ICELAND’S OUTER CIRCLE WITH WHALE WATCHING
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 travellers 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 travelled 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. On some departures this tour may be operated in reverse.
HIGHLIGHTS AND VALUES:
-Whale watching tour included, weather permitting
- We only stay in four hotels which means less packing
- Introduction to the Icelandic horse
- Visit to four National Parks
- Visit to Glaumbær folk museum included
- Visit to the Nature Baths at Lake Mývatn included
- Boat trip on glacial lagoon with floating icebergs included
- Average of 1-2 hours walking a day
- Bird watching boat trip around the islands of Breiðafjörður fjord included
GRAND COUNTRYSIDE - ITINERARY:
Day 1, MO: REYKJAVIK-BORGARFJORDUR
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, before continuing to Reykholt, home of the 13th century poet, Snorri Sturluson. We stay in Borgarfjörður for the next two nights.
Day 2, TU: SNAEFELLSNES
Today we drive around the Snæfellsnes peninsula, which is dominated by the glacier where, according to Jules Verne’s book, the Entrance to the Centre of the Earth can be found. We visit small fishing towns and drive through interesting lava fields 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, WE: EYJAFJORDUR-ÞINGEYJARSYSLA
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 the Húsavík area for the next three nights.
Day 4, TH: HUSAVIK-WHALE WATCHING
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, FR: GODAFOSS-MYVATN
We visit the waterfall Goðafoss, en-route 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, SA: DETTIFOSS-FLJOTSDALSHERAD
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, SU: FLJOTSDALUR-SEYDISFJORDUR
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, MO: BORGARFJORDUR-EYSTRI
This short wide fjord and grassy fertile valley with a charming fishing village of the same name is situated north-east of Egilsstaðir. Magnificent colourful mountains and numerous beautiful rocks and rare stones are to be found here.
Day 9, TU: FLJOTSDALSHERAD-SKAFTAFELL
Vatnajökull, Europe’s biggest glacier, dominates the landscape with its glacial tongues calving into a glacial lagoon. We 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, WE: SKAFTAFELL
The whole day is spent walking or relaxing at Skaftafell National Park.
Day 11, TH: SKAFTAFELL-REYKJAVIK
We return to Reykjavík through the fertile meadows and the 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.
GRAND COUNTRYSIDE DEPARTURES:
All tours depart at 09:00
80/E Monday 18 June - 28 June
80/I Monday 16 July - 26 July
80/M Monday 13 August - 23 August
DURATION: 11 days / 10 nights
LANGUAGES: This tour is guided in English and German
ACCOMMODATION: Hotels/Country Guest Houses
MEALS: 10x breakfast and 10x dinner from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day.
GROUP SIZE: From 8 to 30 passengers
ALSO INCLUDED: Whale watching tour (weather permitting), Bird watching boat trip around the islands of Breiðafjörður fjord, Introduction to the Icelandic horse, visit to four National Parks, visit to Glaumbær folk museum, visit to the Nature Baths at Lake Mývatn, boat trip on glacial lagoon and an average of 1-2 hours walking a day.
Price in EUR:
per person in Twin room: EUR 2.640.-
Single room supplement EUR 530.-
VIP-seating supplement: EUR 220.-
Bookings to be sent: to email: Icelandontrac@icelandontrack.is
after we receive your booking by email, you will get a short reconfirmation from us by email. Payment is due latest 4 weeks prior to arrival and vouchers and detailed itinerary will be sent after receipt of final payment. This concept will assure an interactive relation between you and our company and we can assist you with any personal needs you might have.
CANCELLATIONS
A cancellation fee of 10% of the tour price and accommodation will be retained us for cancellations made from 1 month to 14 days before departure. From 14 days until 48 hours before departure, the fee is 50%. No refund is possible for cancellations less than 48 hours before departure, or f
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