground.

Our last stop of the Golden Circle is Gullfoss waterfall, which is actually two waterfalls in one. The upper waterfall drops a height of 11 metres, the lower waterfall drops a height of 21 metres. Water being carried over this amazing natural phenomenon comes directly from Langjökull glacier, where you'll be snowmobiling.

After Gullfoss, we'll traverse gravel roads to get to our snowmobiling basecamp to the east of Langjökull Glacier. Arriving at our snowmobile glacier base camp we will gear you up in warm glacier overalls, gloves and helmets. The specially trained glacier guides will then show you how to safely operate the snowmobiles on the glacier before going for a great one-hour tour on the glacier. Langjökull is Iceland’s second biggest glacier; it is several enormous ice filled volcanic craters, rimmed in by imposing volcanoes and set in the breathtaking Icelandic interior.

Disclaimer: All glacier and adventure trips are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Arctic Adventures does not assume any responsibility for accidents that are caused by its customers or can be traced to their own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherit risk.

Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

Reykjavík Pick Up
Þingvellir National Park
Geysir Hot Springs
Gullfoss Waterfall
Langjökull Glacier
Northern Lights Hunt!

Included

Pick up & drop off in Reykjavík

Snowmobile Tour

Snowmobiling Gear & Overalls

Visit to the highlights of the Golden Circle

Super Jeep or Monster truck ride on the glacier

Snowmobile Tour

Experienced Snowmobile Guide

Experienced Driver Guide

Guided tour in English

Wifi

Small Group Guarantee

Hot chocolate on the northern lights tour

Free photographs with the Northern Lights

Stop at Gullfoss Café (opportunity to purchase lunch)

2 people sharing a Snowmobile

Not included

Food & Drinks

Hats, gloves & warm coats for sightseeing & northern lights

Good to know

Warm outdoor clothing

sturdy shoes

Sunglasses

Camera

We reserve the right to alter the itinerary according to weather, road and glacier conditions. Your safety comes first.

We'll begin the golden circle tour, then snowmobiling. Please note that you'll be changing vehicles in Reykjavík after the snowmobiling adventure and you'll have a 1-2 hour wait between tours (enough to grab some dinner.).

Please note you need to have a valid driver's license to be able to drive the snowmobiles.

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is a solid cloud forecast — most operators call it by late afternoon and let you rebook on a clearer night free of charge. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

1Arctic Adventures decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Why this one and not the cheaper one?

The nearest cheaper Perlan Ice Cave, Northern Lights Planetarium & Golden Circle Tour from BusTravel Iceland is €110 — €293 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

	Arctic Adventures · €403	BusTravel Iceland · €110
How long it runs	16 hours	10 hours
How hard it is	Easy	Very easy

The €293 buys you 6 more hours out. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.

Who this is not for

Children under 8 cannot join this one.
Not a good fit if you want a relaxed day: 16 hours is a long time on the road, most of it spent getting there and back.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

Arctic Adventures is one of 207 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

What travellers say about Arctic Adventures

Read all 5,195 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.6/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

Kai Gilchrist
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
This was a phenomenal trip with AMAZING sights. Our tour guide was informative, friendly, and easy to listen to. You will learn a lot and see nature at its greatest. We absolutely loved this tour and would recommend it to anyone. The car ride is comfortable and there is wifi as well! Shout out to our tour guide, Magnus (I hope I’m spelling his name correctly), who told us some hilarious stories.
Tatjana Kultaniemi
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
I spent six days on a bus tour around Iceland with a professional guide. It was an excellent opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of Iceland's breathtaking nature while also learning about the country's history and the everyday lives of its people. Iceland's landscape and animals are truly unique, featuring magnificent waterfalls, geysers, whales, seals, puffins, volcanoes, glaciers, and mountains. Every day brought new and unforgettable experiences. Of course, none of this would have been possible without our guide, Viko. He not only drove the bus safely but also shared fascinating stories about Icelandic history, culture, and way of life. He was willing to tailor the itinerary to our group's interests and wishes, making the experience even more enjoyable. I am very grateful for his professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiasm in interpreting Iceland's natural and cultural heritage. He played a key role in making this tour such a memorable experience.
Chloe Lamm
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
I did the Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik. Such an amazing tour and one of the highlights of my trip to Iceland! Our guide, Erik, was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information about Iceland throughout the day. We visited some of the country’s most beautiful sights, including stunning waterfalls, Vik, black sand beaches, and other breathtaking stops along the South Coast. The pickup process was simple and organized, making the day completely stress-free. The scenery was incredible from start to finish, and Erik helped make the experience even better with his knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm. If you’re visiting Iceland, the South Coast is a must-do, and I highly recommend taking this tour with Erik as your guide!
Nicole Y.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
What a wonderful adventure! The 3 Day South Coast/Golden Circle tour included all of the sites we wanted to see and it did not disappoint. We were picked up at a bus stop in downtown Reykjavik and our journey began with about 16 other guests, a good group size. Our tour guide "Good" John did an excellent job teaching us about the history of Iceland and the sites we saw. The tour is well organized with just enough time at each site. He also made adjustments to the itinerary based on the weather as well as including sites not on the tour to give us more to see, which we loved! There were plenty of bathroom/food breaks as needed and we loved that we could just sit back, relax, and enjoy the views outside the window rather than worrying about driving and parking. Our multi-day tour included a 2 night stay at Adventure Hotel Geirland, which Arctic Adventures owns. Such a quiet hotel, convenient location with beautiful views. Our only complaints were that the shower leaked and made the floor wet, and that dinner at the restaurant was expensive with limited options. However the food was good and breakfast was included. The Katla Ice Cave was our favorite part, which was partnered with Southcoast Adventure, and our guide Inga was very friendly and knowledgeable. We did pay for a hiking boot rental for my husband but never received the boots. We did not ask our tour guide so we are not sure what happened with that. Overall we absolutely loved this tour and would highly recommend Arctic Adventures to anyone visiting Iceland for the first time!

Reviews from Google · updated 23 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Best Snowmobile Tour in Iceland (2026): 4 PicksThe snowmobile tours we would book ourselves: Langjökull from Gullfoss, the same glacier with Reykjavík pickup, and Eyjafjallajökull on the South Coast.
Langjökull snowmobile: meet at the glacier or pickup?Meeting at Húsafell or Gullfoss costs about €245 to €270; a Reykjavík pickup adds €45 to €70 and a long day. Most people should drive or join a bus.

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Northern lights — questions people ask

When is the best time to see the northern lights in Iceland?

September to April, when the nights are dark enough. Within that, late September to March gives the longest dark hours, and the equinox months, September and March, often have active skies. There are no lights in June or July; the sky never gets dark. Anyone selling you a June lights tour is selling you a bus ride. Give yourself at least three nights, because clouds, not the aurora, are the usual reason people miss them.

Are the northern lights guaranteed on a tour?

No. Nobody can promise them, and we will not. Two things have to line up: a clear sky and solar activity. Guides check the cloud forecast at vedur.is and drive to gaps, which is the real value of a tour over standing outside your hotel. What most operators do promise is a free second attempt if the lights do not show. Check the exact retry policy on the tour page, because the number of retries and the validity period vary.

Is a northern lights bus tour or a boat tour better?

Bus, if you want the best odds. A minibus can drive an hour inland to find a clear patch; a boat stays in Faxaflói and sees whatever sky is over Reykjavík. Boats are shorter, about two hours, and pleasant with hot chocolate, and Reykjavik Sailors' cruise (/experience/6637/) includes a free retry. For a serious hunt, a small-group minibus like BusTravel's (/experience/150646/) or a 4x4 tour (/experience/1088067/) is the better bet.

Can I see the northern lights from Reykjavík itself?

Yes, on strong nights. The city is small and the sky over the sea to the north is fairly dark. Grótta lighthouse at the western tip and the Ægisíða shoreline are the usual spots, twenty minutes' walk from the centre. On average nights the street lights drown out a faint aurora, which is why tours drive out. If the forecast shows high activity and clear sky, walk to Grótta first and save the tour money.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Reykjavík, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in Reykjavík →

One checkout, any number of operators
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206 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted
If it falls short, we fix it

from

€403.08 per person

Arctic Adventures's own price. 3% off the whole trip when you book two or more tours together, in one checkout.

Your date

The next departure we can see — change it if this tour is for another day.

Pick a date to check departures.

Departs08:30

Reykjavík: light 08:52–17:31, 8 h 39 min of daylight.

✓ Free cancellation until 24 hours before
✓ Instant confirmation by email
✓ If Arctic Adventures cancels for weather or safety: a full refund, or another date
✓ Card — Apple Pay or Google Pay where your device offers it — through Stripe; the charge is made in Icelandic krónur
✓ Price promise: Arctic Adventures's own price, or we refund the difference
✓ One checkout, even with tours from several operators
✓ Vetted operator — the six checks every operator passes

Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €22 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.