This is the ultimate Grand Tour of Iceland. Visit some of the world’s finest waterfalls, erupting geysers, stunning fjords, magical lagoons and active volcanoes, while experiencing Iceland’s flourishing culture. The package includes accommodation in tents in Reykjavik and all over Iceland. There is lots of time to do lots and lots of activities!
ICELAND - FIRE AND ICE
BOOKING CODE:"POLAR BEAR"
DATES:
02 - 19 August 2012
PRICE: EURO 1490
INCLUDED:
Transport in Iceland
Fuel
Guide
Food
Lots of activities
ITINERARY:
DAY 1: ARRIVAL REIJKIAVIK
We have our vehicle organized upon arrival at Keflavik Airport. Time to explore Reykjavik, visit museums, landmarks and such, and ideal to unwind at one of the cozy thermal baths & spas. Overnight close to Reykjavik.
Highlights: Reykjavik.
DAY 2: GULLFOSS & GEYSIR
Climb into your Van and head out to visit some of the best known natural phenomena in Iceland; the unique Þingvellir National Park, the great Geysir and area with its bubbling hot springs and Gullfoss , the queen of Iceland’s waterfalls. Visit the old bishopry at Skálholt and the explosion crater Kerið, partially filled with water. Stay in the Selfoss/Hekla area. Driving distance approx. 220 km
Highlights: Þingvellir National Park, Geysir, Gullfoss, Skálholt, Kerið and Mt. Hekla.
Optional activities: Snorkling/diving in Silfra and Quad Biking.
DAY 3: WATERFALLS & SAGATRAIL
Head towards the trail of the Njáls Saga in Hvolsvöllur area, home of the Icelandic Saga Centre. Visit the mysterious Seljalandsfoss, experience walking right behind the flowing water and feel the light drizzle. Continue to the 60 metre free-falling Skógafoss waterfalls in Skógar, where you will find many interesting artifacts on display at the folk museum. For those who crave an outdoors activities, you will have the opportunity to experience guided glacial walk or horse-riding tours in the area. Experience the stunning black volcanic sand beach south of Vík and the rock formations of Dyrhólaey, Reynisdrangar and last but not least the rock formations of Dyrhólaey. Stay in Kirkjubæjarklaustur/Skaftafell area. Driving distance approx. 220 km
Highlights: Saga Centre in Hvolsvöllur, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, glacier Mýrdalsjökull, Vík, Reynisdrangar and Dyrhólaey.
Optional activities: Guided glacial hike and horse-back riding.
DAY 4: SKAFTAFJELL & SOUTHERN HIGHLIGHTS
Explore Skaftafell, a part of Vatnajökull National Park and a place of great beauty nestled under the enormous Vatnajökull glacier. Skaftafell has many interesting hiking trails, including a short one to the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall, dropping from the edge of a wide cliff of basalt columns. There you can also go glacier-walking or try your skills on ice-climbing. Driving distance approx. 200 km
Highlights: Dverghamrar, Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park, Vatnajökull Glacier. Optional activities: Glacier-walk, Ice-climbing and kayaking .
DAY 5: JOKULSARLON & GLACIER LAGOON
Head to the amazing Glacial Lagoon Jökulsárlón where in you can take a boat ride among the floating icebergs. We definetly go for a swim! Visit the fishing village of Höfn known for its lobster and the Glacial Exhibition, where you can learn about the dynamic forces of ice and fire shaping the Icelandic nature. Stay in Höfn/Djúpivogur area. Driving distance approx. 190 km
Highlights: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Þórbergssetur, Cape Ingólfshöfði and Höfn.
Optional activities: Quad biking on lava-beach and kayaking . Boat-tour on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and bird-watching.
DAY 6: THE EAST FJORDS
Drive the amazing east-fjords and take in their tranquil fishing-villages, spectacular fjords and sweeping landscapes. Near Egilsstaðir you will find the monster habitat Lagafljót and Hallormsstaðarskógur forest, the largest wooded area in Iceland. Stay in Egilsstaðir/Seyðisfjörður area. Driving distance approx.250 km
Highlights: Petra´s Mineral Collection, Djúpivogur, Mt. Búlandstindur, Egilsstaðir, Hallormsstaður forest, waterfall Hengifoss, Lagarfljót River and Seyðisfjörður.
Optional activities: kayaking on the fjords, deep-sea fishing .
DAY 7: BORGARFIJORDUR & LAKE MYVATN
Drive to the hidden gem of Bakkagerði in the vicinity of Borgarfjörður Eystri, an area of great natural beauty off the beaten track. There are several fantastic hikes in the area, if you are lucky you might see a reindeer heard and visit one of the best puffin viewing in Iceland in Bakkafjörður when in season. Enjoy the beautiful Dyrfjöll – or door mountain and cliffs of Álfaborg (“Elves’ rock”) where elf-queen of Iceland supposedly lives. Continue to the amazing Lake Mývatn area, where you will see the volcano Krafla, the curiously coloured Mt. Námafjall and its boling mud-pots the massive crater of Hverfell and the lunar-like pseudo-craters at Skútustaðir. Stay in Lake Mývatn area. Driving distance approx. 300 km
Highlights: Bakkagerði, Dyrfjöll, Álfaborg, Víknaslóðir, Sænautasel, Námafjall, Krafla, Leirhnjúkur, Skútustaðir, Hverfell, Lake Mývatn.
Optional activities: Hiking
DAY 8: LUNAR LANDSCAPES AND LAVA FORMATIONS
Explore the surroundings of Lake Mývatn. You can start the day with an optional whale-watching trip from ‘the whale watching capital of Europe’, Húsavík. Drive through the wonderful Jökulsárgljúfur - a part of Vatnajökull National Park, visiting sites such as the canyon Ásbyrgi and the most powerful waterfall in Europe, Dettifoss. End the day by relaxing in the Mývatn Nature Baths and enjoy bathing in a pool of geothermal water drawn from depths of up to 2,500 meters, where in summer you can experience the midnight sun and in winter the dancing northern lights. Stay the night in the Lake Mývatn area. Driving distance approx. 220 km
Highlights: Lake Mývatn, Húsavík, Ásbyrgi, Jökulsárgljúfur, Dettifoss and Mývatn Nature Baths.
Optional activities: whale-watching and bathing in Mývatn Nature Baths.
DAY 9: AKUREYRI AND THE NORTH WEST
Drive to Akureyri, the friendly ‘capital of the north’, and visit the waterfalls of Goðafoss on the way. The town offers interesting shops and museums and in winter the best skiing area in the country. Explore Tröllskagi peninsula, where you can take a short ferry ride to the island Hrísey before driving to Dalvík and then over Lágheiði to Siglufjörður, a remote fishing village considered to be the capital of herring-fishing in the Atlantic ocean early in the 20th century. Drive through the beautiful valleys of Skagafjörður on your way to the folk museum in Glaumbær, a restored turf farmhouse dating from 1750. Overnight in northwest Iceland. Driving distance approx. 250 km .
Highlights: Goðafoss, Akureyri, Hrísey, Siglufjörður, Skagafjörður, Hofsós, Hólar, Grettislaug and Safnasafnið „The Icelandic Folk Art Museum, Glaumbær folk museum and Víðimýri Church.
Optional activities: 15 min ferry-ride to Hrísey and horse-riding.
DAY 10: THE WEST FJORDS
Drive to the tranquil and rural West Fjords of Iceland. Sights along the way include the countless mounds of Vatnsdalshólar, Borgarvirki natural fortress and Hvítserkur rock and Illugastaðir where you are likely to find seals at play. A visit the Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft museum in Hólmavík and the Sorcerer´s Cottage is well worth a visit as well as a dip in the hot pools overlooking the sea at Drangsnes to meet the locals. Stay in the Hólmavík area. Driving distance approx. 250 km
Highlights: Vatnsdalshólar, Borgarvirki, Hvítserkur , Illugastaðir, Hólmavík and Drangsnes.
Optional activities: Horse-riding and white river-rafting.
DAY 11: ISAFIJORDUR
Today is a drive characterized by dramatic fjords and towering mountains in one of the most remote regions of Iceland. Explore Ísafjörður and the surrounding area, but Ísafjörður is the biggest settlement in the West Fjords. There you‘ll find some of the oldest houses in Iceland, dating back to the mid-18th century. Highlights: Ísafjörður, Neðstikaupstaður and Ósvör maritime museum in Bolungarvík. Stay in the village of Ísafjörður. Driving distance approx. 220 km
Highlights: Heydalur, tranquil fjords and Súðavík.
Optional activities: Horse-riding, kayaking, fishing and bathing in hot natural pool.
DAY 12: A DAY TO EXPLORE
This day is yours to explore Ísafjörður and surroundings. Ísafjörður is the gateway to some of the most remote areas in the west-fjords. The are is ideal for outdoor-activities and guided tours in the stunning fjord-scenery.
Optional activities: All year; kayaking and biking; Boat tour to Vigur Island, kayaking in the fjords from Ísafjörður, hiking at Hornstrandir Nature Reserve.
DAY 13: LATRABJARG CLIFFS
Drive to the spectacular fjord Dýrafjörður, the trail of the Viking Saga Gisli Súrsson and where you can visit “Skrúður” the oldest botanical garden in Iceland. Drive to Hrafnseyri, where you can visit a museum dedicated to Jón Sigurðsson, hero of Iceland’s battle for independence. Next up is the impressive Dynjandi waterfall in the bottom of the fjord Arnarfjörður, before heading to the spectacular 14-km-long, 444-m-high cliff of Látrabjarg, the westernmost point of Europe. At Látrabjarg, get up close to some of the millions of inhabiting birds such as puffins and razorbills when in season. Driving distance approx. 210 km
Highlights: Mt. Kaldbakur, Dynjandi, Hrafnseyri and Látrabjarg cliffs.
DAY 14: BREIDAFJORDUR & SNAEFELLSJOKULL
Today, you can visit the golden beach of Rauðisandur and even relax in a natural hot pool at Vatnsfjörður nature reserve before taking the ferry Baldur over the massive fjord of Breiðafjörður. Over the summer it is possible to make a stop-over and even overnight at the beautiful island of Flatey, renowned for its birdlife. Experience the unique Snæfellsjökull glacier and the surrounding Snæfellsjökull National Park. Stay the night at Snæfellsnes Peninsula/Flatey Island. Driving distance approx. 170 km.
Highlights: Rauðisandur, Breiðafjörður Bay, Flatey, Snæfellsjökull National Park.
Optional activities: horse-riding and hiking.
DAY 15: SNAEFELLSJOKULL NATIONAL PARK
Experience the magical Snæfellsjökull National Park, with amazing birdlife, lush valleys, lava fields and towering glacier Snæfellsjökull. It is ideal to drive around the peninsula, passing Dritvík Cove, Lóndrangar Cliffs as well as Hellnar and Arnarstapi Cliffs with its bursting bird-life and the small villages on the coast. You might wish to test your strength at the stones of the black volcanic beach of Djúpalónssandur like the seamen in past times. On Snæfellsnes, you can choose from a variety of activities such as horse riding, hiking, sea-angling or simply relax and take in the glacier’s alleged supernatural energy. Stay the night at Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Driving distance approx. 180 km
Highlights: Snæfellsjökull National Park, Snæfellsjökull Glacier, Hellnar, Arnarstapi, Dritvík Cove, Gerðuberg and Búðir.
Optional activities: horse-riding and hiking all year.
DAY 16: WEST ICELAND
Today, explore the west of Iceland. Sights include the Settlement Centre exhibition at the village of Borgarnes and and the largest hot spring in Europe, Deildartunguhver. Continue up to the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfalls, where the clean spring water descentes from the lava-field to the river. You can visit the medieval research institution Sorrastofa at Reykholt, where Snorri Sturluson wrote the Saga Heimskringla in the 13th century. On your way back to Reykjavik you can get aquanted with the the troll women Drifa at Fossatún overlooking a waterfall. Stay in Reykjavik city centre. Driving distance approx. 240 km
Highlights: The Settlement Centre, Borgarnes, Deildartunguhver, Barnafossar, Hraunfossar, Snorrastofa, Húsafell, Reykholt and Fossatún.
DAY 17: REIJKIAVIK
Another Day in Reykjavik, time to relax in the world famous blue lagoon and have more time for museums, pubs, clubs.
DAY 18: DEPARTURE
Transfer to Keflavik airport with FlyBus. I am sure you had a wonderful time in Iceland.
