Iceland is the closest thing Europe has to another planet, and it is three hours from the UK. I have planned Iceland holidays for honeymooners, families, northern lights chasers and long-weekenders, and it has never once disappointed. Here is how I would plan yours.
Why Iceland holidays are booming
Few destinations pack so much into so little flying time. Volcanoes, glaciers, black sand beaches, waterfalls you can walk behind, geothermal lagoons steaming under open sky, and in winter, the aurora overhead. Iceland package holidays have become one of the most searched trips in the UK for good reason: it delivers wonder per day like nowhere else.
It also suits almost any trip length. Iceland short breaks and mini breaks work beautifully because so many of the famous sights sit within reach of Reykjavik. A long weekend to Iceland can genuinely include the Golden Circle, the Blue Lagoon and a northern lights hunt. With a week or more, the south coast, glacier lagoons and whale watching open up too.
Northern lights holidays: getting the odds right
The number one request I get: holidays to see the northern lights. The honest answer is that the aurora is a wild thing and no one can guarantee her. But you can stack the odds. Travel between late September and March, stay somewhere dark away from city glow, allow at least three nights, and build in flexibility so a cloudy evening is not your only chance.
The best northern lights breaks pair the hunt with things that are wonderful anyway: husky sledding and northern lights holidays are a favourite combination, as are winter breaks that mix ice caves, frozen waterfalls and geothermal soaks. That way the lights are the crown, not the whole kingdom.
The Blue Lagoon, and the quieter alternatives
Blue Lagoon Iceland holidays are justly famous: milky blue water at 38 degrees, a silica mask, a drink from the swim-up bar, steam drifting across lava fields. I always suggest booking it for the day you land or the day you leave, since it sits near the airport, which turns dead travel hours into the best layover of your life.
For spa breaks in Iceland beyond the famous name, ask me about the newer lagoons: some hang over the Atlantic, some sit in remote valleys, and most are calmer than the Blue Lagoon in high season. An Iceland spa holiday that threads two or three of them together is a wonderful thing.
Tempted by the lights? Tell me your dates and I will tell you honestly what your aurora odds look like, and build the trip around maximising them.
Plan my Iceland tripIceland with the family
An Iceland family holiday is an adventure story your children will tell for years: walking between tectonic plates, spotting whales from Reykjavik's old harbour, watching Strokkur erupt on schedule like a show put on just for them. Distances on the classic routes are short, which keeps car time manageable, and the sheer strangeness of the landscape does the entertaining for you.
Families do well with a base in Reykjavik for a short break, or a gentle fly drive for longer trips. Iceland fly drive holidays give you freedom without complexity: the ring road is one big, well-signed loop, and I plan the overnights so no driving day outstays its welcome.
When to go
Iceland winter holidays, from November to March, are for the aurora, ice caves and snow-dusted drama. Summer brings the midnight sun, puffins, lupine fields and easy road conditions, ideal for first-timers and families. The shoulder months of September and October are my quiet favourites: northern lights possible, crowds thinner, prices kinder.
Whenever you go, pack layers and book the famous bits early. The best Iceland package deals on lagoon slots, ice cave tours and boutique hotels go to those who plan ahead, which is, conveniently, my job.
How I plan an Iceland holiday
Every Iceland trip I build is bespoke: your pace, your priorities, your budget. Package holidays to Reykjavik with a couple of chosen excursions suit short breaks; tailored fly drives suit explorers; and luxury Iceland holidays, with glass-roofed lodges and private guides, suit once-in-a-lifetime moments like honeymoons and big birthdays. Everything is ATOL protected, and I am on the end of the phone throughout, including when the aurora forecast lights up and your evening plans need a joyful rearranging.
