Mountain High

The world at your feet for 10 days, with an average of three hours walking a day in some of the most beautiful parts of Iceland and with some longer hikes on days two, four and nine. Highlights include visiting three National Parks Þingvellir, Skaftafell and Jökulsárgljúfur, the wonders of Landmannalaugar and Lake Mývatn, for its latitude the most fertile area in the world. There are waterfalls including the awesome Dettifoss, the most powerful in Europe. The tour includes, weather permitting, a 3 hour whale watching cruise sailing from Húsavík.

Lots to see but little to carry, as the tour bus will convey your luggage. Accommodation is provided in hotels with private facilities. The hotels used on tours are often “summer hotels” used most of the year as boarding schools or country hotels which are simple and clean.

MOUNTAIN HIGHLIGHTS 2012 - ITINERARY

DAY 1, MO: REYKJAVÍK-GULLFOSS-GEYSIR-SKAFTAFELL

The day starts with a drive to the famous Geysir and the Queen of Iceland´s waterfalls, Gullfoss. We then travel along the south coast which is overlooked by mountainous cliffs and magnificent waterfalls. We stay for the next two nights near Skaftafell National Park.

DAY 2, TU: HIKING IN SKAFTAFELL

The whole day is spent hiking through the Skaftafell National Park.

DAY 3, WE: SKAFTAFELL-FLJÓTSDALSHÉRAÐ

We drive south of Vatnajökull, Europe´s largest glacier which dominates the landscape with its glacial tongues. Next, amongst the icebergs, enjoy a boat trip on the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon. We then continue through the beautiful Eastern fjords. We spend the next two nights in the neighbourhood of Egilsstaðir.

DAY 4, TH: HIKING THROUGH VIKING TRAILS

A full day hiking in the beautiful Eastern mountains.

DAY 5, FR: FLJÓTSDALSHÉRAÐ-HIGHLAND DESERT-MÝVATN AREA

Today we walk up to Hengifoss, one of Iceland's highest waterfalls. In the very remote area in the highlands of Iceland we visit Sænautasel, an old farm that was the main model for the setting of the novel: Independent People by Nobel Prize Winner Halldór Kiljan Laxness. We continue to Möðrudalur, a farm that has been inhabited from the early Icelandic settlers through to the present day. We travel through desert landscape before reaching our accommodation for the next three nights in the Mývatn area.

DAY 6, SA: HÚSAVIK WHALE WATCHING - LAKE MÝVATN AREA

We start the day, with a 3 hour whale watching cruise, weather permitting, from the picturesque village of Húsavík. A short drive to Lake Mývatn, a unique area that features strange lava formations, attractive bays, pseudo craters and prolific bird life. We stroll through the lava field of Dimmuborgir ending with a walk to the rim of the ash crater Hverfjall. We relax in Mývatns Nature Baths, before we head back to our accommodation.

DAY 7, SU: WALKING IN HLJÓÐAKLETTAR-DETTIFOSS- ÁSBYRGI

We visit Hljóðaklettar with its strange formations and the magnificent and puzzling canyon Ásbyrgi, said to be a hoof print of the eight legged horse of the ancient God Óðinn. We walk along the west bank of the mighty Jökulsá river where we see Europe´s most powerful waterfall Dettifoss.

DAY 8, MO: LAKE MÝVATN AREA-HELLA

We visit Goðafoss waterfall and on our way south across the highland desert we travel either the Sprengisandur or Kjölur route, with its views of the distant ice-caps. This area became shrouded in mystery and folktales of ghosts, giants and outlaws and is today one of Europe's last wilderness. We spend the next two nights in Rangárvallasýsla.

DAY 9, TU: HIKING IN LANDMANNALAUGAR

The entire day is spent hiking in the geothermal area of Landmannalaugar, a jewel in the Icelandic landscapes. The surroundings rhyolite mountains have the feel of another planet, ranging in colours from beige to red and from blue to black. We will have the opportunity to enjoy a bathe in a pool of warm spring water. 

DAY 10, WE: ÞINGVELLIR-REYKJAVÍK

Today we visit the historic sites of the first Icelandic Parliament at Þingvellir National Park where we enjoy the last walks of our tour before returning to Reykjavík.

Adults in Double/Twin Rooms from £2459.00 each

Adults in Single Occupancy Rooms from £2859.00 each

Children sharing room with parents from £1499.00 each

Infants sharing room with parents from £200.00 each

Duration 10 nights