All of our arrangements have been specially designed to incorporate a reason to travel and, for ease of choice, these have been categorised under the titles shown below.
7 nights from
£2475
This tour of ravishing scenery and geological wonders begins and ends in the world’s most northerly capital, Reykjavik, seen from the air like a multi-coloured Lego town, experienced on the ground as a kaleidoscope of culture, cafés, classic galleries, and quirky street art. The days in between are an eye-opening reminder of the force of Nature, where tectonic plates are exposed, geysers and volcanoes litter the landscape, and it’s easy to imagine that this is where the barrier between the planet’s surface and the elements beneath is at its flimsiest. Jules Verne certainly had those thoughts when writing his classic novel, choosing to send his characters, on the pure-bred Icelandic horses, to the Snaefellsjokull crater, for their Journey to the Centre of the Earth. We follow their path (but stop short of penetrating the earth’s crust!). Just 30% of Iceland’s landmass is inhabitable, the rest a mesmerising mix of glaciers, mountains, hot springs, and lava fields. This tour takes in both the creativity of Man and the creation of Nature, united in the harnessing of geothermal resources for heating, and crafting houses from the turf; and visits the lands of legendary trolls, villages on the fjords, and whales in the waters around them.
Enjoy a tasting of herrings and a glass of schnapps at the Siglufjörður Herring Museum. It is Iceland’s largest maritime museum and was offi cially opened in 1994 in Róaldsbrakki, an old salting station. Siglufjörður used to be the centre of herring fi sheries in Iceland until the collapse of the herring stock in 1969.
This is a full itinerary with most visits on foot and sites with steps/inclines and uneven surfaces.
Optional tours are not always exclusive for JV groups.
Extra nights are on request, please call to discuss your requirements
Hotel Klettur
(per night) £155 (May £105; Oct £125)
Single supplement £115 (May £62; Oct £90)
Travel by coach from Reykjavik and discover the waters of the Blue Lagoon. Experience a wonder of the world. Harmonize with nature.
By a scenic route we reach Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park (1930) and UNESCO World Heritage Site (2004). We stroll around the country’s most sacred site, home of the oldest existing national parliament in the world, the Alþingi, and major events in the history of Iceland. Thingvellir is a place of fascinating natural beauty, a spectacular geological vista, set on a vast plain flanked by large fissures, right by Iceland’s largest lake, Thingvallavatn. The Mid-Atlantic rift is clearly visible; a rift that is forming as Iceland is being pulled apart by tectonic forces. Here the North-American and the Eurasian continental plates drift apart by 19mm a year and a rift valley is forming. Next we drive to the mighty waterfall of Gullfoss - the Golden falls - perhaps the most beautiful in the country. Here the glacial river of Hvítá (white river) tumbles 32 meters in a double cascade. On a sunny day a rainbow is very likely in the massive spray. After an optional lunch stop we explore the active geothermal area of Haukadalur which contains the geysers Geysir and Strokkur, and many other hot springs. Most active nowadays is Strokkur, erupting hot water and steam to elevation of 25 metres every 5-7 minutes. Then we drive on to Skálholt, an ancient bishopric, and for centuries the spiritual and educational heart of Iceland. We pass the greenhouse town of Hveragerði and continue over the mountain pass Hellisheiði, an area with large lava fields and steaming valleys.
Air travel and taxes, transfers, 7 nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, 1 dinner, itinerary as described, services of guides and local representatives. If our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.
Travel insurance, tipping, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.
Guide to Iceland
1 Mar 2020
"Iceland is an increasingly popular holiday destination, with huge numbers of tourists flocking to its mountainous beauty and rugged landscapes each year."
In certain countries we recommend the currency most widely accepted rather than the local currency.
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