ACROSS THE WILDERNESS OF ICELAND

A TOUR OF North, South and West ICELAND and the interior SPRENGISANDUR

9 days

Wednesdays/2006

Jul 12, 19, 26
Aug 02, 09

Click on map to enlarge

Note: Accommodations are with shared bathroom facilities.

Note: It is necessary to book additional nights before and after the tour in Reykjavik.

ICELAND

Thingvellir Visit Iceland and you’ll enter a whole new realm of experience. You’ll discover original nature as you’ve never seen it before, and the equally original people for whom timeless nature, ancient heritage and modern lifestyle coexist in harmony. The freedom to roam in the city or the wilds as you please, explore and have fun — this is the key to the Iceland experience. Iceland is an island of 39,756 square miles, about the size of Virginia, with an average height of 500m above sea level. Its highest peak, Hvannadalshnukur, rises to 2,119m, and glaciers, including Vatnajokull, the largest in Europe, cover over 11 percent of the country. Of a population numbering just over a quarter of a million, half live in the capital, Reykjavik, and its neighboring towns in the southwest. Keflavik International Airport is located about 50km from the capital. The highland interior is uninhabited (and uninhabitable), and most of the population is situated along the coast.

In spite of its mid-Atlantic location, Iceland is on Greenwich Mean Time all year round. There is a five-hour time difference between New York and Iceland. Iceland is served only by Icelandair from the USA with departures from New York, Boston, Baltimore and Minneapolis. Flight time is about 5-6 hours from the USA and 4-5 hours from Europe. Stop-overs in Iceland are allowed on flights between USA and Europe usually at no additional airfare.

In 2006, we offer a number of escorted tours in Iceland as well as independent suggestions for self-drive and stopover packages. Also, for a truly unforgettable vacation you may add Greenland to your Iceland visit. After all, Greenland’s East Coast is only 2 hours away by air from Reykjavik.

ACROSS THE WILDERNESS TOUR:

An interesting tour including the most popular tourist attractions, as well as some less frequently visited sites such as Iceland's interior and combining culture and nature.

Maximum number of participants for each tour departure is 22 passengers.

Accommodations for the most part are in private rooms but bathrooms are on shared basis.

It is necessary to book additional nights before and after the tour in Reykjavik or Keflavik.

TOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1: REYKJAVÍK - PINGVELLIR - SNÆFELLSNES
Morning drive to the þingvellir National Park. We then proceed over the mountain pass Kaldidalur to Hraunfossar waterfall and Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in the world before heading to Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
Dinner and overnight at Guesthouse Snjofell or similar in Arnarstapi.

DAY 2: SNÆFELLSNES PENINSULA
Explore the magificent columnar bastalt rock formations at Arnarstapi before circling around the legendary Snæfellsjökull glacier. Passing the village Stykkisholmur before visitiing Eric the Red Museum. Cross Laxardalsheiði to the North. Dinner and overnight at Guesthouse Bakkaflöt or similar in Varmahlid.

DAY 3: SNÆFELLSNES - KAGAFJÖRÐUR - AKUREYRI - TJÖRNES
Visit the regional history museum at Glaumbær, a turf roofed farmhouse. Continue to Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland for a short sightseeing tour before heading for Goðafoss waterfall onto Tjörnes Peninsula. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Lundur or similar in Kopasker.

DAY 4: TJORNES - ASBYRGI - DETTIFOSS - MYVATN
Continue today to Asbyrgi, a horse-shoe shaped canyon, and then to Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe in the Jökulsargljufur Canyon. Then onto Myvatn area, a wonderland for nature enthusiasts, surrounded by lava fields, volcanoes and mountains. Dinner and overnight at Guesthosue Narfastaðir or similar in Reykjadalur.

DAY 5: LAKE MYVATN - SPRENGISANDUR
The tour continues inland across the wilderness of Sprengisandur, passing the largest continous lava field in Iceland, Odaðahraun. Dinner and overnight at Guesthouse Hrauneyjar or similar in Hella.

DAY 6: SPRENGISANDUR - LANDMANNALAUGAR - SKAFTAFEL - KIRKJUBAEJARKLAUSTUR
First a stop at Landmannalaugar, a magnificent area surrounded by colorful rhyolite mountains with the option of bathing in a natural warm pool. From Landmannalaugar, the tour follows the Fjallabaksleið interior track to Skaftafell National Park. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Hof or similar in Kirkjubaejarklaustur.

DAY 7: KIRKJUBAEJARKLAUSTUR
Visit the Jökulsarlon Glacial Lagoon for an optional boat tour among the floating icebergs. Enjoy hiking and spending an afternoon exploring Skaftafell National Park, one of Iceland´s most outstanding areas of natural beauty dominated by Vatnajökull, Europe´s largest ice cap. Overnight and dinner at Hotel Hof or similar.

DAY 8: KIRKJUBAEJARKLAUSTUR - VIK - DYRHOLAEY - HELLA
Proceed over the vast Eldhraun lava fields of Myrdalssandur sands with a short visit to Dyrholaey headland. On the way to Hella area, pass two beautiful waterfalls, Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Mosfell or similar in Hella.

DAY 9: HELLA - GULLFOSS - GEYSIR - BLUE LAGOON - REYKJAVIK
Drive to the thermal area of the great Geysir and Strokkur, a spouting hot spring. Onwards to the golden waterfall Gullfoss and along the south coast of Reykjanes Peninsula ending the tour with a visit at the Blue Lagoon for a refreshing bath.

From:
$2340 per person double
$ 170 single supplement

(PLEASE INQUIRE FOR AIR RATES FROM USA)

INCLUDES:
- 7 nights with shared facilities
- 1 night with private facilities
- Daily Breakfast, 8 Dinners, 4 lunch boxes
- Arrival/departure Transfers in Reykjavik
- Transportation by Deluxe Touring Coach
- Sightseeing per itinerary
- Tour Escort
- Tax and Service Charges

NOT INCLUDED:
-Pre & Post nights in Reykjavik
-Porterage at hotels and between hotel & coach
-Optional Tours that may be offered during the tour (depending on weather & availability):
- Midnight-tour in a snowmobile on Snæfellsnesjökull glacier (Day 1, ISK7000)
- Horse-riding (Day 2, ISK2000)
- River rafting (Day 2, ISK4200)
- Boat tour on the Glacial Lagoon (Day 7, ISK2000, 1 hr.)
- Super-Jeep tour (Day 7, ISK7900, 2 hrs.)
- Glacier hike in Skaftafell National Park (Day 7, ISK3500, 2.5 hrs.)

Optional Tours may only be ordered and paid for while on the tour.

TOUR ITINERARY SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON OPERATIONAL NEEDS

PLEASE NOTE: This is a multilingual tour and is organized and operated by our Associate Office in Reykjavik.

(Prices are subject to currency fluctuations)

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