Tour
#: IST 60
Duration: 8 days –
not including US departure day
Tour Dates:
Wednesday 06 April – Thursday 14 April
2005
(sold out)
Wednesday 20 April – Thursday 28 April 2005
(sold out)
Wednesday 04 May – Thursday 12 May 2005
(sold out)
Wednesday 11 May – Thursday 19 May 2005
(sold out)
Wednesday 18 May – Thursday 26 May 2005
(sold out)
Wednesday 25 May – Thursday 02 June 2005
(sold out)
Wednesday 07 September – Thursday 15 September 2005
(sold out)
Wednesday 14 September – Thursday 22 September 2005
(sold out)
Wednesday 21 September – Thursday 29 September 2005
(sold out)
Wednesday 28 September – Thursday 06 October 2005
(still avaliable)
Minimum/Maximum
Tour Size: 8/30 passengers
______________________________________________________
General Description:
This
tour provides an economical visit to South Iceland with your time
split between the natural wonders of the southwest and the capital
city of Reykjavík. See waterfalls, hot springs, geysers,
glaciers and lava beaches. Enjoy free days in Reykjavík when
you can get to know the city or you can choose day tours with destinations
in other areas of Iceland. This is the best introductory tour of
Iceland.
Departure
day - Wednesday: US
Leave on evening flight from Icelandair gateway (see below).
Day
1 - Thursday: Reykjavík
Arrive in Reykjavík/Keflavík airport. Transfer by
FlyBus to your Reykjavík guesthouse. The day is free to relax,
shop or explore the city. Try the unique geothermal pools near your
guesthouse.
Day
2 - Friday: Thingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir and Hella (B)
We leave Reykjavík at 9:30 AM via Mosfellsheiði heath
and visit Thingvellir National Park. We stroll around the country´s
most sacred site, home of the old Viking parliament Althing, and
the site of major events in our history. Thingvellir is a place
of fascinating natural beauty, one of the most geologically spectacular,
set on a vast lava plain flanked by large fissures, right on Iceland´s
largest lake. Gullfoss is known as the Queen of Iceland´s
waterfalls, thundering over a double cascade in the Hvítá
glacial river. Then we continue to the nearby famous hot spring
area of Geysir. Here are small springs from which steam rises, as
well as beautiful multicoloured pools of blue water and mud along
with the spouting hot spring that erupts every 5 - 10 minutes. Arriving
at the Guesthouse Hella in South Iceland in the later afternoon
where we stay for the next three nights in rooms with private facilities.
Day
3 - Saturday: South Shore (B)
Today we drive to Seljalandsfoss, a graceful ribbon-like waterfall
which drops from an overhanging lava cliff. If you step carefully,
you can walk behind it, but be prepared to get wet. We continue
to the impressive Skógafoss waterfall, that's more than 197
feet high. The tiny settlement of Skógar is home of a Folk
Museum, one of Iceland´s best (entrance fee included). Then
we head on to the village of Vík and for the seashore, which
is flanked by steep cliffs where puffins and other sea birds nest
in summer, and where seals are sometimes sighted in the sea or on
the black, wavepounded sands. We reach the impressive ice-wall of
Sólheimajökull, where we can walk-up to the glacier.
Day 4 - Sunday: Thjórsárdalur (B)
We drive through the river valley of Thjórsárdalur,
famous for its beautful waterfalls and Viking ruins, through pasture
land and valleys to Búrfell, location of the hydro-electric
power station. We stop at the waterfall Hjálparfoss, framed
in twisted basalt columns. The ravine of Gjáin is an outstanding
beauty spot with miniature landscape, brooks and waterfalls. Nearly
all of Thjórsárdalur valley lies surrounded by lava
deserts created by eruptions of Hekla, Iceland´s best known
volcano. Hekla's last eruptions date from 1991 and 2000. We visit
Stöng, the excavated ruins of a Viking-age farmhouse, now preserved.
Day
5 - Monday: Reykjavík (B)
Returning to Reykjavík for city sightseeing, the tour ends
about 1:00 PM. We stay three nights at our Reykjavík guesthouse.
An optional tour to the Blue Lagoon is available in the afternoon
(or during days 6, 7 or 8), where you enjoy a unique swimming experience
in a geothermal lagoon with fog like clouds looming above the blue
waters. Volcanic heated water is pumped up from 2 km beneath the
earth's surface to power the nearby geothermal energy plant. The
run-off water collects in the lava to form a warm, salty, mineral-rich
lagoon, reputed for its healing powers.
Day
6 and 7 - Tuesday/Wednesday: Reykjavík (B)
Time for leisure and optional excursions. Pre-arrange tours to other
areas of Iceland or for actvities such as horesback riding, whale
watching and glacier snow mobiling. Visit the Westman Islands or
the beautful Mývatn, join us on a West Iceland excursion
or experience a super jeep safari into Icelands´s wilderness.
Day
8 - Thursday: Reykjavík - Keflavík International Airport
(B)
After shopping and exploring Reykjavík during the morning
take transfer from your accommodations in Reykjavík to Keflavík
airport.
Tour
Information:
Rate of Difficulty: Easy walks.
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, four day tour transportation with
driver guide, accommodations in guesthouses with privaet facilities,
7 breakfasts and entrance fee to Skógar Folk Museum.
Not
Included: Luggage porterage usually not available at accommodations.
Meals not identified by B – breakfast. Travel insurance is
available upon request from IST’s insurance company –
TravelGuard International.
Note:
Some tour departures may include guidance in a second language such
as French.
Prices
(includes all taxes and airport fees)
IST-
60
Price:
April departures = $1569.00 per person staying in a double room
May and September departures = $1703.00 per person staying in a
double room
Single
supplement:
April departures = $255.00 add-on for single room occupancy
All other departures = $298.00 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:
