Grand Countryside

This circle tour gives you the opportunity to travel through the ever-changing scenery of the Icelandic countryside, through mountains and valleys, viewing volcanoes, glaciers, rivers, hot springs and waterfalls. This is an ideal tour for those who want to experience the very best of Iceland in one week.  We visit 4 National Parks: Snæfellsnes peninsula, Skaftafell, Þingvellir and Jökulsárgljúfur. We will have the possibility to do some walking in the beautiful countryside during the tour.
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. On some departures this tour may be operated in reverse.

GRAND COUNTRYSIDE 2012 - ITINERARY

Day 1, MO: REYKJAVÍK-BORGARFJÖRÐUR
The day starts with a drive to the famous Gullfoss and Geysir. We also visit the beautiful church of Skálholt and the Þingvellir National Park, site of the Viking Parliament, before continuing to Reykholt, home of the 13th century poet, Snorri Sturluson. We stay in Borgarfjörður for the next two nights.

Day 2, TU: SNÆFELLSNES
Today we drive around the Snæfellsnes peninsula, which is dominated by the glacier where, according to Jules Verne’s book, the Entrance to the Centre of the Earth can be found. We visit small fishing towns and drive through interesting lava fields and on to the town of Stykkishólmur where we take a boat trip around the islands of Breiðafjörður, home of puffins and the white tailed eagle.

Day 3, WE: EYJAFJÖRÐUR-ÞINGEYJARSÝSLA
We stop at the beautiful waterfalls of Hraunfossar before heading for Skagafjörður where we visit the farm museum at Glaumbær and are introduced to the Icelandic horse. We continue to Akureyri for a sightseeing tour of the town before driving  on to our accommodation in the Húsavík area for the next three nights.

Day 4, TH: HÚSAVÍK-WHALE WATCHING
We start the day with a 3 hour whale watching tour from Húsavík, weather permitting. Afternoon is at leisure to ponder around the town with the possibility to visit museums and the church.

Day 5, FR: GOÐAFOSS-MÝVATN
We visit the waterfall Goðafoss, en-route to Lake Mývatn. There is lush vegetation here and many different species of birds, some of which are not found anywhere else in Europe. We visit the lava field Dimmuborgir and climb up to the rim of the ash crater Hverfjall. Before heading back to our accommodation we relax in Mývatn Nature Bath.

Day 6, SA: DETTIFOSS-FLJÓTSDALSHÉRAÐ
We travel around Tjörnes Peninsula and visit the magnificent waterfall Dettifoss, the most powerful in Europe. For the next three nights we will stay in the neighbourhood of Egilsstaðir.

Day 7, SU: FLJÓTSDALUR-SEYÐISFJÖRÐUR
We tour around the Lake Lögurinn, passing the farm mansion at Skriðuklaustur with its large unusual type of house. When conditions are suitable we walk up to Hengifoss, one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland. We also visit the fishing town of Seyðisfjörður.

Day 8, MO: BORGARFJÖRÐUR-EYSTRI
This short wide fjord and grassy fertile valley with a charming fishing village of the same name is situated northeast of Egilsstaðir. Magnificent colourful mountains and numerous beautiful rocks and rare stones are to be found here.

Day 9, TU: FLJÓTSDALSHÉRAÐ-SKAFTAFELL
Vatnajökull, Europe’s biggest glacier, dominates the landscape with its glacial tongues calving into a glacial lagoon. We take a boat trip on the lagoon among the icebergs. For the next two nights, we will stay in the neighbourhood of Skaftafell National Park.

Day 10, WE: SKAFTAFELL
The whole day is spent walking or relaxing at Skaftafell National Park.

Day 11, TH: SKAFTAFELL-REYKJAVÍK
We return to Reykjavík through the fertile meadows and the sandy desert of the south coast, overlooked by mountainous cliffs and glaciers. There are several beautiful waterfalls on the way and we may spot puffins and even some seals.

 
 Note: There is an average of 1-2 hours walking each day and it is an easy tour which everyone can participate.

Adults in Double/Twin Rooms from £2599.00 each

Adults in Single Occupancy Rooms from £2999.00 each

Children sharing room with parents from £1299.00 each

Infants sharing room with parents from £200.00 each

Duration 11 nights