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Iceland Eclipse 2026- Visit Iceland with our Small Group Tours, Cruises, and Self-Drive tours!

Last update: October 8, 2024

There’s an eclipse coming to Iceland on August 12, 2026. The Iceland Eclipse will be a total solar eclipse in the west side of the country, including Reykjavik, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and the Westfjords. Here’s the map:

(Source: National Solar Observatory.)

Anywhere between the Red and Blue lines will see a total solar eclipse, where the moon completely blocks out the sun. The closer you are to the green line, the more time you will have in totality. (“GD” means greatest duration, and “GE” is greatest eclipse, which I don’t really understand!)

The Greatest Duration of this eclipse is about 2 minutes and 18 seconds of totality. So where’s the best place in Iceland to see it? Reykjavik is very easy to get to, but only has around 1 minute of totality. Places like Patreksfjörður in the Westfjords have 2 minutes and 10 seconds of totality, but it’s much harder to get to.

We think the sweet spot is on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. It’s not too hard to get to, and you get about 2 minutes of totality. Plus, there are tons of amazing things to see up there:

Our Iceland Eclipse 2026 Trips

We’re putting together 3 different types of eclipse trips to Iceland. The first is a small group tour, with tentative dates of August 7-14, 2026. We’d love to have you join us! The trip will not only visit Snæfellsnes for the eclipse, but also the Golden Circle, the South Coast, the Westman Islands, and Reykjavik.

I will plan multiple small group tours, each with no more than 18 people. And I’ll be on one of the trips too! (Who am I? I’m Eric, and I plan custom Iceland vacations and cruises. I’ve also written a book about Iceland! I’m a travel agent who specializes in Iceland, and only Iceland.)

My group tours to Iceland are highly customized. (Don’t worry about the prices on that page- those are for a single large group.) We don’t just pick a hotel and a restaurant that pay us a commission; every piece of the trip is carefully and thoughtfully curated. We’ll include activities that we personally love, such as horseback riding, lava cave tours, and small geothermal spas. We’ll include restaurants we love, including some that don’t commonly serve groups. And we’ll visit a mix of famous waterfalls and black sand beaches, as well as hidden gems that larger tour groups skip. We love the Westman Islands, and most groups don’t bother with the ferry ride over there. But both we and the New York Times think it’s worth it!

Westman Islands volcano hike
Hiking the 1973 lava on the Westman Islands

Iceland Eclipse Group Tour Pricing and more details

We’re looking at a price of $5,700 US per person for the trip (double occupancy) including everything except for airfare. All tours, meals, lodging, transfers, etc. are included in that price. There is a discount for children, and a modest supplement for solo travelers.

Since there are multiple tours, we can customize for most anyone. More active trips will do hikes of up to 2 miles, but with breaks. (For example, we may hike from the town of Arnarstapi to the town of Hellnar, which is 1.5 miles.)

The hike between Hellnar and Arnarstapi

The pace will also be moderate: We’ll cover a lot of ground, but we won’t rush from site to site. We’ll eat good food and you’ll leave with a really good understanding of the Icelandic culture and the land.

And hopefully you’ll also see a total solar eclipse, but of course that’s not guaranteed if it’s cloudy! We’ll be by the beach on the peninsula hoping for good weather.

Other Iceland eclipse options: Cruises and self-drive tours

  • Self-drive tours. This is primarily what I do for my Iceland travel company when there isn’t an eclipse. I create one-of-a-kind custom itineraries based exactly on what your group is looking for. And of course I would include eclipse viewing. This can make sense if you’re looking for something that I’m not offering with the group tours: Maybe you want to do all of Ring Road, or you have mobility restrictions that would make a bus tour more difficult. This option can also make sense if you have a group of 4-8 people, since you will likely save a significant amount of money.

    The self-drive option still includes a full lodging plan, a detailed itinerary customized for your group, and even my video course that teaches you how to drive in Iceland. You can read reviews from some of my clients here.

    I will offer a limited number of these, to make sure I can customize the trip for each group. This option will work for groups of 1-8 people. You can see the details here: Iceland Eclipse Self-drive tours.
     
  • Small ship cruise options. I have a block of rooms available on an Iceland circumnavigation cruise that will be in the path of totality. Rooms are limited, so reach out for more details!

Sign up to learn more about Iceland 2026 eclipse trip options

Interested in joining one of these trips? I’m starting to take deposits to lock in spots for all of these tour options.

Fill out the brief form below, and you’re on the list! I’ll then reach out with more details. Or feel free to e-mail me with any questions!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Hey Mark, My wife and I are interested in the 2026 Eclipse tour…Would like more info and tour itinerary…Thank you, Michael

      Reply

  3. I’d very much like a price list of your very small eclipse tour in 2026. It sounds very exciting! Of course, no way to know the weather, but I’m quite keen on looking into your excursion, along with my partner.
    I’ll be waiting to hear from you
    Thank you,
    Dede Blake

    Reply
    • Ann McConville

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      Author Ann McConville acts as a real person and passed all tests against spambots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.

      So interested in learning more about the 2026 eclipse self driving tour as well as group tour and be added to your list. There would be 2-4 of us. Thank you!

      Reply

    • Eric, let me know if you have a couple drop out of your active small group tour. I’m very interested in that tour only. Thank you, Michelle DeSnyder

      Reply

    • My birthday is August 12th and I have always wanted to visit Iceland. I would love information on an eclipse tour in some form or fashion. Sounds like you have enough people for your small group but some of the other options could work for me. Please be in touch with more info. Thank you so much.

      Reply

  12. Hi! I am pretty sure I put myself on your list earlier today. Apparently my son (38, law-abiding, polite) wants to come, too. His name is Sam Jones. I’m a fairly robust 67; August 12, 2026 will be my 70th birthday (I will buy drinks all around).

    I forgot to add that I also like rocks and birdwatching.

    I hope we can do this!

    Reply

  20. Very interested in Iceland trip for 2026 Eclipse. We will have 4 people: myself, husband, and two daughters (ages 30,33), so all adults. We are coming from Virginia, can fly out of DC or Richmond.

    Reply

  22. Sounds like your very small eclipse tour is booked, but we’d love to come to Iceland for the 2026 eclipse and celebrate out 49th wedding anniversary. Please send me information on your bus or other group tours for the eclipse. Thanks!

    Reply

  25. Hi Eric –

    My husband & I would be interested in a view of the eclipse from a boat if the small cruise thing comes together! We would love to see Westfjords – Arkeyuri – maybe a self drive – we were in Iceland last November and we firmly agreed that we did not have enough time and we did not see enough !!!! We were not keen on driving at that time – but in the summer it would certainly be more inviting! Please add us to your list – even if the cruise thing isn’t falling in (but we hope it does)
    Jeanne Moore & Kevin Carson

    Reply

  28. I left some comments on join the list, but since I didn’t see my name listed here, I wanted to be sure I was added to the eclipse viewing tour. My husband and I definitely want to be included in this tour.

    Reply

  30. Hi Eric! My husband and I would be interested in the limited mobility tour. Our ages will be 71 and 69. Please keep us informed of the possibilities!

    Reply

  31. My wife and I have been interested in going to Iceland, and would like to combine it with a possible eclipse viewing. Let me know what options you have available.

    Reply

  32. Hello,
    We (2 adults) are interested in the small group Iceland tour —we want to see the eclipse and perhaps see other interesting sites there, but a less expensive trip would be best. Please put me on the list to receive info in the future. We are in MD and can fly out of BWI or Washington, DC or Dulles.

    Reply

  33. Hello,
    We (2 adults) are also interested in a small group Iceland tour – we want to see the eclipse! Please put us on the list to receive info on any eclipse tours in the future. We would consider a self-driving tour also that would hook up for the eclipse. We are also in MD and can fly out of BWI or Washington, DC or Dulles. Thanks!

    Reply

  34. Visited Iceland this year in February chasing the Northern Lights (saw twice!):and want very much to return for the eclipse. Single room or appropriate roommate. Young 80 years old and love to travel.

    Reply

  35. Hi,

    I am interested in the tour and eclipse viewing, but for single occupancy. Sounds like an awesome experience.

    Reply

  36. Very interested in eclipse tour. Would be third totality for myself and 1 sister. Was in Iceland in March for northern lights (no luck) and would love to come in summer for totality (and hopefully puffins)

    Reply

  37. Hello! Please add our family of 4 (adults) to the list of interested people for the options you may develop. Our son’s birthday is Aug 12!

    Reply
  42. Thomas and Joyce LeMay

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    Author Thomas and Joyce LeMay acts as a real person and passed all tests against spambots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.

    We are a party of two people and would be interested in the small group eclipse tour August 8-15 2026.

    Reply
  43. Julie Bitnoff

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    Author Julie Bitnoff acts as a real person and passed all tests against spambots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.

    Hi Eric! There are three of us, and we’re interested in either the Eclipse Trip or a self-driving trip that would put us in the path of totality on August 12, 2026. Thanks!

    Reply
  44. Anne Carson

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    Author Anne Carson acts as a real person and passed all tests against spambots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.

    Am interested in eclipse tour or small cruise tour including the date of the eclipse. I will likely be solo. Looks like you’ve gotten plenty of interest already!

    Reply
  45. Kelly Usrey

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    Author Kelly Usrey acts as a real person and passed all tests against spambots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.

    I am searching for an eclipse trip for 2026, for myself and a friend, either a small cruise or small group trip. I hope you are not already fully booked!

    Reply
  46. Lesa W

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    Hello, Eric. Considering trying to get a group of four to eight friends together from the U.S. for some kind of Western Iceland eclipse tour. In addition to learning about the eclipse, this group would enjoy being with an Icelander who can share about food, culture, history, hiking/walking, soaking, enjoying the natural world, etc. Thoughts on whether this is possible with your organization? Thanks!

    Reply
  47. James Griffin

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    Author James Griffin acts as a real person and passed all tests against spambots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.

    Eclipse tour for two.

    Reply
  48. Kimberlee Staff

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    Author Kimberlee Staff acts as a real person and passed all tests against spambots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.

    There are three of us for the small group or self-driving tour. Hopefully you still have some space available.

    Reply

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