SAGA TRAIL WEST ICELAND
We leave Reykjavik at 8:00 and head for Hvalfjördur Fjord. Before the tunnel underneath the fjord was built, driving along its shores was the only way to get to Borgarnes. We follow this old route, which leads us to the Whaling Station on its northern shores, which is still in operation. Our next stop is the settlement center in Borgarnes, where we will visit one of the ongoing exhibitions. Our lunch break will be in Fossatún, after which we head for more history in Reykholt and then to the geothermal area at Deildartunguhver. Here we say goodbye to our guide and head through the Hvalfjörður tunnel back to Reykjavik. This tour is operated from June 10th to August 31st
Highlights:
* Hvalfjördur, the whaling fjord
* The Whaling Station
* The settlement center in Borgarnes
* Reykholt church
* Deildartunguhver hotspring
Tour code: DTB-20
SAGA TRAIL WEST ICELAND
We leave Reykjavik at 8:00 and head for Hvalfjördur Fjord. Before the tunnel underneath the fjord was built, driving along its shores was the only way to get to Borgarnes. We follow this old route, which leads us to the Whaling Station on its northern shores, which is still in operation. Our next stop is the settlement center in Borgarnes, where we will visit one of the ongoing exhibitions. Our lunch break will be in Fossatún, after which we head for more history in Reykholt and then to the geothermal area at Deildartunguhver. Here we say goodbye to our guide and head through the Hvalfjörður tunnel back to Reykjavik. This tour is operated from June 10th to August 31st
Highlights:
* Hvalfjördur, the whaling fjord
* The Whaling Station
* The settlement center in Borgarnes
* Reykholt church
* Deildartunguhver hotspring
Tour code: DTB-20
General Information
Hvalfjörður (English: Whale fjord) is situated in the west of Iceland between Mosfellsbær and Akranes. The fjord is approximately 30 km long and 5 km wide. The name Hvalfjörður is derived from the large number of whales which could be found and caught there. Until the 1980s, one of the biggest whaling stations in Iceland was located in this fjord. In the past the fjord also contained a large number of herring fisheries. During World War II, a naval base of the British and American navies could be found in this fjord. One of the piers built by the United States Navy was later used by the Hvalur whaling company, until commercial whaling was shut down in the 1980s. Until the late 1990s, those travelling by car had to make a long detour of 62 km around the fjord on the hringvegur (road no.1), in order to get from the city of Reykjavík to the town of Borgarnes. As of 1998, the tunnel Hvalfjarðargöngin, which shortens the trip considerably, was opened to public traffic. The tunnel is approximately 5,762 m in length, and cuts travel by car around the fjord by about an hour. The tunnel runs to a depth of 165 m below sea level. The innermost part of the fjord shows an interesting mixture of volcanic mountains and green vegetation in summertime. At Botnsá f.ex. lupins are to be seen, different sorts of other flowers and moss, as well as small forests of birchwood and conifers. The area displays a good example of the planting of forests, a project that has been going on in Iceland for some years. A hiking trail to the highest waterfall in Iceland, Glymur, has its origin at the innermost end of the fjord.
Deildartunguhver is characterized by a very high flow rate for a hot spring (180 liters/second). The water emerges at 97 °C. It is the highest-flow hot spring in Europe. Some of the water is used for heating, being piped 34 kilometers to Borgarnes and 64 kilometers to Akranes. A fern called the deer fern or hard fern (blechnum spicant) grows near Deildartunguhver. This fern grows nowhere else in Iceland.
Borgarfjörður valley is known for the Sagas - Iceland´s most important cultural heritage. In two exhibitons, The Settlement Exhibition and the Egils Saga Exhibition, The Settlement Centre in Borgarnes tells the Saga of the settlement of Iceland and Iceland´s most famous viking and first poet Egill Skallagrimsson. It gives the traveller a good foundation for further knowledge when travelling in Iceland. The prime objective of the Icelandic Settlement Centre at Borgarnes is to dramatically recreate the fascinating sagas surrounding the birth of this island nation. It is not a museum but rather an installation. Multi-media and theatrical techniques are employed to help the visitor experience first hand the trepidation and excitement of setting off over the open ocean for lands unknown. Audio guides in many different languages.
SAGA TRAIL WEST ICELAND
Departure: On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from June 10th to August 31st at 08:00
Duration: 8 hours, 08:00-16:00
Distance: about 270 km - 167 miles
Pick up: 30 minutes prior to departure from all hotels and most guest houses in Reykjavik.
Drop off: After day tours may sometimes not be right in front of your hotel or guesthouse due to narrow streets and actual coach size used during the tour.
Included: Bus & Guidance in English (German & English on Thursdays), non-guided transfer from Deildartunguhver back to Reykjavík at the end of the tour
Museums: Included are the entrance fees and visits to Settlement Exhibition in Borgarnes and Entrance to Snorrastofa in Reykholt
Online bookings: Until 72 hours prior to departure
Tour code: DTB-20
SAGA TRAIL WEST ICELAND
Departure: On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from June 10th to August 31st at 08:00
Duration: 8 hours, 08:00-16:00
Distance: about 270 km - 167 miles
Pick up: 30 minutes prior to departure from all hotels and most guest houses in Reykjavik.
Drop off: After day tours may sometimes not be right in front of your hotel or guesthouse due to narrow streets and actual coach size used during the tour.
Included: Bus & Guidance in English (German & English on Thursdays), non-guided transfer from Deildartunguhver back to Reykjavík at the end of the tour
Museums: Included are the entrance fees and visits to Settlement Exhibition in Borgarnes and Entrance to Snorrastofa in Reykholt
Online bookings: Until 72 hours prior to departure
Price per person:
Adults: EUR 93
Children discount:
Teenager 12-15 years (1/2 price) / Children 0-11 years (free)
Tour code: DTB-20