Tour
#: IST 110A, 110B, 110C,110D
Duration: 13 days – not including
US departure day
Tour Dates:
IST110A
Sat. 10 May – Fri. 23 May 2008
IST110B
Sat. 07 June –Fri. 20 June 2008
IST110C
Sat.21 June – Fri. 04 July 2008
Sat. 05 July – Fri. 18 July 2008
Sat. 19 July – Fri. 01 Aug. 2008
Sat. 02 Aug.– Fri. 15 Aug. 2008
Sat. 16 Aug.– Fri. 29 Aug. 2008
IST110D
Sat. 06 Sept– Fri. 19 Sept. 2008
Minimum/Maximum
Tour Size: 8/30 passengers
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General
Description:
This is our most comprehensive escorted coach tour, which covers the outer
circle (ring road) of Iceland's stunning coastlines. Mountains, hot springs,
glaciers, volcanoes, fjords and waterfalls are seen as you travel through
Snæfellsnes, the Lake Mývatn region, the Eastern Fjords,
Skaftafell National Park and Iceland's southwest. You will enjoy fjord
and glacial lagoon cruises. There are only four countryside accommodations,
allowing for several overnights at each hotel. This is a relaxing and
all encompassing tour of Iceland.
Departure
day - Saturday: US
Leave on evening flight from Icelandair gateway (see below).
Day 1
- Sunday: Reykjavík
Arrive in Iceland in the morning. Take the comfortable FlyBus from Keflavík
International Airport to your accommodations. Spend the day relaxing,
shopping or exploring the capital city of Reykjavík. Optional tours
include whale watching cruises or a visit to the nearby countryside for
a horseback ride. Contact IST for tour options. Overnight at a downtown
Reykjavík 3-star hotel.
Day
2 - Monday: Reykjavík - Borgarfjörður (B, D)
The day starts with a drive to the famous Gullfoss (waterfall) and
Geysir. We also visit the beautiful church of Skálholt and
the Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, site of the ancient
Icelandic open-air Parliament, before continuing to Borgarfjörður
in western Iceland, where we stay for the next three nights.
Day
3 - Tuesday: Snæfellsnes (B, D)
Today we drive around the Snæfellsnes peninsula which is dominated
by the glacier where, according to Jules Verne's book, the entrance
to the center of the earth can be found. We visit small fishing
towns and drive through lava fields, now the home of a great variety
of birds and beautiful alpine and arctic flowers.
Day
4 - Wednesday: Stykkishólmur (B, D)
We will visit the town of Stykkishólmur and take a cruise
around the islands of Breiðafjörður, home of puffins
and the white tailed eagle.
Day
5 - Thursday: Borgarfjörður - Eyjafjörður - Þingeyjarsýsla
(B, D)
We pass the beautiful waterfall at Hraunfossar (lava falls) and
Reykholt, home of the 13th century poet, historian and statesman
Snorri Sturluson. We head for Skagafjörður where we are
introduced to the Icelandic horse and then on to our overnight accommodation
in Eyjafjörður or Þingeyjarsýsla area where
we stay the next three nights.
Day
6 - Friday: Eyjafjörður (B, D)
Enjoy morning sightseeing in the lovely town of Akureyri and a short
boat trip back in time to the island of Hrísey situated in
Iceland's longest fjord Eyjafjörður. We also visit the
fishing village Dalvík before returning to our accommodation.
Day
7 - Saturday: Goðafoss - Mývatn (B, D)
We visit the waterfall of the Gods, Góðafoss, en
route to Lake Mývatn. There is lush vegetation here and many
different species of birds, some of which are not found elsewhere
in Europe. We visit the lava field Dimmuborgir and climb up to the
rim of the ash crater Hverfjall.
Day
8 - Sunday: Eyjafjörður - Þingeyjarsýsla -
Fljótsdalshérað (B, D)
The Tjörnes Peninsula is one of the most fascinating geological
areas of Iceland. We stop at magnificent waterfall Dettifoss, the
most powerful in Europe. Overnight in the neighborhood of Egilsstaðir
in the eastern Fjord region of Iceland for the next three nights.
Day
9 - Monday: Fljótsdalur - Seyðisfjörður (B,
D)
We go around the lake Lögurinn passing the farm mansion at
Skriðuklaustur with its large architecturally unique house,
then on to one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland, Hengifoss.
In the afternoon we visit the fishing town of Seyðisfjörður
on the east coat fjord of the same name.
Day
10 - Tuesday: Borgarfjörður-Eystri (B, D)
This short wide fjord and grassy, fertile valley with a charming
fishing village of the same name is situated northeast of Egilsstaðir
in a remote area not often visited by tourists. Magnificent colorful
mountains and numerous beautiful rocks and rare stones along with
interesting bird life are to be found here.
Day
11 - Wednesday: Fljótsdalshérað - Skaftafell (B,
D)
Vatnajökull, Europe's biggest glacier, dominates the landscape
with its glacial tongues and icebergs calving into glacial lagoons.
We take a boat trip on Jökulsárlón, the lagoon
among the icebergs. We overnight in the neighborhood of Skaftafell
National Park for the next two nights.
Day
12 - Thursday: Skaftafell (B, D)
The entire day is free to spend walking, hiking or relaxing in a
spectacular setting.
Day
13 - Friday: Skaftafell - Reykjavík (B)
We return to Reykjavík through the fertile meadows and the
sandy deserts of the south coast, bordered by mountainous cliffs
and glaciers. There are several beautiful waterfalls (Skógafoss
and Seljalandsfoss) on the way and we may spot puffins and even
some seals. We end the day in Reykjavík when the tour concludes.
Day
14 - Saturday: Reykjavík - Keflavík - US (B)
Enjoy a free morning in Reykjavík and then take the early
afternoon FlyBus to Keflavík International airport for your
return flight to the US. Or pre-book a tour to the Reykjanes Peninsula
and the famous Blue Lagoon with airport drop-off. Contact IST for
tour details and price.
Tour
Information:
Rate of Difficulty: Easy but frequent walks. There is
an average of 2-3 hours of walking each day. This tour might not be suitable
for seniors or others who have some difficulty with walking on uneven
surfaces.
Included:
Round trip flights on Icelandair from US to Iceland (check with IST for
flight schedule from US Icelandair gateways), FlyBus ticket for transport
into Reykjavík upon arrival in Iceland and back to airport on departure
day, tour transport and professional guidance, accommodations with private
facilities including 2 nights at a Reykjavík downtown 3-star hotel
with private bathroom facilities (optional hotel upgrade to 4-star accommodations
available upon request), 13 breakfasts, 11 dinners, fjord cruise on Greiðafjörður,
visit to the island of Hrísey and boat ride on the glacial lagoon.
Includes
round trip US flights from East Coast Icelandair gateways. Call for pricing
from non-East Coast gateways.
Not
Included: Luggage porterage usually not available at accommodations.
Meals not identified by B – breakfast, D – dinner. Optional
Blue Lagoon Tour. Travel insurance is available upon request from
IST’s insurance company – TravelGuard International.
Note:
Some tour departures may feature a reverse itinerary. Some tour
departures may include guidance in a second language such as French.
Prices
(include air, all taxes and airport fees)
IIST-110A and IST110D Price: $5,652.00 per person staying in a double room
Single supplement: $696.00 add-on for single room occupancy
IST-110B Price: $6,571.00 per person staying in a double room
Single supplement: $834.00 add-on for single room occupancy
IST-110C Price: $6,635.00 per person staying in a double room
Single supplement: $834.00 add-on for single room occupancy
Route
Map:
