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Experience the vast volcanic landscape, breathtaking glaciers, and hardy Viking hospitality that have been celebrated for centuries in Icelandic sagas. On this unique expedition, view towering volcanic pillars, hike to stunning waterfalls, soak in ancient geyser springs, and cruise an iceberg-strewn lagoon. Observe puffins along coastal cliffs, and discover the robust charm of Europe’s most secluded nation.
Days 1 and 2 New York/Reykjavík, Iceland
Depart for Reykjavík. Arrive the next morning and drive to our hotel, located in Thingvellir National Park. Later, take a scenic drive along Thingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest inland lake. Stand on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the mighty juncture of the American and European tectonic plates, which gives rise to Iceland’s volcanic nature. Enjoy a panorama of fissures, mountains, and a crystal clear lake fed by thousands of cold springs.
Hotel Valholl
(B,D)
Day 3 Geysir/Gullfoss/Hella
Drive east and marvel at Geysir hot springs and the spectacular Gullfoss waterfalls, a two-tiered, glacial cascade. See a replica of the ruins of a Viking community where the half-buried, turf-covered houses are well suited to the environment. Visit the Njáls and Skógar Museums to learn about the Icelandic sagas and traditional Icelandic life, and enjoy refreshments in the home of a local farmer.
Hotel Ranga
(B,D)
Day 4 Skaftafell National Park
Discover how powerful volcanoes found underneath large ice caps have affected Iceland's south shore. Walk on barren land amid the expansive fields of dried lava at Eldhraun, where the Apollo 13 crew trained during the 1960s. Continue to Skaftafell National Park, nestled between sliding glaciers at the foot of the glacier Vatnajökull. Stay at the Hotel Skaftafell, a family-run hotel located beneath the highest mountain pinnacles in Iceland.
Hotel Skaftafell
(B,D)
Day 5 Skaftafell National Park
Hike to Svartifoss waterfall and to the sliding glacier. This afternoon, take an optional wagon ride to the headland of Ingólfshofdi, where Ingólfur Arnarson, Iceland's first settler, originally landed. Get close-up views of cliff birds, including puffins and the great skua.
(B,D)
Day 6 Vatnajökull
Near Vatnajökull, take a boat ride on a glacial lagoon. Cruise among calved icebergs and search for playful seals along the shore. Drive along the dramatic fjords and through the desolate highlands to Lake Mývatn, an otherworldly region of craters, towering volcanic pillars, and boiling mud pots along the lakeshore.
Hotel Gigur
(B)
Day 7 Lake Mývatn
Hike to the Hverfell crater and Dimmuborgir, a vast field of towering volcanic pillars, before wandering along Lake Mývatn's volcanic shore, which features boiling mud pots and a giant crater.
(B)
Day 8 Jökulsárgljúfur National Park/Húsavík/Akureyri
Drive to Jökulsárgljúfur National Park to view Europe's most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss. Walk at Hljodaklettar, a labyrinth of basalt columns, and later explore the fishing town of Húsavík. This afternoon, join an optional whale-watching excursion under the bright midnight sun. En route to Akureyri, stop for a view of Godafoss, “the waterfall of the gods.”
Hotel Kea
(B,D)
Day 9 Akureyri/Reykjavík
Explore Akureyri's picturesque harbor or enjoy an optional horseback ride before flying to Reykjavík for a city tour and a look at historic manuscripts depicting the Icelandic sagas.
Hotel Borg
(B,D)
Day 10 Reykjavík/New York
After a swim in the turquoise geothermal water of the Blue Lagoon, transfer to the airport for your return flight.
(B)
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