Iceland Complete

ICELAND COMPLETE

Tour A: June 11 – 20, 2024
Tour B: July 16 – 25, 2024
Tour C: July 30 – August 8, 2024

Additional departures may be available.

Please note this tour is not operated by Brekke Tours, but by one of our Icelandic Travel Partners.

HIGHLIGHTS
Gullfoss Waterfall • Geysir hot spring • Thingvellir National Park • Vatnajökull National Park • Snaefellsjokull National Park • Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon • Lake Mývatn • Dettifoss Waterfall • Goðafoss Waterfall • Akureyri

ITINERARY INCLUDES

• 9 nights accommodations, double occupancy, with private facilities (please note hotels listed in itinerary are subject to change)
• Daily breakfast [B] and 5 dinners [D]
• Microbrewery visit and beer tasting in Breiddalsvik
• 1st-class touring coach per itinerary
• Roundtrip transfers via Flybus Shuttle (no guide)
• Whale watching cruise (3 hours)
• Entrance fees to all sites including: Fridheimar Geothermal Greenhouse, Stong Viking-age longhouse, Horse Show in Skagafjordur, and Bjarnarhofn Shark Museum
• Tour Director for Days 2 – 9

 

ITINERARY – 10 DAYS

DAY 1     JUNE 11 / JULY 16 / JULY 30
Arrive Reykjavik: Welcome to the Land of Fire and Ice! Independent transfer (no guide) on Flybus shuttle from Keflavík International Airport to Reykjavík. Balance of day free to explore Reykjavík.  If you arrive earlier in the day, you might consider adding a day tour. We’d be happy to make suggestions based on your interests. One of our favorite activities after a long flight is to visit one of the neighborhood geothermal pools. It is so refreshing to relax in the warm water, breathing in the fresh Icelandic air. It’s a great way to get to see Icelandic daily life and maybe meet a few locals. It’s also nice to take a stroll in the old city center, perhaps visiting one of the museums or relaxing with a cup of coffee in a cozy café.  Early this evening there will be an informational meeting at the hotel with your guide. You’ll learn more about the tour and meet other tour participants.  Dinner this evening is at your leisure. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital.  Overnight at Foss Hotel Reykjavik.

Please note that hotels in Iceland start check-in around 14:00 (2:00pm), and early check-in is not guaranteed. Most hotels will be happy to store your luggage if you are not able to check in early.

DAY 2     JUNE 12 / JULY 17 / JULY 31                                   [B,D]
Reykjavik―Golden Circle―Hveragerdi: Breakfast at your hotel.  Meet your guide and start your Iceland adventure!  After a quick introductory of our home city of Reykjavik, head to Lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest lake and Thingvellir National Park. This UNESCO heritage site is where the world’s oldest continuing parliamentary government was founded in the 10th century. It is also the place where the North American and European tectonic plates meet. You will have the unusual experience of walking between two continents!  Next on your journey is Gullfoss, the “Golden Waterfall”, where various walking paths give you photo-worthy views of the beautiful double-ledged cascade. You’ll also visit the nearby Geysir hot spring area to see the famous Geysir and Strokkur, as well as numerous other hot springs and boiling mud pools.  During the day you’ll get a glimpse into Icelandic local life. Visit an Icelandic family farm where tomatoes are grown using organic geothermal energy. Tour the greenhouse and sample some of the farm’s sweet Icelandic tomatoes.  The day ends in Hveragerdi, a pretty town located in an active geothermal area. The locals have made clever use of underground hot springs to provide heat for homes, as well as greenhouses that grow flowers, fruits and vegetables.  Dinner and overnight at Hotel Ork.

DAY 3     JUNE 13 / JULY 18 / AUGUST 1                              [B,D]
Hveragerdi―Vik:  Breakfast at your hotel.  Explore enchanting Thjorsardalur valley and its ever-changing landscapes of birch woods, sandy lava fields, rivers, and waterfalls. If the skies are clear, you’ll also see the impressive and beautiful Mt. Hekla volcano towering over the region. Visit Stong, where you can view a replica of a Viking-age longhouse that was buried by a volcanic eruption of Hekla. The area was a filming location for Game of Thrones Season 4. Drive along the scenic farmlands of Iceland’s South Shore. Stop to admire the scenic waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. Each waterfall has its own charm. Continue to Dyrholaey* and the thundering waves of the Reynisfjara black sand beaches. End the day in Vik, Iceland’s southernmost town. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Vik located in Iceland’s southernmost town.

*Please note that Dyrholaey is closed for the bird nesting season between mid-May and the 25^th of June.

DAY 4     JUNE 14 / JULY 19 / AUGUST 2                              [B]
Vik―Skaftafell―Höfn:  Breakfast at your hotel.  Today you will be in a world of glaciers! You’ll be visiting the southern area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. The total park area covers almost 14% of Iceland, making it the largest national park in Western Europe. Drive through vast sand plains created by glacial outwashes as you head east. Visit the national park’s famous Skaftafell area, a site of outstanding natural beauty. Enjoy the views of rich green landscapes and black sands dominated by several magnificent glaciers. You’ll also see Svinafellsjokull, one of the most beautiful glacial “tongues” that are slowly creeping down from Vatnajokull.  Visit Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon where you’ll enjoy the breath-taking sight of icebergs floating in the fantastic 180m (591 ft.) deep glacial lagoon. You also have the option of enjoying a boat tour amid the ice bergs (must be booked in advance). Nearby is the dramatic beauty of the Diamond Beach, named for the shrinking icebergs that settle on the black sands before drifting out to sea.  Your overnight is in Hofn, a fishing port in the shadow of Vatnajokull glacier. Dinner is on your own. Hofn has a nice selection of restaurants and cafes. The local specialty is langoustines (Norway lobsters). Overnight at Hotel Höfn.

DAY 5     JUNE 15 / JULY 20 / AUGUST 3                              [B,D]
Höfn―East Fjords―Egilsstadir: Breakfast at your hotel. Drive from Hofn through Almannaskard pass, stopping to admire the majestic coastline. Continue to the towering mountains plunging vertically into the sea that form the magnificent East Fjords. We’re sure you’ll love the amazing views, so keep your camera ready. You will also pass villages, each with its own special history and charm. One of these is the tiny village of Breiddalsvik. Your group will visit the Beljandi Microbrewery and sample some of the wonderful beer. The local community came together in 2017 to transform a rustic warehouse into a charmingly quirky brewery. You’ll meet one of the townsfolk and get a feel for life in a small Icelandic town, as well as see how great beer is made.  The road brings you to Egilsstadir town, located near Iceland’s largest forest and a lake said to be home to a legendary (friendly) monster.  Dinner and overnight at Hotel Hallormsstadur.

DAY 6     JUNE 16 / JULY 21 / AUGUST 4                               [B,D]
Egilsstadir―Lake Mývatn:  Breakfast at your hotel. Explore the empty vastness of the highland desert plateau Modrudalsoraefi, desolate and yet hauntingly beautiful, as you head towards the Lake Myvatn area.  Visit fantastical Studlagil, an impressive canyon made of basalt columns that seem to resemble organ pipes. A viewing platform near the canyon lets you enjoy the canyon’s unique features. Studlagil is one of Iceland’s largest basalt formations. You can see how basalt columns like these influenced the design of Reykjavik’s Hallgrimskirkja church.  Stop at Dettifoss, Europe’s largest and most powerful waterfall. Continue onwards to the Namaskard pass with its boiling mud pools and vibrant colors. We often feel like we are visiting another planet when we come here, and you may feel the same way. It’s such a surreal experience!  Walk along the pseudo craters at Skutustadir and peek into Grjotagja, a cave with underground hot springs. Explore the peculiar lava formations at Dimmuborgir. They look as if they were built by fantasy creatures. Legend has it that elves live here, so be respectful during your visit.  You’ll definitely see why the surreal Myvatn area has become so popular as a movie location.  Dinner and overnight at Laxa Hotel.

DAY 7     JUNE 17 / JULY 22 / AUGUST 5                                [B]
Lake Mývatn―Akureyri:  Breakfast at your hotel. Start your day’s adventure with visiting sites in the Myvatn area. Next, head to magnificent Godafoss waterfall, one of North Iceland’s most important symbols. You will also learn how the waterfall got its interesting name.  Afterwards, you’ll head to Akureyri, the colorful northern “capital“ of Iceland. The town has charming buildings and a beautiful view of the Eyjafjordur fjord. Though small in size, Akureyri has a lively cultural scene.  Enjoy a whale watching boat tour from Akureyri in Eyjafjordur fjord.  The rest of the day is open for you to explore Akureyri. If you’re interested in culture, check out the trendy Listagil area, the “Art Canyon.” You can stroll the street here, browsing art galleries and stopping in at one of the friendly cafes or pubs for delicious, locally sourced food. Several museums are worth a visit. The botanical garden is open year-round; many visitors find it interesting that a garden so close to the Arctic Circle has such a large variety of plants. Akureyri also has a nice variety of restaurants, so you’ll enjoy the chance to dine out tonight.  Dinner on own. Overnight at Berjaya Iceland Hotel Akureyri.

DAY 8     JUNE 18 / JULY 23 / AUGUST 6                               [B,D]
Akureyri―Borgarnes:  Breakfast at your hotel. Icelanders consider the Skagafjordur area to be one of the country’s finest places for horse breeding. Enjoy an introduction to the unique Icelandic horse breed with its special fifth gait – the tolt. This horse breed has remained unchanged since Viking times.  Cross the Holtavorduheidi plateau taking you into West Iceland. Drive through Borgarfjordur, a region that has been getting international recognition for its lovely volcanic and wooded scenery and for its Viking history. Walk up to the top of Grabrok crater for an amazing view. Listen to the powerful rushing waters of Deildartunguhver, Europe’s mightiest hot spring area. Stop to admire the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfalls, where brightly blue water rushes through black lava formations. Nearby is Barnafoss, a waterfall with even more brilliantly blue colors. There is an interesting and poignant legend associated with this waterfall.  Dinner and overnight Hotel Hamar in the Borgarfjordur area.

DAY 9     JUNE 19 / JULY 24 / AUGUST 7                                [B]
Borgarnes―Reykjavik:  Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will explore the amazing variety of natural landscapes in Snaefellsjokull National Park. The park’s crown jewel is Snaefellsjokull glacier itself, which covers a dormant volcano that last erupted in 250 AD. In addition, you’ll also see Kirkjufell, one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland. Walk along the uniquely pebbled seascape of Djupalonssandur beach. At the picturesque harbor village of Arnarstapi, you can observe magnificent basalt rocks in stacked formations.  One Icelandic Saga mentions that Snaefellsnes and its people are protected by a benevolent half troll who lives high on the glacier. You might even find a sense of magic and healing energy in this beautiful peninsula.  During the day, your group will visit Bjarnarhofn Shark Museum, where you’ll learn about “hakarl,” the cured shark meat specialty that Icelanders have enjoyed since Viking time. You can even try some for yourself (if you dare).  At the end of the afternoon, your motor coach heads back to Reykjavik. Your guide will bid you farewell at your hotel. Dinner on own. Overnight at Foss Hotel Reykjavik.

DAY 10     JUNE 20 / JULY 25 / AUGUST 8                            [B]
Reykjavik―Depart: Tour ends following breakfast. Independent transfer (no guide) on Flybus shuttle to the Keflavik Airport for return flight.

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