The essentials for this trip.
New for 2026 — Cooee's first Nordic itinerary, designed in partnership with Reykjavik and Bergen-based local operators. Two seasons that produce two completely different trips: aurora chasing September-March (cold, short days, real chance of the lights) or midnight sun June-July (mild, 22+ hours of daylight, no aurora). Smaller group than our other world tours because photography pacing dictates.
14 days, fully scoped.
Hotel category and meal plan listed for each day. "B" = breakfast, "L" = lunch, "D" = dinner. Days marked 🌌 are aurora chase nights (Sep-Mar departures) — replaced with sunset/midnight-sun viewing on Jun-Jul departures. Days marked ✈ are flight transfers.
Welcome to Iceland. Group transfer from Keflavík (KEF) to your harbour-front Reykjavik hotel. Welcome dinner with first taste of Icelandic lamb and the local craft-beer scene.
Þingvellir National Park (where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet — you can walk between continents). Geysir geothermal area — Strokkur erupts every 8 minutes. Gullfoss waterfall. Sky Lagoon evening soak with infinity edge over the North Atlantic.
Drive south. Seljalandsfoss (the waterfall you walk behind) and Skógafoss (60m vertical drop, often a rainbow at the base). Reynisfjara black-sand beach with basalt columns. Vík village overnight — population 750, last settlement before the southern peninsula.
Drive east to Vatnajökull — Europe's largest ice cap. Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon boat amongst calving icebergs. Diamond Beach for sunset photography (the icebergs wash up on black sand — most-photographed location in Iceland). Aurora hunt evening.
Long scenic drive west across south Iceland. Side stops at Skaftafell visitor centre and Eldhraun lava field (the largest lava flow in human history — 1783). Aurora hunt evening from Snæfellsnes coast.
Snæfellsnes loop — Kirkjufell mountain (the most-photographed mountain in Iceland — yes, the "Game of Thrones" arrowhead-mountain). Búðakirkja black church on the lava field. Return to Reykjavik. Final aurora hunt from a dark-sky site outside the city.
Fly Reykjavik (KEF) → Bergen via Oslo. Afternoon in Bergen — UNESCO Bryggen wharves (the medieval Hanseatic-era timber buildings), Fløibanen funicular up Mt Fløyen for the city panorama.
Bergen fish market (the freshest North Atlantic seafood you'll ever eat). Hanseatic Museum at Bryggen. Old harbour walking tour. Free afternoon for the troldhaug Edvard Grieg house or Lekneset cafés.
Norway in a Nutshell route. Train Bergen → Voss through fjord country. Bus down to Gudvangen. Two-hour electric-boat cruise through the Nærøyfjord — UNESCO-listed, the narrowest navigable fjord in Norway. Flåm village by evening.
Day cruise on the Sognefjord — the longest fjord in Norway (205km), 1,300m deep. Aurland viewpoint at sunset (or midnight, depending on season).
The Flåm Railway up to Myrdal — one of the world's most scenic train rides. 20 tunnels, 5% gradient, waterfall stop at Kjosfossen with the Huldra mythological dancer. Connect via Geilo and the Hardangervidda plateau (Europe's largest mountain plateau) to Oslo.
Vigeland Park (Gustav Vigeland's life-work — 200+ bronze sculptures in granite). Munch Museum (the new home of "The Scream" and Edvard Munch's full collection). Oslo Opera House — walk on the roof for the Oslofjord panorama.
Bygdøy peninsula — Viking Ship Museum (three preserved Viking ships, 9th century). Fram polar-exploration museum (the actual ship Nansen and Amundsen used). Farewell dinner of Norwegian salmon and aquavit.
Group airport transfer to Oslo Gardermoen (OSL). Most Brisbane connections via London or Singapore.
The moments that make this trip.
The experiences our travellers remember years later — the things you book this tour for.
Aurora chasing
Three dedicated aurora-hunting nights with a meteorologist-led local guide who reads the cloud cover, KP-index and solar wind in real time.
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Boat ride amongst calving icebergs at the foot of Vatnajökull — Europe's largest ice cap. Diamond Beach (black-sand-and-iceberg) for sunrise photography.
Geothermal hot springs
Multiple soaks — Blue Lagoon (premium add-on), Sky Lagoon (Reykjavik infinity edge), and a hidden hot-river hike at Reykjadalur.
Nærøyfjord cruise
Two-hour electric-boat cruise through the narrowest navigable fjord in Norway. UNESCO-listed. The kind of scenery that's why fjord cruises were invented.
Flåm Railway
One of the world's most scenic train rides — from sea-level Flåm 867m up through 20 tunnels to Myrdal. Gravity-bend engineering marvel.
Photography pacing
Itinerary built around golden-hour timing at all major viewpoints. Local-guide recommendations on settings, ND filters, long exposures for waterfalls and aurora.
No hidden surprises.
Iceland and Norway are notoriously expensive day-to-day. Bundling the Iceland circuit (where the road touring would otherwise need a hire car), the Norway in a Nutshell package, and three aurora chase nights with a meteorologist guide — that's a meaningful spend Cooee absorbs.
✓ Included in the tour price
- 13 nights 4-star hotels: Reykjavik harbourfront, Vík village, Snæfellsnes, Bergen central, Flåm fjordfront, Oslo central
- Iceland: full transport in private mini-coach with driver-guide (max 12 guests)
- Reykjavik → Bergen flight (via Oslo)
- Norway in a Nutshell package: train Bergen-Voss + bus Voss-Gudvangen + Nærøyfjord cruise + Flåm Railway
- All entrance fees: Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Sky Lagoon, Bergen Hanseatic, Munch, Vigeland, Viking Ship Museum
- Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon boat
- Three dedicated aurora-hunting evenings (Sep-Mar departures) with meteorologist-led guide
- Daily breakfast plus 4 dinners as itemised
- Photographic guidance and pre-trip aurora-shooting briefing PDF
- Group airport transfers Reykjavik arrival and Oslo departure
- 24/7 emergency support
– Not included (typical extras)
- International flights to Reykjavik / from Oslo (typical AU$2,400 economy / $7,500 business via London or Singapore)
- Travel insurance (mandatory — recommended cover for camera gear if travelling with pro equipment)
- Optional: Blue Lagoon premium upgrade ($89), glacier hike ($245), ice-cave tour ($349 — Nov-Mar only), helicopter Vatnajökull ($599)
- Lunches and dinners not itemised (Nordic dining: AU$25-40 lunch, AU$60-90 dinner)
- Drinks at meals (Norway/Iceland alcohol is genuinely expensive — group beer ~$15, wine $12/glass)
- Tipping (low-tip culture in both countries; Cooee tour-leader tip ~AU$10/day at discretion)
Aurora & midnight sun departures.
Twin-share starting prices in AUD. Single supplement: from $1,995. Luxury upgrade (Reykjavik Edition Hotel, ION Adventure on Snæfellsnes, helicopter glacier transfer): from $2,495 additional pp. Aurora-season pricing is slightly lower than midnight-sun because of cooler weather and shorter days.
| Departure | Status | From (AUD pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 · 12 SepAurora season | Available | $6,499 | Enquire → |
| Oct 2026 · 10 OctAurora season | Few seats | $6,499 | Enquire → |
| Nov 2026 · 7 NovAurora season | Few seats | $6,299 | Enquire → |
| Feb 2027 · 13 FebAurora season | Available | $6,299 | Enquire → |
| Mar 2027 · 13 MarAurora season | Available | $6,299 | Enquire → |
| Jun 2027 · 12 JunMidnight sun | Open | $6,699 | Enquire → |
| Jul 2027 · 10 JulMidnight sun | Open | $6,899 | Enquire → |
| Sep 2027 · 11 SepAurora season | Open | $6,699 | Enquire → |
Cold, atmospheric, dramatic. Real chance of seeing the lights — 87% historical Cooee success rate. Three dedicated chase nights with meteorologist-led guide reading KP-index and cloud cover. Snow-and-ice landscapes; short daylight; high contrast. Best for photographers prioritising the aurora.
Mild, golden, unhurried. 22+ hours of daylight means flexible photography windows. No aurora possible, but the fjords and waterfalls are at peak visibility, wildflowers in meadows, lupines lining the southern coast. Best for first-time visitors who want comfort and longer daily exploration time.
Reviews from this exact tour.
September aurora trip 2025 — saw the lights three out of three nights, including one absolute curtain-display over Vatnajökull. The Norwegian Nutshell day was breathtaking. Cooee's photography pacing meant we were always at the right viewpoint at the right time of day.
Booked the midnight-sun departure in June — completely different but equally spectacular. Daylight at 1am in the fjords, wildflowers everywhere, and the long days meant we had time for everything. Different trip from the aurora version but just as good.
Ready for the Nordic light?
From $6,499 pp twin-share. Aurora season Sep-Mar or midnight sun Jun-Jul — choose by what you want to photograph. Deposit of 25% confirms your booking. Speak directly to a Brisbane-based Nordic specialist — Cooee's first dedicated photography itinerary.
Specific to this tour.
Enquire about Iceland & Norwegian Fjords
Tell us your preferred season (aurora vs midnight sun) and any specific concerns (cold tolerance, photography level, mobility). We'll come back within 1 business day with availability, full itinerary PDF, packing list, and a tailored quote — including international flight options from Brisbane.