Grand Countryside - Iceland's Outer Circle 2010
11 days / 10 nights, Reykjavik - Gullfoss - Geysir - Snæfellsnes - Breiðafjörður - Eyjafjörður - Akureyri - Goðafoss - Lake Mývatn - Tjörnes Peninsula - Dettifoss - Hengifoss - Seyðisfjörður - Vatnajökull Glacier - Skaftafell - Reykjavik | Mountains, rivers, glaciers and volcanoes will unfold as we take you exploring in four easy stages. Only four hotels are used which makes the days more relaxed and the evenings a time to ponder and talk to your fellow travelers about your time spent in ever-changing scenery. There will also be opportunities to do some walking in the beautiful countryside. The contrasting boat trips included in this tour will make you wonder if you have traveled in many different countries... icebergs on the south coast and lush green islands on the west. This is truly a classical adventure with hotels offering private facilities and good Icelandic hospitality. The hotels used on this tour are often "summer hotels", used most of the year as boarding schools or country hotels which are simple and clean.
We only stay in four hotels, less packing! On some departures this tour may be operated in reverse.
Highlights:
Three Boat trips / Introduction to the Icelandic Horse / Four National Parks
| Departure | June 21st July 19th August 16th |
| Price | $4,235 per person in double room $5,165 single room $430 supplement for guaranteed window seat. Includes window seat, next seat remaining empty, pillow and blanket. |
| Included | 10 nights hotel accommodations Scandinavian breakfast buffet daily 3-course dinners daily, from day 1 Boat tour around Breiðafjörður Island Introduction to the Icelandic Horse Visit to 4 National Parks Visit to Glaumbaer Folk Museum Visit to Mývatn Nature Bath Cruise in the Glacial Lagoon Hotel taxes and service fees |
| Not Included | Airfare & airport taxes Gratuities Personal insurance / personal items $25 Service fee |
| Please Note | Hotel & Country Guest Houoses. Stay in only 4 hotels, meaning less packing! * The hotels offered on this tour are often "summer hotels", used part of the year as boarding schools or country hotels and are simple and clean. On some departures this tour may be operated in reverse. There is an average of 1-2 hours walking each day; it is an easy tour in which everybody can participate. Good walking boots are needed on all our tours, as well as waterproof clothing. Lunch stops will be made at restaurants of coffee-shops en route. Group size from 8 - 30 passengers. |
| Tour Options | Add-ons: Tour Options (not included: Additional nights in Reykjavik Whale watching Blue Lagoon with transfer to Keflavik Airport Greenland Excursion, 1-3 days |
Day 1 REYKJAVIK - BORGARFJÖRDUR (D) The day starts with a drive to the famous Gullfoss and Geysir. We also visit the beautiful church of Skálholt and the Þingvellir National Park, site of the Viking Parliament. Continue to Reykholt, home of the 13th century poet, Snorri Sturluson. We stay in Borgarfjordur for the next two nights.
Day 2 SNAEFELLSNES (B, D) Today we drive around the Snæfellsnes peninsula, which is dominated by the glacier where, according to Jules Verne's book, the entrance to the center of the earth can be found. We visit small fishing towns, and on to the town of Stykkishólmur where we take a boat trip around the islands of Breiðafjörður, home of the puffins and the white tailed eagle.
Day 3 EYJAFJÖRÐUR - ÞINGEYJARSÝSLA (B, D) We stop at the beautiful waterfalls of Hraunfossar before heading for Skagafjörður where we visit the farm museum at Glaumbær and are introduced to the Icelandic horse. We continue to Akureyri for a sightseeing tour of the town before driving on to our accommodation in in the Húsavík area for the next three nights.
Day 4 HÚSAVÍK - WHALE WATCHING (B, D) We start the day with a 3-hour whale watching tour from Húsavík, weather permitted. Afternoon is at leisure to ponder around the town with the possibility to visit museums and the church.
Day 5 GOÐAFOSS - LAKE MÝVATN (B, D) We visit the waterfall Goðafoss, enroute to Lake Mývatn. There is lush vegetation here and many different species of birds, some of which are not found anywhere else in Europe. We visit the lava field Dimmuborgir and climb up to the rim of the ash crater Hverfjall. Before heading back to our accommodation we relax in Mývatn Nature Bath.
Day 6 DETTIFOSS - FLJOTSDALSHERAD (B, D) We travel around Tjörnes Peninsula and visit the magnificent waterfall Dettifoss, the most powerful in Europe. For the next three nights we will stay in the neighbourhood of Egilsstaðir.
Day 7 FLJOTSDALUR - SEYÐISFJÖRÐUR (B, D) We tour around the Lake Lögurinn, passing the farm mansion at Skriðuklaustur with its large unusual type of house. When conditions are suitable we walk up to Hengifoss, one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland. We also visit the fishing town of Seyðisfjörður.
Day 8 BORGARFJÖRDUR - EYSTRI (B, D) This short wide fjord and grassy fertile valley with a charming fishing village of the same name is situated north-east of Egilsstaðir. Magnificent colorful mountains and numerous beautiful rocks and rare stones are to be found here.
Day 9 FLJOTSDALSHERAD - SKAFTAFELL (B, D) Vatnajökull, Europe’s biggest glacier, dominates the landscape with its glacial tongues calving into a glacial lagoon. Take a boat trip on the lagoon among the icebergs. For the next two nights we will stay in the neighbourhood of Skaftafell National Park.
Day 10 SKAFTAFELL (B, D) The whole day is spent walking or relaxing at Skaftafell.
Day 11 SKAFTAFELL - REYKJAVIK (B) We return to Reykjavík through the fertile meadows and sandy desert of the south coast, overlooked by mountainous cliffs and glaciers. There are several beautiful waterfalls on the way and we may spot puffins and even some seals.