ICELAND COUNTRYSIDE ODYSSEY 2008
 

NORTH & SOUTH ICELAND WITH WHALE WATCHING

7 days / 6 nights, Reykjavik - Hella - Gullfoss - Geysir - Þingvellir - Landmannalaugar -

Sprengisandur - Goðafoss - Dettifoss - Whale Watching in Húsavík -

Lake Mývatn - Akureyri - Glaumbaer - Reykjavik

Departures Sundays: July 06, 13, 20, 27 / Aug 03, 10

Experience the unique nature and the many traditions of Iceland when walking among the most stunning scenery you are ever likely to see, while staying in only two hotels. Highlights in the north range from Europe's most powerful waterfall Dettifoss to the stunningly beautiful Lake Mývatn. In the south we visit Þingvellir National Park, site of the ancient Viking Parliament, famous hot spring area of Geysir and the Queen of Iceland's waterfalls, the Gullfoss or Golden Fall, one of the natural wonders of the world. From the geothermal area of Landmannalaugar with black lava sand fields, bright rhyolite mountains, hot springs to the desert highlands, from snow-capped mountains - the distant ice-caps of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier plateau to high sea cliffs in the Tjörnes Peninsula rich in bird life. Activities include daily walks, an introduction to the Icelandic Horse, and 3 - 4 hours whale watching cruise (weather permitting).
 

Day 1 REYKJAVIK - HELLA (D)
Evening departure from Reykjavík, traveling direct to Hella, where we stay for the next three nights.

Day 2 GULLFOSS - GEYSIR - ÞINGVELLIR (B, D)
Gullfoss is known in Iceland as the "Golden Falls" spanned in sunshine by a beautiful rainbow. Nearby is the fascinating geothermal area of Geysir. The most active geyser is Strokkur, "the Churn" which can spout up to seventy feet every five to seven minutes. From there we travel to the ancient Viking Parliament area of Þingvellir National Park before returning to Hella.

Day 3 LANDMANNALAUGAR (B, D)
A detour into the geothermal area of Landmannalaugar, a jewel in the Icelandic landscape. The surrounding rhyolite mountains have the feel of another planet, ranging in colors from beige to red and from blue to black. We will have the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing bath in a pool of warm spring water.

Day 4 HELLA - SPRENGISANDUR - EYJAFJÖRÐUR

(B, D)
Today we drive north via the highland desert Sprengisandur with its views of the distant ice-caps Vatnajökull and Hofsjökull. We visit the majestic waterfalls Aldeyjarfoss and Goðafoss, the waterfall of the Gods. We stay up north for the next three nights.

Day 5 DETTIFOSS - TJÖRNES (B, D)
We visit the high sea cliffs of Tjörnes peninsula, rich in bird life. Then to Hljóðaklettar with strange and  surreal glacier-carved rock formations on a walk amid Iceland's "Echo Rocks". Visit horseshoe shaped Asbyrgi canyon before walking down a trail to enjoy the ancient majesty of Dettifoss -Europe's most powerful waterfall.

Day 6 HUSAVIK - WHALE WATCHING - LAKE MÝVATN (B, D)
Travel to the coastal town of Húsavík where we board our boat for a 3 to 4 hours Whale watching tour, weather permitting. Then a short drive to Lake Mývatn, a unique area which features strange lava formations, attractive bays, pseudo craters and thousands of birds. We stroll through the lava field of Dimmuborgir, ending with a walk up to the rim of the ash crater Hverfjall.

Day 7 EYJAFJÖRÐUR - ÞINGEYJARSÝSLA - REYKJAVIK (B)
Today we return south through Akureyri, the capital of the north. We travel over the Öxnadalur mountain pass and on through the ever changing countryside to Skagafjörður where we will have an introduction to the Icelandic horse. We also visit Glaumbær Folk museum before returning to Reykjavík.
 

 GJ

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 Departure Dates 2008

 Sundays, July 06, 13, 20, 27 / Aug 03, 10

 Prices in US Dollar

 Countryside Odyssey, 7 days