Land of contrasts: Reykjavík - Egilsstaðir

There is really nothing like Iceland. The forces of nature have shaped this island from the very beginning and this is ever-present in the landscape as well as in the culture of its people. On this new round trip (that is composed of two 7 day segments you can take separately or together) you get the opportunity to go round the island and visit some of the country’s most renowned places, experiencing immense variety in landscape and scenery. The first half of the tour allows for your discovery of the beautiful South of Iceland. From the hot springs of the Geysir geothermal area, past the black beaches and cliffs of the south coast with their waterfalls and bird life, to the magnificent glacier of Vatnajökull, where we will take you on a glacier walk, the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the diverse fjords of the east - every day is a new adventure! On this tour the evenings and nights are spent at quaint countryside hotels making this tour a unique and comfortable experience.

Combine this tour with the Magnificent North IMG338 for a complete all around Iceland tour.

Touring: 7 days
Walking per day: 2 - 5 hours total
Accommodation: Hotel

Departures:
15.08-21.08 2012

Included: Guide for 7 days, vehicle transportation for 7 days, entrance to Skógasafn folk museum, 2-3 hour walk on Svínafellsjökull glacier(all glacier and safety gear provided), boat ride to Papey island, full board for 7 days, accommodation in comfortable hotels.
Not included: Optional boat tour on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Domestic flight from Egilsstaðir at the end of the tour, this flight can be added.
Group size: 6 - 16 persons
Optional: Domestic flight to Reykjavík from Egilsstaðir at the end of the tour.
Available upon request: Hotel in Reykjavík and transport from airport at the end of the tour. - please contact us for more information.

Price with domestic flight at the end of the tour: 325.000 ISK
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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: 17.500 ISK per person (for persons traveling together, both persons have to purchase this item for it to be valid).

Single room: 24.500 ISK.

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

Based on double occupancy: 25.000 ISK per person (for persons traveling together, both persons have to purchase this item for it to be valid).

Single room: 42.500 ISK

Day 1: Þingvellir-Gullfoss/Geysir-Eyjafjöll
Our first stop on this tour is at the World Heritage Site Þingvellir National Park - the ancient Viking parliament. This is a place of both great historic and geological importance as it is a part of the rift valley where the continents meet. Next we head up to the great Geysir geothermal area to see the world’s most renowned hot spring that gives his name to all the other spouting geysers and Gullfoss (“the Golden waterfall”) that plunges in two giant steps into the Hvítá river gorge. From there the route takes us through the farmlands of the south to the Eyjafjallajökull massive. There we find the spectacular Seljalandsfoss waterfall where the brave ones can venture behind the streaming water as it comes falling off the cliff. Night at a hotel in the Eyafjallajökull area.
Driving: 5hrs        Hiking: 2-3 hours total (numerous shorter hikes)

Day 2: Skógar-Vík-Kirkjubæjarklaustur
The hamlet of Skógar lies right under the Eyjafjallajökull massif. It is known for its 60m high waterfall, and for being a starting point for the hiking trail up to the Fimmvörðuháls pass. After having had a good look at the waterfall and tried to catch a glimpse of the gold said to be hidden in it,  we will visit the Skógarsafn folk museum and learn about the life in Iceland throughout the ages. From Skógar we head to the headland of Dyrhólaey with its sea birds and impressive views. We then head down to the black beaches of Vík before continuing our route east to Kirkjubæjarklaustur where we will stop by the waterfall of Systrafoss and see the particular basaltic rock formations named “Kirkjugólfið” or “the Church floor”. Hotel in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.
Driving: 3hrs            Hiking: 2-3 hours total (numerous shorter hikes)

Day 3: Laki
Today we visit to the famous craters of the Laki, formed in a massive eruption in the 18th century. The 135 craters were formed on a 25km fissure that opened in the summer of 1783. Lasting for a year end a half the eruption was catastrophic for the county’s population and the livestock in the surrounding area. Today however the contrasting black sands and the moss-covered craters create one of the most scenic landscapes in Iceland. On our way to Laki we visit the impressive gorge of Fjarðarárgljúfur and the waterfall of Fagrifoss (the Beautiful Waterfall). Night at the same hotel.
Driving: 5 - 6 hrs        Hiking: 2 - 3 hrs

Day 4: Skaftafell-Jökulsárlón-Höfn
Our route continues east and our next stop is at the Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell. The green Skaftafell heath is covered with arctic birch and is a oasis between the black sands and the glacier. Here it is possible to take numerous short walks, i.e. to the Svartifoss waterfall with its unique basalt column or to the Snjóarnípa view point. We then continue east to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, with its numerous icebergs floating that have broken of the glacier above. Sometimes you will also be able to see seals playing on the icebergs or in the ocean. Always heading eastwards we come to the village of Höfn where we find our hotel.
Driving: 3 hrs            Hiking: 3 - 5 hrs

Day 5: Lónsöræfi- Smiðjunes- Djúpivogur
Leaving Höfn we head down to the nearby peninsula of Stokknes where we most likely will see seal swimming round in the ocean. The  Lónsöræfi region, known for its gullies and gorges and rhyolite rock is one the most remote areas on the ring road, and we head up to Smiðjunes for a look at this rugged wilderness. Heading on to Djúpivogur village we have left the plains of the south coast and come to the eastern fjords, sourced by glaciers of the ice age into the mountain ridges. The village of Djúpivogur (pop.359) lies right under the towering mountain of Búlandstindur, believed by many to be the source or cosmic powers, Before arriving at the village we go for a coastal walk in Hamarsfjörður  In Djúpivogur we find our hotel for the next two nights.
Driving: 2 - 3 hrs                 Hiking: 2 - 3 hrs

Day 6: Boat trip to Papey- Hamarsfjörður- Djúpivogur
The island of Papey lies off the coast just off Hamarsfjörður, south east of Djúpivogur. The island, a puffin colony about 2k m2, and was inhabited since the settlement until the late 1950’s, and the remains of a farm and a small church can be found there. However today the only inhabitants are the numerous sea birds nesting in its cliffs.  The island’s name comes from stories about Irish monks believed to have resided there before the settlement of Iceland. Many place names on the island  refer to those monks but archeological research has found little evidence about their stay, even if settlement started there early.  After the boat tour we go for a for a afternoon walk in the fjord of Berufjörður(for example into the valley of Búlandsdalur before returning to our hotel in Djúpivogur.
Driving/sailing: 3 - 4 hrs    Hiking: 3 hrs

Day 7: East fjords- Egilstaðir
Heading north up the coast, we visit the fjords of the east enjoying views of the long narrow fjords, and steep mountains. The many fjords are have their own characteristics and each one a little fishing village, with its own history, i.e. Fáskrúðsfjörður that used to be the base of French fishermen in Iceland in the 19th century, and remnants of their stay are still to be found there. We come to Egilsstaðir in the afternoon where the tour ends the airport. Hotel in Egilsstaðir for those combining this tour with Magnificent North IMG338.
Driving: 3 hrs                        Hiking: 1 - 2 hrs

Departure Date	Availability
15. Aug 2012	Available