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Our tour begins at our hotel in Reykjavik in the late afternoon. Iceland’s compact capital city is well worth exploring, and we strongly recommend a couple of extra days before or after your tour. Two of the most striking attractions are the Hallgrímskirkja Church; a fine example of expansionist architecture with great views from the tower, and the beautiful Harpa Concert Hall. The nearby old harbour is a great starting point to explore the narrow streets of the old town. Our trip begins with an evening briefing.This will usually be around 1830.
Today we leave Reykjavik driving east along the scenic southern highway. Our first stop is Seljalandsfoss, a 60-metre high waterfall. Here we have the chance to walk behind the cascade providing conditions are not too icy. Suitable footwear is a must, however the leader also carries a selection of ice grips that can be put over standard walking boots to increase grip in slippery conditions. We continue on through starkly beautiful countryside to an area badly affected by the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. We continue on along the coast visiting the Skógafoss Waterfall, that falls in a 25-metre wide sheet in a single drop of 60 metres. There may also be time to visit the nearby Skóga Museum (entrance payable locally) and see how Icelanders of centuries past survived in this harsh environment. After lunch our next stop is the black volcanic beach at Reynisfjara, with its salt caves and towering columnar basalts. The final part of our journey takes us across the black expanse of the Myrdalssandur floodplains, created by the river which formed after the eruption of a volcano under the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier. Our hotel for the night is the Laki, located just outside the small village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur.
We set out today across the massive Skeidararsandur floodplains, created in a similar fashion to those at Mydalssandur. These floods however only occurred in 1996, and there is still little vegetation. We head to Falljokull, then walk to an accessible part of the glacier where we will strap on crampons and grab some ice axes to walk on the glacier. The terrain is not challenging and even those with no similar experience should pick it up quickly. The glacier offers some fantastic photo opportunities, with its walls of brilliant blue ice, thousands of years in the making. Please note that weather and road conditions will determine whether the glacier walk is possible and how long the transfer/walk to the glacier will be. In good conditions, the walk may be 15 minutes; in poorer conditions, the walk may be up to 1 hour. Your itinerary will be adjusted according to conditions on the day. After the return hike, we travel onwards to the beautiful Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, created in the 1950s as the glacier retreated from the coastline, leaving a 300m deep, 20sq km lake littered with icebergs. On the beach we can walk amongst the large chunks of ice washed up on the black volcanic sand, creating some beautiful shapes and formations. The drive back to the hotel is approximately 90 minutes (125km), plenty of time to reflect on the day's adventures.
We make our way back along the south coast, travelling inland from Selfoss. We stop for lunch then head on to visit the mighty Gulfoss Waterfall; one of Europe’s most powerful. Hundreds of cubic tonnes of water a second pass over the edge of the falls into the canyon below. We also visit Geysir, home to the inimitable hot spouts. The most reliable eruption comes from Strokkur and occurs every 5-10 minutes, firing jets of hot water and steam 30 metres into the air, a spectacle not to be missed. Our final stop before returning to Reykjavik is Thingvellir National Park, where the world’s first democratic parliament sat in 930AD. It was not until 1798, that it moved to the capital. Thingvellir is also the site of the rift valley marking the Mid Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart, causing an area of around 7km to literally sink into the earth.
Our trip ends with a Flybus transfer to Keflavik Airport. Your leader will not accompany you on the Flybus, however you will be provided with a number to call for assistance should it be needed.Should you have time you may wish to spend time exploring Reykjavik, visiting one of the local thermal pools or the Blue Lagoon (see extra expenses section for details).Alternatively you may wish to extend your stay and learn more about this incredible country. Please ask our sales team about pre and post tour nights.
4 nights comfortable en suite hotelsFlybus transfer to meet any flightTravel
by airconditioned minibusGroup normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
All breakfasts are included. There are a number of different lunch stops,
which we believe fit well with the itinerary such as the café near the
Skogafoss Waterfall, and the geothermal greenhouses at Friðheimar which
serves a menu based on its own produce, including the famous Friðheimar
Tomato Soup!Whilst in the east of Iceland we will stop at local restaurants
for dinner. In Reykjavik there are plenty of restaurants to choose from
catering for all tastes and budgets. Traditional Icelandic dishes consist of
salmon, cod, lamb and puffin. Cafés in the old town are particularly cosy,
packed with comfy chairs, and antique furniture, with wonderful selections of
coffees, cakes and treats.There will be vegetarian and vegan options
available though in the east of Iceland these may be more limited than in
Reykjavik.
4 nights comfortable en suite hotelsFlybus transfer to meet any flightTravel
by airconditioned minibusGroup normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
This short stay includes three and a half days sightseeing, with visits to
and exploration of areas of natural beauty. We will attempt to see the
Northern Lights, choosing location and times based on the latest information
to give us the best chance of seeing them. We will not go out every night,
instead we monitor conditions and reports to see where and when excursions
may be successful. Our accommodation in the east is fairly remote, so is well
placed should skies be clear. Whilst staying here it is likely we would
simply take advantage of the viewing terrace should the lights be visible.It
is important to remember that the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon
and are never guaranteed. We are however pleased to say that the majority of
our groups have managed to see the Aurora in some form.We also venture out
onto a glacier equipped with helmet, ice axe and crampons however we stick to
only flat sections of the ice; this experience is very accessible and
designed for all abilities. To make the most of this holiday you do not need
previous experience but a reasonable level of fitness is
recommended.Understandably for its location Icelandic weather is
unpredictable, please come prepared for cold, wet and windy conditions. As
this trip runs from October to March, hours of daylight will vary depending
on departure date from around 5 hours in January to 10 hours in March.
Outside of daylight there are hours of twilight, particularly before sunrise,
when there is enough light to see by. Naturally, the Aurora will not be
visible during daylight.We cover a lot of ground and as such have a few long
drives. We make frequent photo stops during these drives to allow us to
appreciate the different and spectacular landscapes. Iceland has become
hugely popular in recent years, and you may find some of the main sites
rather busy at certain times. Please note on occasion severe weather can
affect our ability to undertake some of the outdoor activities and visits and
we cannot rule out changes to the itinerary for these reasons. Any such
decisions would always be taken with the safety of the group in mind. We will
always endeavour to provide suitable alternatives in this instance.
Hotels Klettur or Cabin & Hotel LakiDuring our time in Reykjavik, we usually stay in the Hotel Klettur. The
property is located approximately 15 mins walk from the main shopping street,
Laugavegur, so it’s easy to enjoy the cafés, bars and restaurants of
Iceland’s capital. Rooms are a good size with private facilities.
Alternatively we may stay in the Hotel Cabin, which offers the same standard
of accommodation and facilities, but is approximately 800m further out from
the city centre.Along the south coast we stay at the Hotel Laki, situated in
a perfect location to see Iceland’s rugged landscape, with pseudo craters
dotting the view. All accommodation has private facilities.
All breakfasts are included. There are a number of different lunch stops,
which we believe fit well with the itinerary such as the café near the
Skogafoss Waterfall, and the geothermal greenhouses at Friðheimar which
serves a menu based on its own produce, including the famous Friðheimar
Tomato Soup!Whilst in the east of Iceland we will stop at local restaurants
for dinner. In Reykjavik there are plenty of restaurants to choose from
catering for all tastes and budgets. Traditional Icelandic dishes consist of
salmon, cod, lamb and puffin. Cafés in the old town are particularly cosy,
packed with comfy chairs, and antique furniture, with wonderful selections of
coffees, cakes and treats.There will be vegetarian and vegan options
available though in the east of Iceland these may be more limited than in
Reykjavik.
A comfortable, heated minibus, well adapted to the changing terrain will be
used for all transport on this tour. Airport transfers are on the Flybus
Service.
Travelling flight inclusive from London: 8 daysThe group flight from London
is a daytime flight departing on Day 1 of the itinerary.Flights from
LondonWe normally use the scheduled services of Iceland air (depending on
availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend
you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm
up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date and
cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before
departure. Travelling land only: 5 days starting and ending in ReykjavikYour
trip normally starts at our accommodation in Reykjavik in the afternoon of
Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are provided
in the Final Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately two weeks before
departure.
We offer a transfer to meet any international flight arriving into Keflavik
Airport. All clients will receive a voucher for a Flybus transfer to the
start hotel. Flybus offer coach transfers which run throughout the day and
makes stops at various city hotels including our start hotel. You
will receive further details in your Final Joining Instructions.We use
Flybus so you have full flexibility to choose the flight times that work best
for you. This also means we avoid adding to the road traffic and CO2
emissions by having a private bus meet our groups. It is the most cost
effective and responsible way to transfer from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik.
If you prefer being met by a taxi, this can be arranged at an additional
cost. Contact our Sales team for more details.
The country has a notoriously fickle climate, and on any day of the winter
you may experience periods of sunshine alternating with short or long showers
of snow, sleet or even rain. Away from the coast, in most winters, there is
good snow cover for much of the season. Average daytime temperatures in
Reykjavik are between 0º and -5º Celsius. In the interior it can be several
degrees colder, and in windy weather, which is common, the wind-chill factor
can be significant.
Walking boots: 3 or 3-4 season waterproof walking boots with semi-rigid
soles, and good ankle support.Outdoor / winter clothing as follows:Good
quality waterproof jacketWarm fleece, warm hat and gloves. Waterproof
trousers are very useful.Thermal underwear, top and bottom, is
recommended.Balaclava or scarf and extra thick glovesWarm hat that covers
your earsWater bottle and/or thermos flaskTrainers/comfortable shoes for the
eveningsFor thermal pools: towel, swimsuit.Torch, preferably a head torch.A
tripod is highly recommended if trying to photograph the Northern Lights, as
is the ability to take long exposures.
Though there is not much free time on this itinerary, your leader can offer
advice on optional activities. The Blue Lagoon is a popular excursion and
can be booked for your last day, if your return flight is late
enough.Companies offer a Flybus transfer to the Blue Lagoon, entrance, then
from the Blue Lagoon to the airport. This can be booked through a number of
excursion companies including but not restricted to Reykjavik Excursion -
www.re.is and www.grayline.is . Prices start from 12600 Icelandic Krona.We
recommend you book this tour early as availability can be limited.For the
meals not included, guide prices are as follows:-Lunch - 2000ISK to
3000ISKEvening meal in Reykjavik - 3000 to 8000ISK (approx £25 - £60), not
including drinks. Prices may be slightly lower outside of Reykjavik however
this is not always the case. Drinks - beer approx 900- 1500 ISK (approx
£8-£12), soft drinks 400ISK (approx £3), wine approx 3500ISK a bottle
(approx £25), 1800ISK a glass
Tipping is not a big part of Icelandic culture. However should you wish to
leave a tip, we recommend approximately £15 per person. This is a guide and
entirely at your discretion.
Travel insuranceSingle accommodation (available on request)Visas or
vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.