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ITINERARY Insight Vacations - Natural Wonders of Iceland
Special Things You Need to Know
With its notable lack of traffic, trains, pollution and people Iceland is a strangely wonderful wilderness with icecaps, glaciers, hot pools, geysers and lava fields. Our scenic circular tour has beautiful travelling days, frequent stops for viewing and fantastic photo opportunities. The average temperature in Iceland is 15C during the summer. All visits are weather permitting.
The standard of accommodation available outside Reykjavik is not First Class - it is similar to Tourist Class accommodation, but the rooms are clean & basic & always with private facilities. Porterage is not provided at the hotels but your Tour Director & Driver will be ready to help if you cannot manage to carry your own suitcases. Please however keep your luggage to a minimum for this reason.
Due to the Icelandic weather conditions, it is important to bring warm clothing & good walking shoes. Due to the Icelandic road conditions the coaches in Iceland are considerably more robust than the rest of Europe. The terrain is rugged and this destination is quite different from any other in Europe therefore passengers should come well prepared and with an open mind.
Day 1 - REYKJAVIK
Welcome to Iceland! With its lack of traffic, trains, pollution and people, Iceland is a strangely wonderful wilderness with icecaps, glaciers, hot pools, geysers and lava fields. On arrival at Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport, there will be complimentary transfers to your tour hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Hotel: Radisson Blu Saga
Day 2 - REYKJAVIK - SKALHOLT - GEYSIR - VIK
Take an orientation tour of Reykjavik before heading south to Hveragerdi, the market gardening centre of the island. Continue inland to visit the former archbishop's residence at Skalholt, followed by Geysir, the spectacular area of hot springs where hot sulphurous water shoots into the air. See the Gullfoss, the Icelandic equivalent of Niagara, before continuing to your hotel in Vik to enjoy a Welcome Drink with your fellow passengers before dinner.
Hotel: Dyrholaey (BB,D)
Day 3 - VIK - SKAFTAFELL NATIONAL PARK- HÖFN
Continue along the southern coast of Iceland, driving beside the black basalt-sand beaches. The highlight of the day is the National Park at Skaftafell where you will see the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. Travel on to Lake Jökulsarlon, which provided the dramatic setting for scenes in the James Bond film, 'Die Another Day'.
Hotel: Hofn (BB,D)
Day 4 - HÖFN - EGILSSTADIR
Explore the beautiful eastern coastal region, where Irish missionary monks lived 1100 years ago. Drive through the mountain range of Almannaskard, then follow the magnificent fjords to the beautiful area of Egilsstadir and continue to you hotel.
Hotel: Herad (BB,D)
Day 5 - EGILSSTADIR - LAKE MYVATN - AKUREYRI
Drive through the sand desert of Mödrudal to the Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. We continue on to the beautiful lake Myvatn, an internationally renowned bird-watching site. This area offers a wide spectrum of geological formations and the intense geothermal activity produces mud pools and spectacular coloured deposits. Afterwards, view the Godafoss, known as 'The Waterfall of the Gods', before continuing to your hotel in Akureyri.
Hotel: Key Akureyri (BB,D)
Day 6 - AKUREYRI - BORGARNES
Take an orientation tour of Akureyri, the capital of northern Iceland, which was first established as a trading centre in 1602. Travel past mountains, waterfalls and into green coastal regions where distinctive Icelandic horses are bred. Return to the south-west coast in the afternoon to stay in Borgarnes.
Hotel: Borgarnes (BB,D)
Day 7 - BORGARNES - REYKJAVIK
Travel southwards to Thingvellir, where the first meeting of the Icelandic parliament was held in 903. This is a remarkable natural site because it lies on the Great Atlantic Rift where the American and European tectonic plates meet. Back in Reykjavik, maybe take the option of visiting the Blue Lagoon to bathe in its hot mineral waters - a relaxing end to a remarkable trip?
Hotel: Radisson Blu Saga (BB)
Day 8 - REYKJAVIK
Your tour ends after breakfast when there are complimentary transfers to Keflavik airport. (BB)
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