IST
2005 Tours - Spring, Summer, Fall
Tour
#: IST 90 A, B and C
Duration: 8 days – not including US
departure day
Tour Dates:
IST
90A = Saturday 21 May 2005 – Sunday 29 May 2005
(sold out)
IST
90B =
Saturday 18 June 2005 – Sunday 26 June 2005
(sold out)
Saturday
16 July 2005 – Sunday 24 July 2005
(sold out)
Saturday
13 August 2005 – Sunday 21 August 2005
(sold out)
IST
90C = Saturday 10 September 2005 – Sunday 18 September 2005
(sold out)
Minimum/Maximum
Tour Size: 10/18 passengers
________________________________________________
General
Description:
The
Iceland Farm Life Tour is a tour that specializes in Iceland’s
culture and history with breathtaking scenery of the south and west
of Iceland as a backdrop. There are many exciting visits and activities
giving insight into Iceland’s farming heritage. The tour includes
magical walks, saga tours, a horse adventure visits to three of
Iceland’s national parks, a glacial lagoon cruise and a trip
to the world famous Blue Lagoon.
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 guesthouse. Spend
the day relaxing or exploring the capital city of Reykjavík.
Optional tours include a city tour, whale watching cruise or a hike
through an underground lava cave. Contact IST for tour options.
Overnight in Reykjavík.
Day
2 – Monday: Farm Visit – Magical Snaefellsnes Peninsula
(B, D)
We start by heading to Hvalfjörður fjord, where we visit
the farm Bjarteyjarsandur to get an insight into the daily life.
We then travel on to the magical peninsula of Snaefellsnes, which
has been called Iceland in a nutshell, as it has many examples of
the natural wonders Iceland has to offer: glaciers, beautiful coasts,
volcanoes, green pastures and lava fields. We overnight for the
next two nights in the Snaefellsnes peninsula area.
Day
3 – Tuesday: Fishing Villages – Shark Tasting –
Hidden People (B, D)
Today we visit Djúpárlónssandur, a beach loaded
with polished lava stones and encircled by spectacular rock formations.
Then we continue to the fishing village of Grundarfjörður,
where we take a walk to learn more about the daily life of today´s
fishing village in Iceland. At the farm Bjarnarhöfn we visit
a small farmer´s church and taste the product the farmer is
especially known for - the traditional processing of shark meat.
On to Hellnar we will take a 1 hour walking tour through caves,
ley-lines and dwellings of hidden folk where old and new “sagas”
are woven into the powerful and spectacular landscape.
Day
4 – Wednesday: Þingvellir National Park – Gullfoss
- Geysir (B, D)
We head to Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, the site
of the ancient parliament and Iceland’s famous mid-Atlantic
ridge. We will spend some time there walking around the area getting
to know the spirits of the past. On we go to the horticultural farm
of Espiflöt. We visit their green houses and try out their
speciality. Close by we find the Geysir area with the Strokkur,
the spouting geyser (spouting every 5-10 min) where we also visit
the Geocenter, a modern multimedia show of the natural wonders of
Iceland. Our last stop will be at Gullfoss "the golden waterfall".
Overnight in the area.
Day
5 – Thursday: Horse Adventure – South Shore (B, L, D)
Today we head to the horse farm Hestheimar, where we enjoy a horse
show to learn all about the unique Icelandic horse. A one hour horse
riding tour will follow (suitable for beginners) and then we will
visit the farmer’s home for a typical Icelandic lunch. We
head east along the ring road and visit the spectacular waterfalls
of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. We continue to Reynisfjara
black volcanic beach with its basalt columns, cave and great ocean
view. Overnight the next 2 nights in this part of south Iceland.
Day
6 – Friday: Skaftafell National Park – Glacier Lagoon
– Tiny Turf Church (B, D)
We pass a variety of landscapes today from the black sands of Mýrdalsjökull
(glacier) to the lava fields of Eldhraun. We then drive further
east to Skaftafell National Park. We go for a walk in this breathtaking
area. On we go to the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon,
where we will take a boat ride between the drift ice. Returning,
we stop at the historic Núpsstaðir turf church.
Day
7 – Saturday: Saga Past – Eyrarbakki Village –
Blue Lagoon (B)
Today we start by visiting the Saga Museum at Skógar and
taking a guided tour around the museum to learn more about the sagas
and their importance to the Icelandic cultural identity. On the
way to the Reykjanes peninsula, we pass the small village of Eyrabakki.
At the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland we find the amazing
Blue Lagoon where we can take a relaxing dip in the heated lagoon.
We arrive back in Reykjavík in the late afternoon. Overnight
at guesthouse in downtown Reykjavík.
Day
8 - Tuesday: Reykjavík – Keflavík International
Airport (B)
Today is a free day in Reykjavík for sightseeing and relaxing.
We will board the fly/bus in mid-afternoon for the trip back to
Keflavík International Airport for the late-afternoon flights
back to the US.
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 and back to the airport
on last day, tour transport and professional guidance, accommodations
with private facilities – 5 nights at country hotels/guesthouses,
2 nights at a downtown Reykjavík guesthouse (optional hotel
upgrade in Reykjavík available upon request), 7 breakfasts,
5 dinners,
shark visit at Bjarnarhöfn, entrance to the Geocenter, horse
show, one hour horse riding and lunch at Hestheimar horse farm,
boat tour on the glacier lagoon, entrance to the Saga museum, entrance
and towel rental at the Blue Lagoon and round trip FlyBus transport
between Keflavík airport and Reykjavík.
Not
Included: Luggage porterage not available at accommodations.
Meals not identified by B – breakfast, L – Lunch and
D – dinner. Travel insurance is available upon request from
IST’s insurance company – TravelGuard International.
Prices
(Includes all taxes and airport fees):
IST-90A
Price: $2906.00 per person staying in a double room
Single supplement: $332.00 add-on for single room occupancy
Includes round trip US flights from East Coast Icelandair gateways.
Call for pricing from non-East Coast gateways.
IST-90B
Price: $3476.00 per person staying in a double room
Single supplement: $332.00 add-on for single room occupancy
Includes round trip US flights from East Coast Icelandair gateways.
Call for pricing from non-East Coast gateways.
IST-90C
Price: $2906.00 per person staying in a double room
Single supplement: $332.00 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:
