Tour of Iceland, 5-14 October 2024

ACTIVE PERIOD: 5-14 October 2024
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 2

DURATION: 10 days

Tour of Iceland, 5-14 October 2024

Price from €3420

Overview

Iceland is an otherworldly island, on the edge of the Arctic Circle, which is a dream of every restless traveler.

It ranks first in the Global Peace Index, it doesn't even have an army, all electricity comes from renewables, and in 2016 it was ranked the 9th most developed country in the world in terms of the United Nations Human Development Index.

It is identified with the island of Thule discovered by Pytheas in the 4th century. Its inhabitants are descendants of the Vikings and their culture was shaped by the Norse heritage they brought with them.

It is an island with a very large number of amazing attractions of all kinds, such as volcanic fields full of lava flows, craters, fumaroles, geysers, effervescent pools, mud lakes, basaltic rocks, waterfalls (about ten thousand), steep coasts, but also glaciers, ice caves, national parks and geoparks, picturesque fishing villages, gorges, iceberg lakes, hot springs, beaches, rocky shores and so much more.

We design a series of programs, each with its own character and adapted to each season (one season we will go to see whales or puffins, another season for hiking in the highlands, another for the northern lights and another to enter an ice cave), programs with different duration to suit everyone's available time, different level of difficulty and variety of activities from very mild to quite demanding, programs for families, for climbers or programs for adventure lovers in a crossing of the highlands through demanding 4x4 routes, and much more.

This program combines a visit to some of Iceland's most important landscapes and attractions, with wildlife watching such as seals and whales, hot springs, craters and more. And all this combined with small or larger routes that bring us to the hidden corners of every place, even away from the crowds of classic routes.

Every day, we will adapt our program to the overnight area to provide as many opportunities as they appear for observing the Northern Lights.

A program addressed to people who love company, nature, action and exploration and wish to form a complete view of Iceland in relation to the duration of the trip.

View on map

Day 1: Direct flight Athens – Iceland, Borgarnes
Day 2: South Iceland Waterfalls, Black Beach
Day 3: Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach
Day 4: Vestrahorn Mountain, Litlanesfoss, Hengifoss
Day 5: Stuðlagil, Dettifoss, Hverir, Viti Crater, Myvatn Lake
Day 6: Whale Watching in Borgarnes
Day 7: Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Day 8: Golden Circle, Reykjavik
Day 9: Golden Circle, Reykjavik
Day 10: Return flight from Iceland

Activities / Schedule

Flight Iceland

Direct flight Athens – Iceland with PLAY, departure time 10:00 and arrival time 13:20. Pick up our car and transfer to the Perlan Natural History Museum, in Reykjavik in order to get to know the natural environment and geology of Iceland, so that we have a view of all the wonderful natural sights we will see in the coming days.

Then we drive to the village of Hella for an overnight stay at the Kanslarinn hotel in double rooms, with bathroom and breakfast.

Day route 155 km, 2 1/2 hours

South Iceland Waterfalls, Black Beach

We start our day driving east where we will visit a series of impressive waterfalls, such as Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, and others, some of which we pass on their back side. Next is the famous Black Beach with the basaltic cave Halsanefshellir and the rocky shores of Dyrhólaey, where if we are lucky we will be able to observe within walking distance puffins nesting and breeding here.

Then we depart for Katla Geopark where we will walk on the rim of the Fjaðrárgljúfur gorge and the lava fields of the geopark. Overnight stay at Efri-Vik Bungalows where we will stay in autonomous bungalows for 2 people, with bathroom and breakfast.

Day route 200 km. – 2 1/2 hours.

Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach

Continuing east, we will go to the Skaftafell National Park, where we will march to observe up close one of the branches of Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in Europe and up to the Svartifoss waterfall.

Then we visit the glacial lake Jokulsarlon, a lake that began to be created around 1935. Until then, the Vatnajokull glacier reached the sea, while today with climate change it has been significantly reduced, leaving behind an impressive lake filled with floating icebergs and seals hunting.

We will explore the lake in an amphibious boat and then walk to Diamond Beach, the beach at the exit of the waters of Lake Jokulsarlon, where pieces of transparent ice wash up that shimmer like diamonds.

Overnight stay at Hótel Höfn hotel in double rooms with bathroom without breakfast.

Day route 210 km, 2 hours 45 minutes

Vestrahorn Mountain, Litlanesfoss, Hengifoss

We start in the morning for the imposing Vestrahorn Mountain, where we will make a course on the long shallow beach in front of the mountain.

Then we depart for the Litlanesfoss and Hengfifoss waterfalls, precipitated by volcanic rocks. Here we will make a 2-hour hike reaching the highest waterfall, having a panoramic view of the waterfall and the valley.

Finally, we end up at Eggilstadir for an overnight stay at Berjaya Hérað Hotel in double rooms with bathroom without breakfast.

Day route 245 km, 3 hours 45 minutes

Stuðlagil, Dettifoss, Hverir, Viti Crater, Myvatn Lake

Today we will explore Studlagil Gorge, an impressive gorge with basaltic walls, where we will walk for two hours, reaching the bottom and base of its basaltic walls. We continue northwest and cross desert volcanic fields to visit the Dettifoss waterfall with the largest volume of water in Europe. Next are the Hverir and Krafla geothermal fields, where we will see fumaroles, holes with effervescent mud and craters.

We end up at Lake Myvatn, a eutrophic shallow lake in the area of the active volcano Krafla, which was created by an eruption 2300 years ago, which we will explore with stops and paths in pseudocraters, rock formations and underground lava faults and pools of hot water.

Overnight stay at Sel Hótel Mývatn in double rooms, with bathroom and breakfast.

Day route 245 km, 4 1/2 hours

Whale Watching in Borgarnes

We depart in the morning for Arskogssandur where we will follow a three-hour whale watching program, in an area with the highest concentration of whales in Europe, with the chances of observation close to 100%.

In the afternoon we end up in Borgarnes for an overnight stay at Icelandair Hotel Hamar in luxurious cabins with hot tub and sauna, with bath and breakfast.

Day route 450 km – 5 1/2 hours.

Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Breakfast food and departure for the Snaefellsnes peninsula. On our first stop we will walk on a coast full of rocks and seals resting lazily on them. We will approach them to the limits of what is permissible so that we can admire them up close.

Continuing we will make a stop at the rocky shores of Arnarstapi for a course along the shores with the beautiful formations of polyhedral basaltic walls. On our next stop, on the coast of Londarangar we will walk up volcanic cliffs to Malarrif lighthouse. Finally, we will stop at the Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall with Kirkjufell mountain behind it, which along with other of today's landscapes were used as backdrops for the Game of Thrones series. Return for accommodation at the same hotel.

Day route 210 km, 3 1/2 hours

Golden Circle, Reykjavik

We depart for a visit to the sights of the so-called Golden Gyros, starting from the Gulfoss waterfall. Next is the Strokur geyser, where we will observe the explosions of the hot geyser and walk around the surrounding area.

Finally, we will visit the Thingvellir National Park, where we will walk 1 to 2 hours on an obvious part of the fault of the great mid-Atlantic ridge formed by the separation of two tectonic plates, North American and Eurasian, and we will explore the area where the first parliament of Iceland (Unesco monument) was founded.

In the afternoon we depart for Reykjavik. Accommodation in Hotel Muli or similar, in double rooms with bathroom and breakfast.

Day route 360 km, 5 hours

Reykjavik

Free day to Reykjavik for walks to the main attractions of the city (Hallgrimskirkja, Hofdi Hus, Sun Voyager, etc.) and free time for walks in the city market or optional visit to the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon

Accommodation in the same hotel

Return flight from Iceland

Early in the morning transfer to the airport for flight to Greece with flight time 06:00 and arrival in Athens 14:50.

Important Info

In a glance

SURFACE AREA: 103.000 sq.km
POPULATION: 360.000
CURRENCY: Icelandic Króna (ISK) (exchange rate 1€ = ~ 147 ISK)
AVERAGE AGE: 35.6 years
TIMEZONE: Same as Greenwich Mean Time (-2 hours from Greece in winter, - 3 hours in summer)

Highlights

Tour of Iceland for a complete view of the country and its attractions.
Impressive volcanic landscapes of lava flows, caves, volcano craters, fumaroles, etc
Unique gorges with polyhedral basaltic walls and black volcanic rocks
Many waterfalls, some of which leave a gap to walk behind
Tasting with local dishes of wild salmon, free-range lamb, crayfish soups and other seafood
Wildlife observation in its natural environment, such as seals, whales, dolphins, puffins, etc
Daily walks, small or large, that lead us to impressive hidden corners, rocky shores, etc.
Whale watching boat excursion in an area with Europe's largest concentration of whales
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lake Boat Trip
Sightseeing routes in Skaftafell National Park and Katla Geopark

Fixed Departures

5-14 October 2024

Price

3.420 € per person (for 6-8 participations)

1.020 € single room difference

Difficulty Level

General Information

Transportation

Local transfers are made by 9-seater minibus. Air tickets with direct flights are included in the price.

Accommodation

Accommodation takes place in 3* hotels or other accommodation, in double rooms with bathroom and breakfast as shown in the detailed description.

Food

Food is not included in the price. It can be done either in restaurants in the areas we visit, or in the restaurants of hotels where available. The cost of a dish in restaurants ranges from 20 to 60 € depending on the choices.

Switch plans

The escort of our office has the ability to modify the program if weather or other local conditions (strikes, political unrest, etc.) impose it, with the main criterion being the smooth development of the program and the safety of the participants. Any costs arising from such changes shall be covered by the participants.

Tip

Tipping is an optional gesture that is usually omitted even by happy travelers. However, such a substantial reward to a consistent escort who has exaggerated to offer the best possible to the participants, helps the escort to be happy with his work and maintain his fun and energy.

Insurance / insurance

The cost of the trip includes travel insurance, which covers various contingencies such as health contingencies (eg injury on a course at an altitude of up to 3,000 m, which requires transportation and hospitalization), missed flight and other cases, even coverage of total cancellation of the trip for an amount up to 5,000 € including cancellation due to covid-19.

The coverage included is for ages up to 70 years old, while for ages 70 to 80 an additional amount is required, ask us for information.

In the following link you can see the benefits of the program and if you want to contact our insurance consultant to answer your questions about Travel Insurance coverage by Trekking Hellas

Book your seat

In order to book your seat, you must first read the terms of participation mentioned on our website and if you accept them, then fill in the Participation Form at the link https://forms.gle/JYY58M7Evr3Cwx4c8

After completing the form and within 5 days you will have to send a deposit of 500 €. Another amount of 500 € should be sent 2 months before departure and the payment of the trip must be completed gradually up to one month before departure. Any cancellation of airline tickets is subject to the conditions and restrictions of each airline and is not covered by the cancellation terms of the rest of the package.

The deposit and the payment should be sent to the account of ALPHA BANK with IBAN number: GR1001407960796002002013550, under the name OUTDOORS TRAINING IKE.

During the money transfer or deposit process, write down your name and the name of the trip in the REASON field.

Cancellations

In case of cancellation, the following cancellation policy apply:

Any cancellation made from the day of booking until August 5, will be charged with 100 € per person, for administrative fees.
Cancellations from 6 August to 5 September will be charged with 40% of the total cost of the trip.
Cancellations from 6 to 20 September will be charged with 75% of the total cost of the trip.
Cancellations from September 21st onwards will be charged with 100% of the total cost of the trip.

Ream more

Office escort
Direct flights Athens - Reykjavik
Airport taxes
9 nights as described in the detailed program
6 breakfasts
Whale Watching Cruise
Amphibious or inflatable boat ride on Lake Jokulsarlon
Daily marches to various points of interest
Travel insurance with the possibility of canceling the trip (includes covid)
Duffel bag

Personal equipment
Food
Anything not explicitly mentioned in the category "included"
Any expenses that will arise from unexpected schedule changes due to flight delays or changes, weather conditions, road condition, etc.
Gratuity to the escort