Iceland and Greenland

6
Brennisteinsalda Volcano in Landmannalaugar, the rainbow mountain of Iceland
THE BEST OF SOUTH ICELAND
ICELAND’S MOST VISITED REGION, AND WITH GOOD REASON
Explore the most famous sights in South Iceland from the countryside instead of taking long drives from
Reykjavík. This 8-day tour focuses on guided day excursions and explorations from only three different
overnight locations in Southern Iceland. You visit the Golden Circle sites, explore the interior highlands
of Landmannalaugar, the Westman Islands, and the frozen wonders of Vatnajökull National Park. Your
Icelandic adventure includes short walks here and there, bathing in the geothermal Blue Lagoon,
climbing volcano craters, walking on glaciers, a boat trip between floating icebergs and lots
of time to take pictures.
HIGHLIGHTS and EXPERIENCES:
Bathe in the Blue Lagoon, walk on lava and explore two national parks
Easy hike on a glacial tongue
Boat trip between floating icebergs on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon
Explore the interior highlands and the Westman Islands
Visit Brennisteinsalda Volcano, the rainbow mountain of Iceland
Excellent value for money
Small groups, maximum 20 persons
BORGARNES
REYKJAVÍK
DURATION: 8 days / 7 nights
DEPARTURES
From June to September a total of 7 departures
are offered. See details on www.gjtravel.is
LANGUAGES English
ACCOMMODATION Mix of simple hotels and
cabins, in rooms with shower/wc
MEALS 7x breakfast
ALSO INCLUDED • Arrival & departure transfer
by FLYBUS • Fully escorted 6-day bus tour with
an English speaking guide or driver-guide • Ferry
to/from Westman Islands • Entrance to Pompeii
of the North Exhibition • Visit to two national
parks • Entrance & towel to Blue Lagoon • Boat
trip on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon • 1,5 to 2-hour
glacier hike • Entrance fee to Eyrarbakki Maritime
and Folk Museum
GROUP SIZE Small group limited to 20 persons
TOUR CODE GJ 56
AKUREYRI
GULLFOSS
& GEYSIR
VÍK
HÚSAVÍK
MÝVATN
VATNAJÖKULL
SKAFTAFELL
HÖFN
EGILSSTAÐIR
ICELAND
ITINERARY
Day 1, SUN: WELCOME TO ICELAND FLYBUS shuttle to Reykjavík.
Day 2, MON: BLUE LAGOON & REYKJANES PENINSULA Meet your
tour guide and warm up in the geothermal mineral rich waters of the famous
Blue Lagoon. Next, we explore Krýsuvík, an area with solfataras, fumaroles,
mud pots and hot springs. We continue through lava fields to Strandarkirkja, a
Lutheran parish church on the southern coast of Iceland. Next stop is the
charming fishing village of Eyrarbakki where we visit the local Maritime and Folk
Museum. Stay 3 nights in Hella, South Iceland.
Day 3, TUE: LANDMANNALAUGAR & ÞJÓRSÁRDALUR Today we
drive the rough unpaved road to Landmannalaugar, an oasis in the barren
highlands, surrounded by colorful rhyolite mountains. The highlight is a
90-minute round-trip hike up toward Brenninsteinsalda, the rainbow mountain
of Iceland, which is still "hot" and where you can see sizzling sulfur springs and
vapor at its sides. It could very well be the most colourful and spectacular
volcanic mountain of Iceland, and so its picture is often found in books and
calendars. In Landmannalaugar there is also a natural geothermal stream where
you can enjoy a relaxing bath. We continue to the beautiful waterfall Hjálparfoss
surrounded by unusual basalt rock formations. Nearby is the Viking farm ruins
at Stöng, which was completely buried in pumice during one of Hekla Volcano's
bigger eruptions in 1104. A leisurely hike brings us to Gjáin, a green oasis in an
otherwise rocky, barren moon-like landscape. Þjórsárdalur is off-the-beaten-path
and is dominated by Hekla, one of Iceland's most active volcanoes.
Please note that in case Landmannalaugar is not accessible during June
departures we travel only to Þjórsárdalur valley on that day.
Day 4, WED: GOLDEN CIRCLE Today, we explore Þingvellir, a national park
and UNESCO world heritage site, followed by Geysir hot springs and Gullfoss
waterfall. After the three "must-see" sights on the Golden Circle route, we add
a little extra. There is a small waterfall called Faxi, and nearby we visit a
traditional sheep pen, and Skálholt, which is one of Iceland's most historic and
holy places.
Day 5, THU: WESTMAN ISLANDS Short ferry ride to the Westman Islands,
where we explore bird cliffs, walk up a volcano crater and visit „Pompeii of the
North“, a volcanic excavation project. There you observe a “house” which was
dug up from the thick layer of pumice after 40 years. You have the afternoon
free to wander around the town of Heimaey, with its birds and signs of recent
volcanic eruptions. In the evening we travel to our accommodation near the
village of Vík in South Iceland, where we stay for two nights.
Day 6, FRI: VATNAJÖKULL GLACIER Today we travel to Vatnajökull,
Europe’s second largest national park, which has Iceland’s highest mountains,
an alpine environment, and Europe’s largest glacier. We hike to Svartifoss
waterfall. In the afternoon we head over to the famous Jökulsárlón glacier
lagoon for a cruise, sailing between the icebergs of all shapes and sizes, which
float in the clear blue water.
Day 7, SAT: GLACIER HIKE & SOUTH COAST We start the day with a
walk along the black lava beach and bird cliffs at Reynisfjara, see interesting
basalt columns and rock formations. Next, we stop for an easy 1,5 to 2-hour
glacier hike on the impressive Sólheimajökull glacier tongue. We continue to the
thundering Skógafoss waterfall and stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where you
can follow a slick and wet trail right behind the falls. The Best of South Iceland
program ends with a short Reykjavík city tour before we reach the hotel in
Iceland’s capital city.
Day 8, SUN: DEPARTURE HOME FLYBUS shuttle to Keflavík airport.
VISIT US AT www.gjtravel.is