Day 1, Wed 24 Jun 2015
International departure from London
It’s a short flight to Keflavik and then a four-hour transfer to your starting point. Drive through lunar-style landscapes, passing by Hekla – Iceland’s most famous active volcano. Your campsite is at Landmannalaugar, in the heart of southern Iceland’s thermal area. After dinner is the opportunity to bathe in the hot springs, perfect for a good nights’ sleep. (D)
Accommodation: Camping
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Day 2, Thu 25 Jun 2015
Landmannalaugar to Álftavatn (approx. 10–11hrs)
It’s a tough day, navigating through snow and mud which moves and slips underneath your feet. Near your highest point of 3,600ft you’ll pass Storihver, a large hot spring. After a deserved lunch, walk through glistening black opsidium rock fields with views over valleys, glaciers and snowfields.
Follow the Jokultungur Ridge, descend over the scree and cross one final river before reaching the Álftavatn Valley and setting up camp. (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Camping
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Day 3, Fri 26 Jun 2015
Álftavatn to Emstrur (approx. 7-8hrs)
Leave the incredible rhyolite landscape and head into the glacial areas and fast running streams of the Myradalsjokull Icecap. Here is probably the most intrepid part of the trip, wading through ice-cold streams in Bláfjallakvisi.
Heading down to the oasis at Hvangngil, the trek then follows through desert-like passes to your home for the night, the Emstrur Hut. You will be camping next to a stream here. (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Camping
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Day 4, Sat 27 Jun 2015
Emstrur and Thorsmörk, then transport to Reykjavik (approx. 6-7hrs)
Your final days trekking offers amazing views of the Markarfljót gorge and the bridged Ljorsa fissure, as well as river crossings.
Your awe-inspiring 58km trek climaxes with a steep drop into Thorsmörk, surrounded by giant glaciers and raging rivers. After some time to reflect on your achievement and take the obligatory photos, head back to Iceland’s capital Reykjavík where the celebrations can begin in style. (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Hotel
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Day 5, Sun 28 Jun 2015
Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon and return to UK
Enjoy exploring Iceland’s capital Reykjavik, the world’s most northerly capital, with a visit to the mineral rich, geothermal pool at the Blue Lagoon before departing back to London. (B)
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Day 5, Sun 28 Jun 2015
Overnight in Reykjavik
Having said goodbye to the rest of the group at the airport, you will be brought back to your hotel in Reykjavik. This evening you can have dinner in one of the many restaurants in town at your leisure. Overnight in guesthouse. (Lunch and dinner not included).
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Day 6, Mon 29 Jun 2015
Golden Circle
Rise early for a spectacular excursion, taking in the Nesjavellir power plant and Þingvellir national park. Other highlights include Gullfoss waterfall, spouting hot springs of Geysir and Strokkur and the immense implosion crater, Kerið. Overnight in Reykjavik guest house. (Lunch and dinner not included).
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Day 7, Tue 30 Jun 2015
Whale Watching
After breakfast you will be transferred to the harbour, where a whale watching boat awaits you. Have your camera constantly at the ready on this inspiring three-hour cruise around Faxafloi Bay. At around midday, you will return to your accommodation to freshen up ahead of the flight back to London this afternoon.
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Important information about the Golden Circle & Whale Watching extension
Day 5: Overnight in Reykjavik
After saying goodbye to the rest of the group at the airport you will be brought back to your hotel in Reykjavik. This evening you can have dinner in one of the many restaurants in town at your leisure. Overnight in guesthouse. (Lunch & Dinner not included).
Day 6: Golden Circle
After an early start, you will be picked up for the Golden Circle excursion. First you visit Nesjavellir power plant, which is in a high temperature geothermal area situated in the picturesque landscape of Lake Þingvallavatn. This area supplies approximately 25% of the hot water needed to provide the central heating for Reykjavik. A few kilometers north you enter Þingvellir, which has a special place in the hearts of Icelanders since many historically important events have taken place there. At Þingvellir the Icelandic parliament Alþingi was founded in 930AD, which makes it the oldest know functioning parliament in the world. In the year 1000 Icelanders adopted Christianity there and Þingvellir has been a national park since the 1920’s. Geographically it is unique and there the tectonic plates meet, that is America and Europe, and these continents are slowly drifting apart.
In August 2004 Þingvellir was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List and is now in the family of just under eight hundred places in the world that has been honoured by UNESCO. You will continue to the majestic and beautiful waterfall of Gullfoss and from there towards the geothermal area around the incredible spouting hot springs of Geysir and Strokkur. You then proceed to Skálholt church, the ancient seat of the Icelandic bishops in the south and where the first translation of the Old Testament was printed. On your way back we will make a photo stop by the immensely powerful old implosion crater, Kerið. From there you travel through fertile agricultural areas to Hveragerði, a small and charming horticultural town, where you will see how geothermal energy has been harnessed to create unique greenhouse cultivation. In these large greenhouses various types of vegetables, exotic fruits and colourful flowers are grown. On your way back you travel through a highly mountainous region back to the capital. After this impressive day a good meal can be enjoyed in one of the many restaurants in Reykjavik. Overnight in guesthouse. (Lunch & Dinner not included).
Day 7: Whale Watching
At 0830hrs you will be a picked up in front of your hotel and transferred to the harbour. Here a boat will be waiting to go for an exciting whale watching excursion. This 3 hour trip will take place in de Faxafloi Bay. After the safari (1200hrs) you will be transferred back to your accommodation in Reykjavik to freshen up for your journey home. This afternoon you will transfer to the airport for your afternoon flight back to London Heathrow on IcelandAir to London.
Included
- 2 nights in twin room with shared facilities in guesthouse, breakfast included
- 9 hr Golden Circle excursion
- 3 hr whale watching safari including pick up / drop off at accommodation
- Transfer to airport
Excluded
- Dinner days 5 & 6 (on average a good evening meal in a restaurant can cost you ¢G35 excluding drinks, but can be found for ¢G7 and onwards up to ¢G85)
- Lunch days 5, 6, & 7 (it is easy to buy lunch items in a store and make your own pic- nic, this can cost around ¢G9-13)
- Personal expenses
Please note that this extension is subject to minimum numbers and flight availability and should be booked no later than 10 weeks prior to departure. In some cases, a surcharge may need to be applied in which case we will inform you prior to confirming your booking. Full payment must be received no later than 8 weeks prior to departure or your place on the extension may be cancelled. All bookings will be confirmed no later than 6 weeks prior to departure.
The advertised costs for this extension are per person on twin sharing basis. If you are a solo passenger, We will accommodate you in a room with someone of the same sex.