ICELAND

Natural Wonders of Iceland

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9 Days / 8 Nights

Visiting: Iceland

Experience a world of natural phenomena: gushing waterfalls, volcanoes and stunning landscapes at every turn. The overwhelming beauty of this country will ensure you will want to return again and again.

 

Highlights:

  • Hellisheiðavirkjun: Visit Iceland’s newest eothermal heat and electric power station.
  • Geysir: Visit the famous spouting Geysir which has become synonymous with hot springs all around the world.
  • Höfn: Your Travel Director takes you on a short orientation through this seaside village.
  • Gullfoss: The spectacular two-tiered waterfall, the Icelandic equivalent of Niagara falls, drops a total of 32 metres, while spanning the entire width of the Hvítá River.
  • Skalholt: See the historic church.
  • Skaftafell: Visit the amazing alpine setting of the National Park and experience the might of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier.
  • Lake Jökulsárlón: See the setting for the James Bond film ‘Die Another Day’.
  • Egilsstaðir: Visit this lakeside town.
  • Dettifoss: Visit the most powerful waterfall in Europe and see the Godafoss, known as The Waterfall of the Gods.
  • Lake Mývatn: Traverse spectacular landscapes of craters, boiling mud pots and geothermal hot springs shooting jets of hot water and steam into the air, at this renowned bird-watching site.
  • Akureyi: Your Travel Director will provide an orientation of the capital of northern Iceland, established in 1602.
  • Snæfellsjökull National Park: Enjoy a fascinating exploration of this magnificent park, home to lava formations, waterfalls and the most famous volcano in Iceland.
  • Búðir: Admire the sandy hill, black lava fields and the yellow beach.
  • Arnarstapi: Walk the sea-cliff and admire the rock formations.
  • Thingvellir: The Parliamentary Plains are the most important historic site in the country, as the meeting place of the Althing, the world’s oldest parliament that was founded in A.D. 930.
  • Reykjavík: Explore the capital during your orientation. See the Old Harbour, the National Museum, the Domkirk church and Höfði House. Pass Althingishusid, Reykjavik's House of Parliament, and continue to the Hallgrímskirkja Church which can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.
  • Scenic Drives: Witness spectacular scenery, like nowhere else in the world, as you travel along the South and East coasts, through the Scenic mountain pass of Almannaskard and the Mödrudal Desert, past Hvammstang, along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and into the Snæfellsjökull National Park.

 

Day 1

THE SMOKY BAY OF REYKJAVÍK

Welcome to Iceland. On arrival at Reykjavík’s Keflavík Airport, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Join your Travel Director and travel companions at 18:15 for a Welcome Drink served with light refreshments.

 

Day 2

HOT SPRINGS AND WATERFALLS TO VÍK

Head east to visit Iceland’s newest geothermal and electric power station at Hellisheiðavirkjun. Then travel on to the ancient bishopric of Skalholt and see the historic church set in a remote location amid magnificent natural scenery. Continue to the hot springs at Geysir and the mighty Gullfoss waterfalls, the Icelandic equivalent of Niagara Falls before continuing to your hotel in Vík.

 

Day 3

BY GLACIERS AND ICEBERGS TO HÖFN

Travel along the southern coast of Iceland, besides the black basalt sand beaches. The highlight of the day is the National Park at Skaftafell where you will see the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. Travel on to the luminous blue icebergs of Lake Jökulsárlón, the dramatic setting of scenes in two James Bond films. Arrive in the small harbor town of Höfn, an active lobster fishing hub. Your Travel Director takes you on a short orientation. Dine at your hotel's restaurant tonight and experience what the local produce has to offer.

 

Day 4

EASTERN FJORDS TO EGILSSTAÐIR

Explore the eastern coastal region, where Irish missionary monks lived some 1,200 years ago. Travel up the fjords to the beautiful area around Egilsstaðir.

 

Day 5

BY DESERT, LAKES AND DIVINE WATERFALLS TO AKUREYRI

Journey through the sand desert of Möðrudalur to see Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Continue on to the beautiful Lake Mývatn. This area offers a wide spectrum of geological formations and the concentrated geothermal activity produces mud pools and spectacular colored deposits. Continue to Akureyri where you have the evening to relax or explore at your leisure. Perhaps embark on an optional whale watching experience? (available during whale season).

 

Day 6

FROM THE CAPITAL OF THE NORTH TO BORGARNES

Enjoy an orientation of Akureyri, the capital of northern Iceland, first established as a trading center in 1602. Travel past mountains, waterfalls and green coastal regions to Hvammstangi. Later, continue on to the south-west coast of Borgarnes.

 

Day 7

EXPLORING SNÆFELLSJÖKULL NATIONAL PARK

Travel along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula to Snæfellsjökull National Park known as the Jewel of West Iceland and home to the country’s most famous volcano. See the magnificent Snæfellsjökull glacier surrounded by unspoiled natural beauty. On route, admire the impressive landscapes of Búðir offering a mixture of sandy hills, black lava fields and a yellow beach. Next, take a stroll along the sea cliffs of Arnastapi with it's unique columnar rock formations while taking in the beautiful scenery.

 

Day 8

THINGVELLIR, BLUE LAGOON AND ON TO REYKJAVÍK

Journey south to Thingvellir, where the first meeting of the Icelandic parliament was held in A.D. 930. This remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridgeline where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. On arrival in Reykjavík, enjoy an orientation of the city. See the Old Harbour, National Museum, the Hallgrim church, and Höfði House. Pass Althingishusid, Reykjavik’s House of Parliament, and continue to the Hallgrímskirkja Church which can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Visit Iceland's world-famous Blue Lagoon, where you join your newfound friends and toast to your Icelandic holiday with a cocktail. Enjoy relaxing in the mineral-rich geothermal waters, surrounded by lava fields and snowcapped mountains. The Lagoon is a wonder of nature and offers a unique experience for both body and soul. This evening, delight in a delicious Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant where you round off your journey through one of the world's most naturally beautiful places.

 

Day 9

FAREWELL REYKJAVÍK

Your Icelandic adventure comes to an end, with a transfer to Reykjavík's Keflavík Airport.