Tradecraft Travel presents · A Collette guided departure
Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights 2028
Winter landscapes. Waterfalls. The search for the aurora.
Travel from Reykjavík to the Golden Circle and Iceland’s south coast, with three nights near Vík for evening northern-lights searches. Glaciers, black-sand beaches, and geothermal water make this a rewarding winter journey even when the sky has other plans. Northern-lights sightings are not guaranteed.
January 15–21, 2028
7 days · 5 hotel nights · From $4,899 per person, double occupancy; air-inclusive from Washington (WAS)
Continue to Collette’s group booking page for this Tradecraft Travel departure. Review live availability, the full itinerary, and booking terms there.
The journey
7 days · 5 hotel nights
At the table
11 meals · 6 breakfasts, 5 dinners
Travel style
Level 3 · active winter travel
Your advisor
Jack Buchanan · Tradecraft Travel
Why this journey
A winter journey with plenty beyond the sky.
The Golden Circle
See the Geysir area, Gullfoss, and Thingvellir National Park, then continue south via the Lava Exhibition Center and Seljalandsfoss.
Iceland’s south coast
Explore Reynisfjara’s black-sand shore, Skógafoss, Sólheimajökull, and the ice-filled landscapes around Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach.
Time after dark
A weather-dependent northern-lights cruise and countryside searches create several chances to look for the aurora. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Northern lights above an icy lagoon in Iceland. Image courtesy of Collette. Sightings are not guaranteed.
Watch Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights
Collette’s official tour preview · 1:48
Video courtesy of Collette. This is a tour overview; see the itinerary below for this departure. Northern-lights sightings are not guaranteed.
Price & reservation dates
Your air-inclusive offer
From $4,899
USD per person, based on double occupancy
Save $100 per person with Collette’s advertised air-inclusive Book Now offer through July 16, 2027. Current availability and the final quote are confirmed by Collette.
Single: $5,599 per person
Triple: $4,849 per person
Plan around these dates
Recommended booking target: July 9, 2027
Our early booking target allows time before Collette’s July 16, 2027 group-space reduction and offer deadline. Space is subject to availability; it is not guaranteed until confirmed.
Deposit: $698 per person, due when reserving.
Final payment: October 17, 2027.
The brochure states deposits are refundable through July 16, 2027. Cancellation and change penalties may apply afterward; review Collette’s full terms before paying.
Rates are per person in USD, based on the air-inclusive package from Washington (WAS), and subject to change before deposit and Collette confirmation. Once confirmed with deposit, the brochure’s price guarantee excludes increases in government-imposed taxes or fees. Ask for current rates after July 16, 2027. Single rooms are limited. Group economy-air rates and schedules assume at least 10 travelers on the same flights and dates.
What you are booking
Included, optional, and worth knowing
Included in the package
- Round-trip economy air from Washington (WAS), plus air taxes and fees/surcharges
- Scheduled airport-to-hotel transfers with the air-inclusive package
- 5 hotel nights in the listed hotels or alternatives
- 11 meals · 6 breakfasts, 5 dinners
- The included sightseeing and experiences in Collette’s itinerary
- Collette’s guided tour arrangements and Tour Manager
Budget separately for
- Optional cancellation waiver and insurance: $599 per person. If selected, payment is due with your first deposit; terms and eligibility apply
- Tour Manager, driver, and other applicable gratuities
- Meals not listed, personal purchases, and optional experiences
- Passport or other required travel documents
- Air upgrades, optional extensions, extra hotel nights, or other separately quoted arrangements
Day by day
The route at a glance
A concise guide to the current group itinerary. Collette may change the sequence, hotels, or activities; its booking documents govern the trip.
Photos illustrate itinerary locations and are cropped to fit. Seasonal conditions and flight views vary.
Day 1 · Saturday, January 15
Overnight flight
Depart the United States for Iceland on an overnight flight. January 15 is the flight departure date, not the Reykjavík arrival date.
Day 2 · Sunday, January 16
Arrive in Reykjavík
Your room is available on arrival. After breakfast, join a guided Old Town walk, dinner, and a weather-dependent northern-lights cruise on Faxaflói Bay. Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3 · Monday, January 17
Golden Circle to Vík
Visit Geysir, Gullfoss, and Thingvellir, followed by the Lava Exhibition Center and Seljalandsfoss. Continue to the Vík area for three nights and evening aurora searches. Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4 · Tuesday, January 18
Black sand, waterfalls & ice
Visit Reynisfjara, the Skógar Museum, Skógafoss, and Sólheimajökull Glacier. Look for the northern lights again after dinner if conditions allow. Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 5 · Wednesday, January 19
Jökulsárlón & Diamond Beach
A longer coastal drive reaches the glacier lagoon and nearby beach, where washed-up ice contrasts with black sand. Return to Vík for dinner and another aurora search. Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6 · Thursday, January 20
Blue Lagoon & Reykjavík
Travel west along the south coast to the Blue Lagoon for a geothermal-water visit, then return to Reykjavík for a farewell dinner. Activities remain subject to local conditions. Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 7 · Friday, January 21
Return home
Depart Reykjavík for home. Breakfast included.
Where you will stay: Planned hotels: Centerhotel Plaza, Reykjavík (arrival and final nights), and Hotel Dyrholaey near Vík (3 nights). Collette may use alternate hotels. Arrival-day room access and breakfast are included; additional pre-arrival nights are separate.
Is it a good fit?
Be ready for a real Icelandic winter.
Collette rates this tour Level 3. Be ready for sustained walking and standing, uneven or icy paths, late nights, cold wind, and limited January daylight. Northern-lights searches can mean waiting outdoors in darkness. Collette advises that this itinerary is not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility-assistance devices. Ask about suitability before reserving.
Collette lists an average of 37 travelers, with a maximum of 44. Tell Jack and Collette about assistance or dietary needs before booking so you can review what can be accommodated.
Firsthand perspective from Jack
Jack has visited Iceland and can help you assess the itinerary, pace, and practical details before you commit. You can book directly through the Collette link or ask a question first.
Before you reserve
A few useful answers
Are the northern lights guaranteed?
No. Clear skies, solar activity, and local conditions determine whether they appear. The cruise may be postponed or cancelled because of weather or sea conditions. Other activities may be changed, moved, or cancelled when conditions require it.
What do the travel dates mean?
The trip starts with the overnight U.S. flight on January 15, 2028. Arrival in Reykjavík is January 16, and the tour ends January 21. Confirm the full flight schedule with Collette before making separate arrangements.
Does this include flights?
The advertised offer includes round-trip economy air from Washington (WAS), air taxes and fees/surcharges, and scheduled hotel transfers. Specific flights, routing, and airport are confirmed through Collette. Some gateway schedules may require an extra hotel night at additional cost.
Will Jack be leading the tour?
This is a Collette guided departure offered through Tradecraft Travel. Jack is your travel advisor; his attendance as a tour host is not included or promised.
For the complete itinerary, important tour information, current availability, and Collette’s reservation terms, use the official group booking page. Booking number: 1484518. Pricing and itinerary summarized from the October 13, 2026 group brochure.
Your next step
Ready to explore Iceland?
Review the departure and reserve with Collette, or talk with Jack about whether it is right for you.
Call 571-571-7573 · Email Jack@tradecrafttravel.com