Grand Countryside

 

Reykjavik	Radisson SAS Saga	1 night
Reykholt	Fosshotel	2 nights
Húsavík	Fosshotel	3 nights
Egilsstaðir	Hotel Hallormsstaður	3 nights
Skaftafell	Fosshotel	2 nights

12 days from £2390

excluding international flights

Mountains, rivers, glaciers and volcanoes will unfold as we take you exploring in four easy stages. Outside Reykjavík 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.

On some departures this tour may be operated in reverse. 

 

 

DAY 1 - Arrive Keflavik. Drive to Reykjavík.

On arrival at Keflavik Airport take the shuttle bus (not included) to the Reykjavík Bus terminal where you will be met and taken to your hotel. Recommended flight from London:Icelandair from London Heathrow (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

 

DAY 2 - Reykjavík to Borgarfjörður.

Your Iceland holiday begins with a drive to the famous Gullfoss waterfall (pictured left) and the geothermal hot springs at Geysir. You will 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 Sturlusson. Stay in the Borgarfjörður region for the next two nights.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 3 - Snæfellsnes, Stykkishólmur.

Today you 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. Visit small fishing towns and drive through interesting lava fields and on to the town of Stykkishólmur where you will take a boat trip around the islands of Breiðafjörður, home to puffins and the white tailed eagle.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 4 - Eyjafjörður, Húsavík.

Stop at the beautiful waterfalls of Hraunfossar before heading for Skagafjörður to visit the immaculately-preserved historical farm at Glaumbær, with its traditional wood-fronted turf-dwellings.  Continue to Akureyri, the principal town on the north coast of Iceland, for a sightseeing tour before driving on to your accommodation in the Húsavík area for the next three nights.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 5 - Húsavík whale-watching.

Weather-permitting, you will start the day with a 3 hour whale-watching cruise.  The waters around Húsavík contain large numbers of dolphins, porpoises and minke whales, and if you are lucky you should also see humpback whales, renowned for their spectacular 'breaching' leaps out of the water (left). Blue whales, and orcas (killer whales) are also a possibility, and you will also see a variety of seabirds, including puffins.  The afternoon is at leisure to wander around the town.  There are some interesting museums, including the excellent Whale Museum and the somewhat more esoteric Icelandic Phallological Museum!
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 6 - Goðafoss, Lake Mývatn.

Visit the Goðafoss waterfall 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. You will visit the lava field at Dimmuborgir and climb up to the rim of the Hverfjall ash crater before heading back to your accommodation.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 7 - Dettifoss, Egilsstaðir.

After breakfast leave Húsavík and travel around the Tjörnes Peninsula, where you will visit the magnificent 45-metre high Dettifoss (pictured left), the most powerful waterfall in Europe. For the next three nights you will stay in the neighbourhood of Egilsstaðir.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

 

 

 

DAY 8 - Lake Lögurinn, Seyðisfjörður.

This morning you will tour around Lake Lögurinn, passing through Skriðuklaustur with its distinctive stone house built in the 1930s by the author Gunnar Gunnarsson. If the weather is fine, you will have the opportunity to walk up to Hengifoss, one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland. You will also visit the fishing town of Seyðisfjörður.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 9 - Borgarfjörður Eystri.

Borgarfjörður Eystri is a wide fjord and grassy fertile valley with a charming fishing village of the same name, situated north-east of Egilsstaðir. Magnificent colourful mountains and numerous beautiful rocks and rare stones are to be found here.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 10 - Vatnajökull, Skaftafell.

Vatnajökull, Europe’s biggest glacier, dominates the landscape with its glacial tongues calving into a glacial lagoon (pictured left). Take a fascinating boat trip on the lagoon among the icebergs, an experience you will never forget. For the next two nights, you will stay in the neighbourhood of Skaftafell National Park, an area of more than 1700 square kilometres, with highland slopes carpeted in wildflowers, dramatic mountain ridges and glaciers.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 11 - Skaftafell National Park.

Skaftafell is one of Iceland's premier hiking centres.  The whole day is spent relaxing, or walking; the park's main hiking trails are well marked and not especially demanding.  In good weather the views are superb.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 12 -: Skaftafell, Reykjavík. Depart for UK.

Return to Reykjavík through 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 you may spot puffins and even some seals. In the afternoon transfer to Keflavik Airport for your homeward flight.
Meals included: Breakfast.

Hotels

All the hotels outside Reykjavik on this tour have rooms with private facilities and are country or summer hotels, used most of the year as boarding schools.  They are simple and clean but not luxurious. Most of our groups will stay at the hotels mentioned above, although these are subject to possible change.

International Flights.

We recommend the services of Icelandair from London Heathrow. Flights are non-stop and have a choice of classes. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Keflavik. Depart at 13.00; arrive Keflavik at 15:00
Keflavik/Heathrow. Depart at 16.10; arrive Heathrow at 20.10
Icelandair also operates direct flights between Glasgow and Keflavik. 'No Frills' airline Iceland Express also operate flights from London Gatwick.

Iceland Holidays: Grand Countryside (Tour Reference: WDIC002)
2012 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Departures on Sundays	Price
17 Jun; 15 Jul; 12 Aug	£2390

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities.
• 11 breakfasts and 10 dinners as shown in the itinerary.
• All sightseeing as shown (unless indicated as ‘optional’), including entrance fees.
• The services of an English-speaking guide for the included sightseeing.
  

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• Transportation from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavík (and v.v.).
• Optional sightseeing.
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter.

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your Iceland holiday must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.