Country Life

CIRCLE TOUR OF ICELAND WITH WHALE WATCHING
This circle tour gives you the opportunity to travel through the everchanging scenery of the Icelandic countryside, through mountains and valleys, viewing volcanoes, glaciers, rivers, hot springs and waterfalls. An ideal tour for those who want to experience the very best of Iceland in one week.  We visit 4 National Parks: Snæfellsnes peninsula, Skaftafell, Þingvellir and Jökulsárgljúfur. We will have the possibility to do some walking in the beautiful countryside during the tour.
Accommodation is provided in hotels with private facilities. The hotels used on tours are often “summer hotels,” used most of the year as boarding schools or country hotels which are simple and clean. On some departures this tour may be operated in reverse. 

HIGHLIGHTS AND VALUES
- Whale watching included, weather permitting 
- Boat trip on glacial lagoon with floating icebergs included
- Introduction to the Icelandic horse
- Average of two hours walking a day
- Visit to four National Parks
- Visit to the Nature Baths at Lake Mývatn

COUNTRY LIFE - ITINERARY

DAY 1. SNÆFELLSNES
We drive to the town of Borgarnes and on to the Snæfellsnes peninsula with its national park and the dominating glacier. We visit small fishing towns, drive through lava fields and enjoy the coastal scenery on our way to the town of Stykkishólmur. Our first overnight is in the Borgarfjörður area.

DAY 2. BORGARFJÖRÐUR-ÞINGEYJARSÝSLA
We visit the beautiful waterfalls of Hraunfossar, where water comes running from under the lava and into the river Hvítá, and Deildartunguhver, one of the most voluminous hot springs in Europe and through the fertile farmlands of Skagafjörður and Eyjafjörður with it´s beautiful town of Akureyri, the capital of the north. We also visit Goðafoss, the waterfall of the Gods, before reaching our accommodation in Þingeyjarsýsla where we stay for the next two nights.

DAY 3. HÚSAVÍK WHALE WATCHING-LAKE MÝVATN
The day begins with a 3 hour whale watching cruise from the coastal town of Húsavík, weather permitting. We drive to Lake Mývatn which is considered one of the most fertile areas in the world so close to the Arctic Circle. This unique area features strange lava formations, attractive bays, pseudo craters and thousands of birds. We stroll through the lava field of Dimmuborgir and take a bath at Mývatns Nature Baths, before returning to our accommodation.

DAY 4. ÞINGEYJARSÝSLA-FLJÓTSDALSHÉRAÐ
Today we start the day visiting the volcanic activity at Krafla and the Geothermal area of Námaskarð. We visit Dettifoss waterfall before heading through the uninhabited highlands to the eastern part of the country. Overnight is in the neighbourhood of Egilsstaðir.

DAY 5. EGILSSTAÐIR-VATNAJÖKULL
Vatnajökull Europe´s biggest glacier dominates the landscape with its glacial tongues calving into a glacial lagoon. We take a boat trip on the lagoon among the icebergs. Our overnight is in the Vatnajökull area.

DAY 6. SKAFTAFELL NATIONAL PARK-THE SOUTH
We visit the National Park nestling below Iceland´s highest mountain, the 2110 meter Hvannadalshnjúkur. Then through the sandy desert of the south coast, overlooked by mountainous cliffs, glaciers and waterfalls. Overnight in Rangárvallasýsla.

DAY 7. GULLFOSS-GEYSIR-ÞINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK
We start the day with an introduction to the Icelandic horse and then we drive on to Gullfoss which is known in Iceland as the “Golden Falls” and nearby is the fascinating geothermal area of Geysir. The most active geyser is Strokkur “the churn” which can spout up to seventy feet every five to seven minutes. From there we travel to the ancient Viking Parliament area of Þingvellir National Park before returning to Reykjavík

COUNTRY LIFE

Circle Tour of Iceland with Whale Watching GJ/90 B-Q

Type:
A compact circle tour of Iceland with hotel accommodation, ideal for nature and culture exploring

Duration:
7 days / 6 nights

Departure and Return:
Departure from our office at Borgartún 34 on Sundays at 09:00 returning Saturdays between 16:00-18:00

Pick up for tour:
Between 08.15-08.45 from any accommodation in Reykjavik

Language:
All tours are guided in English and French

Group size:
From 8 to 35 passengers

Accommodation:
Accommodation is provided in hotels with private facilities. The hotels used on tours are country or summer hotels, used most of the year as boarding schools and are simple and clean.

Meals:
6x breakfast and 6x dinner (3-course or buffet) from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day. Lunch stops will be made at restaurants or café-shops en route.

Included on tour:
Whale watching from Húsavík (day 3), entrance fee to the Nature Baths at Lake Mývatn (day 3), boat tour at glacial lagoon (day 5) and horse show in Friðheimar in South Iceland (day 7)

On tour:
This tour gives you a good impression of the country life in Iceland, experiencing nature and culture in harmony and we visit four national parks. There is an average of 1-2 hours walking each day. Good walking boots are needed on all our tours, as well as waterproof clothing.

Note:
We sometimes have two groups departing on the same date. In this case, small changes on itinerary might be expected, like other hotels.

New service:
Supplement for guaranteed window seat on our escorted coach tours which includes a window seat and next seat remaining empty (passenger gets actually two seats) as well as a pillow and blanket for upgraded comfort. Seats will be reserved in the front area of the bus. 

See further information:
under General Information about Escorted Grand Tours

YEAR 2010

COUTRY LIFE DEPARTURES

All tours depart at 09:00
90/B Sunday 16 May - 22 May
90/D Sunday 13 June - 19 June
90/F Sunday 27 June - 03 July
90/H Sunday 11 July - 17 July
90/J Sunday 25 July - 31 July
90/L Sunday 08 August - 14 August
90/N Sunday 22 August - 28 August
90/Q Sunday 19 Sept - 25 Sept

DURATION: 7 days / 6 nights
LANGUAGES: This tour is guided in English and French
ACCOMMODATION: Hotels/Country Guest Houses
MEALS: 6x breakfast and 6x dinner (3-course of buffet) from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day.
GROUP SIZE: From 8 to 35 passengers 
ALSO INCLUDED: Visit to four national parks, whale watching tour (weather permitting), boat trip on glacial lagoon, introduction to Icelandic horse,  average of two hours walking per day and visit to the nature baths

Price in EUR for May & September departures:
per person in Twin room: EUR 1.420.-
Single room  supplement: EUR 265.-
VIP-seating supplement: EUR 165.-

Price in EUR for June-August departures:
per person in Twin room: EUR 1.595.-
Single room  supplement: EUR 380.-
VIP-seating supplement: EUR 165.-

COUNTRY LIFE

The tour was perfect. The guide was competent, smart, funny and simply excellent. Hotel good, food very good. Driver perfect.
Glur Reisen Switzerland
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Jens is the best guide I have ever knwon after experience of many tours in many countries with some very good guides. The coach was comfortable, seats spacious. Very safe and excellent driver.
Iceland Pro Travel, UK
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Very knowledable guide, presented information in an entertaining way. Excellent tour.
Inghams Travel, UK
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Iceland is an wonderful and unique country. Driver and guide excellent.
Inghams Travel, UK
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Everything just perfect
Inghams Travel UK
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The tour was just wonderful and the guide very informative
Thomas Cook, UK
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Very good, clean, comfortable rooms. The guide was friendly, helpful and knew everything about Iceland
Scantours UK
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The tour was amazing; excellent. The guide was knowledgable, pleasant, helpful and energetic. Hotels were wonderful and meals excellent and interesting. Driver brilliant
Pro Travel UK
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It couldn't have been better
Inghams Travel, UK
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The trip was wonderful
Iceland Saga Travel USA
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The guide has excellent local knowledge, was always accessible and friendly. The hotels were clean, nice and the staff friendly. Good and nicely presented Icelandic food. The bus was comfortable and very good driver.
Battlefield Travel UK
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Excellent and packed full with major attractions. Well organized, quick check-in/out at hotels was a bonus. The guide was brilliant, always helpful and informative, made a splendid tour. The best hotel on the tour was Skaftafell and also best dinner was at Skaftafell. Excellent driver
Inghams Travel UK
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Exceptionally well thought out tour. No time wasted. Very knowledgable guide. Slept well every night. Excellent meals, excellent bus. Driver had great skill.
Thomas Cook, UK
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Well organized tour - every day full of interest. Very informative and patient guide. Very clean and comfortable hotels. We had every confidence in the driver.
Thomas Cook, UK
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