Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice

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New for 2010 Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice, 8-day cruise around Iceland aboard stylish Le Boreal | Come with us on the new-for-2010 Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice, 8-day cruise around Iceland aboard stylish Le Boreal, a new yacht-like small ship. Get to know surprising Iceland as few people do. Iceland - a land of volcanoes and glaciers... epic sagas, heroic legends and a rich history… elves and spirits... puffins and whales… home to the world's first legislative parliament convened in 930 AD, the northernmost golf course in the world and the most northerly capital city... and a human population of only a little over 300,000 people in a country approximately the size of Kentucky. The Iceland cruise sails from sophisticated Reykjavik to off-the-beaten-track towns, tiny villages and islands populated by just a handful of people. Bird watchers will be delighted by all the opportunities to observe puffins, arctic terns and other species that thrive in Iceland and history lovers will find much of interest in Iceland's story. During your Iceland cruise, you'll experience it all from the comfort of lovely Le Boreal, a ship small enough to provide a truly intimate cruise experience yet large enough to provide amenities usually found only on large cruise ships. All staterooms and suites have ocean views and 95% have private balconies. This new Iceland cruise is an enriching vacation experience!

Cruise route map

Day 1 LET THE ICELAND CRUISE BEGIN The Iceland cruise begins at 2:30 PM in Reykjavik. When you arrive in Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, you'll be met at Keflavik International Airport and transferred to either the Grand Hotel Reykjavik or the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica where Tauck has reserved day rooms for the convenience of arriving guests. Our welcome reception and luncheon will be memorable as you meet, mingle and dine in "The Pearl," an amazing restaurant comprised of a huge glass dome supported by six gigantic tanks each containing about 4 million liters of geothermally heated water that provide the city with power and heat. Following lunch, visit Old Town and the National Museum chronicling the history and heritage of Iceland. Then board Le Boreal in Hafnarjördur to begin your Iceland cruise. Meals: Lunch, dinner

Day 2 A DAY OF CONTRASTS (B, L, D) On the first full day of your Iceland cruise, you'll encounter daily life in fishing villages hugging the craggy coast, traditions and legends that are so much a part of Icelandic culture, pristine wilderness and natural wonders. Dock in Grundarfjordur, one of the first urban areas in Iceland and a French settlement in the 1800s. Enjoy a scenic drive along the coast en route to the Glacier Snaefellsjokull ice cap with its mystical volcano, made famous by author Jules Verne in his classic novel Journey to the Center of the Earth and one of Iceland's most interesting geological features. During a walk on the wild side at Djðpalónssandur, when you see the eerie rocks rising from the ocean, you'll understand why local folks suspect that they belong to elves. A walking tour in and around the fishing hamlet of Arnarstapi reveals both village life and the abundant bird life that thrives in the area. Discover a black-lava landscape at Budir, as well as one of the very few yellow-sand beaches in Iceland. Visit the Budakirkja, a small church dating back to 1703, before returning to Le Boreal to share impressions of what you've seen, done and learned with your fellow explorers on your Iceland cruise today. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3 GRIMSEY, AN ARCTIC ISLNAD ADVENTURE (B, L, D) Today, our Iceland cruise calls at the small island of Grímsey, located just off the northern coast of Iceland on the Arctic Circle. Approximately 100 hearty souls make their homes on this northernmost inhabited part of Iceland. Learn about what life is like here, the fascination that chess holds for residents - and perhaps you'll hear the local legend about the Arctic Circle crossing right down the middle of the local clergyman's bed! Although there are no trees on the island, the impressive sea cliffs and rich marshland, grass and moss are an ideal environment for birds - many, many birds. Go ashore to observe vast colonies of arctic terns and comical puffins as well as other species. Crossing the Arctic Circle in a single step will be a favorite memory of your Iceland cruise. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 AKUREYRI ADVENTURE (B, L, D) On the northern coast of Iceland cruise along a long and scenic fjord to the beautiful city of Akureyri, the second-largest city in the nation. Set amidst magnificent mountains, Akureyri is known as the "capital of North Iceland" and noted for its lively cultural life. First settled by Norse Vikings in the 9^th century, the city was home to a Norwegian-British fighter squadron during World War II and today boasts the northernmost 18-hole golf course in the world. A guided sightseeing tour explores the geologically intriguing area around Lake Myvatn, taking in the sulphur fields at Namaskard, the giant lava field at Dimmuborgir and the geothermal fields near Namafjall Mountain with their bubbling mud pots, boiling springs and fumaroles. Following lunch at a local restaurant, follow the Ring Road to the spectacular Godafoss waterfall to discover why it's locally known as "the falls of the gods" and hear about the Kristni Saga recounting the arrival of Christianity in Iceland and the banishment of the old pagan gods in 1000 AD. After another action-packed day on your Iceland cruise, cocktails and dinner await you back aboard Le Boreal. Meals: Breakast, lunch, dinner

Day 5 WONDERLAND OF WESTFJORDE (B, L, D) The allure of the West Fjords that you'll explore on your Iceland cruise today includes spectacular scenery, history and encounters with the daily lifestyles of the people who live here. Dock at the fishing town of Isafjordur, which despite its isolation from the rest of Iceland is known for its rather urban atmosphere, flourishing cultural life and rich heritage of music and art. It also boasts some of the oldest houses in Iceland, dating from the 18^th century. Drive through town and continue on to the village of Bolungarvik stopping for a look at its quaint church before visiting Osvor, and a restored fisherman's hut showcasing what life was like here for Icelandic fishermen before the 20^th century. A short ferry trip away lies Vigur Island, inhabited only by three generations of the same family whose home it has been since 1884... and what seems like millions of birds. See Iceland's only windmill and enjoy traditional Icelandic cakes served by the family in the restored Viktoria House, built in 1862. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 "ISLAND OF WESTERN MEN" (B, L, D) There are places on earth that simply must be experienced and the geological children, Heimaey and Surtsey islands in the area of Iceland called Vestmannaeyjar, are among them. Far off the beaten track, this remote part of Iceland, with its scenic beauty, huge seabird colonies and intriguing human saga, has an aura of adventure and magic. In 1973, a volcanic eruption on Heimaey, the only populated island, destroyed the small town and changed the island's landscape forever. Take in the view at Eldfell, the new mountain it created, and discover the work in progress to excavate some of the buried houses in the "Pompeii of the North." You won't have to look too hard to see puffins, arctic terns, and other birds that inhabit the cliffs and coves. This evening, a circumnavigation of volcanic Surtsey Island, the world's youngest island formed by a under-water eruption in the 1960s, ends another day of discovery on your Iceland cruise. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (B, L, D) Today's Iceland cruise adventures take in the "Big Three" - Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir hot spring area and Thingvellir National Park - as well as many of Iceland's most famous landmarks. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thingvellir is significant both for its dramatic scenery and as the ultimate symbol of Iceland's independence and national unity. The Althing, the world's oldest legislative parliament, first convened in this natural amphitheater in 930 AD and was Iceland's legislature and highest court during the Old Commonwealth (930 - 1262/1264) era. Representatives gathered here annually to hold elections, settle disputes and argue cases; discover the Law Speaker's rock, from which laws were spoken aloud and Christianity was adopted around 1000 AD, and the remains of ancient turf shelters that housed the delegates. At Gullfoss, the "Golden Waterfall," the river Hvita drops 96 feet in two falls creating Iceland's most famous and spectacular cascade. Geothermal activity surrounds you in the geyser area of Geysir, with its colorful mud formations rich in minerals and steaming vents. After lunch at Geysir, a stop at a geothermal plant set on an active volcanic ridge reveals how the earth's natural energy is being used to produce electric power and hot water. Return to Le Boreal for the last night of your Iceland cruise. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8 HOMEWARD BOUND (B, L) After you bid farewell to the captain and crew of Le Boreal as your Iceland cruise ends, you still have more uniquely Icelandic treats in store. A pleasant drive through the active Krysuvik geothermal fields leads to the world-famous Blue Lagoon, an aqua-blue pool of mineral-rich geothermal seawater with a temperature between 98 - 102 degrees F. The water is thought to have many medicinal benefits and you have the opportunity soak in the warm Blue Lagoon surrounded by scenic beauty and crisp, clean air if you choose. Our farewell lunch in the lovely Lava Restaurant, built into a cliff and featuring an entire wall of natural lava, will be memorable. After lunch, visit the Vikinggaheimar (Viking World) museum, which chronicles Iceland's Viking ties and houses a replica of the Viking ship Islendingur, a seaworthy vessel that sailed to North America in 2000. When you see it, you'll appreciate all the comforts that you enjoyed on Le Boreal all the more. Tour ends at 2:30 PM with a transfer from the museum to Reykjavik's Keflavik International Airport. Please allow 2 1/2 hours for airport check-in formalities. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home. Meals: Breakfast, lunch