The Aurora Vanlife
Your little home. One very big adventure.
The Defender Expedition
Beyond the tarmac. Into the extraordinary.
- The journey
- Duration on enquiry
- Your kind of adventure
- Road adventures
- The company
- Group details on enquiry
- The pace
- Active
A little closer to IcelandThe days, unfoldingDAY 01
DAY 02
DAY 03
DAY 04
DAY 05
DAY 06
DAY 07
DAY 08
DAY 09
Rest comes with a view The practical things
Big landscapes. A wilder kind of road trip.
An expedition through Iceland’s volcanic highlands, black-sand coast, glacier country and northern landscapes. Travel by Defender, with off-road sections where conditions allow, and a programme of glacier, geothermal and coastal experiences.
- Defender highlands expedition
- Glacier hike & ice cave
- Whale watching in Húsavík
- Geothermal baths & black sands
The journey on a map
Loading the map…
Connections show the journey sequence, not exact roads or travel paths. Regional stops are approximate.
Your journey, day by day.
A taste of the route. The final programme is confirmed with your departure.
DAY 01Reykjavík beginnings
Arrive and settle into Reykjavík before the expedition begins.
DAY 02Golden Circle
Explore the Golden Circle and continue toward Hella.
DAY 03Into the highlands
Head toward Landmannalaugar for highland off-roading, subject to road access. Continue toward the South Coast waterfalls.
DAY 04Black sands & ice
Explore South Coast waterfalls and black-sand beaches. Join a 4×4 quad-bike ride to the plane wreck and a Katla ice-cave experience.
DAY 05Canyon & glacier country
Travel through the Vík region toward Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon and the glacier landscapes, with off-road sections subject to conditions.
DAY 06Glaciers to geothermal waters
A glacier hike and lagoon boat experience lead into the Viking Village, Hengifoss and Vök Baths programme.
DAY 07The north calls
Discover the Diamond Circle, go whale watching in Húsavík and continue toward Akureyri.
DAY 08North to west
Continue across North and West Iceland, with the exact route shaped by conditions.
DAY 09Snæfellsnes & the return
Explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Kirkjufell before returning toward Reykjavík and Keflavík. Final overnight and departure timings are confirmed separately.
Somewhere to settle in.
Hotel-based expedition across the south, east, north and west. Properties and the final number of nights are confirmed for each departure.
Know before you go.
What’s included
- Golden Circle exploration
- Highlands and off-road experiences, subject to route access
- South Coast waterfalls and black-sand beaches
- Glacier hike and ice-cave experience
- Zodiac boat on the glacier lagoon
- 4×4 quad bikes to the DC-3 plane wreck
- Vök geothermal baths
- Húsavík whale watching
- Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Kirkjufell
What’s extra
- Flights, meals, hotel inclusions and vehicle terms to be confirmed in the quotation
- Services not expressly confirmed for your departure
A few things to keep in mind
- The supplied September 2026 departure has passed; enquire about the next expedition.
- Cover dates and day numbering differ in the brochure. Final duration will be confirmed before booking.
- Highlands, off-road routes and activities depend on road openings and weather.
Keep your curiosity going
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Price on enquiryNext departure on enquiry
Enquire now