Iceland between Ice and Fire - Hunting the Northern Lights

March 13th to 20th, 2024
A winter road trip through southern Iceland to discover the natural and geological wonders of this extraordinary island, amidst breathtaking and emotional landscapes: volcanoes, geysers, cliffs, frozen lakes, rivers and waterfalls, and endless glaciers.
Iceland is one of the most magical destinations to witness the Northern Lights. This fascinating natural phenomenon is caused by the collision of electrically charged particles from the Sun with the Earth's atmosphere. These particles charge the atmosphere with energy, causing it to emit light in various colors, such as green, red, and purple. The weather is always unpredictable, so the program, excursions, and travel plans may be subject to change based on weather conditions. Every evening, depending on the aurora forecast and cloud cover, we will try to reach the best spot to witness the Northern Lights. Viewing the Aurora is not guaranteed as it depends on the Sun's magnetic activity and atmospheric conditions.

Price includes: € 1420.00 - Guide service, insurance, and excursion organization. Overnight stays in 3/4-star hotels with accommodation in rooms with a double bed or two single beds, private bathroom, and daily breakfast included; rental of minivans and related insurance, fuel, and parking fees.
Price does not include: Round-trip airfare to Reykjavik airport, daily dinners and packed lunches, drinks, and extra expenses not specified under "Price includes". A common fund of € 50 per person is planned for packed lunches during the day.
Optional extras: Admission to the Blue Lagoon with welcome drink and face mask € 75.00 per person. Glacier and ice cave excursion with guide and full equipment € 210.00 per person. For these two options, you must book online as soon as possible; please confirm your interest immediately to avoid lack of availability.
Before departure, a video conference briefing will be held on Zoom with all participants regarding the equipment and clothing to bring.
Deposit: € 420.00 at the time of booking. Upon confirmation of your participation in the trip, we kindly ask you to send your insurance details via email to [email protected]: full name, place and date of birth, place of residence, and tax code (codice fiscale); we recommend a copy of your ID card.
Balance: € 1000.00 to be paid 20 days before departure.
Meeting point: March 13th, 2024, at 05:00 AM at Milan Malpensa Airport. For those traveling from southern Italy, we meet on March 12th at Catania airport at 03:45 PM. Both flights cost around € 470.00, including a 10 kg trolley and a small backpack/bag to place under your feet. The flight from Milan Malpensa/Reykjavik round trip alone is € 320.00. If we book the flights by December 20th, we have the chance to purchase tickets at the same price. Flight routes and times for ticket purchase will be communicated upon your trip confirmation.
End of trip: March 20th, 2024, at 05:00 PM at Milan Malpensa Airport.
Trip type: Stationary
Difficulty: Moderate.
Daily walking hours: 3 to 5.
Nights: In hotels
Highlights: Thermal waters, icebergs, volcanoes, geysers, frozen rivers and waterfalls, glaciers, cliffs, geology, pristine nature, and surprising landscapes.
Required equipment: Winter trekking clothing, rain jacket (k-way), gaiters, small backpack, high-cut trekking boots, flashlight, wool hat, sweater, thermal underwear, winter waterproof jacket, gloves, water bottle, microfiber bathrobe, swim cap, flip-flops, and personal toiletries.
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights.
Booking deadline: December 31st, 2023. We ask you to book in advance to secure the services required for our stay dates, as there is a risk of unavailability otherwise.
Max number of participants: 12
Notes: The excursion may be subject to changes due to unpredictable natural events; in such cases, the guide will make the final decision. A few days before the excursion, we will send you an email with the latest information.
Guide: Salvatore Marletta: contact – 3334987946
Email: [email protected]
www.ciaotrekking.com
Technical Organization: Kora Viaggi - Via Roma 170 Ragusa