Iceland Circle Tour

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Departure from Ottawa – This evening you will depart Ottawa for your flights to Iceland.

Day 2

Arrival in Iceland – Upon your arrival in Iceland you be met by our local guide and taken for breakfast. After breakfast you will go on a sightseeing tour around the Reykjanes Peninsula where you will discover several dormant volcanoes and extensive lava fields. Later in the day you will check into your hotel in Reykjavik. Hotel- Fosshotel Reykjavik (B)

Day 3

VOLCANO CRATER, SEALS, FJORDS & MOUNTAINS

Meet our tour guide and depart from Fosshotel Reykjavík. Travel west, passing the town of Borgarnes and climb the Grábrók volcano crater. In the afternoon, visit a natural history & seal museum in a small fishing village in Northwest Iceland and stroll around the local harbor. Further north we stop at the turf church of Víðimýri which has been extensively restored to its original form and is widely considered one of the purest and most beautiful examples of traditional Icelandic architecture. We continue along scenic fjord landscape and over several mountain passes until we reach Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland. Hotel- Hotel Akureyri (B,D)

Day 4

THE CAPITAL OF NORTH ICELAND, LAKE MÝVATN & GEOTHERMAL BATHS

In the morning we explore Akureyri, a charming town of 17000 inhabitants, visit the botanical gardenand enjoy the panoramic view over Eyjafjörður fjord. In the afternoon we travel to an important spotin Iceland’s history, Goðafoss, the waterfalls of the Gods. We continue to Lake Mývatn which isknown for its geological wonders and active bird life during summer. We stop at the bizarre lavaformations at Kálfaströnd followed by a walk around the many pseudo craters and end an excitingday with a relaxing soak at Mývatn Nature Baths that contains a unique blend of minerals, silicatesand geothermal micro-organisms. The warm soothing waters benefit both skin and spirit alike.Note: Please bring a swimsuit. Hotel- Sel Hotel Myvatn (B,D)

Day 5

LAVA LABYRINTH, HOT SPRINGS & TRAVEL EAST

In the morning we hike in a lava labyrinth at Dimmuborgir “the dark castles”, hoping to get a glimpse of the trolls who are said to live there. After an optional lunch we visit the hot spring area of Námaskarð with bubbling mud pools and teaming solfataras. We head through the uninhabited highlands and moonlike surrounding to East Iceland. With some luck we might spot an Arctic fox or see reindeer. Hotel- Fosshotel Eastfjords (B,D)

Day 6

FJORDS, GLACIER AND ICE

It’s a day to admire the dramatic fjord landscape and its tiny fishing villages at the end of twisty roads in the East Fjords and on route we visit an interesting stone and mineral collection. In the afternoon we see Vatnajökull – Europe’s biggest glacier that is visible all over Southeast Iceland. Past the town of Höfn, we stop at Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs, and we explore the extraordinary site and might see seals swimming in arctic waters. You can walk on the black sandy beach where large icebergs get stranded. Depending on the season optional boat trips are available. We travel along the southern part of the glacier Vatnajökull and spend time at Europe’s largest national park, which has Iceland’s highest mountains, an alpine environment, and Europe’s largest glacier. Hotel-Fosshotel Nupar (B,D)

Day 7

SOUTH COAST

A beautiful drive with many natural wonders awaits us today as we head across the Eldhraun lava field, cross the sandy desert of the south coast, overlooked by mountainous cliffs, glaciers and waterfalls. We stroll along the black lava beach of Reynisfjara near Vík. In the small village of Skógar there is Skógafoss waterfall which is 60 meters high and is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country. Further west we stop at LAVA center in Hvollsvellir. We continue to the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall which plunges over the mountain. There is an interesting trail that goes behind the fall – if you are prepared to get wet! Hotel- Icelandair Hotel Fludir (B,D)

Day 8

ICELANDIC HORSES & GOLDEN CIRCLE

We explore classics today as we travel the route of the Golden Circle sights. We start the day at Friðheimar, where you learn about the Icelandic horse, its special qualities and history and visit a geothermal greenhouse. Later on, we see steam from the Geysir geothermal fields as we arrive. There is a variety of hot springs and bubbling pools. The original geyser is now dormant but has been replaced by Strokkur “the Churn” which erupts at 5-10-minute intervals. We continue to Gullfoss, “the golden falls”, which is a double waterfall that tumbles 34 meters into the Hvítá river and attracts travelers in summer and winter. We travel inland to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. As we return to Reykjavík, we take you for a short city tour to show highlights of the world’s northernmost capital. Hotel- Fosshotel Reykjavik (B)

Day 9

Sadly, this afternoon you will bid a fond farewell to Iceland. (B)

Please note that a visit to Iceland entails a fair amount of walking to fully enjoy your holiday experience. You should feel comfortable being able to walk for extended periods of time. Many of the avenues and walk ways are uneven. Comfortable walking shoes are essential.

**Itinerary Subject to Change**