NCE Iceland & Westman Island Tour August 18-26, 2021 Tour Director: Samantha Mandel Contact: Samantha Mandel NCE Travel Director [email protected] (857) 636-0921 Trip Itinerary: Note that this is an outline itinerary. There is built-in flexibility to make modifications based on the group’s desires. August 18 (Day 1): Reykjavik Explore the city – museums, restaurants, galleries, bars, and nightlife! Arrive on your own according to your schedule, and check into your hotel in Reykjavik! Reykjavik is the capital city of Iceland and it is chock-full of museums, restaurants, galleries, bars, culture, and nightlife. You can choose to explore the city on your own, or with Samantha as a guide. Samantha will be taking those who are interested on optional excursions such as: • 2-hour guided walking tour • Visit the Perlan – great 360 degree views of Reykjavik! • Lighthouse • Museums • Sculpture garden • Arbaer Open Air Living History museum For those who are interested in music or a show, we will work with you to make those bookings. Spend the night in comfort in Reykjavik. August 19 (Day 2): Golden Circle History, Geology, Waterfalls, Geysers, Rift Valley and Volcanoes! For our first day outside of Reykjavik, we will travel with our dedicated bus and wonderful guide Eyja to see some of the best-known natural phenomena in Iceland. • The first stop will be Þingvellir National Park, where you can walk between the rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (where two continental tectonic plates meet), and explore an area which plays a huge role in Iceland’s heritage. • Then, our knowledgeable guide will take us to the Althing, the world’s oldest Parliament which was founded in 930 AD. This is also the site where Iceland converted to Christianity and declared its independence from Denmark. • Our next stop will be the geothermal valley of Haukadalur, where we will see powerful geysers among many bubbling hot springs. Strokkur Geysir erupts every 10 minutes or so, to heights that exceed 20 m (66 ft). • Then we will visit Iceland's most popular attraction, the mighty waterfall of Gullfoss. A pathway will take us to the water's edge, so we can observe the incredible power of the falling water! • We will continue to the volcanic crater of Kerið, which is well worth the visit. The crater rocks are incredible shades of red and orange, in sharp contrast to the water in the bowl which is a vivid blue! It’s a sight that you won’t soon forget. • We will see Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which you can walk all the way around for some great photos. • Tonight, we take a beautiful ferry ride to the remote and picturesque Westman Islands! We may see some puffins along the way. If this sounds like a lot of driving, don’t worry! Iceland is a small country and we will be spending more time off the bus than on. Stay on the picturesQue Westman Islands. Go for a walk and see some puffins! August 20 (Day 3): Westman Islands! Puffins, Pompeii of the North, and More! • Today we experience the ethereal beauty of the islands by sea! Our gorgeous boat ride around the island will show us puffins (aww!) and maybe also whales! • For those who desire, we’ll visit the Pompeii of the North museum, which contains fascinating exhibits on the excavation of eruptions and geology and volcanic activity. • Want to stretch your legs? Today we can take a walk with our incredibly knowledgeable guide through a lava field to a volcano! Eyja will tell us all about the geography of the region and how these unique islands were formed. • Spend part of the day at your leisure to see the History Museum or Whale Museum (all walking distance from our hotel), or enjoy a longer guided hike with Eyja and Samantha. • Tonight, we take the ferry back to the mainland and stay near beautiful Skógafoss Waterfall. Stay the night near majestic Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls. August 21 (Day 4): South Coast & Glacier! Black Sand Beaches, Rock Formations, Glaciers, and Boat the Glacier Lagoon! • Today, we will participate in a beautiful glacier hike! This was one of the favorite activities for last year’s group. The hike will include walking and a small amount of elevation, so it requires good mobility and the ability to walk for 2 miles at a pace of 1 mile per hour. It does not require previous glacier hiking experience or athletic levels of physical fitness. • Then we head to the coast of Vik, where we will admire the black volcanic beach and the dramatic Dyrhólaey and Reynisdrangar rock formations. • We’ll drive along the South coast, passing stunning volcanic deserts and an incredible view of the Vatnajökull glacier. • We will go for an exciting zodiac boat ride that gets us up close and personal with the icebergs of one of Iceland’s most famous and beautiful attractions, the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon! • We will walk along Diamond Beach, where small ice floes wash up on the shore and sparkle like gems. • We will stay near the lagoon and enjoy our gorgeous natural surroundings and a delicious meal. Stay the night near the Glacier Lagoon in the heart of Icelandic nature. August 22 (Day 5): Eastern Fjords & Horse-back Riding! Breathtaking fjords, fascinating history, and a unique breed of horses not found anywhere else! • Today, we will have some of the most spectacular views of the trip. We will go on a rollercoaster ride around the rolling hills and seemingly countless fjords of the eastern coastline. These fjords are breathtaking! The great Vatnajökull glacier lies to the west, visible as we cross the high mountain ridges to make our way north. We’ll take photo stops! • The many idyllic fishing villages en route make for perfect rest stops. We will have many opportunities to learn more about Icelandic history and culture, for example by visiting the fascinating Icelandic Maritime and Fishing History Museum. • The East Fjords are also home to some of the greatest diversity of wildlife in the county. They have many incredible bird-watching sites and seal colonies, and the east is the only place in the country where you can spot herds of wild reindeer. • This afternoon, we have some choices! We can enjoy the fjords from horseback with the Eldhestar, Iceland’s special sturdy breed of horse, take a guided boat ride through the fjords to see wildlife, or do a beautiful nature walk. If the group’s wishes are divided, we may split the group so that everyone gets to do their activity of choice. • Tonight, we will enjoy a specially included (and delicious) group meal. Brave souls can try shark, reindeer, and Black Death! Stay the night in East Iceland, one of Iceland’s most pristine and least populated areas. August 23 (Day 6): Dip in the Thermal Baths, Canyons, and a Lake! • Today, we will head to the Lake Mývatn area, an area known for its unique and stunning geothermal landscapes. • First, we will enjoy one of the highlights of the trip, a soak in the geothermal Vök Baths! The hot water here is so pure, it’s certified as drinkable. Think Blue Lagoon, without the crowds. • After our relaxing soak and lunch, we will visit Dettifoss. Set in a canyon in the middle of a lunar-esque landscape, this is the most powerful waterfall in Europe. • Then, we will continue on to a very different kind of geothermal site: the Namaskarð Geothermal Site. The rainbow-colored bubbling earth and powerful natural steam vents are like nothing you’ve seen before! • Tonight we’ll stay by the beautiful Lake Mývatn, one of the prettiest areas in Iceland. You can explore the lake right from our hotel! Stay the night by beautiful Lake Mývatn. August 24 (Day 7): Geothermal Sites, Whale Watching & Fishing, or Beer Factory! • We’ll start the day off with a visit to Goðafoss Waterfall, a liquid stunner that often offers up rainbows! This waterfall played a key role in Iceland’s transition from paganism to Christianity. • We’ll enjoy lunch on our own in the city of Akureyri, known as the “capital of the North” and a hotspot for restaurants, shopping, views, museums, and more. • A la carte afternoon: Travelers will have the choice of going horseback riding on the special Icelandic breed of Eldhestar OR whale-watching and fishing with Icelandic fishermen (brave souls can process shark!) and eat the fish we catch OR travelers can visit a brewery & bathe in beer at an Icelandic beer spa! • We will stay near the beautiful seaside village of Hvammstangi. Stay near the beautiful seaside village of Hvammstangi. August 25 (Day 8): History, Waterfalls, & Wool Factory! • This morning, we will take a tour of an Icelandic wool factory. We’ll have plenty of time for shopping for discounted wool souvenirs! • After our wool factory visit, we’ll have some of the most delicious food of the trip for lunch. • Next, we see our last two waterfalls of the trip, Barnafossar and Hraunfossar. Instead of coming from a river, these powerful spring-fed waterfalls come right out of the ground! • We’ll visit Snorrastofa, a medieval research institute where Iceland’s most famous poet, politician, and historian, Snorri Sturluson, wrote the saga Heimskringla and the bible of old Norse mythology Edda in the 13th century. An expert researcher will give us a tour, including a visit to Snorri’s still- extant 13th-century hot tub! • We’ll spend the night in Reykjavik and enjoy the city cultural offerings once more.