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Best of Iceland Tour

Independent Escorted Tour of Iceland

12 Days / 12 locations in Iceland

Best of Iceland is a series of day tours from two bases, Akureyri in the north and Hella, a small village in the south. We see high mountains, deep fjords and volcanic landscapes in North Iceland, and we travel through the interior highland desert to reach the south where we see glittering glaciers, impressive waterfalls and black lava beaches.

This 12-day program offers you choices in accommodation, room categories and restaurants. In addition to the included touring, there are choices in optional day excursions and activities. Shape this tour, so you have a perfect stay in Iceland. Best of Iceland offers an excellent touring experience combined with exceptional value for money.

HIGHLIGHTS and VALUES:

We stay only in three different hotels ( 5 nights in Akureyri and 6 nights in Hella), which means less packing

Free time, optional excursions and activities to tailor your own Best of Iceland

Three hotel choices: budget-class with shared facilities, tourist-class with private facilities and superior-class hotel. It is also possible to book the tour without accommodation.

Easy tour and suitable for nearly everybody

Very attractive package price

You can book just the North Iceland or South Iceland portion

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Reykjavik - Akureyri
Accommodation: Edda Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

WEST ICELAND AND OVER THE MOUNTAINS TO THE NORTH (500 km/310 mls)

After leaving Reykjavík, we explore Hraunfossar waterfalls, Europe's most powerful hot spring and climb the Grábrók volcano crater in West Iceland. We get an insight to Iceland's past at Glaumbær turf farm & folk museum. We continue along fjords and over mountains to Akureyri - the capital of North Iceland, our base for the next five nights.

 
Day 2     Akureyri
Accommodation: Edda Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

AKUREYRI AND OPTIONAL TOUR TO HRÍSEY ISLAND (20 km/12 mls)

In the morning, you have a guided walk to explore Akureyri, which has a charming city center and a fine botanical garden. The afternoon is free to either explore on your own, or to join an optional excursion by bus and ferry to Hrísey Island (driving about 90 km/56 miles).

 
Day 3     Akureyri - Lake Myvatn
Accommodation: Edda Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

GEOLOGICAL WONDERS OF LAKE MÝVATN (230 km/143 mls)

Full day excursion to Goðafoss waterfall and Lake Mývatn with its rich bird life and extraordinary volcanic landscapes

 
Day 4     Akureyri
Accommodation: Edda Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

LEISURE DAY OR OPTIONAL DAY TOUR TO SIGLUFJÖRDUR (300 km/186 mls)

Explore Akureyri on your own or join our optional excursion to see spectacular fjord landscapes while travelling to Siglufjörður, Iceland's northernmost town.

 
Day 5     Akureyri - Husavik - Dettifoss
Accommodation: Edda Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

WHALES, WATERFALLS AND EUROPE'S LARGEST NATIONAL PARK (360 km/223 mls)

Húsavík is a picturesque small fishing town only an hour from Akureyri, where you can join an optional whale watching cruise or visit museums. We continue to the northern part of Vatnajökull National Park, stop at bird cliffs where puffins may be seen, and visit the huge canyon of Ásbyrgi and Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall.

 
Day 6     Hella
Accommodation: Hella Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

KJÖLUR HIGHLAND ROAD (390 km/242 mls)

We go through the heart of Iceland today – travelling on the Kjölur Trail, between the glaciers Langjökull and Hofsjökull. We stop at the hot springs of Hveravellir, where you can soak in a natural hot pool. The small village of Hella in South Iceland is our base for the next six nights. The participants of Best of North Iceland return to Reykjavík.

 
Day 7     Hella
Accommodation: Hella Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

ÞJÓRSÁRDALUR (180 km/112 mls)

The participants of Best of South Iceland join the Best of Iceland group for the rest of the tour. We travel alongside the Hekla volcano and visit the Hjálparfoss waterfall. Nearby we explore the Viking farm ruins at Stöng and enjoy a leisurely hike to Gjáin, a green oasis in an otherwise rocky, barren moon-like landscape.

 
Day 8     Vik
Accommodation: Hella Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

SOUTH SHORE (200 km/124 mls)

We see glaciers and waterfalls in South Iceland. There is an optional glacier walk or a visit to the bird cliffs and lava beaches near Vík together with our guide.

 
Day 9     Westman Islands
Accommodation: Hella Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

WESTMAN ISLANDS (100 km/62 mls)

Ahoy! We take a short ferry ride to the Westman Islands. There is a bus and walking tour through the town of Heimaey. You have the afternoon free to explore the island, with its birds and signs of recent volcanic eruptions.

 
Day 10     Hella - Westman Islands
Accommodation: Hella Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

LEISURE DAY OR OPTIONAL DAY TOUR TO VATNAJÖKULL NATIONAL PARK (600 km/372 mls)

Today is a free day. You can join an optional day tour to the southern part of Vatnajökull National Park, home of Europe's largest glacier and Jökulsárlón, a glacier lagoon with floating icebergs.

 
Day 11     Hella - Gullfoss Waterfall - Geysir - Thingvellir
Accommodation: Hella Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

A day to visit three of Iceland's most important spots: Gullfoss waterfall, Geyser hot springs and Þingvellir National Park.

 
Day 12     Reykjanes Peninsula - Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast

REYKJANES PENINSULA, BLUE LAGOON AND REYKJAVÍK (200 km/124 mls)

Hot springs, lava fields, amazing bird cliffs and moon-like landscapes are on today's itinerary. The tour ends with a Reykjavík city tour after an optional visit to the famous Blue Lagoon.

 

Notes

Maximum 35 Passengers

Hotel upgrade available. Please inquire

Nature Fees

There is a possibility that some of the nature attractions around Iceland might charge an entrance fee during the trip. These entrance fees are not included in the tour price and need to be paid by all tour members additionally on the spot, when entering any of these nature sites. Locations, amount of entrance fee, form of payment and other details are not known at the present time and are subject to change.

Price Includes
11 Nights Accommodation & Breakfast in Basic Tourist Class Hotels
Entrance to GlaumbæR Folk Museum
Ferry To/from Westman Islands
Daily Breakfast
Sightseeing and Entrances Per Itinerary
Bus and an English & German Speaking Guide for 12 Days
Price Does Not Include
 Transfer Airport - Hotel- Airport
 Optional Excursions
GJT-1269
1.28.15.WP26