An Icelandic Summer

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THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE

Make the most of the long, light days of the Icelandic summer as you enjoy an unforgettable break in the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’. Discover a dramatic land of lunar landscapes, pristine glaciers, smouldering volcanoes and bubbling thermal pools. Your adventure begins in welcoming Reykjavík, where you’ll enjoy an illuminating tour of the area, including the fabled Golden Circle. Continue to Akureyri, on the northern coast, where you’ll explore otherworldly Mývatn, the Goðafoss Waterfalls, a turfed church and a stable, to learn about the Icelandic horse. An optional whale-watching tour and brewery visit complete a delightful break.

Holiday Highlights

Spend six fascinating days in the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’
Explore welcoming Reykjavík, the world’s most northerly capital, and the dramatic Golden Circle
Enjoy a tour of Mývatn Lake, including the Goðafoss Waterfalls and nature baths
Discover Víðimýri Church, one of Iceland’s few remaining turfed churches
Learn about the famed Icelandic horse during a fascinating stable visit
Join an optional whale-watching tour at Hauganes and brewery tour

What's Included

Six nights’ carefully chosen bed and breakfast accommodation at the three-star Skuggi Hotel, Reykjavík, and the four-star Hotel Kea, Akureyri
A three-course evening meal at a local restaurant
Reykjavík and Golden Circle tour
Tour of Mývatn
Visit to Víðimýri Church
Return flights to Keflavík
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Itinerary

Day

Upon arrival, meet your tour manager at Keflavík International Airport. Transfer to your hotel in Reykjavík. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and acclimatising to your new surroundings, perhaps opting to explore the cafés and shops of Laugavegur, a short walk from your hotel. Enjoy dinner by your own arrangement as you look forward to a wonderful few days ahead.

Day

This morning’s included tour will acquaint you with delightful Reykjavík and its environs. Highlights include the shoreside Pearl Centre, fashioned from disused water tanks, the towering Hallgrim’s Church, the Presidential Residence in its idyllic setting, the Houses of Parliament and the Lutheran Cathedral. This afternoon enjoy an included Golden Circle tour, which includes visits to the extraordinary sight of Tingvellir, a great lava arena where the world’s oldest national parliament, the Althing, was established in 930AD, and to Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest freshwater lake. You’ll also take in the Great Geysir, now all but extinct, but where its neighbour Strokkur spouts impressively every 10 minutes or so. The fascinating tour is completed with visits to the stunning Gulfoss Waterfall, perhaps Iceland’s most beautiful natural wonder, and to the fascinating Friðheimar greenhouse cultivation centre, where organically grown vegetables are produced with the aid of geothermal heat.

Day

This morning you’ll depart Reykjavík and travel to your new hotel in Akureyri, Iceland’s second-largest city. Akureyri is located on the country’s northern coast, and you’ll make several interesting stops along the way. Call first at Borgarfjörður, a picturesque area between Reykjavík and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, home to a delightful fjord, fed by trickles of water from the rolling hills and mountains that frame this wonderful scene. Continue to the Holtavörðuheiði Plateau, for some fantastic views over the sweeping, open spaces that characterise Iceland’s interior. Your last stop will be the charming coastal town of Blönduós, before arriving at your new hotel in the late afternoon, where you’ll enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Day

Join your tour manager this morning for an included excursion to the Mývatn region. Your tour begins at the Goðafoss Waterfalls (Waterfall of the Gods). According to myth, the waterfall was named in 100AD, when Icelanders accepted Christianity as their faith, symbolically throwing statues of the pagan Norse gods into the water at Goðafoss. Continue to Lake Mývatn, which is something of an ornithologist’s heaven, attracting many interesting bird species, including one of the world’s largest ducks, the common eider. You’ll also visit the nearby Mývatn Nature Baths, where you’ll have the chance to bathe in the famous natural hot springs.

Day

Today, you can choose between joining an optional whale-watching tour at Haugunes, followed by a brewery visit, or spending the day at leisure, perhaps exploring Akuryeri. Haugunes is a small costal village, just outside of Akureyri, on the Eyjafjördur Bay. Guests who choose the optional excursion will board a small boat to make the 15-minute journey to the centre of the bay, where whales often congregate. Iceland is a renowned whale-watching destination, and Hauganes is one of the best places in the country to get a glimpse of these magnificent marine mammals. In the afternoon, continue to a local brewery where they brew Kaldi, a popular Icelandic beer. Guests can enjoy a tour of the brewery, with an introduction to the brewing process, followed by a tasting session, before returning to Akureyri. However you chose to spend your day, spend your final evening in Akuryeri at leisure, perhaps choosing to eat at one of the numerous nearby eateries.

Day

Today you will transfer back to Reykjavík, calling en route at the picturesque Víðimýri Church, one of Iceland’s few remaining turfed churches. This well-preserved church dates to the mid-19th century, when many churches and other buildings were roofed with turf to protect their inhabitants from the country’s harsh climate. Continue your journey to Reykjavík, stopping at a local stable on the way. The Icelandic horse, a distinct breed of horse native to the country, has developed thicker hair to deal with the extreme temperatures, and often only grows to be the size of a pony. Enjoy a tour of the stable and learn more about the Icelandic horse, as you see some in the flesh. Upon arrival at Reykjavík, check-in and enjoy a final night in the welcoming Icelandic capital, dining at your leisure, no doubt reflecting on a wonderful few days.

Day

Transfer back to the airport for your return flight, after a delightful break in Iceland.

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately ***

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Changes to your hotels

Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Travelling to Europe

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel.

Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names.

Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date").

Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Commencing in late 2023 or 2024, all citizens of the United Kingdom will require a ETIAS electronic form completed prior to their arrival into the EU and Schengen member countries. The cost for this travel authorisation will be €7.00 per person with exceptions for under 18’s and over 70’s. The latest information and further details can be found at www.etias.com.

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