5 -DAY GEOGRAPHY & GEOLOGY EXPLORER REVISED ITINERARY Guide on Days 2 to 4 - Silver

Transcription

1 5 -DAY GEOGRAPHY & GEOLOGY EXPLORER REVISED ITINERARY Guide on Days 2 to 4 - Silver Day 1 Saturday 19 October 2013 Please note that your itinerary may be subject to change according to weather conditions and other time constraints. Please take time to check and read through your itinerary carefully Flight Information 10:30 Check in at London Heathrow Airport, Terminal 1 13:00 Depart on Icelandair flight FI451 15:00 Arrive Keflavik International Pre-allocated seats have been requested for your group. Please ensure your group checks in a minimum of two and a half hours before departure. Please note: pre-booked seats can be subject to change by the airline and are not guaranteed. A small complimentary soft drink is provided on the flight. Additional snacks and drinks are available to purchase. After clearing customs and immigration, please proceed to the exit of the terminal building where your coach driver (who will be holding up a sign with your group name) will be waiting. You will be driven by bus to the Perlan Viewing Platform for views over Reykjavik - a journey time of approximately 45 minutes. Bridge between Continents Gunnuhver Perlan 1900 Supper 2100 Northern Lights Bus Tour A wooden bridge that spans a fissure, said to be where the mid-atlantic ridge enters Iceland, thereby demonstrating continental drift. Gunnuhver hot spring is one of the most famous high temperature geothermal areas in Reykjanes. A Reykjavik landmark this futuristic building is composed of large circular tanks which hold the city s naturally heated water reserves, above which sits a glass dome (containing a revolving restaurant) and an outdoor viewing platform. Reykjavík Youth Hostel, Sundlaugarvegur 34, Tel: At Youth Hostel Northern Lights Bus Tour On this excursion, out of town and away from the city lights, we hope to offer the best chance of witnessing this amazing natural phenomenon, although sightings cannot be guaranteed. Trips run 15 th September to 15 th April. Transportation services are provided by GJ Travel

2 Day 2 Sunday 20 October 2013 Breakfast To be taken from 08:00 (collect lunch) then depart at 09:00. The coach will be waiting outside the hotel with your school name clearly visible in the window. Your guide will meet either by the coach or at reception. Once on your way, please spend a few moments with the guide to discuss your itinerary. You may want to spend longer at certain places than others. Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Station Eyjafjallajokull flood plain Stora-Dimon Volcano Seljalandsfoss 1330 Eyjafjallajokull Visitor Centre A free external viewing Drive past an area affected by a jokulhlaup (glacier burst) from the recent Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruption, here students will see evidence from where glacial flood water has washed down the valley. See a small volcano that rises approximately to 80m The volcano sits above the flat sandur outwash plain recently affected by the jokulhaup (glacial bursts) from Eyjafjallajokull. (Climbing is not recommended as the gravel path is steep and narrow) This waterfall spills over a basalt cliff, as a result of isostatic rebound of the land and its lava flow. Subject to weather conditions it is possible to walk behind the waterfall. Displays the local impact of the Eyjafjallajokull eruption. Features breathtaking pictures of the eruption and an interesting documentary about the impact on the farm at which the centre is based. The centre also carries various eruption related objects along with the farm s products, including barley, rapeseed oil, breakfast cereals and more. Tel Skogafoss Another of Iceland s most impressive waterfalls with a wide, thundering curtain of water 60m high Glacier Walk This very popular trip takes you on an exploration of the frozen glacier tongue of Solheimajokull. A wonderland of ice sculptures, ridges and deep crevasses await your discovery. The experienced glacier guide will teach you how to use basic ice equipment, crampons and ice axes. Sturdy shoes required Operated by Arctic Adventures Supper Evening Hotel Dyrholaey, Brekkur, Myrdalur, Tel: At hotel - your guide should call the hotel 2-3 hours before arrival to confirm the time for supper. Please also check with reception whether your group will be making up their own packed lunches or having them prepared by the hotel. Own Arrangements Groups sometimes arrange a quiz - 2 -

3 Day 3 Monday 21 October 2013 Breakfast To be taken from 08:00 (collect or prepare packed lunch) then depart at 09:00. Vik Reynishverfi Loftsalir Dyrholaey 1400 Eldhestar Horse Riding At this tiny coastal town, walk down onto the black sands and view the remarkable basalt sea stacks - Reynisdrangar. Walk along the black volcanic beach to see magnificent basalt cliffs and caves. Take photos standing and sitting on the basalt columns! A farm near the south coast - Weathering landscape and amazing display of unusual rock formations The name means door hill island with its 120m high natural rock arch this prominent headland is likely to have been formed in a submarine eruption similar to that of Surtsey. The area is rich in birdlife such as puffins, Arctic terns and guillemots during the summer months. Note: this area has restricted access during the nesting season. Approximately 1 hour A trek on a pure bred Icelandic horse is a great way to experience the unique countryside. Expert tuition and guiding for all abilities Tel Hveragerdi 1600 Hveragerði Geothermal Centre The small greenhouse town of Hveragerdi, a place full of geothermal activity. It is also an ideal place to carry out a rural settlement study. Alternatively take a short hike to the latest hot springs to have appeared here did so after the Olfus earthquake in This collection of hot springs and solfataras lies in the middle of the village of Hveragerði. Get the opportunity to eat eggs boiled in the hot springs. Tel / Supper Hotel Viking - Strandgata a, 220 Hafnarfjordur Tel Gamla Vínhúsið Restaurant, Vesturgata 4, Hafnarfjordur Tel Menu choices to be decided by the school before departure from the UK Group making own way to and from the restaurant Evening Own Arrangements - 3 -

4 Day 4 Tuesday 22 October 2013 Breakfast To be taken from 08:00 (collect packed lunch) then depart at 09:00. Kerid A dramatic volcanic crater lake, originally believed to be formed by a huge volcanic explosion. Yet more thorough studies show that Kerid was a cone volcano which erupted and emptied its magma reserve. There is now a charge of approximately 2 per person to visit Kerid. This is payable locally. Gullfoss Geysir Thingvellir Supper Evening These double falls drop around 33m then plunge into a mile-long gorge one of Iceland s most photographed waterfalls. Visit spouting geysers and hot springs here Strokkur erupts every 5-7 minutes reaching a height of around 30m. One of the trio of natural wonders on the Golden Circle route. This national park is where Iceland s parliament was established in 930AD it is also scoured by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and rift valleys are clearly visible where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates pull apart at around 2cm a year. Hotel Viking - Strandgata a, 220 Hafnarfjordur Tel At Hotel Menu choice - Fish and Chips Own Arrangements - 4 -

5 Day 5 Wednesday 23 October 2013 Breakfast Reykjavik To be taken from 08:00 (collect packed lunch) then depart at 09:00 with your coach driver. Sightseeing or urban studies visit the old port, central lake (Tjornin), Hallgrimskirkja Church (small fee, payable locally, to visit the top of the observation tower). Some shops around 10 or 11am Blue Lagoon One of Iceland s most popular visitor attractions. Set amongst a landscape of black lava, the water temperature averages between C. The water is drawn from a depth of around 2000m and is rich in unique natural minerals such as silica and blue green algae, especially beneficial for those with skin complaints. Tel Flight Information 14:10 Check in at Keflavik Airport 16:10 Depart on Icelandair flight FI454 20:10 Arrive at London Heathrow Airport, Terminal 1 Pre-allocated seats have been requested for your group. Please note: pre-booked seats can be subject to change by the airline and are not guaranteed. A small complimentary soft drink is provided on the flight. Additional snacks and drinks are available to purchase

6 Additional Information 1. A guide will accompany the group on all but the first and last day in Iceland. 2. Your breakfast, lunch and evening meal is provided every day (no packed lunch provided on the departure day if your flight leaves in the morning). Please remember to pick up all of the packed lunches including vegetarian options from your accommodation. 3. Liaise with your driver and guide on a daily basis to arrange lunch stops 4. Blue Lagoon Remember your swimming costume and towel. 5. Youth Hostel: Bed Linen is provided for all passengers. When you check in at the Reykjavik Youth Hostel please ask the reception staff to show you where your bed linen is located. (Beds are unmade each guest will need to make up their own bed & also remove sheets etc at the end of your stay). 6. Once out of Reykjavík evening options are more limited. Some accommodation has DVD facilities; in general, after a long day out in fresh air, most groups are simply glad to relax or write up/prepare for the next day. Some groups compile quizzes as the days go by. Some bring their own DVD s or devise their own evening activities. Occasionally other groups may be staying at your accommodation, especially during school holidays. Your costing is based upon the typical itinerary included in this document. Should any of the following circumstances change, the costing would have to be recalculated. Changes in dates, student or staff numbers Change to the itinerary content and route Whilst in Iceland, should you request a visit to an additional site, which extends your journey, you must arrange to pay for this directly to the bus company before leaving Iceland. We are unable to invoice you for this upon your return to the UK. Thank you for your cooperation. Please contact us if you have any questions about your itinerary. Emergency contacts will be advised at a later date. Discover the World contact number: Transportation and guide services are provided by GJ Travel