Around & across Iceland
The tour in brief:
Day 1 Arrival - Transfer to Reykjavik via Blue Lagoon
Day 2 Reykjavik - Glacier Valley Thorsmörk - Skogar - Vík
Day 3 Vik - Dyrholaey - Kirkjubaejarklaustur - Skaftafell - Höfn
Day 4 Höfn - East Fjords - Egilsstadir
Day 5 Egilsstadir - Dettifoss - Asbyrgi - Husavik
Day 6 Lake Myvatn - Godafoss - Akureyri
Day 7 Akureyri - Highlandrout Kjölur - Kerlingarfjöll - Gullfoss - Laugarvatn/Fludir
Day 8 Laugarvatn/Fludir - Skalholt - Geysir - Thingvellir - Nesjavellir - Reykjavik
Day 9 Reykjavik City Tour
Day 10 Departure from the International Airport in Keflavik from where you depart Iceland
We are also open to your suggestions, both on itinerary and other activities !
For more information please inquire at info@trex.is.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival - Transfer to Reykjavik via Blue Lagoon.
Arrival at the International Airport in Keflavik. We start the journey around the country with a visit to the Blue Lagoon, known for its mineral rich geothermal sea water, with exceptional skin healing qualities. The bizarre surroundings of lava fields and modern technique makes a relaxing bath in the Lagoon a memorable experience in itself. Late afternoon we continue to your hotel in Reykjavik.
Day 2 Reykjavik - Glacier Valley Thorsmörk - Skogar - Vík.
We leave Reykjavik heading east to the village Hveragerdi, where we visit one of the green houses this village is famous for. Driving through the agricultural area along the south coast, we see the big glaciers getting nearer. Leaving the main road, we drive into the glacier valley of Thorsmörk. Throughout the ages glaciers and rivers formed this valley, carving caves and sculptures in the soft volcanic palagonite rock base. We have to cross several rivers, no bridges mind you, feeling lucky to have a good driver, experienced in fording rivers. After lunch break we take a short walk nearby. On the way out of the valley we explore the side canyon Stakkholtsgja, which gets narrower and narrower until in the bottom end we come to an almost hidden waterfall, cascading down the impressive cliff face. Back on the coast we go to visit the folk museum at Skogar, acknowledged for its extensive collection and presentation of artifacts, where we learn a little about the lives of the Icelanders in ages past. The next door waterfall Skogafoss is an obvious stop before we return to our overnight base nearby the village of Vik.
Day 3 Vik - Dyrholaey - Kirkjubaejarklaustur - Skaftafell - Höfn.
In the morning we drive up to cape Dyrholaey, the door-island, a former island now part of the mainland. Here we can enjoy the wonderful view to the glaciers rising majesctically over the South Coast and the thousands of puffins nesting in the cliffs. Than we drive over the endless basalt sandur plains resulting from the big floodings after volcanic eruptions under the glaciers and over the largest lava field formed in historical time by the volcanic eruption in the Laki fissure in1783. Land erosion is a big problem in Iceland and so those of you who want to can take part in one of the reforesting-program of the country by planting a tree yourself at Kirkjubaejarklaustur for a modes fee. The rest of the day we are under the spell of Europe’s biggest glacier Vatnajökull. We visit the National Park of Skaftafell, a green oasis in this white world with very special vegetation and fauna. We walk up to waterfall Svartifoss, adorned with basalt columns. In the glacier lagoon of Jökulsarlon we will take a boat trip on the lagoon getting very close to the icebergs floating about in the glacial water. Overnight stay in the area of Höfn.
Day 4 Höfn - East Fjords - Egilsstadir.
Today is the day of the fjords with their steep walls and the sea close by. We see eider ducks and perhaps seals off shore. The East Fjords are famous for their minerals such as Zeolites and others. In Stödvarfjördur we visit a private stone museum where Petra, who personally collected all the stones herself, will answer all questions about the different minerals. In the evening we enter the area of Egilsstadir on the river Lagarfljot.
Day 5 Egilsstadir - Dettifoss - Asbyrgi - Husavik.
Driving westwards, our drive leads through some fascinating landscapea, over the vast barren Jökuldalsheidi to Mödrudalur, an isolated farm, where we will stop to see the small charming church. To our south lies Odadahraun, a desert of lava and moraines after the last ice age cut through by the powerful glacier fed river Jökulsa a Fjöllum. We drive along this river northwards to find Europe’s mightiest waterfall Dettifoss and closer to the coast Asbyrgi. Thousands of years ago the river had its bed here forming this horseshoe-like canyon. Along the peninsula Tjörnes we head for the fishing village Husavik. Time allowing, you can go on a whale watching tour from here, taking 3 hours. You are very likely to see Dolphins and Minke Whales and perhaps the much bigger Fin Whales, Humpback Whales or even the majestic Blue Whale.
Day 6 Lake Myvatn - Godafoss - Akureyri.
The area of Lake Myvatn offers a variety of fascinating forms of landscape and is with its wide range of different volcanic phenomenon a paradise for geologists. Amongst the highlights of the day are the Pseudocraters at Skutustadir, the amazing lavamaze at Dimmuborgir, we will see the volcano Hverfjall and the boiling mud pools and sulfur springs at the hot spring area Namaskard. Another stop is planned at the explosioncrater Viti and from there you can see the recent lava fields from a series of volcanic eruptions that occurred in the area between 1974 and 1984, called the Krafla Fires after the central volcano Krafla. In the late afternoon we continue to Akureyri, stopping at the beautiful waterfall Godafoss, which is split by a lavarock into two arms. In Akureyri you can enjoy the evening by walking trough the species rich botanicall garden and the town itself.
Day 7 Akureyri - Highlandrout Kjölur - Kerlingarfjöll - Gullfoss - Laugarvatn/Fludir.
Leaving Akureyri we are driving through the wonderful glaciercaved valley Öxnardalsheidi and enter the area of Skagafjördur, famous for its farming and horses. Here we visit the turf church Viðimyri before we leave civilization behind us and enter the Highland of Iceland. No more roads, no culture, just unspoiled, wild nature. The Highland is too rough for any plants or animals. We drive over wide moraine and lava fields heading for Hveravellir, a hot spring area just between the two glaciers Langjökull and Hofsjökull. Wonderful sinter terraces and a hot pool make our stay here unforgettable. But this is not a place to stay overnight so we continue our journey from the north to the south of Iceland and visit the summer ski area of Kerlingarfjöll with its rhyolithic hot spring area. In the evening we find Iceland’s most famous waterfall Gullfoss. Here the river Hvita cascades down two steps into a deep canyon, giving a glance on the different rock layers building up Iceland. Overnight stay in Laugarvatn or Fludir.
Day 8 Laugarvatn/Fludir - Skalholt - Geysir - Thingvellir - Nesjavellir - Reykjavik.
Today we are going to visit some of the most famous and spectacular sights of Iceland. Skalholt once was the bishop site of Iceland, now here is a very nice, modern church to find. In the hot spring area of Haukadalur we find the big Geysir that is not active any more, but his sinter basin is fascinating. Close by the gushing hot spring Strokkur throws his boiling water every 5 - 10 minutes up to 20 meters into the sky. Close to Laugarvatn we can show you pillow lava formed under an ice layer being several hundred meters thick. On the shore of Lake Thingvallavatn we find Thingvellir, where the Icelanders met 1200 years ago to hold their parliament. Through Thingvellir goes a side arm of the drift zone where the continental plates of America and Eurasia drift apart. You clearly can see this zone. Close by we find the geothermal power plant of Nesjavellir, where both electricity and hot water is worked. On a guided tour through this plant you will learn more about how it works. In the evening we return to Reykjavik.
Day 9 Reykjavik City Tour.
We will make a morning tour, to show you the most northern capital of the world, Reykjavik. We will show you the old center with the parliament building, the old cathedral and the modern town hall. We will visit the busy fishing harbor, show you Iceland’s biggest outdoor swimming pool and Höfdi-House, where the presidents Reagan and Gorbatschow met. On top of 6 hot water tanks is the view platform Perlan, from where you have a fantastic view over Reykjavik and its surrounding. The afternoon will be free to explore the city on your own in detail depending on your interests.
Day 10 Departure.
2 ½ hours before the departure of the plane the transfer bus will take you from you hotel to the International Airport in Keflavik from where you depart Iceland.
Services
Included:
Around and over Iceland as described in one of TREX’s modern tourist coaches.
Accommodation in hotels or guesthouses – service level and facilities on request.
Accommodation in hotels or guesthouses – service level and facilities on request.
Dinner from day 1 to day 8 – breakfast from day 2 to day 10.
Tourist guide from day 1 – day 7 – language of your request – depends on availability.
Boat tour on Jokulsarlon lagoon & entry fee to Nesjavellir steam power station.