The Country Life Escorted Tour ...2013

• 7 Days, Circling Iceland
• 4 National Parks,
• Whale Watching and Glacial Lagoon
• Intro to the Icelandic Horsl
• Nature Baths
• Two hours of walking per day
• Go right to Prices and Dates

If you like this tour and would rather do it as a Self Drive consider one of the All- Around Iceland Driving Tours (we can modify them to any duration you may want.) We offer drive tours with or without air included and as a self drive you get a very complete itinerary outlining a lot to do and see, along with much supporting literature.

Friday Evening
Travelers from North America leave for Iceland on an overnight flight with an early morning arrival at Keflavik Airport in Iceland.

Saturday
Welcome to Iceland!
The Flybus shuttle will bring you from the airport into Reykjavik where your outfitter will take you to your guesthouse. You’ll have the day to enjoy Iceland’s capital, visit museums, shops, the big outdoor swimming pool nearby and some of the many fine coffee houses, and restaurants. Lunch and dinner are on your own. You’ll have tonight in the outfitters guesthouse to rest up and recover from your short night sleep on the flight.

Sunday:
Snaefellsne & A Magical Glacier
After a Reykjavík city tour we’ll head north from Iceland’s capital to West Iceland where we are introduced to the Icelandic sagas in the settlement center in Borgarnes. The afternoon is filled with impressive natural spots: Deildartunguhver, one of the most voluminous hot springs in Europe and Hraunfossar, the unique waterfall that drains from under vast lava fields into the river Hvítá. End the day with Icelandic history at the cultural site at Reykholt. Overnight is in West Iceland.

Monday:
Borgarfjordur - Þingjarsysla, Unique Waterfalls High Plateaus and Passes
The day starts with climbing a volcano crater within an old lava field in West Iceland. Afterwards we will travel through the fertile farmlands and fjord landscapes of Northwest Iceland, with a visit to the beautiful town of Akureyri, Iceland’s second largest city. Then a stop at Goðafoss, “the waterfall of the Gods,” before reaching our accommodation in Northeast Iceland where we stay for the next two nights.

Tuesday:
Husavik -Lake Myvatn, Major Whale Watching near the Arctic Circle, Major Waterfall & A Great Northern Lake
If the sea allows, you’ll start the day with a 3 hour whale watching cruise from the town of Húsavík, which is Icelands whale watching capital. There’s a very high percentage of whales and other sea mammals sighted on these cruises. Back on dry land, you’ll head south to Lake Mývatn to visit the waterfall Goðafoss, the waterfall of the Gods .Lake Mývatn is one of the most fertile areas in the world so close to the Arctic Circle and is full of interesting things - strange lava formations, attractive bays, pseudo craters and thousands of birds. You’ll have a chance to explore stroll through the lava fields and wierd formations of Dimmurborgir, too.

Wednesday
Þingeyjarsysla -Fljotsherad, Volcanoes and Geothermal Activity
The day starts off exploring the volcanic activity around Krafla and the geothermal area of Námaskarð. There’s a stop at Europes largest waterfall — Dettifoss and then you’ll head through  the uninhabited highlands of the east. You’ll spend the night near Egilsstaðir the capital of the east - and perhaps catch a glimpse of the monster worm said to live in the nearby lake.

Thursday:
Egilstadir -Vatnajokull, The Glacier and its Icebergs
As you drive south today, Vatnajökull - Europe´s biggest glacier dominates the landscape. The glacial tongues come right down to the coast, you’ll see this as you take a boat through a glacial lagoon filled with new born ice bergs. You’ll spend the night near Vatnajökull Glacier..

Friday:
Skaftafell National Park-The South Coast, A unique park and a drive through faemlands
You’ll have the morning to visit Skaftafell National Park nestling below Icelands highest mountain, the 6000+ foot high Hvannadalshnjúkur. Then you’ll head west through the sandy desert of the south coast, overlooked by mountainous cliffs, glaciers and waterfalls. Overnight in South Iceland.

Saturday:
Gullfoss-Geysir-Þingvellir Park, Horses and the 3 Most Visited Places
The day starts with an introduction to the Icelandic horse at a well known horse farm, so you can see all the special gaits of this unique breed of horse. Then you’ll drive on to Gullfoss which is known in Iceland as the “Golden Falls” and nearby is the fascinating geothermal area of Geysir.  The most active geyser is Strokkur “the churn” which can spout up to seventy feet every five to seven minutes.  From there it’s an easy drive to the ancient Viking Parliament area of Þingvellir National Park before returning to Reykjavík. You’ll have a last night back in Reyjkavik, at the outfitters guesthouse, and a chance to sample some of the cities great restaurants – and perhaps even it’s night life!!

Sunday:
Time to say good bye ...
Travelers on early flights will be transferred to the airport via the Flybus in time for early flights, while others may have the option to take late afternoon flights, which gives time to explore a bit of Reykjavík or take a dip in a warm swimming pool. The Flybus will pick up at the guesthouse around 1 PM, in time for late afternoon flights at Keflavik International Airport.

Highlights and experiences:
of the Country Life Tour

** Whale watching, weather permitting
** Boat trip on glacial lagoon
** Intro to the Icelandic horse
** One - two hrs walking/ day
** Two National Parks
** Nature Baths at Lake Mývatn
** Skkógar folk museum
** Learn about Icelandic sagas in the settlement center

Download a PDF of the itinerary of the Country Life Tour

Prices* and Travel Dates for the Country Life Tour for 2013

As with any of the Iceland Adventure tours, we’ll be happy to arrange for you to arrive in Iceland a few days before the tour starts, or to stay a few days after the tour ends - just ask!

Finer Print: Price includes round trip airfare, including fuel surcharge and US departure taxes from Icelandairs east coast gateways: Boston, New York, Washington Dulles International. Flights from Minneapolis, Denver. Seattle, Anchorage, Toronto are also available but may cost a bit more. Note: Not all gateways have daily departures. The price also includes all airport transfers, a night before and after the tour in a Reykjavik hotel with breakfast. You’ll spend all nights in double rooms in hotels, all with private baths. Meals on the tour, include Icelandic breakfast buffet and dinner, from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day, as well as a visit to the Icelandic Settlement Center, two national parks,whale watching tour, visit to the Myvatn Nature Baths, introduction to Icelandic Horse, boat trip on the glacial lagoon, entry to the Skogar Folk Museum, and 1 - 2 hours of walking each day.

*Not included are Travel Insurance (which we can help with ), lunch and dinner on pre-and post-tour days in Reykjavik, lunch while on the tour (there will be a stop made everyday to purchase this) and any additional expenses or travel you may choose. NOTE: Your pre and post nights in Reyjkavik are in comfortable 3 star hotels -- we can also book a guesthouse which will reduce the price a bit, or upgrade you to a 4 star hotel as well. Just ask!!

Some of the hotels on this tour are “summer hotels” used much of the year as boarding schools. They are simple and clean, all with private baths, but don’t always have usual “hotel” amenities, such as telephones or in - room internet connections. There are available in central sitting room, however. 

Please note that the price is subject to revision until you book your tour by making a deposit. The prices listed on print material may not be the latest available price. We can sometimes find some deals on air, which we’re happy to pass on to you. Our contract rates for air aren’t always availble as we get closer to travel dates. While we make every effort to keep prices on our webpages and their PDFs up to the minute, things can change quickly. . We welcome phone calls or email about prices and any other details.

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