Mountain Highlights 2012

Flight is not included but can be booked here with Iceland Express

HIKING, WALKING, TOURING AND WHALE WATCHING
The world at your feet, with an average of three hours walking a day in some of the most beautiful parts of Iceland and with some longer hikes on days two, four and nine. Highlights include visiting three National Parks Þingvellir, Skaftafell and Jökulsárgljúfur, the wonders of Landmannalaugar and Lake Mývatn, for its latitude the most fertile area in the world. There are waterfalls including the awesome Dettifoss, the most powerful in Europe. The tour includes, weather permitting, a 3 hour whale watching cruise sailing from Húsavík.

Lots to see but little to carry, as the tour bus will convey your luggage. Accommodation is provided in hotels with private facilities. The hotels used on tours are often “summer hotels” used most of the year as boarding schools or country hotels which are simple and clean.

HIGHLIGHTS AND VALUES

• We only stay in four hotels which means less packing 
  
• Visit to three National Parks
• Whale watching included, weather permitting 
• Average of three hours walking a day, except days 2, 4 & 9
• Visit to two nature baths
• Visit remote to a farm in the highlands of Iceland 
• Boat trip on glacial lagoon with floating icebergs included
• Visit to the Sænautasel farm

 
DAY 1, MO:   REYKJAVÍK-GULLFOSS-GEYSIR-SKAFTAFELL
The day starts with a drive to the famous Geysir and the Queen of Iceland´s waterfalls, Gullfoss. We then travel along the south coast which is overlooked by mountainous cliffs and magnificent waterfalls. We stay for the next two nights near Skaftafell National Park.

DAY 2, TU: HIKING IN SKAFTAFELL
The whole day is spent hiking through the Skaftafell National Park
.
DAY 3, WE: SKAFTAFELL-FLJÓTSDALSHÉRAÐ
We drive south of Vatnajökull, Europe´s largest glacier which dominates the landscape with its glacial tongues. Next, amongst the icebergs, enjoy a boat trip on the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon. We then continue through the beautiful Eastern fjords. We spend the next two nights in the neighbourhood of Egilsstaðir.

DAY 4, TH: HIKING THROUGH VIKING TRAILS
A full day hiking in the beautiful Eastern mountains.

DAY 5, FR: FLJÓTSDALSHÉRAÐ-HIGHLAND DESERT-MÝVATN AREA
Today we walk up to Hengifoss, one of Iceland's highest waterfalls. In the very remote area in the highlands of Iceland we visit Sænautasel, an old farm that was the main model for the setting of the novel: Independent People by Nobel Prize Winner Halldór Kiljan Laxness. We continue to Möðrudalur, a farm that has been inhabited from the early Icelandic settlers through to the present day. We travel through desert landscape before reaching our accommodation for the next three nights in the Mývatn area.

DAY 6, SA: HÚSAVIK WHALE WATCHING - LAKE MÝVATN AREA
We start the day, with a 3 hour whale watching cruise, weather permitting, from the picturesque village of Húsavík. A short drive to Lake Mývatn, a unique area that features strange lava formations, attractive bays, pseudo craters and prolific bird life. We stroll through the lava field of Dimmuborgir ending with a walk to the rim of the ash crater Hverfjall. We relax in Mývatns Nature Baths, before we head back to our accommodation.

DAY 7, SU: WALKING IN HLJÓÐAKLETTAR-DETTIFOSS- ÁSBYRGI
We visit Hljóðaklettar with its strange formations and the magnificent and puzzling canyon Ásbyrgi, said to be a hoof print of the eight legged horse of the ancient God Óðinn. We walk along the west bank of the mighty Jökulsá river where we see Europe´s most powerful waterfall Dettifoss.

DAY 8, MO: LAKE MÝVATN AREA-HELLA
We visit Goðafoss waterfall and on our way south across the highland desert we travel either the Sprengisandur or Kjölur route, with its views of the distant ice-caps. This area became shrouded in mystery and folktales of ghosts, giants and outlaws and is today one of Europe's last wilderness. We spend the next two nights in Rangárvallasýsla.

DAY 9, TU: HIKING IN LANDMANNALAUGAR
The entire day is spent hiking in the geothermal area of Landmannalaugar, a jewel in the Icelandic landscapes. The surroundings rhyolite mountains have the feel of another planet, ranging in colours from beige to red and from blue to black. We will have the opportunity to enjoy a bathe in a pool of warm spring water. 

DAY 10, WE: ÞINGVELLIR-REYKJAVÍK
Today we visit the historic sites of the first Icelandic Parliament at Þingvellir National Park where we enjoy the last walks of our tour before returning to Reykjavík.

Type: 
Hiking & Walking tour with hotel accommodation 

Duration: 
10 days / 9 nights 

Departure & Return: 
From our office at Borgartún 34 on Mondays at 09:00 and returning Wednesdays between 16:00-18:00 

Pick up for tour: 
Between 08.15-08.45 from any accommodation in Reykjavik 

Language: 
All tours are guided in English and German 

Group size: 
From 8 to 24 passengers 

Accommodation: 
Accommodation is provided in hotels with private facilities. The hotels used on tours are often “summer hotels”, used most of the year as boarding schools and are simple and clean. Most of our groups will stay at the following hotels (subject to change):
* Fosshotel Skaftafell or Islandiahotel Nupar, Southeast Iceland
* Guesthouse Álfheimar, Borgarfjörður Eystri, East Iceland
* Fosshotel Húsavik, Northeast Iceland
* Fosshotel Mosfell, Hella, South Iceland

Meals: 
9x breakfast, 9x dinner (3-course or buffet) from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day.
2x picnic lunch included on day 5 and 8. Lunch stops will be made at restaurants or café-shops en route. 

Included on tour: 

• Boat tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon (day 3)
• Sænautasel farm visit (day 5)
• Whale watching from Húsavík (day 6),
• Entrance fee to the Nature Baths at Lake Mývatn (day 6) 

On tour: 
There is an average of 3 hours hiking & walking each day except on days 2, 4 and 9 where most of the day is spent hiking. This tour is not very difficult, but there is always the possibility of returning earlier back to base if someone does not want to hike the whole day. Good walking boots are needed on all our tours, as well as waterproof clothing and we recommend walking/hiking sticks. 

Note: 
We sometimes have two groups departing on the same date. In this case, small change on itinerary might be expected. 

Other highlights: 
Visit to three national parks, travel through the interior highland desert and several off the beaten track explorations. 

New service: 
Supplement for guaranteed window seat on our escorted coach tours which includes a window seat and next seat remaining empty (passenger gets actually two seats) as well as a pillow and blanket for upgraded comfort. Seats will be reserved in the front area of the bus. 

Pre & post nights in Reykjavik: 
Are not included in tour price and must be added subject to your arrival and departure flights. 

DEPARTURES
All tours depart at 09:00 
50/F Monday 25 June - 04 July 
50/H Monday 09 July - 18 July 
50/J Monday 23 July - 01 August 
50/L Monday 06 August - 15 August 

LANGUAGES: This tour is guided in German and English 
ACCOMMODATION: Hotels/Country Guest Houses 
MEALS:
9x breakfast and 9x dinner (3-course or buffet) from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day. Picnic lunch on days 5 and 8. 
GROUP SIZE: From 8 to 24 passengers 

Price per person in EUR: 
Twin room: € 2.330
Single room  supplement: € 460
VIP-seating supplement: € 200 

Departure & Return:
From our office at Borgartún 34 on Mondays at 09:00 and returning Wednesdays between 16:00-18:00

Pick up for tour:
Between 08.15-08.45 from any accommodation in Reykjavik

Language:
All tours are guided in English and German

Group size:
From 8 to 24 passengers

Accommodation:
Accommodation is provided in hotels with private facilities. The hotels used on tours are often “summer hotels”, used most of the year as boarding schools and are simple and clean. Most of our groups will stay at the following hotels (subject to change):

• Fosshotel Skaftafell or Islandiahotel Nupar, Southeast Iceland
• Guesthouse Álfheimar, Borgarfjörður Eystri, East Iceland
• Fosshotel Húsavik, Northeast Iceland
• Fosshotel Mosfell, Hella, South Iceland

Note:
We sometimes have two groups departing on the same date. In this case, small change on itinerary might be expected.

Other highlights:
Visit to three national parks, travel through the interior highland desert and several off the beaten track explorations.

New service:
Supplement for guaranteed window seat on our escorted coach tours which includes a window seat and next seat remaining empty (passenger gets actually two seats) as well as a pillow and blanket for upgraded comfort. Seats will be reserved in the front area of the bus. 

Pre & post nights in Reykjavik:
Are not included in tour price and must be added subject to your arrival and departure flights. 
You can book extra nights in the package at Hotel Cabin or send an E-mail: 

Airport Transfers:
Airport Transfers is not included but you can book it extra 
Extra nights available

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