GRAND COUNTRYSIDE -

ICELAND'S OUTER CIRCLE 2008

11 days / 10 nights, Reykjavik - Gullfoss - Geysir - Snæfellsnes - Breiðafjörður - Eyjafjörður -

Akureyri - Goðafoss - Lake Mývatn - Tjörnes Peninsula - Dettifoss - Hengifoss - Seyðisfjörður -

Vatnajökull Glacier - Skaftafell - Reykjavik

Departures: Mondays, May 12 / June 09, 23 / July 07, 21 / Aug 04, 18 / Sept 08

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 travelers 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 traveled 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.
 

Day 1 REYKJAVIK - BORGARFJÖRDUR (D)
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 Borgarfjörður, where we stay for the next two nights.

Day 2 SNAEFELLSNES (B, D)
Today we drive around the Snæfellsnes peninsula which is dominated by the glacier where, according to Jules Verne's book the entrance to the center of the earth can be found. We visit small fishing towns and drive through lava fields, now the home of birds and beautiful alpine and arctic flowers.

Day 3 EYJAFJÖRÐUR - ÞINGEYJARSÝSLA (B, D)
We visit the beautiful waterfalls of Hraunfossar (lava falls) and Reykholt, home of the 13th century poet, historian and statesman Snorri Sturluson. We head for Skagafjörður where we are introduced to the Icelandic horse. Continue to our overnight accommodation in Eyjafjörður or Þingeyjarsýsla area where we stay the next three nights.

Day 4 EYJAFJÖRÐUR (B, D)
Morning sightseeing in Akureyri and a short boat trip to the island of Hrísey situated in Iceland's longest fjord Eyjafjörður. We also visit the fishing village Dalvík before returning to our accommodation.

Day 5 GOÐAFOSS - LAKE MÝVATN (B, D)
We visit the waterfall of the Gods, Goðafoss, en route to Lake Mývatn. There is lush vegetation here and many different species of birds, some of which are not found elsewhere in Europe. We visit the lava field Dimmuborgir and climb up to the rim of the ash crater Hverfjall. Continue back to our accommodation and relax in the Mývatn Nature Bath.

Day 6 DETTIFOSS - FLJOTSDALSHERAD (B, D)
The Tjörnes Peninsula is one of the most fascinating geological areas of Iceland. We stop at magnificent waterfall Dettifoss, the most powerful in Europe. Overnight in the neighborhood of Egilsstaðir for the next three nights.

Day 7 FLJOTSDALUR - SEYÐISFJÖRÐUR (B, D)
We go around the lake Lögurinn passing the farm mansion at Skriðuklaustur with its large unusual type of house, then ( weather permitting ) on to one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland, Hengifoss.

In the afternoon we visit the fishing town of Seyðisfjörður.

Day 8 BORGARFJÖRDUR - EYSTRI (B, D)
This short wide fjord and grassy, fertile valley with a charming fishing village of the same name is situated north-east of Egilsstaðir. Magnificent colorful mountains and numerous beautiful rocks and rare stones are to be found here.

Day 9 FLJOTSDALSHERAD - SKAFTAFELL (B, D)
Vatnajökull Europe's biggest glacier, dominates the landscape with its glacial tongues and icebergs calving in to a glacial lagoon. We take a boat trip on the lagoon among the icebergs. Overnight in the neighborhood of Skaftafell National Park for the next two nights.

Day 10 SKAFTAFELL (B, D)
The whole day is spent walking or relaxing at Skaftafell. Overnight in the neighborhood of Skaftafell National Park.

Day 11 SKAFTAFELL - REYKJAVIK (B)
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.

Optional overnight in Reykjavik (not included).

 GJ

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 Mondays, May 12 / June 09, 23 / July 07, 21 /

 Aug 04, 18 / Sept 08