iceland northern lights over hotel ranga

Aurora Nights Fly Drive

from £647 excluding flights

  • 3 nights
  • Jan-Apr, Oct-Dec
Home Destinations Nordic Europe Iceland Aurora Nights Fly Drive

Highlights

iceland south west winter view outside ranga

Relax in outdoor hot tubs

northern lights over hotel ranga in south west iceland

Aurora wake up call available if the lights appear overnight

iceland south west strokkur geysir winter istk

See the natural treasures of Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle route

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Marvel at the waterfalls of the south shore

ranga stargazing at observatory

Enjoy amazing night sky viewing in Hotel Ranga's observatory

hotel ranga fine dining

Enjoy fine dining at Hotel Ranga's acclaimed restaurant

Why this trip...

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Weekend escape

This is the ideal trip for a weekend escape or perhaps a mid-week getaway

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Explore at leisure

With the route, transport and accommodation sorted, each day offers the freedom to explore

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Nordic Heritage

With 40 years of experience in creating trips to Nordics we know this region inside out

Overview

This 3-night break has fast become one of our most popular winter self-drives. It has been designed with the overriding aim of maximising your chances of an aurora sighting by basing you at the optimally located and exceptional Hotel Ranga. Located in the heart of South West Iceland, you’re in prime position to explore the wealth of natural wonders that abound in the surrounding countryside.

On this fantastic short break you’ll have the freedom to explore as you please, spending the days discovering the natural wonders that dominate Iceland’s southern countryside and the nights relaxing in comfort as you anticipate a display of the northern lights.

Hotel Ranga is a friendly 4-star ranch-style hotel around a two hour drive from Reykjavik, sitting under vast open skies in Iceland’s rural south with uninterrupted 360° views. The hotel has a reputation for excellent service, yet retains an intimate and friendly atmosphere. It offers an extensive wine list and acclaimed gourmet menu. Ranga also has it’s own observatory with a retractable roof and two high-powered telescopes.

Itinerary

On arrival at Keflavik international airport collect your rental vehicle and enjoy a scenic drive to Hotel Ranga. This is your home for the next 3 nights, in a spectacular location under big skies ideal for sightings of the aurora. Ranga is the perfect place to bring the night sky to life with its roll-off roof observatory which houses two high quality telescopes, with special camera attachments to take photographs of the sky.

Discover the beautiful south; explore the iconic waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss, which cascades over a former sea cliff, and the wide thundering curtain of Skogafoss; visit the little town of Vik with its hilltop church, walk along dramatic black sand beaches and past basalt cliffs and distinctive sea stacks.

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Drive the Golden Circle route taking in Iceland’s three most famous natural wonders: the rainbow misted double falls of Gullfoss, the geothermal hotspot of Geysir with its well-known geyser Strokkur which reguarly erupts to around 30m, and the scenic national park Thingvellir where Iceland’s ancient parliament met.

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Head back to Keflavik, perhaps stopping at the Blue Lagoon en route, the perfect place for a relaxing dip in the warm therapeutic waters before your flight home. Return your rental car and check in for your flight.

Prices and Departures

Price from £647 excluding flights

Airfares vary widely and are quoted separately to the holiday price, starting from around £250pp return with Icelandair and British Airways, though may be lower with Play or EasyJet. We'll provide the best fare available at the time of enquiry, which tend to be cheaper the earlier you book.

UK Airports with flights direct to Iceland are Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. We can also arrange flights from non-UK destinations. Discover more »

Iceland Volcano Disruption Protection
We are proud of our excellent reputation for looking after our clients, without question. Should the unexpected occur our team of dedicated Travel Specialists are on call 24/7 to make any necessary alternative plans at no cost to you.

What's Included

  • Accommodation in standard rooms with private bathroom
  • Daily breakfast
  • Car rental throughout
  • Unlimited mileage
  • No charge for additional driver
  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
  • No surcharge guarantee
  • Full financial protection

This itinerary starts from around £647 per person, based on 2 sharing a room with private bathroom in standard hotels, and rental of an intermediate vehicle.

Prices may vary depending on departure date and booking date, as well as any changes to the included components. The final cost of a tailored holiday will be based on the level of accommodation, size of vehicle, included activities, travel season, and how far in advance it is booked. We will confirm the exact price for your holiday in your individual quotation, based on your chosen travel dates and inclusions.

* Choice of Vehicles

We can offer a wide range of rental vehicles for this holiday – our team will be happy to talk you through the options and provide a quote for the most suitable category based on your individual requirements.

  • 4WD

    We would always recommend a 4WD for winter travel, but many clients also prefer the greater security and comfort that a larger vehicle provides year round – upgrade your vehicle from as little as £10 per person, per day.

  • Go electric

    With a selection of electric cars now available including the Kia Niro and Volkswagen ID.3, you can choose to upgrade from as little as £12 per person, per day. We recommend this option for summer only, due to the colder temperatures in winter affecting battery range.

Tailor made trips

As independent destination specialists, we are able to tailor make holidays to suit you, be that customising the itineraries shown on this website or creating something bespoke.

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Travelling sustainably

We believe travel is about finding the right balance between minimising our impact on the environment and broadening minds through new experiences and cultural interaction.