GRAND Countryside

ICELAND’S OUTER CIRCLE WITH WHALE WATCHING

Mountains, rivers, glaciers and volcanoes will unfold as we take you exploring Iceland in four easy stages. Only four hotels are used which makes the days more relaxed and the evenings a time to ponder and talk to your fellow travellers about your time spent in ever-changing scenery. There will also be opportunities to do some walking in the beautiful countryside. The contrasting boat trips included in this tour will make you wonder if you have travelled in many different countries: Icebergs on the south coast and lush green islands on the west. This is truly a classical holiday and adventure with hotels offering private facilities and good Icelandic hospitality. The hotels used on this tour are often “summer hotels”, used most of the year as boarding schools or country hotels which are simple and clean. On some departures this guided tour may be operated in reverse.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL

Flight from selected airport to Keflavik/Iceland. Transfer with shuttle service from Keflavik International airport to Reykjavik .

DAY 2: REYKJAVIK - BORGARFJORD

The day starts with a drive to the famous Gullfoss and Geysir. We also visit the beautiful church of Skalholt and the THingvellir National Park, site of the Viking Parliament, before continuing to Reykholt, home of the 13th century poet, Snorri Sturluson. We stay in Borgarfjord for the next two nights.

Day 3: SNAEFELLSNES

Today we drive around the Snaefellsnes peninsula, which is dominated by the glacier where, according to Jules Verne’s book, the Entrance to the Centre of the Earth can be found. We visit small fishing towns and drive through interesting lava fields and on to the town of Stykkisholmur where we take a boat trip around the islands of Breidafjord, home of the puffins and the white tailed eagle.

Day 4: EYJAFJORD - THINGEYJARSYSLA

We stop at the beautiful waterfalls of Hraunfossar before heading for Skagafjord where we visit the farm museum at Glaumbaer and are introduced to the Icelandic horse. We continue to Akureyri for a sightseeing tour of the town before driving on to our accommodation in the Husavik area for the next three nights.

Day 5: HUSAVIK-WHALE WATCHING

We start the day with a 3 hour whale watching tour from Husavik, weather permitted. Afternoon is at leisure to ponder around the town with the possibility to visit museums and the church.

Day 6: GODAFOSS - MYVATN

We visit the waterfall Godafoss, en-route to Lake Myvatn. There is lush vegetation here and many different species of birds, some of which are not found anywhere else in Europe. We visit the lava field Dimmuborgir and climb up to the rim of the ash crater Hverfjall. Before heading back to our accommodation we relax in Myvatn Nature Bath.

Day 7: DETTIFOSS - FLJOTSDALSHERAD

We travel around Tjörnes Peninsula and visit the magnificent waterfall Dettifoss, the most powerful in Europe. For the next three nights we will stay in the neighbourhood of Egilsstadir.

Day 8: FLJOTSDALUR-SEYDISFJÖRDUR

We tour around the Lake Lögurinn, passing the farm mansion at Skriduklaustur with its large unusual type of house. When conditions are suitable we walk up to Hengifoss, one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland. We also visit the fishing town of Seydisfjördur.

Day 9: BORGARFJORD-EYSTRI

This short wide fjord and grassy fertile valley with a charming fishing village of the same name is situated north-east of Egilsstadir. Magnificent colourful mountains and numerous beautiful rocks and rare stones are to be found here.

Day 10: FLJOTSDALSHERAD - SKAFTAFELL

Vatnajökull, Europe’s biggest glacier, dominates the landscape with its glacial tongues calving into a glacial lagoon. We take a boat trip on the lagoon among the icebergs. For the next two nights, we will stay in the neighbourhood of Skaftafell National Park.

Day 11: SKAFTAFELL

The whole day is spent walking or relaxing at Skaftafell National Park.

Day 12: SKAFTAFELL - REYKJAVIK

We return to Reykjavik through the fertile meadows and the sandy desert of the south coast, overlooked by mountainous cliffs and glaciers. There are several beautiful waterfalls on the way and we may spot puffins and even some seals.