Compare The Best of Iceland: A Country of Beautiful Contrasts by Road Scholar vs Natural Wonders of Iceland - Small Group by Insight Vacations
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| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 12 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 4,599 | $ 7,123 |
| Price Per Day | $ 383 | $ 712 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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N/A |
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included | Airfare included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
11 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches and 8 Dinners |
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| Description |
Named by a Scandinavian explorer inspired by the beauty of icebergs bobbing through a fjord, Iceland is in fact not very icy at all, boasting abundant vegetation, a veritable menagerie of wildlife and stunning geological features. Journey through Iceland’s north, south and west with native experts who introduce you to their country’s history, music, food and traditions. Learn about the Sagas of Icelanders and explore a dramatic landscape, from the coast to the Blue Lagoon. |
Breathe in the fresh air of Iceland as you tour the scenic bay of Reykjavik, uncover volcanoes on the way to Vik and explore the geothermal hubbub of Lake Mývatn—near Akureyri. From the thunder of the two-tiered Gullfoss Waterfall and the geothermal floating pools of Egilsstaðir to the black lava fields of Búðir and the sea cliffs of Arnastapi, experience every imaginable landscape on this one week guided tour. Take an Insight Choice in Reykjavik between a dip in the mineral rich waters of the Blue Lagoon or a walking tour of the city’s premier sights—led by a Local Expert. In Hellisheidi, visit Iceland’s flagship geothermal heat and power station, and learn how this scientific wonder helped the country generate 70% of its power—from renewable energy sources. |
Day 1: In Transit to Program
In Flight
Day 2: Reykjanes Peninsula, Blue Lagoon, Grindavik
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Northern Light Inn
Activity note: Check-in available from 2:00 PM.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room. On this program, breakfasts will offer a typical European style breakfast buffet with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water. Please note that water is included in the program cost at all meals.
Morning: After breakfast we take a drive along the coastline of the Reykjanes Peninsula, driving past the old Reykjanes lighthouse. Afterward we will check-in at the hotel.
Lunch: Hotel dining room. Lunches on this program are typically a two course set menu.
Afternoon: Welcome introduction. Your Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Indicated times are approximate. Program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Enjoy a swim in the Blue Lagoon, said to have demonstrable healing powers, especially against skin diseases and arthritis. Make sure to bring your bathing suit!
Dinner: Hotel dining room. Dinners on this program are typically a three course set menu. Please note that water is included in the program cost at all meals.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 3: Grindavik, Hvanneyri, Borgarnes
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Borgarnes
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Depart for an expert-led visit to Grindavik's fish processing factory, and learn about the Icelandic fishing industry during a lecture.
Lunch: At a country restaurant.
Afternoon: Visit Hvanneyri, an Agricultural Science Center for an expert-led lecture and introduction to Icelandic agriculture. Arrival and check-in at hotel.
Dinner: Hotel dining room.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 4: Reykholt, Borgarfjördur Region, Borgarnes
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Borgarnes
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Departure for Reykholt, homestead of the famous Saga writer, Snorri Sturluson. In Reykholt, attend a lecture: "Snorri Sturluson, Middle Ages & Struggle for Independence."
Lunch: En route.
Afternoon: After lunch we take an excursion through the Borgarfjördur region. Stops include Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most prolific hot spring; Hraunfossar, rare and beautiful waterfalls; and Borg, the homestead of Viking/poet Egill Skallagrímsson in the 10th century.
Dinner: Hotel dining room.
Evening: Evening entertainment at hotel with folk music and dancing.
Day 5: Stykkisholmur, Boat Ride and Scallop Fishing, Borgarnes
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Borgarnes
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Depart for Stykkisholmur, a fishing village on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Take a two-hour boat ride among the islands of Breidafjördur with some scallop fishing and tasting.
Lunch: In Stykkisholmur.
Afternoon: Visit farmer Hildibrandur’s shark museum to learn about shark processing. You will also get to taste this special Icelandic delicacy. Then take a peek into Hildibrandur's tiny church at Bjarnarhöfn.
Dinner: Hotel dining room.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 6: Textile Exhibition, Icelandic Horse, Akureyri
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel KEA
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Depart for Akureyri, North Iceland. En route we visit a horse farm, where we will become acquainted with the Icelandic horse. Enjoy an informative talk from the farmer about life at the farm, and meet the remarkable breed during a "horse show."
Lunch: At a country restaurant.
Afternoon: We stop at the textile exhibition at Blönduós, to see its beautiful collection of wool, national costumes, and tools of the trade including loom and spin wheels. Then enjoy an expert-led visit of the Glaumbær Folk Museum, located on an old turf farm that was inhabited until 1947. The farmhouse is a great example of the typical building method used in Iceland for centuries, and the exhibition focuses on rural life in Iceland in the 18th and 19th centuries. Arrival at the hotel.
Dinner: Hotel dining room.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 7: Akureyri
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel KEA
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Lecture: "Geology of Iceland."
Lunch: Hotel dining room.
Afternoon: Lecture: "Flora and Birds." Then take a sightseeing excursion through Akureyri by bus and on foot. Walk through the Botanical Garden, Akureyri's church, and the Hof Cultural Center, before enjoying some free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities, which can be found in the first Information Packet. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Dinner: Hotel dining room.
Evening: Departure for evening entertainment. More details will be provided in the final Information Packet.
Day 8: Whale Museum, Whale Watching Excursion or Local Museum, Akureyri
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel KEA
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Departure for Husavik. Excursion to the Whale Museum, where we have a short lecture on the whales and other marine life in the waters surrounding Iceland.
Lunch: At Restaurant Salka.
Afternoon: If weather permits, embark on a Whale Watching Excursion! If the weather does not permit, enjoy a visit to the excellent local museum that houses a folk museum, a maritime museum and a natural history museum.
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 9: Lake Myvatn, Fly to Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Reykjavik Centrum
Activity note: Please note that today's internal flight is an Air Iceland flight, and is approx. 45 minutes long. The luggage limit is 44 pounds, and the hand luggage limit is 13 pounds. Please see Internal Flight Luggage Note for further luggage information.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Depart for a full day of exploration at Lake Myvatn, one of the richest nesting grounds for wet birds in the world. Pseudocraters, solfataras, craters and volcanoes make a fascinating geological study.
Lunch: At Sel Hotel Mývatn en route.
Afternoon: Fly from Akureyri to Reykjavík. Check-in at hotel and settle in.
Dinner: Hotel dining room.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 10: Hellisheidi, Þingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir, Skálholt, Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Reykjavik Centrum
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: A full day excursion. We will visit the geothermal power plant at Hellisheidi, admire Þingvellir (the former site of parliament), marvel at the majesty of Gullfoss (the golden waterfall), appreciate Geysir (the geyser from which all others take their name), and explore Skálholt (the ancient bishopric).
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Continue full day excursion.
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 11: Arbær Open Air Museum, Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Reykjavik Centrum
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Lecture: "Contemporary Iceland." Then take an expert-led excursion of Reykjavik. Visit the Arbær open air museum, an incredible representation of how life used to be in Reykjavik, and then enjoy a view of the city from the viewing deck of Perlan. During a bus excursion, see the Hofdi House, Lake Tjornin, City Hall, and the old Parliament.
Lunch: In downtown Reykjavík.
Afternoon: Afternoon at leisure. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities, which can be found in the first Information Packet. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Dinner: Farewell Dinner at a downtown restaurant followed by evening entertainment. More details about the evening entertainment will be provided in the final Information Packet.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 12: Departures, Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Morning at leisure.
Lunch: Hotel dining room.
Afternoon: Transfer to Keflavík International Airport (KEF) for departures. This concludes our program.
Day 1: The Smoky Bay of Reykjavík
Welcome to Iceland. On arrival at Reykjavik’s Keflavik Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel on your complimentary Insight shuttle operated by Gray Line. Join your Travel Director and travel companions at 18:15 for a Welcome Drink served with canapés.
Fosshotel Reykjavík.
Day 2: Hot Springs, Waterfalls and Vík
Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, heading east to visit Iceland’s newest geothermal and electric power station at Hellisheiðavirkjun. Later, travel on to the ancient bishopric of Skalholt and see the historic church, set in a remote location amid magnificent natural scenery. Continue to the hot springs at Geysir and the mighty Gullfosswaterfalls, the Icelandic equivalent of Niagara Falls. In the afternoon, visit the majestic south coast waterfalls ofSeljalandsfoss and Skógafoss before continuing to your hotel in Vik.
Hótel Kría, Vik.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3: By Glaciers and Icebergs to Höfn
Travel along the southern coast of Iceland, beside the black sand beaches and basalt rock formations.Continue through the National Park at Skaftafell and see the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull.Travel on to the luminous blue icebergs of Lake Jökulsárlón, the highlight of the day. This dramatic setting was featured in two James Bond films.Arrive in the small harbour town of Höfn, an active lobster fishing hub. From here, your Travel Director will lead a short orientation.Dine at your hotel's restaurant tonight and experience what the local produce has to offer.
Hótel Höfn.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Eastern Fjords to Egilsstaðir Relaxed Start
Explore yet another face of Iceland, as you drive through narrow fjords surrounded by steep cliffs and past small fishing villages. Catch a glimpse of Friar Island, once the home of Gaelic monks who settled here before the arrival of the Vikings. Continue to the lakeside town of Egilsstaðir.
Icelandair Hotel Herad, Egilsstadir.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: By Desert, Lakes and Divine Waterfalls to Akureyri
Continue on to the beautiful Lake Mývatn and explore a wide spectrum of geological formations and the concentrated geothermal activity produces mud pools and spectacular coloured deposits. This afternoon is a taste of the local rúgbrauð, a sweet and dense rye bread which is buried underground and baked by the heat from nearby hot springs.After an introduction how they use the Dimmuborgir lava fields for the cooking process enjoy a sample of the delicious bread served with butter. Continue to Akureyri where you have the evening to relax or explore at your leisure. Perhaps embark on an optional whale watching experience? (available during whale season)
Icelandair Hotel Akureyri.
Breakfast
Day 6: From the Capital of the North to Borgarnes Relaxed Start
Enjoy an orientation of Akureyri, the capital of northern Iceland, first established as a trading centre in 1602. Travel past mountains, waterfalls and green coastal regions. Later, continue on to the southwest coast of Borgarnes.
Icelandair Hotel Hamar, Borganes.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Exploring Snæfellsjökull National Park
Travel along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula to Snæfellsjökull National Park, known as the Jewel of West Iceland and home to the country’s most famous volcano. See the magnificent Snæfellsjökull glacier surrounded by unspoiled natural beauty. En route, admire the impressive landscapes of Búðir, offering a mixture of sandy hills, black lava fields and a yellow beach. Next, take a stroll along the sea cliffs of Arnastapi with its unique column rock formations and take in the beautiful scenery.
Icelandair Hotel Hamar, Borganes.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: Thingvellir, Blue Lagoon and on to Reykjavík
Journey south to Thingvellir. This remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.Explore Reykjavik with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the mineral-rich waters of the Blue Lagoon. Alternatively, discover Reykjavik's top sights on a walking tour with your Local Expert and stop along the way to sample local specialties.This evening, delight in a delicious Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant where you round off your journey through one of the world's most naturally beautiful places.
Fosshotel Reykjavík.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 9: Farewell Reykjavík
Your Icelandic adventure comes to an end, with a transfer to Reykjavík's Keflavík Airport.
Breakfast
