Best of Iceland & Greenland

Transcription

1 16 Days Reykjavik to Back to Reykjavik Combine the lands of Iceland and Greenland in one amazing trip. Start in Reykjavik and take a whole loop of the country including northerly Akureyri, firey lava fields, unspoilt countryside, stunning mountains, pretty fjords and so much more. Continue by flight to south Greenland for a week cruising some of Greenland's most beautiful sights with a chance to reach the famous Greenlandic Ice Cap. HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Trip Highlights Iceland: Reykjavik: Capital of Iceland Iceland: Borganes and Grabrok Volcano crater, fishing villages and turf churches in West Iceland Iceland: Akureyri: Iceland's second largest city Iceland: Lake Myvatn: Unique natural lake & natural baths Iceland: Dimmuborgir and the hot springs of Namaskard Iceland: Vatnajokull National Park: home to Europe's biggest glacier, Iceland's highest mountain & Europe's most powerful waterfall - 16 Days Iceland: South Coast: Lava beaches, towering waterfalls, bird cliffs and folk museum. Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss Waterfalls Iceland: Golden Circle: Geysir geothermal fields, Gulfoss Waterfall, Strokkur geyser, Thingvellir National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site Iceland: Eyjafjallajökull Glacier: Home to the famous eruption of April 2010 that halted international air travel for a week Greenland: Narsarsuaq - picturesque settlement in Kujalleq municipality and start of our cruise Greenland: Nordre Semilik Fjord Southwest Greenland flord that approaches the famous Greenland Ice Sheet Greenland: Bredefjord in Qoomooq - home to the remains of the Thule culture Greenland: Qaleralik Sermia - possible landings near the glacier and home to the white-tailed eagles Greenland: Lichtenau - nearly deserted Greenlandic village - formerly home to the Herrnhuters Greenland: Uunartoq & Vagar - hot springs to bathe in and Viking Homesteads Greenland: Herjolfsnes - landing post of the Vikings from Iceland Greenland: Hvalsey - home to the largest Norse Cathedral in Greenland (hint - it's not that big!) Greenland: Gardar & Brattahlíd - home to Erik the Red over 1000 years ago What's Included Programmes of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff in Greenland 15 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners 8 nights accommodation in 3 star accommodation in Iceland & 7 nights accommodation aboard the s/v Rembrandt van Rijn Arrival and departure transfer by FLYBUS shuttle in Iceland. Transfers and baggage handling between airport and ship in Greenland harbours on the chartered group flight Economy flights from Reykjavik to Narsarsuaq (Greenland) Iceland: Guided hike to Grabrok volcano crater Iceland: Visit to natural history and seal museum in Hvammstangi Iceland: Visit to Vidimyri turf church Iceland: Entrance with towel to Myvatn Nature Baths Iceland: Admission to Petra's Stone and Mineral Collection in the East Fjords Iceland: Multimedia presentation at Eyjafjallajokull Volcano Information Centre Iceland: Entrance and demonstration to Fridheimar Horse Stables and Geothermal Greenhouse in South Iceland Greenland: Use of snow shoes -1-

2 Services of an English Speaking Icelandic Guide Iceland: Transportation in heated coaches with free Wi-Fi on board All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac (inflatable boat) on the Greenland Cruise Greenland: All applicable taxes and charges Special payment terms and conditions apply - ask your reservations consultant for specific details. What's Not Included International flights to Iceland and Visas (except flight between Iceland and Greenland) Gratuity for your tour guide, stewards and other service personnel impressive Grábrók volcano - we'll have a chance to walk around the crater of this dormant volcano. In the afternoon we pay a visit to an interesting natural history and seal museum in one of North West Iceland's small fishing villages. Continuing north we make a stop at Vidimyri, a small turf church which has been fully restored to its original form and is one of the purest and most beautiful examples of traditional Icelandic architecture. Our last drive of the day takes us along some scenic fjord landscapes and over several mountain passes until we arrive in Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland. Overnight - Akureyri (B) Day 3 : Lake Myvatn ITINERARY Day 1 : Reykjavik Upon arrival at Keflavik (Reykjavik) airport you will take the Flybus shuttle from to your accommodation. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Reykjavik independantly. Overnight - Reykjavik Day 2 : Grabrok Volcano Crater This morning we meet up with our tour guide and leave the hotel heading west. We pass through Borgarnes and continue to the - 16 Days This morning we explore Akureyri. This charming city has just 17'000 residents, We'll take a walk in the botanical gardens and enjoy the panoramic view over Eyjafjördur fjord. This afternoon we travel to the waterfalls of the gods - Godafoss, these are a very important spot in Iceland s history. Continuing on we reach beautiful Lake Mývatn - home to active bird life during summer and some bizarre lava formations at Kálfaströnd. We'll take a relaxing walk around some of the many pseudo craters and end the day with a rejeuvinating soak in Mývatn Nature Baths. These contain a unique blend of minerals, silicates and geothermal micro-organisms. These warm and soothing waters have loads of health benefits including the skin and spirit alike. Overnight - Lake Myvatn (B) Day 4 : Namaskard hot springs This morning we take an active walk through the 'dark castles' of Dimmuborgir - many Icelanders believe there to be trolls living here so keep your eyes peeled! Later we visit Namaskard hot springs to witness the bubbling mud pools and shallow volcanic craters. Continuing eastwards we take the lesser trodden path of the highlands and moonlike surroundings of East Iceland. We have been known to see the illusive Arctic fox here and spot see reindeer - so once again keep a look out. From June to August the tour includes a detour to Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall in the northern part of Vatnajökull National Park. Overnight - Egilsstadir (B) Day 5 : Vatnajokull NP Today we travel further into this quaint area of Iceland. We re greeted with dramatic fjord landscapes, endless winding roads and tiny fishing villages. The eastern Fjords are famous for stone and mineral and we ll have the opportunity to visit some collections. This afternoon we take our first glimpse of Vatnajokull. Being the largest glacier in Europe it is not surprising that it can be seen all over the southeast of Iceland. We pass the fishing town of Hofn we arrive at the highlight of the day Jokularson glacial lagoon. This stunning lagoon is full of floating glaciers and occasionally you will see seals swimming about in these bone -2-

3 chilling waters. Take a walk up to the black sandy beaches where many icebergs lay stranded. In the warmer months there may be optional boat trips available into the lagoon. Later we head south to southern Vatnajokull and spend some time in Europe s biggest national park. Overnight - Kirkjubajarklaustur (B) Day 6 : Waterfalls & Volcanoes Another beautiful drive awaits us today as we leave the national park and head across the lava field at Eldhraun. We also cross a sandy desert which is overlooked by towering mountains, waterfalls and huge glaciers and we take a stroll along Reynisfjara near the town of VIk. Passing through the little village of Skogar we have the opportunity to visit Skogafoss a tall waterfall that is often pictured with a perfect rainbow next to it. Continuing along the south coast we stop at an Information Centre about probably the most famous volcanic eruption in modern history the Eyjafjallajokull eruption of We speak to people who have always lived there and explain the perils of liveing next to an active volcano. Our last stop for the day is Seljalandsfoss waterfall which plunges over the mountains. The adventurous can take a walk behind the falls just be prepared to get a little wet. Overnight - Reykholt (B) Our penultimate day of this tour of Iceland takes us to the famed Golden Circle. Beforehand we learn about cultivating in a geothermal greenhouse and also about the unique Icelandic horse. There is opportunity to taste some of the home grown tomatoes as well as meeting some Icelandic horses. Heading to the Golden Circle we explore Geysir geothermal fields, home to famous Strokkur the Churn impressively erupting every 5 10 minutes. Next up is the golden falls of Gullfoss a double tiered waterfall which tumbles 34 meters in the Hvita River below. Our last stop before we get back to Reykjavik is the vast UNESCO Thingvellir National Park home to Iceland s first parliament and a popular location for lots of films and TV programmes including Game of Thrones. Once we arrive back into Reykjavik we take a short city tour including many of the city s highlights. Overnight - Reykjavik (B) evening (Greenland is 3 hours behind Iceland). At the airport we'll be met by our tour guide for the short transfer to the S/V Rembrant van Rijn which is docked in Narsarsuaq for your first night aboard. Overnight - S/V Rembrandt van Rijn (B, D) Day 8 : Reykjavik over 1000 metres in height. Our first landing of the day will be at Eqaluit qeqertat which is home to an old Thule (Inuit ancestors)settlement. We will attempt to get as close to the land as the icelbergs will allow and aim to reach the glacier front at Eqalorutsit Kangidliit Sermiat we ll also make some other landings in the area if conditions allow. Overnight - S/V Rembrandt van Rijn (B, L, D) Day 11 : Fjords & Eagles Day 9 : Flight to Narsarsuaq This morning is at leisure before you take the FLYBUS to Keflavik airport for your flight to Greenland at 16:45. Please give yourself enough time to get to the airport. Our flight is with Air Iceland to Narsarsuaq in the south of Greenland. The flight is just under 3 hours so we should arrive into Greenland in the early The fjords at Nordre Sermilik (Isafjord) are surrounded by towering mountains reaching Today is at leisure to further explore Reykjavik independently. Overnight - Reykjavik (B) Day 7 : Horses & Golden Circle - 16 Days Day 10 : Eqaluit & Old Thule settlement Heading towards Bredefjord at Qoornoq we visit some more ruins from the Thule period. Continuing on we cruise to Qaleralik Sermia home to some beautiful glaciers. Once here we ll climb aboard our trusty zodiacs (inflatable boats) for some land excursions and we hope to be able to land as close to the glacier as possible. Keep your eyes to the sky today as the region we are in is home to many of the impressive whitetailed eagles. Overnight - S/V Rembrandt van Rijn (B, L, D) -3-

4 Day 12 : Hot Springs & Icebergs Day 14 : Hvalsey HOTELS The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard when necessary. Icelandair Hotel Natura The newly refurbished Icelandair Hotel Natura offers comfortable accommodation Today we head towards the nearl deserted Greenlandic village of Lichtenau. Lichtenau was where the Herrnhuters (one of the oldest Protestant denominations in the world originally from Bohemia/Czech Republic) came on a mission in the 18th Centruy. They built some buildings whilst they were here and some of these are still visible (although slightly run down) today. The highlight of the day will be reaching Uunartoq where we are able to bathe in large hot springs which are amazingly surrounded by icebergs. We will also head to Vagar and explore the ruins of a former Viking homestead. Overnight - S/V Rembrandt van Rijn (B, L, D) Today we head to Hvalsey which is home to a famous medieval Norse Cathedral, it's certainly not huge by modern day standards however it is the largest Norse building in Greenland. Sitting on the coast the area affords beautiful views of the surrounding fjords. Overnight - S/ V Rembrandt van Rijn (B, L, D) Day 15 : Walk to Gardar Icelandair Hotel Akureyri Day 13 : Fredriksdal Today we cruise to Herjolfsnes (Ikigait) which is a small settlement originally established by Herjolf Bardsson (originally an Icelander) in the late 10th Century. It is famous now for being home to some very well-preserved medieval clothing which was found in Later we cross to the small settlement of Fredriksdal (Narsarmijit) another important mission post with a population of around 100. Overnight - S/ V Rembrandt van Rijn (B, L, D) - 16 Days and excellent amenities. Guest rooms are simple and stylish with parquet flooring and impressive new interiors. Complimentary Wi-fi is available and the hotel also boasts a delicious restaurant - Satt as well as luxurious onsite Soley Natura Spa. Look out for daily special activities at the hotel including Bedtime Stories and cinema nights in both Icelandic and English! Our last full day in Greenland takes us to Eriksfjord. Here we get the opportunity to Gardar and Brattahlid - famous Viking sites and also home to where the famous Erik the Red lived nearly a thousand years ago. Our walk today is about of 3 km from the landing site at Itilleq in the neck of the Peninsula. This evening we arrive at the port of Narsarsuaq for our last dinner together and last night onboard the s/v Rembradt van Rijn. Overnight - S/V Rembrandt van Rijn (B, L, D) Opened in 2011, Icelandair Hotel Akureyri is a tastefully decorated hotel with magnificent views of the city. Guest rooms are tastefully decorated with bright and airy rooms and excellent facilities. A delicious array of meals are served at the onsite restaurant - choose form local and international cuisine including Artic Char, Lamb Shank or Wild Goose from Eyjafjordur! The hotel is located just a short drive from the Hlidarfjall ski resort. Day 16 : Back to Reykjavik After breakfast (around 9am) we disembark the ship and enjoy free time in and around Narsarsuaq. From Narsarsuaq we fly on NY466 (Air Iceland) back to Reykjavik (Keflavik) at 18:15 arriving into Keflavik at 22:45. As the flight lands late at night we recommend you book a night in Reykjavik for the end of your tour. Please contact us for rates. (B) Hotel Reynihlid Located in the heart of the Myvatn area, Hotel Reynihlid offers comfortable accommodation at one of the best hotels in the area. Guest rooms are spacious with simple facilities. The hotel also has an onsite restaurant - Myllan which specialises in lamb and Artic Char. -4-

5 Guests can also take advantage of the close location of the famous lake - the hotel backs on to it! Ran by Magga and Gummi, the Icelandair Fludir offers guests a relaxing break in beautiful southern Iceland. Guest rooms are designed in modern colours, have high ceilings and rich furnishings with all amenities you would expect. The onsite restaurant takes full use of the region's organic produce and all vegetables used in cooking are locally grown. After dinner why not head to the hotel bar and grab a local beer to enjoy in the relaxing outdoor hot tubs! PRICES / DATES 2022 Date 01 Mar Twin Share EUR 0 Single EUR 0 Icelandair Hotel Herad Opened in 2000, the Icelandair Herad has recently undergone extensive renovations. Guest rooms are beautifully designed with comfy beds and excellent amenities. The hotel boasts an excellent restaurant serving a great selection of local dishes including reindeer steak! The onsite bar is also a great place to sit and relax in and sip on a delicious Icelandic beer! Well located in the heart of East Iceland's growing capital, Egilsstadir. Icelandair Hotel Klaustur Set in spectacular surroundings, Icelandair Hotel Klaustur is a comfortable country hotel. Guest rooms are smartly furnished with modern colours and excellent amenities. The hotel also boasts a first class restaurant serving up a variety of local and international cuisine. The restaurant is set in a beautiful terrace area which is lovely during summer days. Why not try the signature 'Fire and Ice' desert which is a hot fruit suit combined with ice cream - delicious! Well located in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, halfway between Myrdalsjokull and Vatnajokull. S/V Rembrandt van Rijn Formerly a herring lugger, the Rembrandt van Rijn has been a passenger sailing schooner since The ship is 56 meters in length and 7 meters wide. She can accommodate up to 33 passengers in 16 twin cabins and 1 triple cabin. All cabins are en suite and 9 of the 16 have a porthole. There is a spacious restaurant area where all meals are served as well as a separate bar and reading area. The ship has lots of excellent open deck viewing areas and two inflatable zodiacs for better access to the land. PRICES / DATES INFO Prices shown are per person travelling. 'Twin/Double' prices per person apply when there are 2 people travelling, sharing a room. The 'Single supplement' applies for single travellers and needs to be added to the 'Twin/Double' price. Departure dates noted with a 'G' are guaranteed to operate. All other departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons. Icelandair Hotel Fludir - 16 Days -5-