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Program
Itinerary |
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TRIP OVERVIEW |
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1 |
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Sat. |
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Oct. 2, 2010 |
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Arrive
Reykjavik |
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2 |
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Sun. |
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Oct. 3 |
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Free day
exploring
Reykjavik |
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Day |
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3 |
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Mon. |
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Oct. 4 |
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Thingvellir,
Geysir
Thermal Area
and
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Gullfoss
Waterfall |
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4 |
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Tue. |
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Oct. 5 |
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Landmannalaugar
Volcanic
Zone |
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5 |
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Web. |
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Oct. 6 |
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Thjórsádalur
Valley &
Icelandic
Highlands |
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6 |
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Thu. |
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Oct. 7 |
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Iceland's
Scenic South
Shore |
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7 |
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Fri. |
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Oct. 8 |
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Thorsmork
Nature
Reserve |
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8 |
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Sat. |
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Oct. 9 |
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Scenic drive
and flights
onward |
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Day 1
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Breakfast
Arrive
Reykjavik - Reykjanes Peninsula - Blue Lagoon & City Tour |
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After our early morning arrival at Keflavík
Airport, we’ll clear customs and travel by private motor coach to the
nearby Reykjanes Peninsula to see ancient lava flows, hot springs,
sulfuric vents, mud pools, and fissures. After breakfast, we’re off to
the world-famous Blue Lagoon to relax in the warm aqua-tinted,
mineral-rich water known for its curative powers. In the morning light,
the lagoon’s steaming water is unforgettable.
Later this afternoon, we’ll enjoy a private bus tour of the
city. Weaving our way through narrow alleys framed with old timber
houses, we’ll learn about the city’s history from its origin in 874 AD.
We’ll visit the harbor and Hallgrimskirkja, whose church tower offers a
panoramic view of Reykjavík, the nearby fjord, and distant mountains.
This evening is yours to enjoy on your own in Reykjavík. |
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Overnight: Hotel Odinsve, Reykjavik (2 nights) |
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Reykjavik pre-night hotel -
October 1 |
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TravelQuest has reserved a
limited number of rooms for
those interested in arriving in
Reykjavik one night before the
tour begins. The rate for
October 1, including breakfast
and tax, is $195 USD per room,
based on 1 or 2 people in a
room. (Airport-hotel transfers
are not included.) Contact
TravelQuest for details. |
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Day 2
Sun, Oct. 3
Breakfast
Free day
exploring Reykjavik |
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Today you’re free to explore Iceland’s
picturesque capitol city of Reykjavík on your own. Reykjavík’s museums,
shops, cafes, galleries, quaint downtown, and scenic waterfront are just
a short walk away from our centrally located hotel. |
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Day 3 Mon,
Oct. 4
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Thingvellir ancient Viking parliament, Geysir Thermal Area, and Gullfoss
Waterfall |
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After checkout this
morning, we’ll travel to Thingvellir National Park to stroll around
Althingi, Iceland’s most sacred site and the home of the old Viking
parliament. Thingvellir (located near Iceland’s largest lake,
Thingvallavatn) is known for its fascinating natural beauty and, set on
a vast plain flanked by large fissures, is geologically spectacular.
Later, we’ll explore the otherworldly hot spring area of Geysir and see
multicolored pools of water and mud. Here the geyser Strokkur erupts to
a height of about 80 feet (25 meters) every 5 to 7 minutes.
After lunch, we will drive to the mighty Gullfoss (Golden
Waterfall), perhaps the most beautiful waterfall in the country. We’ll
walk to the edge of Gullfoss, where the Hvitá River tumbles 100 feet (32
meters) in a double cascade. When the Sun is shining, we may see a
rainbow through the massive spray from the falls.
Late this afternoon we’ll arrive at our 3-star Iceland
Highland Lodge, our home base for the next two nights. Situated in
Iceland’s stark highlands, far from any settlements, our lodge offers
perfect dark-sky, aurora-viewing opportunities. After dinner this
evening, join us for a discussion on the aurora and night-sky
photography techniques, followed by the first of five nights of aurora
viewing and stargazing.
Overnight: Iceland Highland Lodge
(2 nights) |
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A few
words about the Aurora Borealis
by your trip leader Paul Deans` |
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If
you think it’s difficult
predicting the weather a few
days in advance, consider
attempting to forecast the
appearance of the northern
lights as far ahead as October
2010! That’s a tough assignment,
and it’s impossible to be
completely accurate, but we can
make some generalized comments
about what we expect to see.
The 11-year solar cycle has been in a protracted minimum for
more than two years. This
doesn’t mean there’s no aurora
activity; it simply means that
we have to travel closer to the
Earth’s north magnetic pole to
see it. (During the past year,
there have been numerous
impressive auroral displays
visible from Iceland and other
far-northern countries.)
As of early 2010, sunspots appear to be slowly returning to
the solar surface, which means
the Sun may gradually become
more active as the year
progresses. But the occurrence
of sunspots and flares will
remain low, and we’re unlikely
to experience a Coronal Mass
Ejection — a major outburst from
the Sun that often results in
spectacular displays of the
northern lights.
More likely, we’ll see auroral activity thanks to coronal
holes, which are quite common
during periods of low solar
activity. These holes are
openings in the Sun’s magnetic
field that let its powerful
solar wind escape into space.
When one of these holes is
pointed toward Earth, the result
is a lovely show of the northern
lights at high-latitude
locations such as Iceland. While
we can’t predict the appearance
of coronal holes far in advance,
they occur often enough that
it’s likely we’ll see some
aurora in October 2010. |
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One more thing. For reasons
unknown to astronomers, aurora
activity peaks following the
spring and autumn equinoxes.
This is why we plan to be in the
dark skies of the Icelandic
countryside shortly after the
autumn equinox. |
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Day 4
Tue, Oct. 5
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Landmannalaugar Volcanic Zone |
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Today we will travel to Landmannalaugar, a
volcanic zone with a mixture of colorful rhyolite stones and black
obsidian stones, which at this time of year are sometimes covered by a
dusting of snow. We’ll see Mt. Hekla, the most active volcano in Iceland
(last eruption: Feb. 2000), and Ljótipollur (Ugly Lake), a huge crater
formed in the 15th century. Take a dip in a natural hot water spring and
enjoy a picnic lunch in an Icelandic mountain hut that’s heated
year-round with the natural hot water flowing in the nearby brook. After
dinner back at the lodge, join us for our second night of aurora
viewing. |
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Day 5
Wed, Oct. 6 Breakfast
/ Lunch / Dinner
Thjórsádalur Valley & Icelandic Highlands |
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After checkout today
we’ll further explore the Icelandic Highlands as we travel through the
Thjórsádalur Valley, where we’ll get a better idea of the rugged
volcanic landscape that comprises more than half of Iceland. We’ll stop
at Hjálparfoss, a waterfall framed by twisted basalt columns, and then
at a reconstruction of a 12th-century Viking farmhouse. We will end our
day at the hotel where we’ll be for our last three nights in Iceland.
With your choice of expansive, dark grassy areas (perfect for
photography), and two geothermally heated hot tubs — perfect for star-
and aurora-gazing — you could not ask for a more beautiful place to
experience Icelandic nights! After dinner, join us for our third night
of aurora viewing.
Overnight: Iceland Aurora Lodge (3
nights) |
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Day 6
Thu, Oct. 7 Breakfast
/ Lunch / Dinner
Iceland's Scenic
South Shore |
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This morning will begin with a visit to the
thundering 180-foot (55-meter) Skógafoss waterfall and the village of
Skógar — a living folk museum where old homes are preserved in their
original state and a modern building is filled with a vast collection of
household items that depict Iceland’s past. After lunch, we will
continue east to see the Myrdalsjökull and Solheimajökull glaciers.
We’ll also visit the beautiful volcanic, black-sand beach of Reynisfjara,
with its massive basalt columns and rock formations. Join us tonight for
our fourth evening of aurora viewing. |
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Day 7
Fri, Oct. 8 Breakfast
/ Lunch / Dinner |
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Nature Reserve |
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This morning we’ll drive inland from
Iceland’s southern shore along the Markarfljot River to the picturesque
Thorsmork Nature Reserve. Surrounded by three glaciers, it is one of
Iceland’s most beautiful areas. With its scenic setting and glacial
rivers, Thorsmork is a place of unique natural beauty and ruggedness. A
picnic lunch at a mountain hut is included. On our way back to the
lodge, we’ll go for a walk behind the towering Seljalandsfoss waterfall
(conditions permitting). Join us for a special farewell dinner and our
fifth and final night of aurora viewing. |
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Day 8
Sat, Oct. 9
Breakfast / Lunch
Scenic drive and
flights onward |
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After checkout this morning, we’ll travel
west to the geothermal town of Hveragerdi and make a number of scenic
stops on the way to Keflavík. Following lunch, we’ll reach Keflavík
airport in time for our late-afternoon flights onward. |
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Note: Extreme weather conditions in
Iceland may affect access to some areas.
We reserve the right to change this itinerary as
conditions require. |
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WHAT TO EXPECT . . . |
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Weather in Iceland is 100%
variable, both day and night. It
is possible for us to experience
sunshine, rain, and snow — all
in one hour’s time! Travelers
need to be able to climb into
and out of high-suspension
buses, and carry their own
luggage. Participants must be
able to enjoy comfortably paced,
easy-to-moderate walks over
varied terrain, including uneven
trails that may be unpaved and
muddy. Walks tend to be short in
duration, but are often up and
down hills.
Daytime temperatures in October typically hover between
4-10°C (40-50°F), with evenings
a few degrees cooler. Rain,
sleet, or snow can be expected.
Evenings at our Iceland country
lodge tend to be clear and cold,
with temperatures hovering
between -2° and +2°C (25-35°F).
Although many locales claim that
if you don’t like the weather,
wait five minutes — this is
actually true in Iceland!
Travelers must be prepared for
any type of weather, even clear
sunny autumn days. |
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