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INTRODUCTION
Iceland is a surreal and unforgettable mixture of soaring mountains, vast glaciers, fjords, active volcanoes and bubbling hot springs. Our visit concentrates on the south-west of the country, taking in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Reykjavík, Porsmork Valley the world-famous waterspouts at Geysir and Europe's most impressive waterfall, Gulfoss. Our guided walks will introduce you to the island's amazing birdlife and fascinating geology. This holiday does not compromise on quality and we have selected two excellent hotels as our base from which to explore Iceland. Guided walks on this holiday are overall graded Moderate.
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| Dates: |
25 September - 2 October 2010 |
| Price from Manchester incl. flights: |
£1650.00 |
| Price from Manchester excl. flights: |
£1450.00 |
| Supplement from London Heathrow: |
£60.00 |
| Single Supplement: |
£145.00 |
| Grade: |
Moderate [M] More info |
| Availability: |
Places available |
| Book this holiday now |
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HIGHLIGHTS
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HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
- Fjord cruise in accordance with the itinerary
- Visit to shark farm
- Visit to Blue Lagoon
- Snæfellsnes National Park
- Varied birdlife - puffins, kittiwakes, cormorants, fulmars & more
- Mount Helgafell (the Holy Mountain)
- Walk through lava fields
- Bubbling hot springs
- Gorge walking
- Geysers & waterfalls
- Dinner at Lækjarbrekka (optional)
- Reykjavík
Restaurants
As there are many excellent restaurants in Reykjavík we have not included the price of dinner for the last two nights of the holiday. On request, we will make reservations with the group in two of the most famous restaurants, or you may make your dinner arrangements.
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ITINERARY
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Day 1 - Saturday 25th September 2010 - Fly Icelandic Air from UK to Keflavik (Reykjavík).
Meet & Greet with our English-speaking guide. During the 3 hours drive to Snæfellsnes Peninsula our guide will give you a welcome introduction to Iceland. We drive by tunnel under the fjord Hvalfjörður along and the Faxaflói Bay through the countryside of Borgarfjörður, Mýrar and the southern shore of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Check in at Hotel Framnes in Grundarfjorour where we stay next the 3 nights. Dinner at hotel. D
Day 2 - Sunday 26th September 2010 - Snæfellnes National Park
Today we enjoy the spectacular scenery at the Snæfellnes National Park where the glacier Snæfellsjökull dominates the area. Walk more or less the whole day but travelling by coach from one place to another. Our first stop will be at the small village of Hellissandur where we visit the maritime museum to get to know a little bit more about the life of the local fishermen in the past.
Walk from Öndverðanes to Beruvik over black lava and the high cliffs of Svörtuloft where the sea is often rough and many shipwrecks have occurred. From there we head to a beach called Djúpárlónssandur, where in the former days a seasonal fishing village was situated and where you can try your strength at the old weightlifting rocks used to determine each sailor's rank on the ship. We leave this beach, continuing our journey around the peninsula, head on to Arnastapi, a small village where we walk along the coast enjoying the "song" of all the sea birds - kittiwakes and arctic terns - and see a famous rock-arch by the sea. Total walk 4-5 hours. Dinner at hotel. BLD
Day 3 - Monday 27th September 2010 - Stykkishólmur, boat tour, Mt Helgafell, Búðir area
In Stykkishólmur we embark on a boat to enjoy a 2½ hours boat trip around the islands of Breiðafjörður (the wide fjord). Expect to see puffins, kittiwakes, cormorants, fulmars and, if we are lucky, the king of Icelandic birds, the white-tailed eagle. The history of the islands will be introduced to us, and some of it's natural wonders, shown to us. Ending the trip with some "fishing" as they throw out a net to show us scallops or sea urchins straight from the sea!
After the boat trip we go on to Mt. Helgafell (the holy mountain). This holy mountain is not more than a hill, 73 m high, and next to it we find a farm and a small wooden church. Outside the graveyard we also find a separate grave with the name Guðrún and the date 1008. The story of this Guðrún is told in one of the Icelander's Saga and according to the legend one can get three wishes fulfilled if one climbs the mountain, starting from the grave of Guðrún and follows couple of simple rules.
After that we walk the old route "Berserkjagata" and walk to the farm of Bjarnarhöfn, famous for his traditional shark processing and an old private church on this beautiful property. We end the day by taking a walk at the vicinity of Búðir. The old route around Budahraun is called Klettsgata. It runs to Budarklettur, the crater from which the Búðir lava field has flown, past Budahellir, and through the lava. Total walk 4 - 5 hours. Dinner at hotel. BLD
Day 4 - Tuesday 28th September 2010 - Búðir lava field, Borgarfjörður, Reykjavík
Leaving Snæfellsnes we head for the region of Borgarfjörður, where we will find many sites to visit. Starting at Deildatunguhver, one of the world's most voluminous hot springs giving 198 litres per second, some of it chanelled through a vent over a distance of 60 km to heat up villages and farms on the way. Reykholt (the smoky hill) will also be visited, a tiny village and a former farm site of the 13th century writer/scholar, chieftain and statesman Snorri Sturluson. We get to know Snorri's hot pool, one of Iceland's oldest constructions, the water coming from one of many hot sources in the area.
Continue to Hraunfossar (lava waterfalls), where crystal clear water seemingly drops out of a 1000 years old lava field. Stretched over 100 m they fall into the muddy glacial river leaving an interesting "water fight" between the fresh and the glacial waters. A 5 min walk up the river brings us to Barnafoss (children's fall) where the glacial river has carved out strange rock formations. Onwards to Reykjavík where we check in at Hotel Reykjavík for the next four nights. Total walking time: 2-3 hours. Dinner at the hotel. BD
Day 5 - Wednesday 29th September 2010 - Þórsmörk (by Super Jeeps)
Travel in rugged 4 x 4 state of the art Super Jeep vehicles fitted with the very latest equipment including GPS global satellite positioning equippment can drive almost anywhere.
Today is spent visiting Þórsmörk, a popular hiking area in the south with various gorges, smaller glaciers and protected birch forests. Our first stop will be at a glacier tongue descending from the glacier Eyjafjallajökull, where at its end a small lagoon can be found. We continue to a moss green gorge called Stakkholtsgjá and walk into its bottom to see a half-hidden waterfall. The rest of the day will be spent walking on some of the numerous walking paths, Valahnjúkur walk or other, chosen according to wind and weather conditions of the day.
After a day of adventure in Þórsmörk we head back to Reykjavík and on our way we make a stop at Stokkseyri, a small seaside village, and enjoy a Icelandic Lobster feast (crayfish) in a rustic restaurant called "Vid fjörubordid" (By the Seashore). Total walking 4 - 5 hours. BLD
Day 6 - Thursday 30th September 2010 - Nesjavellir walking, Gullfoss, Geysir
This morning we have about three hours of walking in the Hengill area, with its hot springs/boreholes and marked walking routes. After lunch we drive on to the Geysir area for a walk around the hot springs. Visit big Geysir that has been calm since long ago but not far away we will find Geyser's little brother, Strokkur which spouts every 5-10 minutes.
We have another wonder waiting us not far from the Geysir area, one of Iceland's favourite waterfalls, named Gullfoss (the golden waterfall). Falling 35 meters into the canyon of Hvítá (the White River) after having travelled 30 km from the glacier Langjökull (the Long Glacier) in the north. Total walking this day 4 - 5 hours.
Optional dinner at Lækjarbrekka, a famous restaurant focusing on Icelandic specialties and located in an old and picturesque wooden house. Or dinner under your own arrangements. BLD
Day 7 - Friday 1st October 2010 - Reykjavík & Þingvellir
The morning is spent walking in the old city centre of Reykjavík where the town originally grew up around its main street going southwards from the old harbour, along the salmon river and on many of the attractive walking paths in Reykjavík.
In the afternoon we go to Þingvellir (parliament fields), where the parliament was founded in the year 930 A.D. and where it met until the late 18th century. The old general assembly was always held outside so there are no buildings from that time to be seen, but the site is outstandingly beautiful. To quote the 19th century traveller Lord Dufferin: "It is worth sailing the Spanish sea to see Geysir, but it is worth sailing around the World to see Þingvellir".
We spend 3- 4 hours walking in the National Park. Total walking this day 5-6 hours.
Optional dinner at Restaurant Humarhúsið (The Lobster House) a popular downtown seafood restaurant. Or dinner under your own arrangements. BD
Day 8 - Saturday 2nd October 2010 - To Keflavík Airport for our return flight to the UK
On our way to Keflavík Airport we visit the Blue Lagoon to experience one of the most unusual farewells of any country. We put on our swimming costumes and go bathing in the Blue Lagoon, a mineral-rich geothermal pool in the middle of a large and dramatic lava field, reputed for its healing properties (except passengers flying to Glasgow owing to flight times).
Afterwards we continue to the airport and depart by Icelandic Air for the UK. B
B = breakfast L = lunch D = dinner
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ACCOMODATION
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Hotels
The first part of the holiday (3 nights) will be at Hotel Framnes on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Graded 3-star, the hotel has comfortable rooms with full facilities including bath or shower. The hotel is located on the waterfront and was originally built as a fishermen's hostel in 1954. Since then it has been converted into a warm, cosy hotel and ideally located for our programme. The Hotel offers a tranquil, relaxed atmosphere with professionalism as its anchor. It enjoys a quaint seaside setting with impressive views of the fjord. The management and staff are friendly and helpful and we are assured of a warm welcome.
We stay at Hotel Reykjavík for the second part of the holiday (4 nights) with one evening meal in the hotel and the other three taken in local restaurants. Rooms are comfortable will full facilities including bath or shower, TV etc. As a result of recent refurbishment, the hotel claims to be one of the best superior Tourist Class hotels in Reykjavík.The hotel is graded 3-star.
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Please note that the following flight times, flight numbers and routings are the latest known and are subject to change and confirmation by the airlines. All times are local.
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Outbound - Saturday 25th September 2010
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Depart Heathrow
Arrive Reykjavík
Depart Manchester
Arrive Reykjavík
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FI451
FI441
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1300
1500
2005
2335
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| Inbound - Saturday 2nd October 2010 |
Depart Reykjavík
Arrive Heathrow
Depart Reykjavík
Arrive Manchester |
FI452
FI440 |
1610
2010
1730
2105 |
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| Price per person, sharing a twin or double room excluding flights |
£1450.00 |
| Price per person, sharing a twin or double room including flights |
£1650.00 |
| Single person supplement |
£145.00 |
WHAT THE FULL PRICE INCLUDES
- International economy class flight UK to Iceland and return
- Private coach transfers between airports and hotels
- Airport taxes in UK and Iceland
- Full programme in accordance with the itinerary
- English speaking local guides throughout the tour
- Entrance fee to national parks and visits to places of interest
- Service of our Agent in Iceland
- Accompanying Tour Leader
- Accommodation for three nights at the Hotel Framnes in double rooms with private facilities, including breakfast
- Accommodation for four nights at Hotel Reykjavík in double rooms with private facilities including breakfast
- 5 x 3 course dinners in hotels and local restaurants
- Packed lunches in accordance with the itinerary
- Fjord cruise in accordance with the itinerary
- Visit to shark farm
- Visit to Blue Lagoon
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
- Holiday/Travel Insurance
- Dinner in Reykjavík on last two nights
- Beverages
- Gratuities, which are optional
- Any Government taxes or compulsory charges that may be introduced after the publication of this web page
For reasons of safety, weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary to make changes to the programme without advance notice, but every effort will be made to avoid this if at all possible.
E&OE
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