ICELAND -THE LAND OF FIRE & ICE
Iceland - the "saga-island" or "the land of fire and ice" is renowned for its active volcanoes, huge glaciers, wild fjord-indented coastline and series of cod wars it fought with Britain from the late 1950’s until 1974. But it is also a land of fertile green valleys, sparkling rivers, stunning waterfalls, exquisite fjords and harbors, delicious seafood, and farms and towns located in some of the most dramatic and romantic of settings.
Our trip takes us in a sunwise arc through the south, east and north of Iceland. Iceland’s good roads and excellent hiking trails will lead us into some of the country’s most extraordinary and beautiful landscapes: indeed, to some of the most amazing places on the face of the earth.
DAILY ITINERARY
NOTES:
a. Place names are given below in the Icelandic form (as they appear on most good maps). Common components of place names are fjördur = fjord; jökull = glacier; foss = waterfall; fjall or fell = mountain; dalur = valley (dale); á = river.
(Pretrip) We highly recommend if you would like to spend extra time exploring Iceland that you do so at the end of the trip. Please be aware flights from the U.S. arrive at 6:30AM and you will not be able to check in to your hotel until 2:00PM. Our itinerary has been designed specifically to help you recover from jetlag.
 Day 1 Assemble in Reykjavík. All flights from the U.S. arrive at Keflavík International Airport in the early morning. We begin our adventure in Iceland with a hearty Scandinavian breakfast. Driving around the tip of the rugged Reykjanes peninsula, we stop to view hot springs and bird cliffs before arriving at the famous Blue Lagoon. This mineral rich geothermal lagoon is as enchanting as it is relaxing, containing therapeutic and medicinal waters. We arrive at our centrally located hotel just in time for check-in, and the rest of the afternoon is yours to sleep, go horseback riding, shop, or explore. We will reconvene in the early evening for a trip orientation and a superb welcome dinner. B, D (Breakfast and Dinner Included)
Day 2 Volcanoes, Waterfalls and Hot Springs. Heading west, we soon encounter the spectacular rifts and lava fields of Þingvellir National Park, where in 930 AD the young Icelandic nation established the oldest parliamentary assembly anywhere in the world. Our second trail takes us to the geysers and hot springs of the famous Geysir geothermal area. We have saved the most spectacular trail for last; the spectacular 105’ plunge of the large glacial river Hvítá (white-water) over Gullfoss (Golden Falls). The route from Gullfoss brings us through a wonderful mosaic of wild mountains and fertile farmlands to our lovely country hotel, Skógar in the south. B, L, D
 Day 3 The Highland Waterfalls. The spectacular 200’ Skógafoss Waterfall is the first of over 20 waterfalls we will encounter today. The crystal clear water of the river Skógar contrasts dramatically against the vivid greens of grass and moss growing along its banks. Nesting fulmars occasionally call out to us as we approach the edge of two giant icecaps, the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier and the Eyjafjalla Glacier. Soft moss caresses our feet as we make our descent to the lowlands where hot beverages await us at the Hotel Skógar. In the late afternoon, we will visit the Skógar Museum, rated as the best museum outside of Reykjavík. There’s just enough time to enjoy a soak in the hotel’s “hot pot,” or take a rejuvenating sauna before dinner. Overnight at Skógar. B, L, D
Day 4 Black Sea Shore, Colorful Puffins, History Alive. Our route today takes us across the sands and lava fields of south central Iceland for 110 miles between Skógar and Skaftafell National Park. En route, we cross sprawling flood plains of black glacial outwash sands and Eldhraun, one of the largest lava outflows in the world. Covered in exquisite moss, the resulting formations are surreal. Scattered green farms and the towns of Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Vík provide a human presence in this endlessly dramatic landscape. The coastline affords us the chance to be up close and personal with adorable and colorful puffins. With wings much more suited for swimming than flying, you’ll hold your breath as they attempt to land on cliff faces. Vík has a wonderful wool store with sweaters, socks, mittens, and for those who would rather make their own, skeins and skeins of colorful wool varieties. Our final destination, Skaftafell National Park, is set amidst two huge valley glaciers, a true oasis of striking colors and views. We will spend the afternoon hiking one of the numerous trails available to us in this beautiful park. B, L, D
 Day 5 In The Realm of Ice and Fire. Our walk today, up a broad heathland between two valley glaciers, offers an opportunity to inspect the beautiful columnar basalt of Svartifoss (Black Falls) and enjoy the magnificent panoramic views of mountains, glaciers and braided glacial rivers weaving across the vast outwash plains. After lunch, we continue our journey with another unforgettable scenic drive as we descend into the southern lowlands. On a clear day, this is by far the most impressive view in Iceland, overlooking seemingly endless icecaps with numerous sliding glaciers. We will continue along the scenic south route where numerous glacial tongues touch the lush lowland pastures – the contrast is truly amazing. We head east to Jökulsárlón, where we’ll spend an hour hiking beside a lagoon filled with icebergs calved from the 9-mile wide Breidamerkurjökull. This is the kingdom of the Great Skua, a majestic bird that nests on the vast sand deserts amidst the glacier rivers. We arrive in Höfn, a decidedly small yet charming town in which to spend an evening exploring on your own. B, L
 Day 6 Into the Wilderness to Egilsstadir. We travel the fjord indented coastline of eastern Iceland, where the surrounding mountains will remind you a bit of the Alps. Today’s hike begins at the Stafafell Farm in Lón, a unique area of spectacular scenery that boasts an outrageous variety of color. We will board a 4-wheel drive bus for an adventurous drive to our trailhead. Because this area is only accessible by foot or with a special vehicle, we will have the trail to ourselves. The bus will also assist us in our effort to reach the top of the ridge so we will have plenty of energy to explore this incredible area. Tonight we have arranged a very special treat so be sure to wear your dancing shoes for a night with the famous Héraðsblót folk dancers who will show us a few Icelandic dance steps. Overnight at the Guesthouse Egilsstadir. B, L, D
Day 7 The Impressive East Fjords. Today our hike begins from the lonely Afrétt hut at the top of the mountain pass between Ósafjöll and Njarđvik. This 8-mile hike is set amidst the most striking mountain scenery imaginable. Dyrfjöll refers to a huge rock avalanche that created a “keyhole” at the mountains top. Iridescent moss glistens with diamond like dewdrops and the air is so fresh it invades your soul and suddenly all is right in the world. We spend the entire day walking through this vibrant green wonderland set amongst giant gray boulders and spectacularly white snowfields. We have lunch next to a stream so blue the sky seems pale in comparison. Overnight in Egilsstadir town. B & L
 Day 8 The National Park of Jökulsárgljúfur. We start early this morning and head south to rejoin the main ring road around Iceland for a two-hour drive across the bleak, yet dramatic landscapes of the northeast highlands. After a 20-minute hike, we find ourselves before the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe – Dettifoss. We hike along the great rift of the glacial river canyon for about 5 miles to the green oasis of Hólmatungur, where a sparkling lava stream cascades out from under the lush birch woods and down mossy spillways. This is an excellent track with one shallow ford and a climb of 200 feet at the end. It’s a 1.5 hour hike to Hljodaklettar, the Echoing Cliffs, - a wonderful array of crags and rock formations above the swirling waters of the mighty glacial river Jökulsá á Fjöllum. We then board the bus for Lake Mývatn, often referred to as nature’s wonderland. Mývatn will be our home for the next two nights. Overnight at Hotel Gigur. B, L
Day 9 Nature’s Wonderland at Mývatn. We find ourselves amidst contorted lava formations at Dimmuborgir (the Black Castles). Legends say the formations are actually female trolls frozen by the light of dawn after a long night of drink and debauchery. We make our way quietly through this bizarre landscape and then begin our ascent to the rim of the gigantic .6 mile wide Hverfell crater, born of an eruption 2500 years ago. Our trail is fairly easy and about 5 miles long over sand, scree, and lava. As we make our way to the bus, we will visit the rifts of Grjötagjá fissure, two caves filled with hot water straight from the ground. In the past, one of the caves was designated for “women” the other for “men” and local people took advantage of the convenience of these warm natural baths. In recent years the water temperature has increased so much that this is no longer possible. After lunch, we explore the boiling mud pools, steaming fumaroles, and ochre colored hills of the Námaskard area. From there, a short drive takes us to the active Krafla volcanic zone, where a network of trails takes us across the still smoldering lava of Leirhnjúkur, created by the “Krafla fires” of 1974 – 1984. From Leirhnjúkur we will take a look at the explosive, almost circular crater Víti, before heading back to the shores of the lake. Overnight Hotel Gigur. B, L
 Day 10 The Capital of the North – Akureyri. After another wonderful Scandinavian, breakfast, we load our bags and begin our voyage to the capital of the north, Akureyri, population 15,000, the largest town in the north of Iceland. Along the way we will visit the last and perhaps most stunning of all of the many waterfalls we have seen in Iceland, Godafoss. We arrive at Akureyri by midmorning, which gives us a little time to explore the botanical gardens, and a traditional church before we continue on our final leg of our circumnavigation of the entire Ring Road around the Island and return to Reykjavik. We conclude our journey of this stunning and unique land with a very special farewell dinner. B, L, D
 Day 11 Departure. Transfers to Keflavík International Airport. B
THE DETAILS:
2011 Dates: June 27-July 6
July 11-20
July 25-August 3
August 8-17
Land Cost: $3415 (U.S. Funds)
Single Supplement: $700 (U.S. Funds)
Lodging: Hotels
Trip Begins: Reykjavík, Iceland 6:30AM Trip Ends: Reykjavík, Iceland
 WHAT WE PROVIDE:
Walking The World Guide
Local Guide
All ground transportation while on tour
10 Nights Accommodation
Entrance fee Skógar Museum
Meals as Listed
Walking The World T-shirt or Hat
Unique and original journal of your trip
Plus loads of good fun, humor, and companionship
SOME FURTHER NOTES:
WEATHER: Iceland lies just south of the Arctic Circle, and while the Gulf Stream ensures that the climate is not too severe, summers are likely to be temperate rather than warm. There will, we hope, be several days when we can hike in shorts and T-shirts, but there are also likely to be days when we’ll need adequate warm clothing and sometimes very good rain gear. Temperatures in July tend to be between 55 and 65 degrees though there can be sublime days when they climb as high as 75F.
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