Tour
#: IST 130A and IST 130B
Duration: 8 days - not including
US departure day
Tour Dates:
IST
130 A = Saturday 28 May - Sunday 04 June 2005
(sold out)
IST 130 B = Saturday 20 August - Sunday 28 August 2005
(sold out)
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General Description May:
Explore
and discover Iceland’s wild west full of beautiful bays and
fjords. The land of Erik the Red and his son Leif, this area is
rich in literary and historical traditions, as well as stunning
natural vistas. Experience the famous Snæfellsnes Peninsula
and the grandeur and remoteness of the Western Fjords in northwest
Iceland. This tour is designed for lovers of nature and those with
an interest in the 1000-year-old Viking culture of Iceland. Iceland
Saga Travel and Ísafold are pleased to bring you this private
tour.
Departure
day – Saturday: US
Leave US 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 or exploring the capital city of Reykjavík.
Optional tours include a city tour, whale watching cruise or a visit
to the nearby countryside for a horseback tour. Contact IST for
tour options. Overnight in Reykjavík.
Day
2 – Monday: Reykjavík – Thingvellir - Borgarfjörður
– Mýrar (B, L, D)
Pick up from your Reykjavík accommodations at 9:00 AM by
our driver-guide. We take a short sightseeing tour of the city as
we head east to Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park where
the continental plates meet. We then head north into the interior
through the Kaldidalur pass and by the Langjökull glacier.
We enter the eastern sector of the Borgarfjörður region
with visits to charming waterfalls, thermal springs and the historic
home of Snorri Sturluson at Reykholt. We end the day at the entrance
to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula with our first overnight in the
countryside at The English Lodge by the river Langá.
Day
3 – Tuesday: Snæfellsnes. (B, L, D)
The Snæfellsnes peninsula is know as Iceland in a Nutshell.
We will explore the varied natural wonders of the peninsula. We’ll
drive along the coastline and group members will have an option
to enjoy a cruise into the Breiðafjörður bay to view
Iceland’s 2500-island bird paradise. Same overnight location.
Day
4 – Wednesday: Stykkishólmur – Breiðafjörður
– Brjánslækur/Vatnsfjörður. (B, L, D)
In the morning we will board the Baldur ferry from the town of Stykkishólmur.
During our passage we will stop at the historic island of Flatey
to explore for several hours before continuing on to the ferry ride
north to the West Fjords in northwest Iceland, landing at Brjanslækur.
We will settle into Hótel Flókalundur not far from
the ferry port for the next three overnights.
Day
5 – Thursday: Vatnsfjörður – Bjargtangar –
Rauðisandur – Vatnsfjörður. (B, L, D)
Today we will head to the western most point in Europe where we
can admire the puffins in the vicinity of Látrabjarg. We
then hike along the golden sandy coast of Rauðisandur looking
for seals.
Day
6 – Friday: Vatnsfjörður and environment (B, L, D)
Vatnsfjörður is a beautiful nature preserve. We will spend
the day in this lovely preserve, hiking to the million year old
coal fossils in the gorge at Surtarbrandsgil or paddle with kayaks
in the calm waters of the fjord. In the afternoon we will take a
drive to the most impressive falls of the western fjords - Dynjandi.
We will end the day with a dip in the thermal pool along the coastline
of the fjord.
Day
7 – Saturday: Vatnsfjörður – Dalir/Eiríksstaðir
– Reykjavík. (B, L)
In the morning we head east and south along the coastline of the
region and into the Dalir area. We will stop at the medieval farm
of Erik the Red and learn about his antics and eventual migration
to Greenland. We then head back through the Borgarfjörður
region to Reykjavík by early evening. We will return for
our last overnight at our guesthouse in downtown Reykjavík.
Day
8 – Sunday: Blue Lagoon – Reykjanes – Keflavík
International Airport (B)
After a free morning you’ll be picked up at your accommodations
at 11:00 AM for a direct drive to the famous Blue Lagoon, where
we can bathe in the mineral rich geothermal water. At approximately
2:00 PM we will drive directly to Keflavík International
airport in time to check in for your return flight.
Tour
Information:
Rate
of Difficulty: Active pace. Non-strenuous, though some
lengthy walks and hikes.
Included: Round trip flights on Icelandair, FlyBus
ticket for transport into Reykjavík upon arrival in Iceland,
tour transport and professional guidance in a large minibus suitable
and comfortable for use on Iceland’s interior highland roads,
accommodations with private facilities – 5 nights at country
hotels/guesthouses, 2 nights at a downtown Reykjavík guesthouse
(optional hotel upgrade available upon request), 7 breakfasts, 6
lunches, 5 dinners, entrance at the Erik The Red farmstead and to
the Blue Lagoon.
Not
Included: Luggage porterage usually not available at accommodations.
Meals not identified by B – breakfast and D – dinner.
Travel insurance is available upon request from IST’s insurance
company – TravelGuard International.
Prices
(Includes all taxes and airport fees)
IST-130
A
Price: $2979.00 per person staying in a double room
IST-130
B
Price: $3179.00 per person staying in a double room
Single
supplement: $431.00 add-on for single room occupancy
Includes round trip US flights from East Coast Icelandair gateways.
Call for pricing from non-East Coast gateways.
Route
Map:
