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Saturday:
Travelers from North America leave for Iceland on an overnight flight with an early morning arrival at Keflavik Airport in Iceland.
Sunday:
Welcome to Iceland!
After an early arrival in Iceland, you’ll hop on the Flybus shuttle that will take you from the airport to your guesthouse in Reykjavik. Then you’ll have the day to rest and explore Reykjavik, the worlds most northerly capital. We’ll provide lots of ideas for what to see and places to eat- meals are on your own today.
Monday
Reykjavík - Skaftafell
You'll leave the capital after breakfast, and your first stop will be at Geysir, the original boiling water spout followed by the beautiful double falls at Gullfoss. You’ll pass lots of beautiful waterfalls as you wind along the south coast to Skaftafell National Park, where you’ll stay for two nights.
Tuesday
Skaftafell
You’ll have the whole day to explore Skaftafell National Park - at the base of Vatnajokull, Europes’ largest glacier. Lots of options, and unusual walking
Wednesday
Skaftafell - Fljotsdalsherad
You’ll head south from Vatnajokull, but it will dominate the landscape for quite some time. You’ll have a stop for a boat ride through the glacial lagoon at Jökulsarlon and then head to the Eastern Fjords, where you’ll spend two nights.
Thursday
Viking Trails
You’ll have an unusual day of walking through the remarkable and remote Viking trails of East Iceland.
Friday
Fljotsdalsherad-Askja-Herdurbreidar
The uninhabited highlands make a wonderful area for a walk at the Askja caldera, which contains Icelands deepest lake, Oskjuvatn. The impressive explorsion crater Viti is nearby and the combo makes for spectacular hiking! You’ll spend the next three nights near Lake Myvatn.
Saturday
Whale Watching & Myvatn
The day starts with a 3 hour whale watching cruise, weather permitting, from the picturesque village of Husavik. A short drive to Lake Myvatn, a unique area that featuers strange lava formations, attractive bays, pseudo craters and prolific bird life. Stroll through the lava field of Dimmuborgir ending with a walk up to the rim of the ash crater Hverfjall. Relax in Myvatns nature Baths before heading back to your accommodations.
Sunday
Hljodaklettar - Dettifoss - Asbyrgi
The day starts with a 3 hour whale watching cruise, weather permitting, from the picturesque village of Husavik. A short drive to Lake Myvatn, a unique area that featuers strange lava formations, attractive bays, pseudo craters and prolific bird life. Stroll through the lava field of Dimmuborgir ending with a walk up to the rim of the ash crater Hverfjall. Relax in Myvatns nature Baths before heading back to your accommodations.
Monday
Lake Myvatn -Sprengisandur - Hella
You’ll travel back to the south on the isolated and rugged Sprengisandur route, through a desert created by lava in the highlands. You’ll see Vatnajokull and Hofsjokull glaciers and pass near the active volcano Hekla. You’ll end the day in Hella, where you’ll spend the next two nights.
Tuesday
Landmannalaugar
All day is spent walking in the colorful rhyolite mountains and valleys of Landmannalaugar. This is a large natural area that’s like a jewel in the wilderness, with cold springs and geothermal water mixing to make bathing spots in a unique landscape spotted with lava flows, grasses and flowers.
Wednesday
Thingvellir- Reykjavik
You’ll walk through the historic area at Thingvellir National Park - where the North Atlantic ridge comes to the surface, and where Icelands’ parliament met for a millennia or so. The tour returns to Reykjavik in the afternoon and you'll have an evening, with dinner on your own, to explore Iceland's capital. There's also some nice walking opportunities in the city.
Thursday
Farewell...
Travelers on early flights will make an early departure via Flybus to the airport., while those leaving late afternoon will have time to explore a bit of Reykjavík, do some shopping, or soak in the warm swimming pool in nearby Laugardalur, before being picked up by the Flybus around 1 PM. Flights to Europe leave early in the day, so this requires an earlier transfer via the Flybus.
Prices and Dates and other useful details
In 2010 The Mountain Highlights tour starts in Iceland on Monday mornings and ends on a Wednesday, 11 days later.. American travelers will have to leave the US on the Saturday or Sunday before the tour starts. You can go home Thursday . It’s also easy to add a day or two before or after your tour - just ask!
There is an average of 3 hours of walking a day - except for Days 2, 4 and 9 when most of the day is spent walking. While most of the walking is not terribly strenuous, there is always an option to return earlier to base if someone would prefer not to walk the whole way. Essential for this tour are good walking boots and waterproof clothing. The price* for this tour is $4968 per person double occupancy (pp/do).
| Mountain Highlights Travel Dates |
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July 10 - July 22
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July 24 - August 5
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| August 7 - August 19 |
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Prices
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Number in party
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Price per person
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2
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$4968 (double occ)
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3
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$4868 (triple occ)
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4
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$4838 (double occ x2)
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Price for single travelers, including single supplement
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$5736
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