Discovery and Heritage

Highlights

Price from: 690.000 ISK

Discovery of the history and landscape of Disko bay and West Iceland

This trip is a combines of a some of the most spectacular places of the two neighbor islands Iceland and Greenland: the Disko bay in the west of Greenland and South-West Iceland. Visiting the Unesco heritage site of the Ilulissat Ice Fjord, the Eqi glacier, Rodeby and the Kangersuneq fjord in Greenland gives us a great overview of the best landscapes this great island has to offer. This Greeland adventure is then followed by a visit to the volcanic landscapes of Iceland, a completely different world. Here we visit the Snæfellsnes peninsula and its National Park, the waterfalls and lava fields of the Borgarfjörður region, the Unesco heritage site of Þingvellir N.P., the Geysir hot spring and the Golden waterfall, Gullfoss as well as the colorful Nature Reserve of Landmannalaugar. This is a tour that offers more variety of landscapes in less than two weeks than any other can easily do. A magnificent adventure for the keen nature enthusiast!

Departures:
06.07 – 18.07 2012
21.07 – 02.08 2012
04.08 – 16-08 2012

All departures are in English and French

Tour type: Discovery trekking tour in hostel – 13 days
Total walking distance: 100 kilometers (62 miles)
Altitude: 0 - 700 meters (0 -2300 feet)
Walking per day: 4-6 hours
Maximum ascent: 500 meters (1640 feet)

Included: Guide for 13 days, food for 13 days (from lunch day 1 to lunch day 13), flights: Reykjavík – Ilulissat – Reykjavík, transportation of people and luggage, bus transfer in Iceland, sleeping bag accommodation.
Not included: Personal equipment, drinks and personal expenses and insurance.
Group size: 6 to 15 participants.
Please note: The tour starts at the domestic airport in Reykjavík and ends at your accommodation in Reykjavík.

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Package price for accommodation in Reykjavík before and after the tour:

In a guesthouse with shared facilities:

Based on double occupancy: 19.500 ISK per person (for persons traveling together, both persons have to purchase this item for it to be valid).

Single room: 26.500 ISK.

In a three-star hotel with breakfast and a private bathroom:

Based on double occupancy: 27.000 ISK per person (for persons traveling together, both persons have to purchase this item for it to be valid).

Single room: 44.500 ISK

You can also only add a pick up at your accommodation in Reykjavík at the beginning of the tour.

Difficulty level

Highlights

Price from: 690.000 ISK

Day 1: Reykjavík-Ilulissat
From Reykjavík airport we catch a flight to Ilulissat. After settling in at Ilulissat Youth Hostel you’ll have the afternoon free to explore the town. Night in Youth Hostel.

Day 2: Ilulissat-Rodebay
We will get a transfer to the end of the road right next to Ilulissat airport, before starting our trek. Our fist destination is Rodebay village, an old harbor for Dutch whale hunters. Our route takes us along endless numbers of small lakes, along the bay of Kangerluarsuk and up along the coast to Rodebay. We stay overnight in a hostel in this beautiful colonial style village. Dinner in the local restaurant.
Walking: 5 to 6 hours

Day 3: Rodebay-Kangersuneq
Our trek continues to the fjord of Kangersuneq passing the great lake of Kuttaap Tasia and several big hills along the way. After arriving at our hut in Kangersuneq, a late afternoon walk along the fjord or to the nearby lake is possible. Night in a hut.
Walking: 4 to 6 hours

Day 4: Kangersuneq-Ilulissat
Today we head back to Ilulissat, going around the small Atilik mountain of and the Kangerluarsuup Tasia lake. Night in Youth Hostel.
Walking: 5 to 6 hours

Day 5: Ilulissat-Camp Eqi
Today we are going out to sea. Sailing along the coast to the north with Arveprinsens Island on one side and the mainland on the other, we arrive at noon to Eqip Sermia, a glacier that calves its ice into a large bay. We spend an hour in front of the glacier, watching the spectacle of ice breaking constantly from its front; a really impressive sight! Continuing up to Eqi (Port Paul-Émile Victor) where we go on shore and make ourselves comfortable in the small and cozy cabins at Camp Eqi. Short afternoon walk to the old Headquarters of the expeditions directed by Paul-Émile Victor in the fifties and over to the great river Eqip Kuussua.
Walking: 2 to 3 hours

Day 6: Eqi
On the agenda, a walk up to the main icecap using the old expedition trail passing lakes and going over hills until we get to the Ice front. If the weather is good we will be able to put a foot on the ice field before heading back to our camp. A great day in spectacular scenery!
Walking: 6 hours

Day 7: Eqi-Ilulissat
Morning walk to Tasinnngortaaq bay and its magnificent waterfalls. After aclimb up the ridge separating the bay from the Eqip Sermia glacier we will get a great view over the glacier before returning to Camp Eqi. Afternoon ferry back to Ilulissat. Night in a Youth Hostel.
Walking: 3 hours

Day 8: Ilulissat Ice fjord-return to Reykjavík
Morning walk to the UNESCO classified Ilulissat Ice fjord. This truly amazing fjord, also called Kangia, is full of Icebergs coming from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, the fastest moving glacier in the world, progressing at approx 60 m per day! Flight back to Reykjavík in the afternoon..
Walking: 2 hours

Day 9: Reykjavík-Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Departure from Reykjavík in the morning, as we set course to west Iceland and Snæfellsnes, a volcanic peninsula that stretches out from the Icelandic west coast and is divided by a chain of mountains that lies form east to west. Before heading to the Snæfellsjökull NP we will take a walk to the crater Eldborg, a beautiful explosive crater that rises 60m up from the surrounding lava. Stops at Arnarstapi and Hellnar before we head to Dritvík and Djúpalónssandur beach. At Djúpalónssandur the lava formations run all the way to the sea creating a unique landscape. There we also find 4 big lifting-stones that in the old times fishermen use to measure their strength, and to see if men were fit for a space on a fishing boat! Night in a hostel.
Driving: 3-4 hours total                         Walking: 3-4 hours total

Day 10: Snæfellsnes-Borgarfjörður-Þingvellir
Turning back east we head to the beautiful Borgarfjörður region. This is the home of Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Iceland (and even in Europe) and the lush waterfalls of Hraunfossar a row of waterfalls that emerge from underneath the lava field, and Barnafoss. This is also the home of many lava tubes and tunnels, some of Iceland’s biggest and most impressive, and we will stick our noses into one of these to get a glimpse of the Icelandic underworld! Our next stop is Þingvelllir N.P. the site of the old Parliament and the birthplace of democracy in Iceland. The park is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. In addition to the historical importance, the location is wonderful, a beautiful lake skirted by a small canyon that in fact is a part of the Mid-Atlantic rift. We spend the rest of our day here. Night in a hostel in the Laugarvatn area.
Driving: 4-5 hours total                          Walking: 4 hours total

Day 11: Gullfoss- Geysir -Þjórsárdalur
The day begins with a visit to the famous waterfall Gullfoss and Geysir, the namesake of all sprouting hot springs! We then head to Þjórsárdalur, a magnificent valley at the foot of the mighty volcano Hekla. Visit to the archaeological site of the Viking farm at Stöng, and from there a short walk to the beautiful small canyon, Gjáin. At the end of the day a visit to the waterfalls of Háifoss (122 m high) and its neighbour Granni. Night in mountain hut.
Driving: 3 hours total             Walking: 4 hours total

Day 12: Hekla and Landmannalaugar
Early departure to mount Hekla. We visit the crater Rauðaskál on its shoulder before taking the track of Dómadalur valley to Landmannalaugar. This nature reserve protects the world’s third biggest geothermal zone and a vast massif of colourful hills and mountains. The palette goes from yellow to orange, red , green and blue with black lava and green moss. Walk to the magnificent Brennisteinsalda or the Bláfell mountain before taking a bath in the natural warm river that comes from the Landmannalaugar springs. Return in the late afternoon to the same Hut as the night before.

Day 13: Grændalur and Reykjadalur. Return to Reykjavík
Return to road number 1. Drive to the village Hveragerði. Walk to the magnificent geothermal valleys, Grændalur and Reykjadalur. Possibility to bath in a warm stream. Return to Reykjavík in the afternoon.