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Iceland Solar Eclipse 2026 Exclusive

Iceland
Escorted

From £2845

Excluding Flights

4 Nights

Aug

Overview

Witness the celestial drama of a total eclipse of the sun on this unforgettable guided tour to West Iceland – exclusive to Discover the World!

Accompanied by professional astronomer and self-confessed eclipse chaser, Tom Kerss, enjoy optimal viewing from a small fishing village on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Here in the path of totality you’ll experience just over 2 minutes of near-darkness, as the moon eclipses the sun on 12 August 2026.

From your base at Hotel Húsafell you’ll explore the famous natural attractions of the Golden Circle – discover erupting geysers and thunderous Gullfoss waterfall, as well as the continental divide at Thingvellir National Park.

Also included is an afternoon tour around Húsafell, taking in the beautiful Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls, and steaming Deildartunguhver hot springs.

This trip can be taken as a stand-alone escorted holiday, or can be added on to any tailor-made self-drive itinerary. Speak to our Iceland Specialists for recommendations on creating your bespoke Iceland adventure.

  • Highlights

    Stay at stylish Hotel Husafell in the heart of Iceland’s dramatic countryside and your base for exploring natural wonders

  • solar-corona-by-tom-kerss

    Highlights

    Witness a total solar eclipse

  • iceland-partial-solar-eclipse-rth

    Highlights

    Experience the eclipse accompanied by expert astronomer, Tom Kerss

  • Highlights

    Explore the iconic Golden Circle

Itinerary

You’ll be collected from Keflavik Airport or downtown Reykjavik, before heading north-east to Húsafell for a 4-night stay. On arrival you’ll have time to check in and explore your surroundings, before enjoying dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Hotel Húsafell is a stylish and quiet oasis on the doorstep of some of Iceland’s iconic natural wonders. Modern furnishings and Icelandic artwork feature in each of the 39 rooms, while the restaurant’s picture windows overlook the surrounding countryside. The food is a real highlight – expect Icelandic ingredients accompanied by fine wines and fantastic service. And the recently renovated geothermal pools, nestled into the hillside, offer the quintessential Icelandic bathing experience.

  • west hotel husafell drone view of hotel
  • hotel husafell restaurant
  • west hotel husafell twin garden view

Today you’ll depart on a full day tour to discover the natural wonders of the Golden Circle. This spectacular touring route takes in three of Iceland’s most iconic attractions – the thunderous waterfall of Gullfoss, with its two-tier, 30 metre cascades; the dynamic Geysir Geothermal Area; and the chance to walk between continents at Thingvellir (Þingvellir) National Park, a spectacular rift valley packed with Viking history and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There’ll be plenty of time to explore and take photos before returning to Husafell this evening. After dinner join astronomer Tom Kerss for an informative overview on tomorrow’s eclipse – the science behind it all and what you can expect to see.

iceland south west strokkur geysir rth

Golden Circle Classic by Coach

This classic guided tour of Iceland's famous trio of natural wonders, Gullfoss, Geysir and Thingvellir, offers an insightful glimpse into the country's extraordinary landscapes.
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  • iceland south west golden circle thingvellir fissure astk
  • south west iceland thingvellir buildings rth

Set off this morning for the scenic 2.5 hour drive to Olafsvik, perched on the north coast of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. This historic fishing village offers plenty of opportunities for prime eclipse viewing locations, all walkable within 10 minutes from the small harbour. There’ll be time to explore and enjoy lunch before picking your spot to witness the eclipse.

At 4:45pm the eclipse will commence, as the moon edges its’ way in front of the sun. By 5.45pm darkness will fall as the total eclipse begins, creating an eerie calm. Only the sun’s corona will be visible, a circle of shimmering light around the moon’s silhouette. After just a couple of minutes the sun will start to gradually reappear, with this mesmerising event finally drawing to an end at 6.46pm.

Throughout the afternoon you’ll have exclusive access to a local restaurant for refreshments, as well as lunch and a celebratory post-eclipse dinner.

  • iceland snaefellsnes olafsvik harbour rth

This morning after a leisurely breakfast you can enjoy a debriefing and further astronomy presentation with Tom Kerss. Later, an afternoon sightseeing tour is included, visiting spectacular waterfalls and other local attractions.

Alternatively you may prefer to spend the afternoon exploring independently on foot, with countless hiking trails on the doorstep. Or upgrade to an optional activity (additional cost, pre-booking essential) – perhaps relax in the geothermal pools outside the hotel, or head to the more remote Canyon Baths for a natural soak in a stunning setting.

Other compelling experiences available include exploring lava caves, or heading deep inside a glacier at nearby Langjokull!

  • iceland husafell canyon baths
  • west iceland hraunfossar view rth
  • iceland langjokull 8wd into the glacier experience

Optional Experiences

iceland husafell canyon baths

Husafell Canyon Baths

A dip in these geothermally-heated hot springs is the reward for an easy hike into Iceland's highlands. With spectacular views of the surrounding canyon, mountains and glaciers, this natural setting makes for a truly memorable soak.
iceland langjokull ice cave into the glacier rg

Into the Glacier - Ice Cave in Langjokull

The Langjokull ice cave stretches 200-300 metres into Europe's second largest glacier. Exploring at about 30 metres below the surface you'll discover ice in multiple hues of blue and white, hundreds of years in the making.
iceland snaefellsnes vidgelmir lava cave

Cave Explorer

Enjoy an exciting guided walk into the mighty Vidgelmir lava cave, a short distance from Husafell near Borgarfjordur. Explore the magical underworld and learn how the cave was formed thousands of years ago.

Your Iceland eclipse adventure comes to an end today as you depart Húsafell for Reykjavik, where you’ll enjoy a short sightseeing tour of Iceland’s colourful capital city. You may wish to leave the tour here and extend your stay in Iceland, perhaps picking up a rental car for an independent exploration of the south coast, or flying to Akureyri for a taste of the north. Our Travel Specialists are on hand to help plan your perfect itinerary.

The remainder of the group will continue to Keflavik Airport to board the flight home.

 

Total solar eclipse

Total Solar Eclipse: 12 August 2026

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun. Those viewing from within the path of totality will witness the extraordinary phenomenon of a total eclipse, when the face of the sun is completely blocked by the moon. All that remains as the world plunges into darkness is the sun’s corona, haloing the silhouette of the moon.

The last total eclipse that was visible from Iceland was in 1954… and the next one won’t occur until 2196! With the point of maximum eclipse located just outside Breiðafjörður Bay, Iceland’s Snaefellsenes Peninsula is the place to be in August 2026. Here you can enjoy the longest durations of totality visible from land, at just over 2 minutes.

Viewing location: Olafsvik,on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, West Iceland
Latitude 64.8953 / Longitude -23.7069

Duration of eclipse: 2 hours, 1 minute, 1 second
Duration of totality: 2 minutes, 3 seconds

Partial eclipse begins:                16:45:05
Total eclipse begins:                  17:45:53
Maximum eclipse:                      17:46:55
Total eclipse ends:                     17:47:56
Partial eclipse ends:                  18:46:06

Special glasses will be provided to ensure you can witness the eclipse unfold safely. Please note that, as with any natural event, eclipse viewing is weather dependent and cannot be guaranteed.

Your expert guide: Tom Kerss

Astronomer, author, public speaker, broadcaster, uranographer, and dedicated eclipse chaser, Tom Kerss F.R.A.S. is passionate about connecting people with the universe around them.

With multiple astronomy books under his belt, for both adults and children, Tom also has a degree in astrophysics and spent more than 6 years working at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. These days he’s more commonly found further north, as Chief Aurora Chaser on board Hurtigruten’s Norwegian Coastal Voyage.

Prices

What's Included

  • Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom

  • All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 5

  • All transportation as per the itinerary

  • Golden Circle Tour

  • Húsafell Sightseeing Tour

  • Eclipse viewing from Olafsvik, Snaefellsnes Peninsula

  • Expert insights and presentations by a professional astronomer

  • Local tour guides

  • Eclipse viewing glasses

  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday

  • No surcharge guarantee

  • Full financial protection

From £2845 Excluding Flights

4 Nights

Aug

Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.

Our holiday prices exclude flights. Why? Because we want to offer you the best value, tailored to your needs. Flight prices and offers change daily, so when you’re ready to book, we’ll provide a bespoke quote based on your preferred options from your local airport. This way, you’ll always get the best prices and the flexibility to choose what works for you.

Make this trip yours

Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.

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Plan Your Trip

Price guide

We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch. 

Experts with real experience 

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    Travel Specialist

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    3

    Favourite Canadian lakes

    5

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  • 4

    Arctic cruises

    2

    Antarctica cruises

    20

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  • 7

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    28

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    5

    Continents visited

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