HIGHLIGHTS OF ICELAND IN WINTER

Transcription

1 A winter holiday in Iceland for geysers, glaciers, waterfalls and the northern lights The Golden Circle of Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss Two nights in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik Glacier walking, ice cave exploration and the northern lights HOLIDAY CODE IHW Iceland, Trek & Walk, 5 Days 2 nights hotel, 2 nights guesthouse, 4 breakfasts, 2 dinners, max group size: 16, 5 days sightseeing and walking VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE

2 PAGE 2 Introduction Iceland is a simply brilliant adventure travel destination; unlike anything else in Europe, with its volcanic landscape, Viking-descended people and rich folklore. Just 3 hours flight from the UK, it is the perfect place for a short break, particularly during the period from mid October to mid April, when the country s natural highlights are enhanced by the real possibility of encountering the northern lights. Close to the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, we start this action-packed adventure with a tour of the famous Golden Circle, a collection of natural (and man-made) phenomena that provides a great first impression of the country. We go to Thingvellir, where Iceland s first parliament was located alongside the country s biggest lake. Here, we can stand astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with one foot on the North Atlantic tectonic plate and the other on the Eurasian plate! The geothermal area of Geysir and the spectacular waterfall of Gullfoss are also on our tick-list, before we drive east on the south coast ring road to spend 2 nights at a hotel near the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. On each of the nights here, we will keep a close eye on the aurora forecast and be ever-ready to go out on the hunt for the northern lights. From here, we travel on to the amazing, iceberg-choked Glacier Lagoon at Jokulsarlon, site of 2 James Bond films. There are lots of great photo opportunities at Jokulsarlon and we also have the chance to explore into the glittering ice caves at the edge of the glacier inland of the lagoon (the ice-cave visit is not possible on October and April departures). Heading back to Reykjavik, we stop off for a guided walk on the ice of the Solheimajokull Glacier and also take time out to experience the black sand beaches, pounding Atlantic waves and impressive waterfalls which are a feature of Iceland s south coast. With 2 nights in Reykjavik and 3 full days of activities, this is Iceland at its best! Explore International. This holiday is part of our Explore International range. Participants on these trips can book through KE or through one of our international partners. This helps us to gather together sufficient numbers of like-minded adventurers to get your holiday up and running quickly. Led by an English-speaking guide, the cosmopolitan nature of these groups can be an important part of the experience! Is this holiday for you? This short break provides an exciting mix of sightseeing and activities. Our first day s exploration of the Golden Circle will provide a great introduction to Iceland and whet our appetites for the challenges of the next 2 days. At Jokulsarlon, we will do a fair bit of hiking, exploring along the edge of the lagoon and on the nearby beach, then hiking up to the glacier s edge and (if conditions allow) exploring into one or more of the ice caves that are found here. There s more walking on the next day, as we visit a number of beach and waterfall locations and also complete a guided hike on a glacier, with all safety equipment, crampons, ice-axe, harness and helmet, provided. You don t need to be super fit to take part in this holiday, or to have previous experience of glacier walking, but a sense of adventure is an asset. Expect 2 to 3 hours of walking on each of 3 days. In an agreement with our Explore International partners, and taking into account the nature of the holiday, we have decided that the the minimum age for this holiday should be 13 years (and not 16 as per our General Information). An adult must accompany anyone under the age of 18. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Iceland and check in at the guesthouse accommodation in Reykjavik. Make your way to the guesthouse in Reykjavik using the Flybus from Keflavik Airport. KE Land Only package services begin with the overnight at this guesthouse. You may have to wait until 2pm before being given access to your rooms. If you arrive significantly earlier than this, you can leave your bags at the guesthouse and do some

3 PAGE 3 exploring. Reykjavik is a modern city that is home to 190,000 of Iceland's tiny total population of 280,000. Its centre is small and compact and there is a choice of restaurants for your evening meal within walking distance of the guesthouse. There will be a welcome note with your room keys, advising you when your guide will arrive in the morning. We recommend you ask at reception for suggestions of the best places to eat locally. ACCOMMODATION GUESTHOUSE Day 2: Explore Iceland's 'Golden Circle', Thingvellir, the Geysir geothermal area and Gulfoss waterfall. The group will be picked up by the Icelandic guide after breakfast at the guesthouse and driven out to Thingvellir. During the drive, he or she will give a briefing about the day's activities and answer any questions we might have. Thingvellir is a World Heritage Site and the place where Iceland's original parliament was established. It is located in the Almannagja Fissure, where the European and Atlantic continental plates are ever-so-gradually separating. Exploring here on foot, provides a great introduction to the weird and wonderful Iceland landscape. Next, we will travel on to the Geysir geo-thermal area where the name 'geyser' originates from. We will watch, and be able to take pictures, as the 'butterchurn', Strokkur, shoots water 30 metres or more into the sky every 5 minutes or so. We will also spend some time at the nearby 'golden waterfall' of Gullfoss, where a deep channel has been eroded through basalt columns. This is one of Iceland's most spectacular falls. After enjoying these gems of Icelandic nature, we will head south through pretty farmland to reach Iceland's 'Ring Road' (Route 1) and follow this eastwards beneath the infamous volcano, Eyjafjallajokull and the icecap of Myrdalsjokull to our simple country hotel accommodation close to the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. We will certainly want to go out on a hunt for the northern lights if the forecast is good. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL MEALS BD TIME 2-3 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 3: Glacier Lagoon, icebergs, seals and an ice cave. Today we head further east, crossing the black floodplains of Skeidararsandur, the scene of major flooding in 1996, when a subglacial eruption melted 3 cubic kilometres of the Vatnajokull Icecap. It is very apparent how these dramatic events, some of them very recent, have given rise to the weird and wonderful landscape of this part of Iceland. We have views of the rocky crest of Hvannadalshnukur (2119m), Iceland's highest peak, before the road skirts beneath the Vatnajokull Icecap to reach the famous Glacier Lagoon at Jokulsarlon, where one of Iceland's biggest glaciers calves huge icebergs into a 5 kilometre-wide and up to 200 metre deep lagoon. The scenery is something you would expect to see in Greenland, the Antarctic, or maybe in a James Bond movie (at least 2 of them have been filmed here). Walking beside the lagoon, keep a look out for seals which make their way through the channel that links the lagoon to the sea. And, on the black sand beach nearby expect to find beautiful wavecarved ice sculptures. We will also have time to visit the information centre. In the afternoon, we will drive up to the edge of one of the outlet glaciers above the lagoon and do some exploring. Usually, from November to mid- March it is possible to go into one of the ice caves that form at the edge of the glacier. These caves are notable for their spectacular natural ice formations and provide great opportunities for photography. After our time at the glacier's edge we will drive back to our accommodation at Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Generally, the ice caves are not well-formed early and late in the season (October and April departures) and on these departures, we will drive back to Skaftafell and have a great hike in the national park. This walk leads to the very impressive Svartifoss Waterfall which drops sheer over an amazing columnar basalt cliff. Again, if the aurora forecast is good, we will go out after dinner looking for the northern lights. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL MEALS BD TIME 2-3 HRS WALKING HOURS

4 PAGE 4 Day 4: Black sand beaches, wild waves, waterfalls and glacier walking. On our journey back to Reykjavík we take time to stop and enjoy the picturesque landscape of Iceland's south coast. One of the first places we will want to see is the waterfall of Seljalandsfoss, where we can actually walk behind the falls. Then, we will take the opportunity to walk on the black sand beaches at Vik and Reynisfara, taking care not to get too close to the pounding waves of the North Atlantic. Reynisfjara is well-known for its columnar basalt cliffs, another great photo opportunity. Just a little further along Route 1 we pass close to the tongue of the Solheimajokull Glacier and here we will stop again and gear up (crampons, ice-axe and harness provided) for an exciting 2-hour glacier walk. Close by is the dramatic waterfall at Skogarfoss and we can walk right up to the foot of this monster, before boarding our transport for the completion of our drive back to Reykjavik, which we reach in the late afternoon. Once you have checked in at the guesthouse, the rest of the evening is free. One option is to get washed and changed and go out on the town, to celebrate the end of a superb holiday. Reykjavik is quite an experience on a Saturday night. Young Icelanders go out late and stay up until morning. ACCOMMODATION GUESTHOUSE MEALS B TIME 2-3 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 5: Departure day. KE Land Only package services end with breakfast at the hotel. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included A professional English speaking Icelandic guide All accommodation as described Meals as detailed in the Meal Plan Vehicle support throughout the trip Safety equipment for the ice-cave and glacier-walk activities What's Not Included Travel insurance Airport transfers between Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik are not included Some meals as detailed in the Meal Plan Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc Joining Arrangements & Transfers Transfers between Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik are not provided. The Flybus provides the best airport transfer service. The Flybus ticket office is situated just inside the terminal and is clearly signposted. When you buy your ticket let them know which hotel you need to be dropped of at. The Flybus leaves the airport following each incoming flight, minutes after each arrival. The Flybus will take you to the bus station in Reykjavik and you will need to ask the bus driver which bus takes you on to your accommodation (the cost of this 'second' bus is included in the Flybus ticket). For the return journey to the airport, your guesthouse reception will assist with booking your ticket and advising you where you will board the bus. For more information please visit ( the cost is around each way.

5 PAGE 5 You will be given a welcome note with your room keys on arrival at the guesthouse accommodation in Reykjavik. This will advise you of the time of this first meeting with your guide, which will be after breakfast on Day 2. Meal Plan Breakfasts are included, as well as the 2 dinners at the hotel in Kirkjubæjarklaustur. You will pay directly for 2 evening meals in Reykjavik, where there is a wide range of dining options and it makes sense to leave the choice of meal and budget to you. You will also pay directly for all lunches. Expect to pay the equivalent of for your dinner in Reykjavik and 15 for a snack lunch with drink. Food & Water Breakfasts will usually consist of porridge, muesli, bread, jam, cheese, ham, plus tea and coffee. Dinner is provided at the hotel for the 2 nights in Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Local specialities predominate, including excellent sea-fish and Icelandic lamb. You will purchase your lunches each day at simple service station or visitor centre cafes. There is a wide choice of restaurants in Reykjavik for the 2 evenings that you will spend there. Many places on this holiday have drinkable water from the tap to fill your personal water bottles. Please check with the leader at the various locations. Please take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) for days when drinking water out of the tap is not available. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles. Accommodation During this trip you will spend 2 nights in basic hotel or guesthouse accommodation, situated within a short walk of central Reykjavik. The accommodation here will be based on twin (and occasionally triple) room sharing. Some of this accommodation has shared, rather than en-suite facilities. It may also be possible to book a single room at additional cost. We cannot guarantee that group members will all be booked into the same Reykjavik accommodation, or that you will be booked into the same Reykjavik guesthouse at the start and end of the holiday. For the 2 nights outside the Icelandic capital, we will stay in a simple country hotel in the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur where the accommodation is in twin rooms with en-suite facilities. Group Leader & Support Staff An experienced English speaking mountain guide will lead the trip and will also do the driving. Altitude This holiday does not involve any significant ascent to altitude and we would not expect any altitude issues with this trip. Spending Money Approximately 200 (in local currency) should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses, including your meals in Reykjavik and your lunches. You can withdraw cash from ATMs at Keflavik Airport and in downtown Reykjavik using a credit or debit card. If you wish to bring your travel money in cash this can be changed into Icelandic Krona at the airport. Guidance On Tipping

6 PAGE 6 Tipping is not really expected in Iceland, but if your guide has done a good job, it would not be unreasonable for the group to invite him or her to your final meal, pay for their meal and offer a small token of your appreciation. Free KE Gift We would like to give you a free gift as a way to say thank you when you book your holiday. Choose from exclusive KE branded t-shirts, caps, neckwarmers, trek bags* and more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your MyKE account after booking. You will need to select your free gift at least 6 weeks before you depart and all items will be posted out at 5 weeks prior to departure. For all late bookings, we will endeavour to send your FREE gift to you before you travel, however this cannot always be guaranteed. Please visit our Free KE Gifts page for more details of all our KE Branded goodies on offer. * A trek bag is not required for this holiday. You can however purchase a KE trek bag for Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance Your baggage will be carried in the support vehicle. Clients should restrict themselves to a single trek bag. There is no weight limit on this bag other than that imposed by your international carrier. We recognise that for some of our holidays and for some of our travellers, the KE Trek Bag (see below) may not provide the best solution when packing for your trip. A bag with fitted wheels or a holdall with more than one compartment and more than one access zip can, in some circumstances, be more appropriate. Although it can be useful for our tour leaders when all members of the group have similar, identifying baggage, we have no problem if you choose to use an alternative bag. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. Recommended Outdoor Retailers Many of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 15% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers. >> Find out more General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit.

7 PAGE 7 Visa Europe UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa. Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations. UK residents should obtain a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is still vital when travelling overseas. Currency The unit of currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: Preparing For Your Holiday It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on an active holiday getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. The best training is in the hills, long hiking trips are good for building stamina, and a regular exercise regime (jogging, swimming etc.) is good for developing and maintaining cardio-vascular fitness. Climate Iceland has an unpredictable climate and during the period that we run this holiday mid October to mid April we can expect periods of sunshine interspersed with rain or snow showers. The maximum daily temperature in November and April will be between 5 and 10 degrees centigrade and in the period between December and February this will be between 0 and 5 degrees centigrade. Snow can lie on the ground (especially inland) from October through to the end of June. There is 10 hours of good daylight each day in mid October and mid February and around 5 to 6 hours in mid December. Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

8 PAGE 8 Single Use Plastic KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use. We have pledged to AITO s Project Protect that 70% of our agents stop using single use plastic bottles. Books The Rough Guide to Iceland Lonely Planet - Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands The Insight Guide to Iceland Iceland Photo Book. Colin Baxter Maps The Icelandic maps published by Mal og Menning are good. There are several series. Island (The whole island) 1:600,000 scale. Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. Land Only Notes We sell this holiday on a Land Only basis and recommend that you book your flights to Reykjavik (Keflavik) Airport Please refer to Joining Arrangements and Transfers for further details. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. If flying from the UK, there are a number of low cost airlines offering flights to Reykjavik. These include Easyjet, who have flights from Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Manchester and Edinburgh and WOW Air, who have flights from Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol and Edinburgh. If you would prefer to book a 'Flight Inclusive' package using scheduled airlines from the UK please contact our flights department for a quote. Whilst flight prices are likely to be more expensive you will benefit from full financial protection. Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Operating since 1984, KE Adventure Travel has some of the most experienced staff in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Everyone has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure

9 PAGE 9 travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or , or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience. KE can guarantee the very best in trip support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and other accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.

10 PAGE 10 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. You Must Bring The Following Items: Daypack 20 to 30 litres Water bottle 1 litre (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic) Water purification tablets Hiking boots Shoes for travelling Travel clothes Socks Trekking trousers Thermal baselayer - leggings Waterproof overtrousers Underwear T-shirts and/or casual shirts Fleece jacket Padded duvet jacket (down) Waterproof jacket Thermal baselayer shirts (1 short sleeve, 1 long sleeve) Warm hat Gloves Washbag and toiletries Headtorch Basic First Aid Kit including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers and plasters. The Following Items Are Optional: A pair of trekking poles (recommended) Camera Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags) Please note: This document was downloaded on 22 Nov 2018, and the trip is subject to change.