Natural Wonders of Iceland - 8 Days

Journey through the 'land of ice and fire', a wild and colourful landscape where fjords, waterfalls and green valleys contrast with volcanic hot spots.

Insight Vacations - Natural Wonders of Iceland Premium Highlights

Included Additional Excursions & Sights

    * Visit Hveragerdi
    * Visit the former archbishops residence at Skalholt
    * Visit Geysir, spectacular area of hot springs
    * See the Gullfoss, the 'Icelandic Niagara'
    * Visit the National Park at Skaftafell to see the Vatnajökull glacier
    * See Lake Jokulsarlon, setting for the James Bond film, 'Die Another Day'
    * Drive through the scenic mountain pass of Almannaskard
    * Visit lakeside Egilsstadir
    * Drive through the Modrudal desert
    * Visit the Dettifoss waterfall
    * Visit the renowned bird watching site of Lake Myvatn
    * View the Godafoss, known as 'The Waterfall of the Gods'
    * See Akureyri, capital of Northern Iceland
    * See Thingvellir where the first meeting of the Icelandic parliament was held
    * Scenic Drives - black beaches of the south shore, east coast fjords and mountains

Included First Class Services

    * Fully escorted and all sightseeing conducted by a professional Icelandic Tour Director
    * 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
    * Best available hotels with all service charges and taxes
    * Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
    * Complimentary airport arrival and departure transfers

Included Quality Dining

    * 7 Buffet Breakfasts (BB)
    * 5 three-course table d'hote Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
 

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 & people, Iceland is a strangely wonderful wilderness with icecaps, glaciers, hot pools, geysers & lava fields. On arrival at Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport, there are transfers to your tour hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Hotel: SAS Hotel Saga

Day 2 - REYKJAVIK - GEYSIR - GULLFOSS - SKALHOLT - VIK

Take an orientation tour of Reykjavik before heading east to visit Hellisheidavirkjun (Iceland's newest geothermal heat & electric power station). Continue inland to visit the spouting hot-springs at Geysir & the waterfalls Gullfoss, the Icelandic equivalent of Niagara. After lunch we visit the ancient Bishopric of Skalholt before continuing to your hotel in Vik.

Hotel: Hotel Dyrholaey (BB,D)

Day 3 - VIK - SKAFTAFELL NATIONAL PARK - JÖKULSARLON - HÖFN

Drive along the southern coast of Iceland, beside the black basalt-s& 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, dramatic setting for scenes in the James Bond film, 'Die Another Day'.

Hotel: Hotel Hofn (BB,D)

Day 4 - HÖFN - EASTERN FJORDS - EGILSTADIR

Explore the beautiful eastern coastal region, where Irish missionary monks lived some 1200 years ago. Travel up the magnificent fjords to the beautiful area around Egilsstadir & to your hotel.

Hotel: Herad (BB,D)

Day 5 - EGILSSTADIR - DETTIFOSS - LAKE MYVATN - AKUREYRI

Drive through the s& desert of Mödrudal to the Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Continue on to the beautiful lake Myvatn, an internationally renowned bird-watching site. This area offers a wide spectrum of geological formations & the intense geothermal activity produces mud pools & spectacular coloured deposits. Afterwards, view the Godafoss, known as 'The Waterfall of the Gods', before continuing to your hotel in Akureyri.

Hotel: Hotel Key Akureyri (BB,D)

Day 6 - AKUREYRI - SKAGAFJÖRDUR - BORGARNES

Enjoy an orientation tour of Akureyri, the capital of northern Iceland - first established as a trading centre in 1602. Travel past mountains, waterfalls & into green coastal regions where distinctive Icelandic horses are bred. Return to the south-west coast in the afternoon to stay in Borgarnes

Hotel: 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 remarkable site lies on the Great Atlantic Rift where the American & 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 SAS Hotel Saga (BB)

Day 8 - REYKJAVIK

Your tour ends after breakfast when there are complimentary transfers to Keflavik airport. (BB)

Your Insight tour already includes a host of bonus highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. However, there is an exciting array of optional excursions which will turn an already amazing experience into the trip of a lifetime! These are entirely optional and can be booked through your Tour Director/Local Representative at the commencement of your tour. All prices are quoted in local currency. Payment can be made in cash or by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. To help your pre-tour budgeting we suggest you allow approximately EURO 45 per person per day for optional excursions.

REY01 - THE BUE LAGOON
A short drive brings us to the magical Blue Lagoon which is a natural hot pool known to have therapeutic powers. The soft ice-blue waters soothe all aches and pains and the volcanic powders leave the skin silky smooth - a perfect way to unwind at the end of the tour! EURO 50