September 28, Thursday
Depart USA
September 29, Friday
Welcome to Iceland! Upon an early morning arrival to Keflavik International Airport, we will be met by our motor coach and tour guide for the week. After a hearty breakfast, we will enjoy a rejuvenating soak in the world-famous Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal pool in the middle of a large and dramatic lava field and its blue water is known for its reputed healing properties. After lunch, we will experience Fly over Iceland, a multimedia presentation that takes you on an exhilarating journey across Iceland to see sweeping glaciers, stunning fjords, and ancient mysteries. Overnight Fosshotel Hotel, Reykjavík. (B)
September 30, Saturday
After breakfast, we will enjoy a city tour of Reykjavík and learn about the rich history and culture of this northernmost capital city in the world. Our tour will include a view from the Perlan Observation Deck that will offer amazing views of Reykjavik and the surrounding areas. We continue west to visit Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring. We will have a chance to climb the Grábrók volcano crater and see Hraunfossar, a series of waterfalls pouring from beneath a wide lava field and Barnafoss, the children’s falls. The afternoon includes a lecture about the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights. After dinner, we will step into the hotel garden in search of the Northern Lights. Overnight Hotel Hamar – Borgarnes (B)(D)
October 1, Sunday
Today is spent on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, the peninsula of the snowy mountain, just off of Iceland’s west coast. We will visit the fishing village Grundarfjörður, a place with an elegant coastline and mountains, lakes and waterfalls and home to the many producers of one of Iceland’s food delicacies, fermented shark. The most photographed and famous mountain in the country, Kirkjufell (aka Church Mountain) stands tall above the fishing village. We will go underground to Vatnshellir cave, an 8,000-year-old lava tube created by a volcanic eruption from a nearby crater. After dinner, we will chase the Northern lights while our guide gives us practical tips of how to photograph this phenomenon. Overnight Hotel Hamar – Borgarnes (B)(D)
October 2, Monday
After breakfast, we travel along the Hvalfjörður fjord which translates to the Whale fjord because of the large number of whales that used to make this area their home. After visiting an Icelandic wool outlet store, we continue to Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Mid-Atlantic rift, a rift that is forming as Iceland is being pulled apart by tectonic forces is clearly visible. We will follow the Golden Circle route and see steam rising from the Geysir geothermal fields, taste freshly baked hot spring bread, and visit a geothermal greenhouse famous for its tomatoes. We will walk to a double waterfall, Gullfoss. After dinner, we continue searching for the elusive Northern Lights in the peace and stillness of rural Iceland. Overnight Hotel Stracta (B)(D)
October 3, Tuesday
Today we continue along the South Coast of Iceland and visit the Lava Show to safely experience hot molten lava. We will walk behind Seljalandsfoss, a graceful ribbon-like waterfall which drops from an overhanging lava cliff. This afternoon we will stroll along the black lava beach of Reynisfjara with its impressive basalt columns and dangerous “sneaker waves”. After dinner, we will continue our hunt for the Northern lights from the hotel garden. Overnight Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon (B)(D)
October 4, Wednesday
After breakfast, we will visit Jökulsáárlón glacier lagoon, a lake filled with melted water and floating icebergs from the nearby glaciers of Vatnajökull National Park. We will board an amphibian boat and sail amongst the huge icebergs and enjoy the picturesque scenery of Jökulsárlón. We will walk along the amazing Diamond Beach where the black sand is scattered with shards and orbs of ice that sparkle as clear as diamonds. Our next adventure will be to board a super jeep and head towards Vatnajökull, Europe’s Largest glacier. We will go into the depths of the glacier (known as an ice caves or crystal caves) and see incredible shades of icy blue in this truly mesmerizing wonder of nature. Note: Participants will be able to choose between 2 tours on this day: an easier tour or a more moderate tour in terms of walking and climbing. There will be a minimal price difference for the more moderate tour. This will be an amazing Icelandic experience! Overnight Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon (B)(D)
October 5, Thursday
We will drive west on the Ring Road of Iceland, a national road that encircles the entire country and stop to enjoy a beautiful walk at Fjaðrárgljúfur a magnificent and massive canyon with a unique serpentine shape. Our next stop will be to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, Skógafoss. After lunch, we will visit Skógar museum, a cultural heritage collection of 18.000 regional artifacts exhibited in multiple historical buildings. Overnight Fosshotel Reykjavík. (B)
October 6, Friday
After breakfast, we will enjoy a whale watching tour to experience some of Iceland’s rich and thriving bird life, a large variety of sea-life including minke whales, humpback whales, harbor porpoises and white-beaked dolphins among other whale species. After lunch, we will depart for the USA. (B)
(B) – Breakfast included (L) – Lunch included (D) – Dinner included
