Travel Dates
Departing 18th Jun 2020
Tour Provider: Collette
Region:
Duration: 8 Days
Day 1 / Reykjavík, Iceland - Tour Begins
Begin in the capital city of Reykjavík. Join a local expert for a walking tour of the city’s old section featuring Hallgrimskirkja church, city hall, the harbor and Reykjavík’s oldest building home of the Kraum Icelandic design center. Tonight, get to know your fellow travelers during a grand Icelandic dinner at a popular local restaurant. Accommodation: Centerhotel Plaza Meals: Dinner
Day 2 / Reykjavík - Golden Circle - Reykjavík
Travel the stunning Golden Circle, a route encompassing many of Iceland's most renowned natural wonders: waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, lava fields and volcanos. Your adventure begins with a stop at a family-run dairy farm. You’ll be welcomed by one of the family members who will share with you what a “day-in-the-life” is like for them before you enjoy various cheeses that are made right there on the farm together with a taste of their famous ice cream. Continue to Thingvellir National Park, where Icelanders gathered in A.D. 930 and established one of the world’s first parliaments. Find yourself standing upon one of the globe’s most geologically significant landscapes - Thingvellir’s rugged rift valley. This UNESCO site marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the meeting point of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Next, marvel at the beauty of the Gullfoss (Golden Falls) waterfall, a stunning 100-foot double cascade. Stop at the famous thermal area of Geysir to admire the hot spring Strokkur’s explosive vertical spout that reaches a height of up to 90 feet. Your day concludes with a visit to Friðheimar greenhouse cultivation center, where you’ll learn how the locals grow delicious, pesticide-free tomatoes and cucumbers with the aid of Iceland’s geothermal energy. You’ll also learn about their family tradition of breeding Icelandic show horses. Accommodation: Centerhotel Plaza Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 / Reykjavík - Snæfellsnes - Breidafjördur Cruise - Stykkishólmur
Experience the otherworldliness of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Take in the dramatic landscapes of black and white sand beaches and rocky coastlines, soaring waterfalls and volcanic craters, intimate fishing villages, and the remarkable Snæfellsjökull glacier. It’s your choice! Select a guided Vatnshellir Cave tour* and descend 100 feet below ground to an 8,000-year-old lava tube where you’ll experience total darkness and see amazing rock pigments, lava formations, stalagmites and stalactites -OR- choose to walk the lava field and put your camera to work snapping photos of the varying textures and colors of this dramatic landscape that is truly nature’s artwork. Next, embark on a true Icelandic cultural adventure as you spend time with a family that keeps alive a 400-year-old tradition of catching and preserving the Greenland shark. See the fishing boat that their grandfather used and the tiny farmer’s church before exploring the museum, where you’ll learn more about Iceland’s deep relationship with this trade. Before you go, taste the Icelandic delicacy “hákarl” – cured shark meat. Your day concludes with a nature cruise of Breidafjördur Bay with Seatours. Experience countless birds like puffins,** cormorants, kittiwakes and the majestic white-tailed eagle soaring amongst basalt rock columns. While cruising, sample fresh scallops and sea urchin roe straight from the ocean waters. Seafood simply doesn´t come fresher than this! Accommodation: Fosshotel Stykkisholmur Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 4 / Stykkishólmur - Lava Exhibition Center - Vík
Continue the adventure traveling along Iceland’s south coast. Learn about geothermal renewable energy on a visit to Hellisheiðavirkjun, the largest power station in Iceland, and the second largest geothermal power station in the world. Visit the Lava Exhibition Center where you’ll learn about Iceland’s historical eruptions and current lava flows that make the island a showcase of volcanism. Arrive in Vík, Iceland's southernmost village, and one of the most visited spots in Iceland. Accommodation: Hotel Katla by Keahotels Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5 / Vík - Skógar Museum - Vík
Drive along the scenic south shore to the Skógar Museum with its turf-built houses and outstanding collection of farm and domestic artifacts that reflect the various aspects of Icelandic life. Nearby is the impressive Skógafoss waterfall, one of the tallest in Iceland. Next, view Reynisfjara, a black volcanic sand beach scattered with caves and surrounded by basalt columns and cliffs. The beach is also rich with bird life, such as the fulmar, black guillemot, razorbill, gannet, and various types of seagulls. Later, see the unique natural rock formations at Dyrhólaey. Accommodation: Hotel Katla by Keahotels Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 6 / Vík - Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon - Skaftafel - Vík
Set sail*** among the huge icebergs of the Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon. Keep your eyes peeled for possible seal sightings and get to taste the 1,000 year-old ice that surrounds you. Later, stop at Skaftafell, gateway to Vatnajökull National Park, the largest national park in Europe. Marvel at the vistas of Iceland’s highest mountains, as well as the Vatnajökull glacier, Europe's largest. Accommodation: Hotel Katla by Keahotels Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7 / Vík - Seljalandsfoss Waterfall -Blue Lagoon or Perlan Center-Reykjavík
Before departing the south shore, make a picture stop at Seljalandsfoss, one of few waterfalls providing you with a walkway for views from the inside out. Next, it’s your choice! Perhaps you’ll embark on a drive to the Reykjanes Peninsula, known for its rugged landscape, lava fields, and numerous hot springs, including the Blue Lagoon where you can take a dip in the pleasantly warm, mineral-rich waters of the geothermal pool located in the middle of a dramatic lava field -OR- visit the Perlan Center, where you’ll explore the wonder and mystery of Iceland through interactive exhibits; use your pass to delve into the Ice Cave, the Planetarium, the virtual aquarium and more. Later, gather with your fellow travelers for a local dining experience and share stories of your days in Iceland. Accommodation: Centerhotel Plaza Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8 / Reykjavík - Tour Ends
Depart for home with many incredible Icelandic memories. Meals: Breakfast
An island of dramatic contrasts, Iceland is a landscape forged by ice and fire. Its volcanic nature is reflected by steaming lava fields and hot pools, while massive glaciers continue to sculpt the mountains and valleys, leaving behind thundering waterfalls and plunging fjords. Travel the “Golden Circle” – an epicenter of natural scenic wonders. Stay overnight in a local fishing village and enjoy a picturesque cruise of the bay. Amazing experiences let you create your own adventure, whether it’s a soak in the Blue Lagoon, a whale watching cruise, lava cave hike, or simply admiring the natural wildlife on a stroll along the coastal lava fields. Discover the spectacular landscapes and incredible culture on this small island nation during this fascinating Icelandic journey.
Your Guided Holiday Includes:
At a glance
Learn about the 400-year-old tradition of catching and preserving the Greenland shark. Explore Icelandic life at the Skógar Museum. Glide past icebergs on a cruise of the ice-strewn Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon. Straddle two continents while exploring Thingvellir’s rugged rift valley.
Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is the most popular tourist route from Reykjavík in South Iceland. Two main stops on the route are the national park Thingvellir and the waterfall Gullfoss (Golden Falls). The route covers about 300 kilometers looping from Reykjavík into central Iceland and back.
Thingvellir National Park
Around 930, the Althing general assembly was established in Thingvellir. A law passed in 1928 protecting the area, which shall remain the property of the Icelandic nation under the preservation of the Althing. Thingvellir National Park was officially founded in 1930, marking the 1,000th anniversary of the Althing. In 2004, the park became a World Heritage Site. Throughout the park visitors can travel among the many hiking trails.
Gullfoss Waterfall
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland is Gullfoss, an incredible waterfall located in the canyon of Hvita river in southwest Iceland. As one first approaches the falls, the crevice is obscured from view, so that it appears that a mighty river magically vanishes into the earth. The falls offer a spectacular view of the forces and beauty of the untouched nature in Iceland. On a sunny day, a rainbow can be seen over the falls. In 1907, Gullfoss was owned by a local farmer, who was approached by an Englishman who wanted to buy it to produce electricity. Although the farmer declined the Englishman’s generous offer, he leased it to him. After the farmer’s passing, his daughter went to great lengths to save Gullfoss to stop construction that would damage it. She is often called Iceland’s first environmentalist. In 1979, Gullfoss was designated as a nature preserve and permanently protected for the public to enjoy.
Conditions apply. Subject to availability and change without notice. Full supplier conditions apply. Valid for new bookings only. Prices valid at the time of publication. Prices are per person based on twin share occupancy unless otherwise stated and displayed in AU$. Member savings are calculated using the original advertised price.