YOUR O.A.T. ADVENTURE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE®

Untamed Iceland 2023

Small Groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! (average of 13)

Overseas Adventure Travel ® The Leader in Personalized Small Group Adventures on the Road Less Traveled 1 Dear Traveler,

For me, one of the joys of traveling is the careful planning that goes into an adventure—from the first spark of inspiration to hours spent poring over travel books about my dream destinations—and I can’t wait to see where my next journey will take me. I know you’re eager to explore the world, too, and our Untamed Iceland itinerary described inside is an excellent way to start.

Exactly how your adventure unfolds is up to you, because you have many choices to customize it. You can arrive early and stay later—perhaps by adding a pre- or post-trip extension, spending time in a Stopover city, or combining 2 or more trips. Plus, your itinerary is laced with free time, so you’ll have opportunities to do your own thing. More than 80% of the travelers who reserve this trip choose to tailor their adventure. In fact, O.A.T. is the only travel company to offer such flexibility and choice for an experience that is truly personalized.

As for Untamed Iceland, thanks to your small group of 8-16 travelers (average 13) you can expect some unforgettable experiences. Here are a few that stood out for me:

While I stood in awe of Iceland’s dramatic landscapes and raw natural beauty, I was most impressed by its people and their dedication to protecting the environment and to each other. You’ll see what I mean when you visit the Search and Rescue Center—a new partner of the Grand Circle Foundation with around 10,000 individuals who provide life-saving services, such as sea and mountain rescues, to communities across Iceland. But the most moving stories of all were the ones I heard directly from the local people I met. You’ll meet them, too, and hear their personal experiences when you meet with members of the Search and Rescue Center’s youth program and learn about what motivates them to volunteer.

You’ll also have a rare opportunity to learn about daily life when we spend a night at a family-run farm in Hofsstadir. You’ll meet the owner, Toti, and get an intimate look into life on the farm as we walk the grounds, speak with farm workers about their responsibilities, and hear from Toti’s daughter, Heidi, about life as a young lady living and working on a farm in this remote part of Iceland.

The way we see it, you’ve come a long way to experience the true culture—not some fairytale version of it. That’s why we don’t shy away from controversial topics, and why all our Trip Experience Leaders are “insiders” who live in the country. At times you may be nudged out of your comfort zone. But you will also be inspired by the resilience and humanity of the wonderful people you meet. And that’s what adventure travel is all about.

Thanks for letting me dream along with you about Untamed Iceland. I’m looking forward to experiencing the enrichment that only travel can bring, and I hope you are, too. Until then, feel free to call our Regional Adventure Counselors at 1-800-955-1925.

Love and peace,

Harriet R. Lewis Vice Chairman, Overseas Adventure Travel

P.S. Inspire fellow travelers with videos and slideshows of your most memorable travel moments from past adventures. You can upload them directly onto the trip-specific pages on our website, or learn more at www.oattravel.com/traveler-moments.

USA Today “Best Tours” 10Best Readers’ Presented by Choice Awards Solo Traveler

2 CONTENTS

A Letter from Harriet Lewis ...... 2 The O.A.T. Difference...... 4 The Freedom to Personalize Your Experience ...... 6 Grand Circle Foundation...... 8 The Leader in Solo Travel ...... 9

UNTAMED ICELAND ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS: Your Adventure at a Glance: CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE Where You’re Going, What it Costs, Icelandic Culture ...... 74 and What’s Included ...... 10 Religion and Religious Observance ...... 75 Your Detailed Day-To-Day Itinerary ...... 12 Language ...... 75 Pre-Trip Extensions ...... 30 Shopping: What to Buy, Customs, Post-Trip Extensions ...... 41 Shipping & More ...... 80 Dates & Prices ...... 50 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION Iceland ...... 83 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 83 Travel Documents & Entry Requirements. . . 51 Iceland: A Brief History ...... 84 No Visas Required ...... 51 Greenland ...... 85 Rigors, Vaccines & General Health ...... 53 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 85 Vaccines Required ...... 54 Greenland: A Brief History ...... 86 Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping Guidelines ...... 56 Denmark ...... 87 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 87 Tipping Guidelines...... 59 Denmark: A Brief History ...... 88 Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch ..... 60 Optional Tours ...... 61 RESOURCES Communicating with Home from Abroad . . 61 Suggested Reading ...... 90 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . . . 63 Suggested Packing Lists ...... 65 Suggested Film & Video ...... 92 Electricity Abroad ...... 69 Climate & Average Temperatures ...... 71

Notes...... 95 Map ...... 99

3 EXPERIENCE THE O.A.T. DIFFERENCE in Iceland

This adventure not only showcases iconic sights, but takes you beyond them to experience the culture through unique activities, engagement with the natural world, and authentic encounters with local people. Since our founding in 1978, O.A.T. has become America’s leader in personalized small group journeys on the road less traveled. SMALL GROUPS: 8-16 TRAVELERS LOCAL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION (AVERAGE OF 13)—GUARANTEED To see the world like the locals, you should The world feels more intimate and engaging travel like one. Our small group size allows when your experience of it is also personal us to take the roads and waterways that are and genuine. That’s why our groups never less traveled, and we often follow them using exceed 16 travelers. This gives you access to the same unique modes of transportation people and places larger groups simply can’t that the locals use—be it a canoe, a camel or a reach. More authentic interactions. Deeper vintage cab. bonds with your travel mates. Personal service from your Trip Experience Leader. Smoother UNIQUE LODGINGS transitions. And a far more satisfying Our lodgings reflect the local character, experience than any traditional tour offers. from smaller family-run hotels and historic manors to comfy inns. Occasionally, larger THE BEST TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADERS hotels closer to city centers are used. Wherever Your English-speaking, O.A.T. Trip Experience you stay, you’re assured fine comfort and Leader is a resident of the region you are hospitality. visiting, so you will get a true insider’s perspective that brings each place alive—the OUR WORLDWIDE OFFICES stories, food, customs, hidden treasures With 36 regional offices around the world, and more. we are perfectly poised to leverage our local relationships to deliver an excellent experience AUTHENTIC CULTURAL CONNECTIONS and value. During this trip, you’ll be supported Engage with local people through visits to by our team in Reykjavik. farms, factories, markets, and artisans’ studios; school visits; Home-Hosted meals; and more.

Witness Iceland's natural bounty at Godafoss Waterfall Share a Home-Hosted meal with a family in Akureyri, Iceland

4 THE PILLARS OF DISCOVERY En riching. Inspiring. Unforgettable. These features form the foundation of your Untamed Iceland adventure.

GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION (GCF) as the survival of the wild North Atlantic VISIT Salmon population. GCF was established in 1992 to help change A DAY IN THE LIFE people’s lives in the world where we live, Do you ever wonder, “What would it be like work, and travel. To date, we have pledged or to live here?” when you visit new lands? Let’s donated $200 million worldwide. find out during your O.A.T. A Day in the Life, an You’ll see GCF’s work in action when we visit exclusive, immersive experience that places Reykjavik’s Search and Rescue Center—a new you in the heart of a community where you’ll partner of the Grand Circle Foundation— meet various people where they live, work, where we’ll meet with members of its youth and play; visit the neighborhood school; lend a program to hear about the vital services hand with daily chores; and break bread with this volunteer organization provides to local our hosts. communities, including sea and mountain This adventure includes A Day in the Life rescues, unblocking roads due to ice and snow, experience in Hofsstadir, a small town in evaluating safety equipment, providing safety the Icelandic countryside where we’ll get an education, and more. intimate look into everyday life on a family- CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS run farm. We’ll discover the inner workings of the property and the farmer’s small Every culture has its joys and achievements, businesses, learn about the iconic Icelandic and we celebrate them all. But every place horse, and help out with daily chores. also has its challenges, and to gloss over them would not do justice to those whose stories HOME-HOSTED EXPERIENCES need to be told—nor to you, as a traveler who Stories shared. Differences solved. Taste buds deserves more than a sugar-coated version of engaged. Good will extended. It’s amazing the things. So our Trip Experience Leaders will things that can happen across a kitchen table, lead frank discussions on controversial issues, so we’ll break into groups of 4-5 to join a local and introduce you to people whose stories will family in their home for a snack or a meal. expand your understanding. This is a rare opportunity to witness family For example, we’ll visit the Ocean Cluster life, learn local customs, and taste some House in Reykjavik where we’ll delve home-cooked fare. into the intricacies of the $3-million fish On this adventure, we’ll connect with farming industry. We’ll gain insights into the Icelandic culture on a more intimate level importance of the salmon farming industry when we share a meal with a local family in to the national economy when we speak with their home. We’ll sample traditional Icelandic entrepreneurs about their products. Then, foods and get an authentic look into what life we’ll hear from a local environmentalist is really like in Akureyri as the family goes about the risks that fish farming poses to about their evening routine. Iceland’s pristine natural landscapes, as well

5 You're in control with THE FREEDOM TO PERSONALIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE Exclusively with O.A.T. Your Choice. Your Adventure. Your Way.

It’s your adventure, so why not make it exactly what you want it to be? We offer an exclusive variety of options that let you tailor your adventure so it’s completely your own. In fact, O.A.T. is the only travel company to offer this level of flexibility and choice for a truly personalized experience.

PRE- OR POST-TRIP EXTENSIONS 2. Great value: All extensions include Every O.A.T. adventure offers at least one accommodations, daily breakfast, and optional pre-trip and one post-trip extension. airport transfers. Here’s why more than 55% of O.A.T. travelers 3. Continuity and camaraderie: You’ll usually choose to take a pre- or post-trip extension: travel with the same Trip Experience 1. You’ll maximize your discoveries—often Leader who leads your main trip, enjoying in an even smaller group than your main more of his or her insider expertise—and adventure (on average, 6 travelers with a more time to bond with the group. dedicated Trip Experience Leader)—and take advantage of your included airfare.

Optional Extensions offered with your Iceland adventure

Westman Islands: Volcanic Landscapes NEW! East Iceland’s Secluded Beauty: & Puffins Waterfalls, Glaciers & Hot Springs 3 nights pre-trip from $1795 7 nights pre-trip from $3495

Westman Islands, Iceland Growlers, Jökulsárlón Bay, Iceland

Greenland's Natural Splendor NEW! The Faroe Islands Archipelago & & Inuit Culture Copenhagen 4 nights post-trip from $2895 6 nights post-trip from $2995

Kulusuk, Greenland Atlantic puffin, Faroe Islands, Iceland

6 ARRIVE EARLY, STAY LATER Other O.A.T. Stopovers are available. If the Extending your time abroad—with us or city you’re interested in is not offered, our on your own—is the best way to broaden Regional Adventure Counselors can arrange your experience. It’s also a practical way your airfare. to maximize the value of the international COMBINE ADVENTURES airfare covered in your main itinerary. You’re already overseas. Why not see more and Expand Your Discoveries Before maximize your value by avoiding the cost and or After Your Adventure length of another international flight? Here’s Arrive early in the first destination on your why 2,250 O.A.T. travelers combined two or pre-trip extension or main adventure, or stay more adventures in 2019: later in the last city on your main adventure or • Save a total of $600-$3000 per person when post-trip extension. By coming early, you can you combine two adventures compared to rest after your flight and adjust—with time to the cost of taking each trip separately. explore. By staying later, you have extra time • Apply the 5% or 6% Frequent Traveler to relax, pack, or continue exploring. Credit you earn on your first trip to your This option lets you take advantage of our second trip. lower group rates, with prices from $175 per • Sir Edmund Hillary Club members save an person per night—including accommodations, extra $250-$350 per person when booking private airport transfer, and daily breakfast. multiple trips in a calendar year. • Arrive early in Selfoss on your main trip for • Our Regional Adventure Counselors make all $125 per person, per night the arrangements for a seamless experience. • Arrive early on your East Iceland pre-trip Combine this trip with our New! Arctic extension, or conclude your main trip or your Expedition: Untamed Norway & Svalbard Greenland post-trip extension in Reykjavik adventure—for a total cost of $15,190-$18,590 for $175 per person, per night per person—and save $700-$1400 per person • Conclude your Faroe Islands post-trip versus taking each trip separately. extension with more time in Copenhagen for AIR PREFERENCES $125 per person, per night 54% of our travelers customize their air Accommodations are at the same hotels where itineraries: you begin or end the main trip and optional • Choose your departure city and airline extensions, so transitions will be seamless. • NEW! Stopover in any major international city Depart from one city and return to another • Upgrade to Premium Economy or Travelers with O.A.T. airfare have the Business Class opportunity to Stopover in popular cities. Your price includes 3 nights accommodations, FREEDOM OF CHOICE DURING YOUR daily breakfasts, and roundtrip private airport ADVENTURE transfers. Here are a few popular destinations: Our itineraries provide a balance of included • Helsinki: $695 per person activities and free time so you always have the flexibility to participate in included • London or Paris: $895 per person activities, go off on your own entirely, or do a • Copenhagen: $995 per person mix of both.

7 GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION Changing people’s lives, one village, one school, one person at a time

GIVING BACK TO THE WORLD WE TRAVEL Dear Traveler, Since our inception in 1992, the Grand Circle In 1992 we established Grand Circle Foundation has pledged or donated more than Foundation, an entity of the Lewis Family $200 million to projects around the world. Foundation, as a means to give back to the world that had already given us so JOIN OUR GENEROUS TRAVELERS much. We’ve pledged or donated more We consider each and every one of our travelers than $200 million worldwide to support to be partners in our worldwide giving. the education of young people and the Some travelers, however, are so inspired by preservation of international treasures the schools and villages they visit, they are and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. compelled to give more. In fact, our travelers have donated more than $1 million in 2019 Of course, none of this would be possible alone. And because we have no administrative without your help. A portion of the costs, 100% of donations are used to help proceeds of every adventure is donated to change people’s lives. Grand Circle Foundation—so just as your life will be enriched by the discoveries BETTER OUR OWN COMMUNITIES— you’ll make on your journey, you’ll also ALL AROUND THE WORLD help to enrich the lives of the people you’ll In addition to the destinations where we travel, meet along the way. we strive to better the communities where Thank you for traveling with us, and for we work—from our headquarters in Boston helping to change people’s lives. to our 36 offices around the world. In Boston, more than 99% of our associates participate Love and peace, in community service each year. Worldwide, nearly all of our offices organize annual community service events of their own. Harriet R. Lewis Chair, Grand Circle Foundation How you can help To learn more about ongoing Foundation projects, you can sign up for our weekly e-newsletter, the Inside Scoop, at www.oattravel.com/community/the- inside-scoop. When you do, you’ll not only receive updates on Grand Circle Foundation, but the latest news and discoveries on all things Grand Circle and Overseas Adventure Travel.

SCAN ME See how Grand Circle Foundation is giving back in this video Open the camera feature on your mobile device, and hover the lens over this code to scan it. A pop-up notification will take you www.grandcirclefoundation.org directly to the video.

8 THE LEADER IN SOLO TRAVEL in Iceland—and Around the World

ON THIS ADVENTURE … FREE Single Supplements: We don’t charge The leader in solo-friendly a single supplement on this adventure and travel for Americans—by optional trip extensions—a savings of $900- the numbers $1,895 per person compared to other travel companies. But single spaces fill quickly, so early reservations are advised. More than 50% of all O.A.T. travelers are women who travel solo One of our most popular trips for solo travelers. More than 1,600 solo travelers joined us on this adventure in 2018 and In 2022, we’re offering 30,000 2019—either independently or sharing singles spaces across all O.A.T. a room with a mother, daughter, sister, adventures. That’s 86% more than or friend. offered in 2019 High ratings: More than 92% of these solo travelers rated their adventure excellent. 92% of our 30,000 single spaces On average, half of your group will also have FREE Single Supplements. The be traveling independently, so it’s easy remaining 8% have the lowest single to forge special bonds as you experience supplements in the industry. unforgettable moments together.

You’ll be in good hands, thanks to your In 2022, we’re offering 25 exclusive dedicated local Trip Experience Leader (a women’s departures on some of our resident of Iceland), and the expertise of our most popular itineraries regional office team in Reykjavik.

Increased Single Space: In 2023, we have up to 7 single spaces per departure. NEW! 101+ SCAN ME See available FREE single space at Tips for Solo www.oattravel.com/ice2023. Women Travelers This complimentary, 96-page booklet is a comprehensive collection of savvy tips specifically for seasoned women travelers going solo. Learn about safety for solos, packing like a pro, the best travel apps, self-care on the road, and more. Scan this code to view an online copy or to request one by mail.

9 Our best value in 3 years—up to $600 per person less than in 2019 Enhanced! Untamed Iceland Small Group Adventure Iceland: Selfoss, Borgarnes, Akureyri, Reykjavik

Countries: 1 | Cities : 4

Small groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! It’s Included (average of 13) • Explore in a small group of 8-16 • 25 meals—12 breakfasts, 7 lunches, FROM PER DAY DAYS travelers (average group size of 13) and 6 dinners (including 1 Home- Hosted Dinner) $4795 $369 13 • International airfare, airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline fuel • 25 small group activities surcharges unless you choose to make Including international airfare Services of a local O.A.T. Trip your own air arrangements (please • Experience Leader FREE Single Supplement note due to government actions taxes may change) • Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters • All land transportation and 1 Maximize Your internal flight • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next adventure—an Accommodations for 11 nights, plus 1 Discoveries & Value • average of $353 night in the U.S. on trips that return in Optional extension s : September and October (does not apply to travelers whose final destination is Westman Islands: Volcanic New York or Boston) Landscapes & Puffins 3 nights pre-trip from $1795 Travel from only $599 per night SCAN ME New! East Iceland’s Secluded Beauty: Watch our #1 most popular video Waterfalls, Glaciers & Hot Springs for this adventure 7 nights pre-trip from $3495 Travel from only $500 per night Open the camera feature on your mobile device, and hover the lens over this code to scan it. A pop-up notification will Greenland’s Natural Splendor & take you directly to the video. Inuit Culture 4 nights post-trip from $2895 Travel from only $724 per night New! The Faroe Islands Archipelago & Copenhagen 6 nights post-trip from $2995 Travel from only $500 per night PLUS, see Dates & Prices for Stopover city options

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Iceland

Untamed Iceland

10 Itinerary Summary PRE-TRIP EXTENSIONS Greenland Sea Keflavík I C E L A Siglufjörður N Pre-trip extensions: 3 nights in Westman Selfoss D Dalvik Islands: Volcanic Landscapes & Puffins OR s ðafos Atlantic Hofsstaðir Go New! 7 nights in East Iceland’s Secluded Ocean Landeyjarhofn Akureyri Skutustadir Westman Islands Lake Myvatn Beauty: Waterfalls, Glaciers & Hot Springs

Atlantic Ocean Húsavík Dettifoss POST-TRIP EXTENSIONS Waterfall DAYS DESTINATION L. Myvatn Snæfellsnes GREENLAND National Park ICELAND Greenland ICELAND Sea Fáskrúðsfjörður 1 Fly to Reykjavik, Iceland Ammassalik Borgarnes ICELAND Vatnajökull Höfn .P. Kulusuk Reykjavík ellir N ngv Reykjavík Thi Gullfoss Atlantic Ocean 2-3 Selfoss Reykjavík Geysir Keflavík Blue Selfoss ICELAND Norwegian Reykjavík Y Lagoon Arbaejarsafn Sea A 4-5 Borgarnes vik W inda Kötlujökull R Gr Torshavn To/From U.S. Glacier O Seljalandsfoss FAROE IS. N Internal flight Atlantic 6 Horse Farm • Hofstaddir Land route Vik Ferry route Atlantic Ocean Ocean U.K. Copenhagen 050Miles DENMARK 7-9 Akureyri

10-12 Fly to Reykjavik What to Expect 13 Return to U.S.

Post-trip extensions: 4 nights in Greenland’s Natural Splendor & Inuit Pacing: 4 locations in 12 days with one 1-night stay Culture OR New! 6 nights in The Faroe Physical requirements: Travel over bumpy, gravelly, and sometimes icy roads, and Islands Archipelago & Copenhagen walk over rugged and slippery paths. Board a boat for whale-watching during which you may get wet. Flight Time: Travel time will be 5-18 hours and will most likely have one connection

View all physical requirements at www.oattravel.com/ice2023 Arrive Early, Stay Later Prices below include accommodations, Iceland : The O.A.T. Difference daily breakfast, and private airport transfer. Our Best Value in 3 Years: Save up to $500 per person, and travel at the lowest • Arrive early in Selfoss on your main trip price and per diems in the industry. for $125 per person, per night People-to-People Experiences: Enjoy our NEW A Day in the Life of a family-run • Arrive early on your East Iceland pre-trip farm to discover the inner workings of the property and the farmer’s small extension, conclude your main trip, or businesses, learn about the iconic Icelandic horse, and help out with daily chores. finish your Greenland post-trip extension in Reykjavik for $175 per person, per You’ll also visit the largest cattle farm in Iceland, followed by an opportunity night to plant a tree in the nearby forest. Plus, enjoy a Home-Hosted Dinner with a • Conclude your Faroe Islands post- local family in Akureyri, where you’ll feast together on homecooked regional trip extension with more time in specialties and gain insight into Icelandic culture. Copenhagen for $125 per person, per O.A.T. Exclusives: Throughout our journey, we’ll engage in Controversial night Topics, including conversations with local environmental experts about the effects of climate change and fish farming on Iceland’s pristine natural landscapes. Gain an understanding of the risks these issues pose, like the 91% detrimental impacts of melting glaciers and the dwindling population of the More than of travelers wild North Atlantic salmon. rated this trip excellent

Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/ice2023

11 Untamed Iceland

YOUR DETAILED ITINERARY

BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP EXTENSION 3 nights in Westman Islands: Volcanic Landscapes & Puffins

Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 4 Storhofdi hike • Boat tour • Explore Westman Island Day 2 Arrive in Reykjavik • Ferry to Westman Islands Day 5 Ferry to Landeyjahofn Harbour • Overland to Selfoss • Join main trip Day 3 Explore Heimaey • Local entertainment

OR 7 nights in East Iceland’s Secluded Beauty: Waterfalls, Glaciers & Hot Springs

Day 1 Depart the U.S. Day 6 Faskruosfjordur • Controversial Topic: The delicate balance between Day 2 Arrive Reykjavik, Iceland conservation & development in Iceland • Day 3 Transfer to Hofn • Jokulsarlon Visit organic farm • Visit hydropower plant zodiac tour Day 7 Dettifoss Waterfall • Transfer Day 4 Hofn • Hike in Vatnajokull to Husavik National Park Day 8 Explore Lake Myvatn Day 5 Hofn • Visit Djupivogur & Day 9 Transfer to Reykjavik • Stodvarfjordur villages • Transfer to Join main trip Faskruosfjordur

Day 1 Depart U.S.

Afternoon/Evening: You’ll fly overnight from the U.S. to Reykjavik, Iceland.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

12 Day 2 Arrive Reykjavik, Iceland • Overland and natural wonders has to offer. Located on to Selfoss the banks of the Olfusa River, it is home to around 8,500 inhabitants. • Destination: Selfoss • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Lunch: On your own—ask your Trip Experience • Accommodations: Hotel Selfoss or similar Leader for suggestions on where to dine.

Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at Afternoon: Around 12:30pm, and again at 7am, featuring international options. 2pm if you have a later flight, our small group will gather together for the first time for an Morning: You’ll arrive in Reykjavik sometime orientation walk around the vicinity of our in the early to late morning, depending on your hotel. Your Trip Experience Leader will help specific flight arrangements. Upon arrival, you get acclimated with the area, and point out expect to spend about 45 minutes clearing nearby ATMs and local markets. The remainder customs and completing any health guidelines of the afternoon is free to relax and settle in your airline requires. Travelers who have after your overnight flight. reserved their airfare with O.A.T. will also have their temperature checked by your Trip Later, our group will gather for a Welcome Experience Leader or O.A.T. representative Briefing at the hotel around 5:30pm. During before boarding your transfer vehicle, per this briefing, we will review our itinerary in our NEW health and safety protocols; those more detail (including any changes that may who do not reserve airfare with us will have need to occur). Our Trip Experience Leader will their temperature checked upon arrival at the also discuss logistics, safety and emergency hotel. You will then be escorted to your hotel procedures, and answer any questions we in Selfoss by private car in groups of 1-2 or by may have. private minivan in groups of 3-4, depending on Dinner: At the hotel, around 6:30pm, featuring the number of travelers who arrived with you. local cuisine. Our Welcome Dinner will be a The transfer is approximately 1 hour and 20 great opportunity to get to know your fellow minutes, depending on traffic. travelers and toast to the journey ahead. Upon arrival in Selfoss, we’ll check in, receive Evening: Free for your own discoveries—check our room assignments, and meet up with our with your Trip Experience Leader for ideas. Trip Experience Leader and those travelers who Perhaps you’d like to stroll along the Olfusa took our Westman Islands: Volcanic Landscapes River or explore the neighborhoods of Selfoss & Puffins or New! East Iceland’s Secluded Beauty: for a truly local experience. Waterfalls, Glaciers & Hot Springs pre-trip extensions. Depending on where we stay, the Freedom To Explore: During your two days hotel may feature a restaurant and bar. Typical in Selfoss, you have the freedom to explore room amenities may include wireless Internet, on your own during your free time. Below are flat-screen TVs, minibars, private bath and a few recommended options for independent tea- and coffee-making facilities. You’ll have explorations: some free time to settle in and unpack. Selfoss is the largest town in South Iceland and the • Get acquainted with American chess grand- gateway to all that this area of rich farmland master Bobby Fischer at the Bobby Fischer Center: Bobby Fischer was a chess prodigy and the eleventh World Chess Champion,

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

13 defeating Boris Spassky of the USSR in 1972. Day 3 Explore South Iceland • The center in Selfoss operates as a non-profit Controversial Topic: Iceland’s biographical museum and contains memo- disappearing glaciers and the effects of rabilia specifically stemming from the 1972 climate change with Stefan Michel • Super championship—a match publicized as a Cold Truck tour • Seljalandsfoss Waterfall War confrontation and riddled with con- troversy. Center visitors can peruse photos, • Destination: Selfoss scoresheets, and even a replica of the chess- • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch board used in the game. Fischer, who was • Accommodations: Hotel Selfoss or similar granted Icelandic citizenship and lived out his Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Our activities remaining years here, is buried nearby. today feature a conversation surrounding the • How to get there: A 10-minute walk. Controversial Topic of climate change and the • Hours: 1pm-4pm, daily. profound effect it’s having on Iceland’s glaciers • Cost: Free. led by Stefan Michel. This is an important • Peruse masterfully handcrafted goods opportunity to discuss an increasingly relevant at Handverkskurinn Selfossi: Travelers and pressing issue, which impacts about 10% interested in exploring the Icelandic world of of Iceland’s land mass. Read more about this crafting will enjoy visiting Handverkskurinn, conversation below. a non-governmental organization founded Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at in 2010 by twelve local artists. Currently, the 7am, featuring international options. center is run by eight women, all of whom produce various crafts including clay pieces, Morning: Around 9am, we’ll depart for wool textiles, jewelry, and more. the 1-hour ride by 30-passenger private • How to get there: A 5-minute walk. motorcoach operating at half capacity to • Hours: 1pm-6pm, Tuesday-Friday; 12pm- Midgard Base Camp—a family-run adventure 4pm, Saturday. company. Here, we’ll meet Stefan Michel—a • Cost: Free. Swiss native and local mountaineer with a passion for sustainable travel—and engage • Rejuvenate at the local Swimming Pool: in a Controversial Topic on the detrimental Swimming is a popular pasttime in Iceland. effects of climate change on Iceland’s glaciers. Enjoy access to the local swimming pool in As 10% of Iceland’s land mass is covered Selfoss, where you can relax and witness daily in glaciers, the continued warming of the life. The pool is, of course, heated, and located planet threatens to radically alter this delicate within walking distance of our hotel. environment—perhaps permanently. • How to get there: A 5-minute walk. • Hours: 6:30am-9:30pm, Monday-Friday; Carbon emissions, which have been directly 9am-7pm, Saturday-Sunday. linked to global warming, have been on the • Cost: About $8 USD. rise in Iceland since 2014 due to increased air and marine travel, the result of Iceland’s burgeoning tourism industry. Ironically, many of these tourists come to Iceland to see the glaciers whose very existence their presence is threatening. Additionally, Iceland gets about 73% of its renewable energy from hydro-power

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

14 resources, which are powered by glaciers and Around 11am, we’ll board our private glacial rivers. With such a great reliance on motorcoach and depart for the approximately glaciers—both for purposes of tourism and 30-minute drive to our lunch spot for the day. energy resources—climate change presents a Lunch: Around 11:30am at Volcano Hotel, problem to modern Icelandic society. featuring local cuisine. Stefan is passionate about Iceland’s unique Afternoon: Around 12:45pm, we’ll transfer 10 landscape and educating the public about minutes by private motorcoach to Vik Village, climate concerns and sustainable travel. As where we’ll get a true taste of the rugged we’ll learn from him, the fate of Iceland’s Icelandic landscape with a Super Jeep Tour, an glaciers looks grim: The Ok glacier (also called off-road driving experience led by a local guide. “Okjökull”), once comprised of more than Depending on the weather, we may drive to the 3,000 kilometers of ice, was the first glacier in dormant glacier of Kotlujokull, or alternatively, Iceland to lose its status in 2014; since then, we’ll head to Hofdabrekku Heidi Mountain. 56 more glaciers have vanished in northern Iceland, melting into crater lakes. Climate Around 4:15pm, we’ll make the approximately studies predict that all of Iceland’s glaciers will 45-minute drive to the iconic Seljalandsfoss disappear within the next 200 years or so. The Waterfall, situated along Iceland’s Ring Road. time to act to reverse the glaciers’ tragic fate, Melting glacier water pours over a rocky cliff, scientists urge, is now. creating a 180-foot waterfall shrouded in great clouds of mist. Upon arrival around 5pm, we’ll But hope is not lost: Many believe that stringent spend about 30 minutes walking around the government policies to lower carbon emissions foot of the falls. Here we’ll witness the raw, could alter the glaciers’ trajectory. At 16.9 tons roaring power of this natural site (which truly of carbon emissions per capita compared to an must be seen—and heard—to understand). EU average of 7.3 tons, Iceland’s emissions are Seeing this waterfall will show our small group the highest in Europe. Unfortunately, many the effects of climate change firsthand and the Icelandic people feel that the government is dangers of an ice-less Iceland. not taking appropriate actions to combat this serious problem. Students of all ages have Around 5:30pm, we’ll board our motorcoach gathered for weekly demonstrations in front and drive about 1-hour back to our hotel in of government buildings as part of the School Selfoss, where you will have the remainder of Strike for Climate movement since February your day free to explore on your own. 2019 to demand government action to combat climate change. Dinner: On your own. Check with your Trip Experience Leader for ideas. Perhaps you’d Take this opportunity to ask Stefan any like to enjoy fresh lamb shank, a popular dish questions you may have about the effects among locals. of climate change on Icelandic glaciers and how it will affect Iceland’s renewable energy Evening: Free for your own discoveries. Your resources. Perhaps you’ll ask him what steps Trip Experience Leader is happy to provide Icelandic citizens are taking at home to combat suggestions. climate change.

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15 Day 4 Explore the Golden Circle • Overland on the ground literally boil. We’ll explore Geysir to Borgarnes for approximately 1 hour before pausing for lunch this afternoon. • Destination: Borgarnes • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Lunch: On your own around 1pm in the vicinity • Accommodations: B59 Hotel or similar of the Geysir hot spring. Your Trip Experience Leader is happy to provide you with options. Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 6:30am, featuring international options. Afternoon: Around 2pm, we’ll depart for a 45-minute drive by private motorcoach to Morning: We’ll depart the hotel around 9am Thingvellir National Park. The park sits in a for a short private motorcoach ride to a local major rift between two tectonic plates—the wool studio for an interactive session on wool Eurasian and North American. This rift creates dying, spinning, and knitting. Because of our a valley in the land, ringed by rocky cliffs and small group size, we’ll be able to help craft fault lines. The mountains surrounding this wool products using traditional techniques plain, dotted with canyons, caves, streams and and speak openly with the studio owners about springs, form a natural amphitheater. It’s not the Icelandic wool industry. We’ll learn how surprising that the world’s oldest Parliament natural ingredients are utilized throughout the was formed here. production process, as well as why Icelanders have become so dependent on wool products After our explorations in Thingvellir National over the centuries. Park, we continue by private motorcoach approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes to Around 10am, we’ll take a private motorcoach Borgarnes, situated right outside the scenic ride to discover more of Iceland’s marvels as Snaefellsnes Peninsula. The town’s location we circumnavigate the Golden Circle, a ring of makes it an ideal jumping-off point for many natural highlights: Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir of Iceland’s highlights, including Snaefellsnes hot spring area, and Thingvellir National Park. Peninsula National Park. Our first stop will be Gullfoss waterfall, located Upon arrival at our hotel around 5pm, we’ll approximately 1 hour from Selfoss, which receive our room assignments and check in. features two tiers of rushing white water that Depending on where we stay, your hotel may flow into a hundred-foot-deep crevice. Each feature a restaurant and bar. Typical rooms day, thousands of gallons of water plummet may offer wireless Internet, telephone, TV, and here, and on sunny days, it’s a particularly private bath with hair dryer. beautiful sight to see the rainbows which form in the mist. To help you familiarize yourself with the town, your Trip Experience Leader will lead We’ll spend about 45 minutes at the falls before an approximately 30-minute orientation walk departing around 11:45am for a 10-minute drive around 6pm, ending at the Settlement Center to Geysir, the geyser from which all others take which features two exhibits on Iceland’s their name. Geysir is silent these days, but we’ll original settlement by Vikings and the story witness the columns of water that shoot into of Egil, whose colorful legend as one of the the air from nearby Strokkur geyser. In this area nation’s first settlers has rendered him an of intense geothermal activity, puddles of water

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16 Icelandic folk hero. During the walk, feel free blowholes. We’ll hike along the rocky coastline to ask questions or request more information for approximately 1 hour, taking in the natural about any activities of interest. sights of this area.

Dinner: Around 6:30pm at the Settlement Lunch: Around 11:30am at Samkomuhusid, a Center’s restaurant. local restaurant featuring regional cuisine.

Evening: Free for your own discoveries—check Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll depart around with your Trip Experience Leader for ideas. 12:30pm for a leisurely 2-hour drive toward Perhaps you’d like to spend your evening Bjarnarhofn Shark Museum. Along the way, relaxing in the local Borgarnes swimming pools we’ll pass through a number of small fishing (both hot and cold pools available), located just villages, including Hellissandur, Olafsvik, and a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Swimming is Grundarfjordur. Upon arrival at the museum, a popular pastime among Icelanders, providing we’ll discover another side of Icelandic the opportunity to observe and mingle culture: here we’ll have the opportunity to with them. taste a national delicacy—hakarl, made from aged shark meat. It’s not for the faint of Day 5 Discover Snaefellsnes Peninsula heart, but our small group size will afford us • Arnarstapi lava field • Conversation the opportunity to learn from our host who about the banking crisis of 2008 with will help us understand the Icelandic legacy local expert of processing shark meat, as well as the country’s maritime history during an intimate • Destination: Borgarnes conversation. The shark meat takes between • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 4-6 months to process and is traditionally • Accommodations: B59 Hotel or similar consumed with “brennivin,” at one time the only hard liquor found in Iceland and often Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at referred to as “Black Death.” 7am, featuring international options. Around 3:30pm, we’ll depart by private Morning: This morning, we’ll embark a motorcoach for the approximate 1-hour drive private motorcoach around 8:30am to continue back to the hotel in Borgarnes. You’ll have our explorations around the Snaefellsnes about an hour of free time before our small Peninsula, including the area that marks the group gathers in the hotel to meet with a local entry point to Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center expert to discuss Iceland’s financial crisis from of the Earth. The peninsula boasts a famous 2008 to 2011. glacier-peaked volcano, black-sand beaches and rock formations, making it an optimal place During this turbulent period, the nation’s three to discover the natural beauty of the country. major commercial banks collapsed, leaving a wake of economic depression and political Around 10:30am, we’ll arrive in the fishing turmoil. Relative to the size of its economy, this village of Arnarstapi, known for its constantly systemic collapse was the largest of any country changing weather. The village is situated throughout history. Local currency depreciated along a coastline punctuated by unique and it became difficult for families to pay off geologic features like arches, basalt cliffs, and debts that were issued in foreign currency as the exchange rates became less favorable. Over 9,000 families lost their homes, more than

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17 70% of the local people lost their savings, and comparable to those detailed below, including protests ensued. Take the opportunity to ask the opportunity to enjoy a farm-fresh lunch this local expert any questions you may have with farmstead owners, meet local farm about the banking crisis and resulting financial workers and Icelandic horses, explore the collapse, such as how the financial crisis led to family-run farm, and enjoy and overnight the largest wave of emigration that Iceland has experience. seen this century. Perhaps you’ll ask what steps Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at are being taken to protect local communities 7am, featuring international options. against future economic crises. Our discussion will wrap up around 6:30pm, and you will have Morning: After breakfast, we’ll depart the remainder of the day free to explore on Borgarnes around 9am for the approximately your own. 1-hour and 45-minute drive by private motorcoach to the Burial Rites monument to Dinner: On your own. Check with your Trip hear the haunting story of Agnes Magnusdottir, Experience Leader for suggestions. Perhaps you the alleged murderess of her lover Natan will venture to Englendingavik, a cozy, historic Ketilsson and the last person to be executed restaurant on the bay, which specializes in fish in Iceland during a double beheading in 1830. and lamb dishes. We’ll uncover the complexities of the chilling Evening: Free for your own discoveries. tale captured by author Hannah Kent in her Your Trip Experience Leader is happy to novel, Burial Rites. provide ideas. Then, around noon, we’ll depart for the A Day in approximately 1-hour and 15-minute drive Day 6 Burial Rites monument • by private motorcoach to a family-run the Life of an Icelandic horse farm farm in Hofsstadir for our NEW A Day in the • Destination: Hofsstadir Life overnight experience, where we’ll meet the • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner owner, Toti, and his family. During our stay, • Accommodations: Hofsstadir Country Hotel we’ll get an intimate look into everyday life on or similar the farm and learn what it’s like to live in such a remote area. Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Our agenda today features our NEW A Day in the Life overnight Lunch: Around 1:15pm upon arrival at the experience at a family-run farm in Hofsstadir. family farm. This unique opportunity provides a window Afternoon: After lunch, our discoveries will into rural Icelandic life, as well as time to get begin with a guided tour of the grounds to know the hard-working locals who live where we’ll meet members of Toti’s family and work here. We’ll also have the chance to and learn about their small businesses. This learn about the iconic Icelandic horse, a vital a great opportunity to experience life in the livestock that has made life in this remote Icelandic countryside firsthand as we learn land possible. Read more about this exclusive about farming practices and hear from the farm experience below. workers. Then, around 2pm, we’ll venture to Activity Note: Depending on your departure, the nearby stables to meet Icelandic horses first some groups will spend A Day in the Life on a brought to the country by Viking settlers. different family-run farm. Activities will be

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18 The Icelandic Horse is a breed of horse their life on the farm. Perhaps you’ll take this developed in Iceland by Norse settlers in the 9th opportunity to ask Toti what inspired him to and 10th centuries. These settlers venerated the dedicate his life to farming. horses in North Germanic mythology, as they were crucial to the survival and advancement Day 7 Travel overland to Akureyri • of their civilization. As most horses would not Controversial Topic: The impact of wind thrive in Iceland’s harsh climate, the Icelandic farming on Iceland’s natural landscapes Horse developed unique characteristics with Gudmundur Sigurdsson that make it suitable for the often severe environment through centuries of selective • Destination: Akureyri breeding. Historically, they were intended • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner to assist local farmers with sheepherding; • Accommodations: Icelandair Hotel Akureyri however, today, they are also used for leisure, or similar showing, and racing. These horses were bred Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s activities from ponies, so they tend to be small in stature. feature a conversation surrounding the Despite their size, they are known to be hardy Controversial Topic of wind farming led by and long-lived, and the government aims to clean energy expert Gudmundur Sigursson. maintain their good health by outlawing the We’ll examine why Iceland is an ideal place for import and export of horses, minimizing the harnessing this type of renewable energy, but risk of disease. During our 1-hour visit, we’ll also why some locals are afraid this practice learn about the history of this iconic horse and will negatively impact tourism—an industry have a chance to see how the horses are trained. that constitutes roughly 10% of the country’s You may also have the opportunity to speak GDP. This is a remarkable opportunity to glean with the farmer and take a ride. insight into relevant issues facing modern At about 2:30pm, we’ll continue to the largest Icelandic society. Read more about this cattle farm in Iceland where we’ll talk with the conversation below. farm workers about their responsibilities and Breakfast: Served at the guest house beginning lives. We’ll spend about an hour exploring the at 7:30am, featuring international options. cattle farm where we’ll hear about the history of cattle in Iceland. Morning: After breakfast, we’ll depart around 9am for a little over an hour drive by private Then, around 5:30pm, we’ll journey back to the motorcoach to Siglufjorour, a fishing village farm and have the opportunity to settle into nestled in a narrow fjord along the coast of our accommodations. The facilities include northern Iceland. Upon arrival, we’ll visit two a restaurant, bar and lounge. Typical room local museums, beginning with the Herring amenities include Wireless Internet, a private Era Museum, the largest maritime museum in bath and countryside views. Iceland. Witness eleven different types of boats, Dinner: Around 6:30pm at the hotel, featuring a documentary about herring fisheries, and local cuisine. more. Then, we’ll continue to the Folk Music Centre, opened in 2006 by Reverend Bjarni Evening: We’ll gather with Toti or a member Thorsteinsson, where we’ll be introduced to of his family around 7:30pm to hear Icelandic Icelandic folk music through the Reverend’s folk stories and learn more about his family and

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19 extensive collection of CDs and videos of Due to its island location and its rocky, people singing, chanting, or playing musical unforested terrain, Iceland’s unique instruments. topography makes it ideally suited for harnessing the wind as a source of energy, Lunch: On your own around noon—consult and many local and international companies with your Trip Experience Leader for ideas. are beginning to make plans for the Perhaps you’ll rub elbows with the locals construction of new wind farms. However, at Fish and Chips, a popular quick service most local Icelanders are opposed to the idea of restaurant known for its namesake dish. constructing unsightly wind farms across the Afternoon: Around 1pm, we’ll depart by private country, believing that spoiling the beauty of motorcoach for an approximately one hour the landscape will harm not only the aesthetic and 15-minute drive to Akureyri, Iceland’s appeal of these treasured vistas, but also second-largest urban area. Situated on the decimate Iceland’s booming tourism industry. northern fjords near the Arctic Circle, Akureyri We’ll get an intimate, firsthand perspective is improbably sunny and enjoys a mild climate of this controversy during our conversation in spite of its location. Upon arrival, we’ll with Gudmundur Sigurdsson, the managing check in to our hotel and receive our room director of Vistorka. Gudmundur has dedicated assignments. Depending on where we stay, his career to finding new sources of clean, the hotel may feature an outdoor swimming sustainable energy, and is closely familiar with pool, golf course, and on-site restaurant. the challenge of striking a balance between Typical room amenities include a telephone, producing renewable output and preserving flat-screen TV, wireless Internet access, and the unique Icelandic scenery that people from private bathroom with hair dryer. all across the globe travel to see. Recognizing After settling in, we’ll embark on a 30-minute the issues posed by widespread wind farm orientation walk through the town with our construction, Gudmundur and the experts at Trip Experience Leader around 3pm, which Vistorka are dedicated to exploring new avenues includes a visit to the Botanical Gardens—a of renewable, clean, sustainable energy. In peaceful garden showcasing local and particular, Gudmundur is investigating how international flora. The orientation walk is to use Iceland’s raw resources and the waste an ideal time to glean ideas from your Trip generated by households and power plants Experience Leader about what sort of activities to create environmentally-friendly biodiesel you’d like to seek out. fuel and affordable energy for all the people of Iceland and the country’s future generations. Our orientation walk will conclude around 3:30pm at the offices of Vistorka, a company During our 1-hour conversation with dedicated to bringing green energy solutions to Gudmundur we’ll examine both sides of Iceland, where we’ll engage in a Controversial the controversy surrounding wind farms in Topic as we learn about the contemporary Iceland. While only a handful of windmills problems surrounding wind farming with currently exist in the country, local and foreign a local clean energy expert, Gudmundur energy companies are beginning to realize Sigurdsson. the potential of this lucrative market and are currently planning to build up to 50 more across the island. While the idea is widely unpopular amongst Iceland’s population—80% of the

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20 citizenry opposes new construction—some Evening: Free for your own discoveries—check locals are excited by the prospect, eager to with your Trip Experience Leader for ideas. embrace the new source of energy and to lower Freedom To Explore: During your two days their high electricity costs (we’ll learn more in Akureyri, you have the freedom to explore about this later on in our adventure when we on your own during your free time. Below are visit a greenhouse in Hveragerðiand, where one a few recommended options for independent of these wind farms is constructed). explorations: On the other side of the coin, the majority of • Experience the creative spirit of Iceland at Iceland’s populace is fiercely opposed to new Akureyri Art Museum: Founded in 1993, this wind farm construction. Many of the farms are centrally-located museum was originally planned to be erected at some of Iceland’s most home to a dairy and later converted to display treasured sites of natural beauty, including art. Notable artists that have had their work Akureyri. Local Icelanders want to preserve shown here include Icelanders Erró, Kjarval these natural heritage sites—in fact, 28% of and Louisa Matthíasdóttir, American Spencer Icelanders say that they would be willing to Tunick, Israeli video artist Guy Ben-Ner, and spend $100 in the name of preserving their French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. lands in public trust to protect them from corporate development. The problem, they • How to get there: A 10-minute walk. say, is not only aesthetic, it’s also about the • Hours: 10am-5pm, Monday-Saturday. bottom line, as tourism accounts for roughly • Cost: About $8 USD. 42% of Iceland’s economy. How many travelers • Gain an understanding of Icelandic life at the will still want to come if these one-of-a-kind exhibition Into the Arctic: Opened in 2017, glaciers, volcanic fields, and black-sand this exhibition aims to give insight into life beaches are spoiled with rows of unsightly in the north, including an introduction to the windmills? lives of native peoples, samples of typical ships and airplanes, as well as old navigation- Gudmundur will share his expertise with us for al equipment and even clothes from ancient 20 minutes, then we’ll have the remainder of times. You’ll also have a chance to examine a the hour to ask questions. Take advantage of his collection of maps and charts of Iceland and deep knowledge to learn about wind farming as North Europe—the oldest of which is believed an alternative energy source, what other types to be between 300-400 years old. of renewable energy are being considered and how they compare to wind farming in Iceland. • How to get there: A 20-minute walk. • Hours: 11am-6pm, Monday-Friday; 11am- Around 4:30pm, we’ll bid farewell to 5pm, Saturday-Sunday. Gudmundur and enjoy about 2 hours of free • Cost: About $12 USD. time this afternoon in Akureyri. You may • Glimpse the religious side of northern Iceland choose to may remain in town to make your at Akureyrarkirkja: Also referred to as “The own discoveries or return to the hotel on foot Church of Akureyri,” Akureyrarkirkja is a with your Trip Experience Leader. prominent Lutheran church located on a Dinner: Around 6:30pm at the hotel, featuring hill in the center of the city. Constructed in local cuisine. 1940, this landmark church was designed by Icelandic architect Gudjon Samuelsson and contains a 3,200-pipe organ, as well

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21 as a suspended ship hanging from the hot mud pools native to this area. After, we’ll ceiling—representing an old Nordic tradition continue on toward the Lake Myvatn area, aiming to protect loved ones at sea. The and upon arrival at Skutustadir, explore the church is perched atop a hill, which requires pseudocrater field, formed by steam explosions a fair amount of step climbing. Those who do when lava flowed over wet earth. We’ll also venture up to the church are rewarded with a witness some of Iceland’s more recent volcanic panoramic view of the surrounding town. activity during a stop at a panoramic viewpoint • How to get there: A 10-minute walk. overlooking the Námaskard geothermic area. • Hours: 10am-7pm, Monday-Friday. Around noon, we’ll visit the whimsical “black • Cost: Free. castle” lava formations of Dimmuborgir, where a lonely troll is said to have lived. We’ll spend Day 8 Visit Godafoss Waterfall & Lake approximately 1 hour exploring here before Myvatn • Home-Hosted Dinner departing for a short drive to lunch. • Destination: Akureyri Lunch: Around 1pm at Sel Hotel, featuring • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner regional cuisine. • Accommodations: Icelandair Hotel Akureyri Afternoon: Around 2:45pm, we’ll continue or similar on by private motorcoach for the 30-minute Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: This evening’s drive to Godafoss (“waterfall of the gods”), activities will feature a Home-Hosted where the current carries rushing water along Dinner with a local family in Akureyri, allowing a glacial river and over the rocks, falling 40 us the opportunity to venture inside their home feet into the pool below. It is said to have and enjoy home-cooked Icelandic cuisine. gained its name when one of the leaders of the These intimate meals are a time for sharing country’s parliament disposed of his statues of stories, experiencing local culture up close and Norse gods at this waterfall upon the adoption personal, and asking any questions we might of Christianity as the official religion in the have about our discoveries. Read more about year 1000. this experience below. Then, around 4:15pm, we’ll drive 30 minutes Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at back to our hotel in Akureyri, where we’ll have 7am, featuring international options. a couple of hours to rest or discover the area on our own. Around 6pm, we’ll break into Morning: This morning we’ll depart by smaller groups of no more than 5 and depart private motorcoach around 8:30am for the for the home of a local family either on foot or approximately 1-hour and 45-minute drive by private motorcoach (depending on where to the Lake Myvatn area, sculpted throughout our Home-Hosted Dinner is for the evening), the ages by volcanic eruptions and renowned arriving approximately 10 minutes later. for its diverse bird population, with ducks, gyrfalcons, plovers, ptarmigans, and more. Dinner: Around 6:30pm we’ll be welcomed Along the way, we’ll stop around 10:15am to into the home of a local family, where we’ll join visit Hverabraud, where we’ll observe how them at their dinner table and see how they locals harness geothermal energy to make go through their daily lives—where they live, homemade bread. Then, we’ll reboard our what they cook, how they eat, and how they private motorcoach for a 10-minute drive to feel about their homeland. Our hosts are from Namafjall, where we’ll witness the bubbling, a variety of economic backgrounds, including

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22 teachers (or former teachers), doctors, and set sail on a restored fishing vessel from working-class families. Some families have the harbor for an approximately 3-hour school-aged children, grandparents, or whale-watching excursion. The onboard staff grandchildren at home, and some are retired members are experts on local marine life, and couples. For our Home-Hosted Dinner, we’ll with their help, we hope to spot minke whales, share a homecooked meal featuring traditional white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises and Icelandic foods, such as lamb soup or fried fish humpback whales in the waters of the northern and potatoes. Atlantic. You will also have the opportunity to catch and fillet fish. Around noon, we’ll head We’re afforded this special privilege by our back to the harbor. small group size; by dining in groups of no more than 5, we’re given the chance to enter Lunch: Around 12:30pm at a local restaurant, local homes and connect on a one-to-one level, featuring local cuisine. and to even share a little with our hosts about Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll be entertained who we are and what has brought us to Iceland. by local students who come to the restaurant This meal offers us the opportunity to see the to perform a musical act around 1:30pm. family go about their evening routine and get Then, around 2pm, we’ll depart for our a closer look at life in Akureyri. There will be almost 45-minute drive back to Akureyri. The plenty of time to ask our hosts any questions we remainder of the day is free for you to plan as may have. you’d like. For art enthusiasts, perhaps you’d Evening: Free for your own discoveries. like to explore the Akureyri Art Museum to get a Perhaps you’d like to discuss what you learned sense of the creative Icelandic spirit. and enjoyed today with your fellow travelers. Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience Leader is a wealth of information, so feel free to Day 9 Explore Dalvik • check with them for suggestions. For a casual Whale-watching excursion dining experience, check out Akureyri hot dog • Destination: Akureyri stand, a favorite among locals. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Evening: Free for your own discoveries. • Accommodations: Icelandair Hotel Akureyri Perhaps you’d like to stroll once more through or similar the Botanical Gardens before bidding farewell Activity note: Whale watching is weather to Akureyri in the morning. dependent and relies upon the cooperation of migratory patterns, which can be difficult to accurately predict. The boat is not exclusive to O.A.T. travelers. If necessary, an alternate activity will be provided.

Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 7am, featuring international options.

Morning: After breakfast, we will depart by private motorcoach around 8am for the approximately 45-minute drive to Dalvik, a commercial fishing port. Around 9am, we’ll

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23 Day 10 Fly to Reykjavik • Controversial entrepreneurs about their products. We’ll Topic: The impacts of fish farming with also hear their perspective on the large-scale Elias Petur Thorarinsso • Visit Ocean expansion of salmon farming as a vital industry Cluster House to Iceland’s economy and necessary means of providing food to meet the demands of a • Destination: Reykjavik growing global population. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Accommodations: Hilton Nordica or similar Then, around 10:30am, we’ll board our motorcoach and drive about 10 minutes to a Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: This morning’s local food hall. activities feature a conversation surrounding the Controversial Topic of fish farming Around 11am, we’ll sit down with local and its harmful effects led by local environmentalist Elias Petur Thorarinsso to environmentalist Elias Petur Thorarinsso—a engage in a Controversial Topic about the contrasting perspective to our conversations effects of fish farming—a $3-million industry with Old Harbor entrepreneurs. We’ll learn which represents nearly 40% of Iceland’s about the contentious harvesting method at the annual exports—and the risk that it poses root of this controversy, and gain insight into to Iceland’s pristine natural landscapes, as its detrimental impacts. This conversation will well as the survival of the wild North Atlantic allow our small group to see why it’s critical Salmon population. This risk continues to grow the entire world transition to sustainable as corporations seek to expand the use of a fishing practices. Read more about this harmful farming method by 50%—a method conversation below. which has proven unsustainable and unethical.

Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at Elias is an active member of the North Atlantic 7am, featuring international options. Salmon Fund (NASF), which is a NGO dedicated to the conservation of North Atlantic salmon, as Morning: We rise early this morning to check well as marine biodiversity. out of our hotel and depart around 7:45am by private motorcoach for the 15-minute Throughout our conversation, we’ll learn drive to Akureyri airport. Depending on flight that Iceland is considered the final frontier schedules, our plane will leave between for wild North Atlantic salmon, as other approximately 8:30am. The flight is roughly 40 countries—most of all Norway—have seen a minutes from takeoff to landing. dramatic decline in local populations, due to high-risk aquaculture methods like open-net Upon arrival in Reykjavik around 9:15am, we’ll pens. These open cage-like systems are perhaps drive about 10 minutes by private motorcoach the most dangerous farming method because to Ocean Cluster House, an organization located they allow free exchange between the farm in the city’s Old Harbor that was established and surrounding environment (of waste, by the government to provide rental space for chemicals, parasites, etc.), as well as the fact businesses and entrepreneurs specializing in that there is the potential for farmed fish to fish bi-products, such as leather products, escape. Furthermore, these structures attract amino oils for skincare, and more. predators which often get tangled in fish farm Our discoveries will begin with a 1-hour walk nets and drown. through the marketplace where we’ll have the opportunity to speak with roughly a dozen

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24 Despite the overwhelmingly negative and tea- and coffee-making facilities. The hotel consequences, large farming corporations typically features two restaurants, a bar, beauty intend to exponentially expand their salon, and fitness room. application of this method because it’s The remainder of the day is free for your own convenient and low-cost. For instance, ocean discoveries. To help you familiarize yourself currents deliver oxygen to the fish and disperse with the city, your Trip Experience Leader will their wastes, eliminating the need for a costly lead an approximately 1-hour orientation walk circulation system. But convenience and profit around 2:15pm. During the walk, feel free to ask maximization come at a steep price: In the past questions or request more information about two decades alone, the expansion of farming any activities of interest. in open-net pens has led to the loss of half the wild salmon population in Norway. Hundreds of Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience thousands of fish escape every year and swim Leader can provide ideas, should you want any. up rivers, breeding with wild stocks and thereby Of course, if you enjoy seafood, Iceland is a endangering the native population. great place to sample a wide variety of products from the sea. During our conversation with Elias, we’ll learn about his efforts to combat the Evening: Free for your own discoveries. unregulated growth of salmon farming in Consult with your Trip Experience Leader for Iceland and to protect the North Atlantic recommendations. salmon population. He will also share his expertise about the harmful environmental Freedom To Explore: During your three days in effects, such as the pollution caused by the Reykjavik, you have the freedom to explore this waste from fish farms—equivalent to that of a northerly capital on your own during your free 50,000-person village. time. Below are a few recommended options for independent explorations: Elias will speak to this issue for approximately 20 minutes, and then our group will have • Take a dip in Laugardalslaug: The public around 45 minutes to ask any questions we may thermal baths and swimming pool complex of have. Perhaps you’d like to know more about Laugardalslaug boasts the city’s largest pool his conservation work and the environmental and features extensive facilities, including impacts of fish farming—such as what the a children’s pool, paddling pool, two water NASF is doing to advocate for more regulations slides, numerous hot tubs, steam baths, over the salmon farming and how the resulting and even a mini golf course. Enjoy a popular pollution will impact tourism in Iceland. Icelandic pastime alongside locals, during which you’ll have the opportunity to interact Lunch: Around noon, a light lunch will and mingle with them during your visit. be served at the food hall, featuring local • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk. specialties. • Hours: 6:30am-10pm, Monday-Friday; Afternoon: Around 1pm, we’ll depart to our 8am-10pm Saturday-Sunday. hotel in Reykjavik. Upon arrival around 1:15pm, • Cost: About $8 USD. we’ll check in to our hotel and receive our • Examine the flora of the northern temperate room assignments. Depending on where we zone at Reykjavik’s Botanical Garden: stay, your hotel room will likely offer a desk, Established in 1961, the goal of the garden flat-screen TV, private bath, wireless Internet is to educate, research, and preserve the

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25 thousands of species represented in its have an opportunity to understand how clean collection. From heath roses to forest floor energy is produced here, as well as ask any plants and even rock gardens, every item is questions we may have. labeled to ensure visitors come away having Around 10am, we’ll drive about 15 minutes learned about the diverse vegetation of the to Hveragerðiand where we’ll visit a local region. In addition to the wide array of flora, greenhouse—a newly added feature for the garden features an abundance of trees, 2021, where we’ll learn about the issues ponds, and bird life. You will even find a café surrounding the price of electricity on the in the on-site gazebo. island, specifically how it affects greenhouse • How to get there: A 15-minute walk. farmers versus large corporations. Individual • Hours: 10am-3pm, daily. greenhouse farmers typically pay a lot more • Cost: Free. than these large corporations, such as those • Get in touch with Icelandic nature at the in the aluminum industry, which means that Reykjavik Park and Zoo: From reindeer and Icelandic food products come at a higher cost seals to Arctic foxes, observe a number of than foreign ones. native animals, as well as some exotic species. Then, we’ll board our private motorcoach After exploring, perhaps you’d like to relax around 11:15am and drive approximately 30 at the on-site coffeehouse or rent a Segway minutes to the Árbæjarsafn open-air historical and see the park from a different perspective. museum in Reykjavik to gain insight into the The zoo is an educational institution and living and working conditions of Icelanders in regularly hosts school groups, either in the the past. We’ll spend about 1.5 hours exploring form of guided tours or hands-on learning the turf houses and grounds before walking to like handling the resident insects. our lunch spot, about 5 minutes. • How to get there: A 15-minute walk. • Hours: 10am-5pm, daily. Lunch: Around 1:15pm at a local restaurant in • Cost: About $7 USD. Reykjavik featuring traditional Icelandic fare.

Day 11 Explore Reykjavik • Geothermal Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll depart around 2:15pm for the 15-minute drive to back to our power plant visit • Greenhouse visit • hotel in Reykjavik. Árbæjarsafn open-air museum • Destination: Reykjavik The remainder of the day is yours to get acquainted with this northerly capital city. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Despite its small size (a population of a little • Accommodations: Hilton Nordica or similar over 120,000), Reykjavik feels remarkably Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at cosmopolitan. From hip bars to extensive art 6:30am, featuring international options. galleries and a rich culinary scene, there’s much to see, do, and discover. Reykjavik is Morning: We’ll depart the hotel around 8:30am believed to be the first permanent settlement for a 30-minute drive by private motorcoach of Iceland, presumably established by Ingolfr to the Hellisheidarvirkjun Geothermal Power Arnarson in AD 874—though it wasn’t until the Plant. Led by a local guide, we’ll tour the plant late 18th century that it was officially declared and learn about green energy in Iceland. We’ll a trading town and eventually modernized in

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26 the 19th century. Today, Reykjavik is regarded complex also features restaurants, a hotel, as one of the cleanest, safest, and most spa and a gift shop, hot-pots, steam rooms, a environmentally friendly cities in the world. sauna, a bar, and even a waterfall that provides a hydraulic massage. Dinner: On your own—ask your Trip Experience Leader for suggestions on where to Around noon, we’ll bid farewell to the Blue dine. Located just around the corner from the Lagoon and drive 10 minutes to the town of hotel is Mulakaffi, a quintessentially Icelandic Grindavik on the rugged Reykjanes Peninsula. restaurant. Be sure to try the pan-fried haddock The landscape here is vast and has been shaped or leg of lamb. through the centuries by dynamic volcanic forces. Upon arrival, we’ll stop at a local grocery Evening: Free for your own discoveries. store to get supplies for today’s picnic lunch Alternatively, you may wish to join your and have an opportunity to meet some of the Trip Experience Leader in a vicinity walk local people. Then, we’ll head to the Search to familiarize yourself with your new and Rescue Center—a NEW Grand Circle surroundings. Foundation site—to gather with members of its youth program for lunch. Since the country’s Day 12 Visit Blue Lagoon • Grand Circle first search and rescue team was established in Foundation visit: Search & Rescue Center 1918 in the Westman Islands, the organization • Destination: Reykjavik has grown to include approximately 100 • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner search-and-rescue teams, 70 accident prevention divisions, and 50 youth programs • Accommodations: Hilton Nordica or similar with around 10,000 volunteers across Iceland. Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries These highly trained men and women operate feature a visit to the Search and Rescue from most towns throughout the country; Center—a NEW Grand Circle Foundation however, today, we’ll visit the center at the site—to gather with members of its youth heart of these crucial services. program for lunch and learn about their life-saving missions. During our visit, we’ll Lunch: Around 12:30pm, we’ll sit down for learn more about the organization’s mission a picnic lunch with teenage members of the from the volunteers and have a look at some of Search and Rescue center’s youth program. their critical protective equipment. Afternoon: During our 2-hour visit at Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at the Search and Rescue Center, we’ll 6:30am, featuring international options. learn about the vital public services this volunteer organization provides to local Morning: Around 9am, we’ll depart by private communities—since Iceland doesn’t have its motorcoach for the approximately 1-hour own army or National Guard—such as sea and drive to the Blue Lagoon, perhaps the most mountain rescues, unblocking roads due to famous site in all of Iceland. The water in ice and snow, evaluating safety equipment, the lagoon—comprised of 70% sea water, providing safety education for children, 30% fresh water and maintained at a steady and more. We’ll have the opportunity to see 100°F—is rich in blue-green algae, mineral this life-saving equipment—some of which salts and silica mud, all which exfoliate the is sponsored by Grand Circle Foundation. skin and leave it feeling smooth. For those who During our conversation with members of the prefer an alternative to soaking, this massive

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27 youth division, we’ll come to understand the Evening: Free for your own discoveries. important role of these fledgling units. For Reykjavik has a lively food and bar scene, so instance, the youngest volunteers are often if you’re feeling up to it, check with your Trip most involved in the area of recruitment. Experience Leader on where to go to continue Children as young as 14 years old can join the celebrating your Icelandic journey. search and rescue team, and upon their 18th birthday, they graduate to the adult unit. Prior Day 13 Reykjavik • Return to U.S. or begin to joining, they may have attended a youth your post-trip extension outdoors school in Snaefellsnes, which acts as • Included Meals: Breakfast both a training center for search and rescue, as well as an opportunity to learn survival skills Activity note: Depending on your air itinerary, like first aid, sailing techniques, and more. trips returning in September and October will While we converse with these young people, include an extra night in the U.S. upon arrival. take this unique opportunity to ask them This will not apply to travelers whose final questions, such as what motivated them to destination is New York or Boston. volunteer and the types of training exercises Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at required prior to conducting search and rescue 6:30am, featuring international options. missions. You may also ask them to recount particularly difficult rescue missions or specific Morning: Depending on your specific flight challenges they’ve faced. arrangements, you will transfer approximately 45 minutes to the airport sometime this Around 2:30pm, we’ll depart the Search and morning for your flight home to the U.S. Rescue Center and drive about 45 minutes Travelers taking our Greenland’s Natural back to Reykjavik for the final evening of our Splendor & Inuit Culture post-trip extension adventure. Upon arrival around 3pm, we’ll will fly to Greenland this morning, and those enjoy approximately 3.5 hours of free time taking our New! The Faroe Islands Archipelago & before dinner this evening. Copenhagen extension will fly to the Faroes. Dinner: Around 6:30pm, our group will gather at the hotel restaurant for our Farewell Dinner, where we’ll toast to the discoveries we made throughout our shared adventure.

END YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL POST-TRIP EXTENSION 4 nights in Greenland’s Natural Splendor & Inuit Culture

Day 1 Reykjavik • Helicopter flight • Day 3 Helicopter flight • Explore Kulusuk • Explore Ammassalik Mountain Jeep tour Day 2 Iceberg boat tour • Valley of the Day 4 Fly to Reykjavik Flowers • Inuit drum dance Day 5 Reykjavik • Return to U.S.

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28 OR 6 nights in The Faroe Islands Archipelago & Copenhagen

Day 1 Reykjavik • Fly to Vagar, Faroe Day 4 Torshavn • Ferry to Nolsoy Island Islands • Visit Bour and Gasadalur villages Day 5 Torshavn • Fly to Copenhagen • Day 2 Explore Torshavn • Visit Kirkjubour Explore Copenhagen Day 3 Torshavn • Vestmanna Cliffs • Day 6 Copenhagen • Visit Dragor Explore Streymoy coastline Day 7 Copenhagen • Return to U.S.

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29 PRE-TRIP Westman Islands: Volcanic Landscapes & Puffins

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Transfer from the Westman Islands » 4 small group activities to Reykjavik » All land transportation » Ferry from Reykjavik to the » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Westman Islands Experience Leader » Accommodations for 3 nights in » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and the Westman Islands at the Hotel luggage porters Vestmannaeyjar or similar » All transfers » 8 meals—4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 3 dinners

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Few places are as off the beaten path as the remote Westman Islands, an archipelago off of Iceland’s southern coast blessed with a kaleidoscopic beauty of red cliffs, black sand, and green countryside, framed by blue sea and sky. Experience the scenic, historic, and cultural gifts of one of Iceland’s major fishing ports and the premier home of the Atlantic puffin. This is a unique destination rarely seen by Americans.

Day 1 Depart U.S. departs at approximately 7:30am. Travelers unable to meet the group by this time are Afternoon/Evening: Depart today on your responsible for making their own arrangements overnight flight to Reykjavik, Iceland. Please to the first hotel. refer to your individual air itinerary for exact departure and arrival times. Breakfast: Around 8:15am at a bakery close to the airport in Keflavik.

Day 2 Arrive in Reykjavik • Ferry to Morning: We’ll depart around 10:15am by Westman Islands private motorcoach approximately 2.5 hours • Destination: Vestmannaeyjar along a scenic coastal route to Landeyjahofn • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Harbour, where we’ll board a ferry for the • Accommodations: Hotel Vestmannaeyjar Westman Islands around 1:15pm. This small or similar cluster of about 15 volcanic islands and 30 skerries off Iceland’s southwestern coast is Activity note: Travelers are advised to meet the sparsely populated, yet full of natural and group at the 10-11 supermarket after customs cultural delights. Today, we’re headed toward at Keflavik International Airport by 7am for the largest and only inhabited island. the included transfer to our first hotel—which

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30 Upon arrival on Heimaey Island around 1:45pm, brewed with passion, knowledge, and history. we’ll walk 10 minutes to our hotel, check in, Learn about the brewery during a tour, which and receive our room assignments. Depending concludes with a tasting. on where we stay, the hotel may be located • How to get there: A less than 5-minute in the center of town and feature views of walk. Heimaklettur to the north and Helgafell to • Hours: 2pm-12am, Thursday-Saturday. the south. Typical room amenities include flat • Cost: About $8 USD. screen TVs, a private bath and wireless Internet. • Explore the volcanic island of Heimaey by Lunch: On your own, whenever you’d like. Bike Rental: Covering just 5.2 square miles, Check with your Trip Experience Leader for Heimaey is easily accessible by bike, and ideas. Perhaps you’d like to visit Slippurinn, because of its natural beauty, this mode a family-run eatery that once operated as a of transport is ideal for witnessing nature shipyard machine shop. up close. Spot wildlife along your route, admire natural rock formations, and enjoy Afternoon: Around 3pm, join your Trip a leisurely exploration of the largest island Experience Leader on an approximately 1-hour in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago, and the vicinity walk, during which you’ll have the largest and most populated island off the opportunity to get acquainted with your new Icelandic coast. We recommend “Rent A Bike” destination, as well as ask any questions you bike rental. may have about the area. From about 4pm on, enjoy free time to explore or perhaps rest after • How to get there: A 15-minute walk. the day’s activities. • Hours: 6:30am-10pm, Monday-Friday; 8am-10pm Saturday-Sunday. Dinner: Around 6:30pm at the hotel, featuring • Cost: About $8 USD. regional cuisine. • Give back to local wildlife at Sea Life Trust: Evening: On your own this evening. Perhaps Support this registered charity working you’d like to get to know your fellow travelers globally to protect the world’s oceans and over a drink. marine life, especially beluga whales and puffins, who call this region home. The Freedom To Explore: During your four days trust offers two visitor experiences: a visitor in the Westman Islands, you have the freedom center and a boat trip around Klettsvik Bay, to explore on your own during your free time. providing a chance to view belugas in their Below are a few recommended options for native habitat. The visitor center is home to independent explorations: two resident female whales, Little White and Little Grey, and also contains a Puffin Rescue • Toast to your adventure at The Brothers Center and various interactive exhibits. The Brewery: Winner of the esteemed “Beer of the Year” award in the 2016 Holum competition, this brewery is known for “Togarinn,” an Imperial Stout dedicated to one of the local sailors from Vestmannaeyjar. Using local in- gredients such as seaweed and thyme—both found on the island—visitors can enjoy beer

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31 bay excursion departs right across the harbor Eruptions continued for five months, reshaping from the visitor center and lasts approxi- the island, adding about 15 percent to its mately 30 minutes. territory, and creating Eldfell, a volcanic cone. • How to get there: A less than 5-minute Vestmannaeyjabaer has since been rebuilt, and walk. today it is one of Iceland’s major fishing ports. • Hours: Visitor center hours are 10am-5pm, After our orientation walk, we’ll have a few April 1-October 31; 1pm-4pm, November minutes to explore on our own before departing 1-March 31. Bay trip times vary. for the 5-minute walk to lunch. Perhaps you’d • Cost: About $30 USD for visitor center like to continue admiring the unique lava only, about $50 USD for a bay trip, and flows throughout the area or walk around the about $70 USD for both activities. outskirts of town to enjoy the nature.

Day 3 Explore Heimaey • Local Lunch: Around 1pm, featuring local cuisine. entertainment Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll depart at • Destination: Vestmannaeyjar approximately 2pm for a private motorcoach • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner tour of the island, which spans 5.2 square miles. • Accommodations: Hotel Vestmannaeyjar Throughout the tour, a local guide will help us or similar uncover the natural geological marvels of the area, as well as witness more isolated parts of Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at the island. During the months of June-August, 7:30am, featuring international options. it is possible to spot puffins throughout our Morning: Around 10am, our group will gather exploration. Our tour concludes around 3:30pm for a Welcome Briefing. During this briefing, at Eldheimar, a museum which tells the story we will review our itinerary in more detail of the 1973 volcanic eruption. Referred to as (including any changes that may need to occur). “Pompeii of the North,” archaeologists have Our Trip Experience Leader will also discuss been working to understand the tragic events logistics, safety and emergency procedures, and of this natural occurrence, and the museum answer any questions we may have. displays remains from their findings. During our visit, we’ll watch a film about the historic Then, around 11am, your Trip Experience eruption and then explore the museum Leader will lead an orientation walk around on our own. Heimaey, during which he or she will point out nearby places of interest like the local market After our visit, we’ll enjoy a bit of free time and ATM. We’ll also gain a better understanding before later departing the hotel for a 10-minute of how a volcanic eruption in 1973 reshaped walk to dinner. the town of Vestmannaeyjabaer on Heimaey, Dinner: Around 6:30pm in a local home. During the largest of the Westman Islands. Most of our dinner, we’ll also enjoy entertainment Heimaey’s 4,500 residents depend on the provided by residents, including Icelandic folk sea—and never was that more true than in songs and American classics. We’ll also hear 1973, when the island was devastated by more about how the U.S. came to Iceland’s aid the massive eruptions of lava that sprayed in 1973 after the devastating volcanic eruption. into the air through fissures in the ground. Amazingly, the entire fishing fleet was in Evening: On your own. Consult with your Trip harbor, and everyone on the island was rescued. Experience Leader for recommendations.

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32 Day 4 Storhofdi hike • Boat tour • Explore boat tour around Heimaey Island. During the Westman Island tour, we’ll venture near sea caves and get an intimate look at the shoreline and local wildlife. • Destination: Vestmannaeyjar • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Our boat tour will end around 4pm, at which • Accommodations: Hotel Vestmannaeyjar time we’ll be able to explore on our own for or similar approximately 3 hours. Perhaps you’d like to rent a bike and cycle your way around the Activity note: The boat tour this afternoon is island, or if you’d like to have a slower-paced weather permitting. afternoon, you could walk around town and Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at mingle with locals. 7am, featuring international options. Around 6:15pm, we’ll depart our hotel and Morning: Around 9am, we’ll depart on walk less than 5 minutes to our dinner spot for a 10-minute private motorcoach ride to the evening. Storhofdi—meaning “great cape”—a peninsula Dinner: Around 6:30pm at Gott Restaurant, off the southern tip of Heimaey (weather featuring local cuisine. permitting). There, we’ll view the Westman Islands’ scenery during a 1-hour hike, led by Evening: The evening is free for your own our Trip Experience Leader. The peninsula is discoveries. Check with your Trip Experience home to one of the oldest lighthouses in Iceland Leader for suggestions. (operating since 1906), and offers visitors a glimpse into the unspoiled nature of the island. Day 5 Ferry to Landeyjahofn Harbour • This area also provides a great opportunity for Overland to Selfoss • Join main trip bird watching. • Included Meals: Breakfast Then, at approximately 10:45am, we’ll Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at make the short drive back into town to visit 7am, featuring international options. Sagnheimar Folk Museum, a cultural exhibition displaying artifacts which chronicle various Morning: Around 9am, we’ll depart for the aspects of the island’s past, including its 10-minute ride to the harbor, where we’ll take a deep connection to Mormonism and colorful 45-minute ferry ride departing around 9:30am sports history. back to Landeyjahofn Harbour. Upon arrival, we’ll transfer by bus approximately 1 hour to Lunch: On your own around 1pm. Feel free to Selfoss. There, we’ll meet the rest of our group consult with your Trip Experience Leader for as we begin our Untamed Iceland adventure. ideas. One of the most popular restaurants is Slippurinn, a family-owned eatery that serves fresh, local ingredients. Located in the historic shipyard, the restaurant is housed in an old machine workshop, and is the perfect spot to mingle with locals.

Afternoon: Weather permitting, we’ll walk 5 minutes to the harbor, where we’ll depart around 2:30pm for an approximately 2-hour

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33 PRE-TRIP East Iceland’s Secluded Beauty: Waterfalls, Glaciers & Hot Springs

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Transfer from Husavik to Reykjavik » All land transportation » Accommodations for 1 night in Reykjavik, 2 » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip nights in Hofn, 2 nights in Faskrudsfjordur, Experience Leader and 2 nights in Husavik » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and » 15 meals—8 breakfasts, 4 lunches, luggage porters and 3 dinners » All transfers » 13 small group activities

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Characterized by its dramatic fjords and remote villages, Austurland (East Iceland) is paradise for the nature lover and intrepid explorer. Stroll the vast black sand beaches of Hofn, experience the French influence of Faskrudsfjordur, feel small against thunderous waterfalls, and soak in the geothermal hot springs of Myvatn on this comprehensive East Iceland adventure.

Day 1 Depart the U.S. and on-site restaurant. Typical rooms feature air-conditioning, TV, a safe, private en suite Afternoon: You depart today on your overnight bath, and coffee- and tea-making facilities. flight from the U.S. to Reykjavik, Iceland. Breakfast: At the hotel.

Day 2 Arrive Reykjavik, Iceland Morning: Free to rest after your flight or • Destination: Reykjavik explore as you wish. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Lunch: On your own. Lamb is commonly Early Morning: Arrive early this morning in enjoyed by locals, so perhaps you’ll try one Reykjavik (individual flight schedules vary). of the many regional preparations of this Upon arrival, an O.A.T. representative will beloved meat. greet you at the airport and assist you with your transfer to the hotel, where you’ll have Afternoon: This afternoon, you may wish the opportunity to enjoy breakfast, should to join an orientation walk led by your you like. Depending on which hotel you stay Trip Experience Leader to discover the at, your hotel may include a fitness center neighborhood surrounding the hotel. The world’s most northerly capital, Reykjavik, is brimming with colorful buildings, culinary

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34 creativity, and an enthralling history. Founded make for a unique seaside experience, allowing in 1785, it began as an official trading town, us to appreciate the distinctive features of its transforming over the decades into a center of iconic terrain. From the beach, we’ll continue commerce, as well as one of the greenest and on to the moss prairies that blanket miles upon safest cities in the world. miles of lava fields, where we’ll admire the innumerable shades of green before us. This Later, enjoy a Welcome Drink at the hotel, flora was not always here: In fact, it was carried followed by a Welcome Briefing. During this to the island by the winds, only managing briefing, we will review our itinerary in more to thrive as the volcanic earth cooled over detail (including any changes that may need millions of years. While we walk, we’ll talk to occur). Our Trip Experience Leader will about the past and ongoing evolution of this also discuss logistics, safety and emergency ever-changing landscape. procedures, as well as answer questions we may have. Following our nature discoveries, we’ll continue our drive to the Thorbergur Center, a Dinner: At the hotel. museum documenting Icelandic life in the early Evening: You have the freedom to spend the 20th century, as well as the work of acclaimed rest of your evening as you wish. You may author Thorbergur Thordarson. Among many choose to retire to your room to rest before things, Thorbergur was a self-taught satirist tomorrow’s discoveries or take an evening who was celebrated for his revolutionary stroll around the town. approach to fictionalized autobiography. Growing up in the quaint farm town of Hali, Day 3 Transfer to Hofn • Jokulsarlon he was impoverished for much of his life and therefore could not afford formal education, zodiac tour making his literary achievements all the more • Destination: Hofn significant. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Lunch: On your own at the museum restaurant. • Accommodations: Fosshotel Vatnajökull or similar Afternoon: This afternoon, we’ll make Breakfast: At the hotel. our way to Jokulsarlon, a glacial lagoon dotted with icebergs from the surrounding Morning: This morning we’ll transfer to the Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier (part of airport for our flight to Hofn, a fishing town in Vatnajokull). The lagoon’s frigid, blue waters southeastern Iceland. Hofn means “harbor,” flow through a waterway into the Atlantic and it’s aptly named: visitors and locals alike Ocean, depositing chunks of ice on a black sand enjoy venturing down to the waterfront, where beach. Here, we’ll board a zodiac—a buoyant, they can gaze out at Vatnajokull—the largest inflatable hull—to navigate the waterscape ice cap in Iceland—and its grouping of vast, and observe a host of imposing icebergs that shifting glaciers. drift through the area. We’ll take notice of the volcanic activity in the area, which regularly Upon landing at Hofn, we’ll transfer to the shapes the icy surroundings. Be sure to keep a Thorbergur Center, with a stop along the way at look out for seals and other marine wildlife, as the Black Sand Beach, which gets its color from well as the many, seemingly hidden ice caves. the plethora of volcanic rock that comprises the area. The austere colors of Iceland’s coastline

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35 After our exploration of Jokulsarlon, we’ll second-largest national park in Europe. Carved depart for our hotel, where we’ll receive room over millions of years by glacial activity, assignments and check in. Depending on where the rolling, predominantly rocky landscape we stay, your hotel may feature an on-site features multiple rivers, waterfalls, mountains, restaurant and movie theater. Each room may volcanoes, as well as wetlands and mossy include amenities such as a private bathroom, ranges. The park is home to wild reindeer, wireless Internet, and coffee- and tea-making abundant birdlife, and is considered one of facilities. the best spots to observe seals. Upon arrival, we’ll embark on a nature hike, first stopping Dinner: At the hotel. by Svartifoss Waterfall. Surrounded by a Evening: You have the freedom to spend the protruding lava outcrop and steep, mossy cliffs, rest of your evening as you wish. Star-gazing is the thundering stream of water here plummets always a treat in Iceland, so perhaps you’ll walk about 80 feet down to a sharp, rocky base. a bit outside of town to enjoy the sparkling sky. Then, we’ll head to Svínafellsjökull, an outlet glacier and the largest ice cap in Europe. Here, Day 4 Hofn • Hike in Vatnajokull we’ll travel on foot over the glacier, taking National Park notice of the variegated coloration: gleaming • Destination: Hofn snow set against jet black ash. Our hike will • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch afford us magnificent panoramas of Vatnajokull National Park, the forests of Skaftafell, and • Accommodations: Fosshotel Vatnajökull the ocean. or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel. Following our walk, we’ll head back to Hofn, where we’ll enjoy free time with the option Morning: After breakfast, we’ll transfer to to join our Trip Experience Leader on an Vatnajokull, an enormous glacier covering 8% orientation walk around town. Perhaps you’d of Iceland’s landmass—though it is rapidly like to visit the Hornafjörður Art Museum, shrinking due to climate change, retreating which displays the work of renowned painter about 3 feet each year. The area contains Svavar Gudnason. over 30 outlet glaciers, channels of ice that flow out of ice sheets, caps, and fields. The Dinner: On your own. As the main industry in most prominent of these are Dyngjujokull, Hofn is fishing, you may wish to try a classic Breidamerkurjokull, Skeidararjokull, Sidujokull, preparation of fish and chips or any other Skaftarjokull and Tungnaarjokull. Dozens seafood dish that calls to your palate. of glacial rivers also run out of Vatnajokull, Evening: Free to explore as you’d like. making the topography as striking as it is Check with your Trip Experience Leader for crucial to preserve. suggestions. Lunch: We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch, while gazing out at the magnificent ice field before us.

Afternoon: Later, we’ll continue on to Vatnajokull National Park. Established in 2008, the park spans 5,460 square miles—a whopping 14% of the country—and is the

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36 Day 5 Hofn • Visit Djupivogur & Next, we’ll continue on to the village of Stodvarfjordur villages • Transfer to Stodvarfjordur, which sits on the northern Faskruosfjordur shore of the fjord that bears its name. If you thought Djupivogur was small, think • Destination: Faskruosfjordur again: Stodvarfjordur is home to under • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 200 inhabitants. But despite its size, the • Accommodations: Fosshotel Eastfjords history here is quite remarkable—in fact, or similar archaeological digs reveal an extensive period Breakfast: At the hotel. of Viking settlement, spearheaded by revered Viking Þórhaddur (“The Old”) from Trondheim. Morning: This morning we’ll depart for Over the centuries, the town’s main industry Djupivogur village, a small town located was fishing, but today, it largely subsists on on a peninsula in eastern Iceland. With a textile manufacturing. The small population population of just under 500 residents, life here mostly consists of people 40 years and moves at a tranquil pace in this remote area. older, as the youth have gone to Reykjavik or The spectacular coastline here consists of three other larger towns in search of employment. fjords (and the town is nestled between two): During our time in Stodvarfjordur, you’ll have Berufjordur, Hamarsfjordur, and Alftafjordur. the freedom to explore on your own. Perhaps Djupivogur has a long history of trading, you’d like to visit Gallery Snærós, a local art which we’ll learn about today when we visit exhibition space, or Salthussmarkadurinn, a Langabud, the oldest commercial building in textile market. the village, dating back to the late 1800s. Over the years, it served many purposes, including Lunch: On your own in Stodvarfjordur. a warehouse and slaughterhouse. Today, it Check with your Trip Experience Leader for is a café, heritage museum, and exhibition suggestions. on the Icelandic sculptor Ríkarður Jónsson, a Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll head to a nearby village native. exhibition space called Petra’s Stone & Mineral Following our visit to Langabud, we’ll walk Collection. Born in 1922 to a local farming down to the waterside to admire a rather family, Ljósbjörg Petra María spent most of unique work of art called Eggin í Gleðivík or The her life amassing naturally occurring stones Eggs of Merry Bay. Designed by artist Sigurður and minerals found in the area, which are Guðmundsson, the sculpture consists of 34 on display in her former home and current granite eggs perched atop a slab of concrete. exhibition space. The eggs are intended as a tribute to the Later, we’ll depart for our final destination for native birds of Iceland, 34 of which nest in the day: Faskruosfjordur, a village with a strong the surrounding area. Each egg was carefully historical connection to France (even the road crafted to accurately depict the distinctive signs are in French). Upon arrival, we’ll check shape, pattern, and color of the bird it in to our hotel and receive room assignments. represents. The largest of these eggs honors the Built in 1900, our hotel once served as a red-throated diver, considered the official bird residence for French fishermen, and it honors of Djupivogur. this history with an on-site museum. Each room may feature wireless Internet, a private bathroom, and flat-screen TVs.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

37 After settling in, we’ll have a chance to explore lake is home to a creature called the Lagarfljót the French fishermen museum, and later enjoy Wyrm. This aquatic beast is believed to be an orientation walk led by our Trip Experience similar to the Loch Ness Monster, except Leader to get better acquainted with the records of the Lagarfjlót Wyrm are as early as town. Faskrudsfjordur became a trading post 1345—more than 500 years earlier than those in 1880, and until the 1930s, it was a central of Nessie. hub for French fishermen and culture. The Next, we’ll continue on to one of the most town formerly contained a French hospital, populated villages in the area, Reydarfjordur. chapel, and even most services were provided This former fishing town is known for its in French. Today, distinct vestiges of this time aluminum production. Alcoa (Aluminum remain, including a burial site containing the Company of America) built an aluminum graves of 49 French sailors. smelter here in the early 2000s, employing Dinner: At the hotel. thousands of construction workers from all over Europe. At one point, the town had the Evening: Free to explore as you’d like. highest number of foreign inhabitants of Check with your Trip Experience Leader for any community in the country. The facility suggestions. contains a smelter, cast house, rod production, and deep-water port. It employs 450 workers Day 6 Faskruosfjordur • Controversial and produces 940 tons of aluminum per day. Topic: The delicate balance between Upon arrival, we’ll meet with a worker and conservation & development in Iceland • discuss the Controversial Topic of nature Visit organic farm • Visit hydropower plant preservation versus development in Iceland—a hotly debated subject in this island nation. The • Destination: Faskruosfjordur main pillars of the local economy are tourism, • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch smelting, and fishing; however, in recent years, • Accommodations: Fosshotel Eastfjords tourism has far surpassed all else, prompting or similar a growing concern over environmental Breakfast: At the hotel. preservation.

Morning: Our discoveries today are Following our conversation, we’ll depart for concentrated in the Highlands of Iceland, a the nearby village of Vallanes, where we’ll remote, sparsely populated plateau covering visit the organic farm of Modir Jord. This most of the country’s interior. Because any farm specializes in growing barley, which has precipitation here infiltrates the ground rather played a vital role in Icelandic culinary history quickly, this volcanic, desert region is largely since the first settlers came in the 9th century. uninhabitable for humans, flora, and fauna. They also grow vegetables and herbs, as well as produce various natural oils, jams, and Our first stop of the day is at Lagarfljót pickled chutneys. Modir Jord operates under the Lake, a natural reservoir utilized for fishing, notion that produce grown in cooler climates recreation, and hydropower—in fact, the possess a higher concentration of vitamins hydropower station is located at the lower end and minerals, particularly in the absence of of the 20 square mile lake. This important body chemicals and other growing aids. Our time at of water is also the subject of local superstition the farm will help us to better understand why and folklore: According to legend, the deep so many Icelanders, like those who work at

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38 Modir Jord, are concerned about preserving the Day 7 Dettifoss Waterfall • Transfer environment and what the advantages are to to Husavik doing so. • Destination: Husavik We’ll then bid farewell to the farm—boxed • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch lunch in hand—and depart for Karahnjukar • Accommodations: Fosshotel Husavik Hydropower Plant, which provides power to or similar the Alcoa aluminum smelter we visited this Breakfast: At the hotel. morning. Our discoveries will come full circle as we learn how this power station generates Morning: Today, we’ll make our way to 4,600 gigawatt-hours annually by harnessing Husavik, with several brief stops along the local rivers, totaling five dams and three way, including the town of Egilsstadir and reservoirs altogether. Modrudalur Farm—the highest inhabited farm in Iceland, situated at 1,539 feet above sea level. Lunch: We’ll have a boxed picnic at the dam, possibly with the workers (if they are available). Lunch: During our journey to Husavik, we’ll stop at cozy Fjallakaffi Café, nestled in the Afternoon: This afternoon we’ll slowly head mountains. back to the hotel, making two stops along the way. First, we’ll visit Hengifoss Waterfall, the Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll continue on third-highest waterfall in Iceland at 420 feet toward Dettifoss Waterfall, then later park and high. The fall is surrounded by basalt-rich soil, proceed on foot. The most powerful waterfall appearing as thin, red strips in the cliffs. After in Europe and one of the most voluminous in taking photos and appreciating the natural Iceland, it’s no wonder Dettifoss is dubbed beauty before us, we’ll then visit Skriðuklaustur “The Beast.” The falls are nearly 150 feet tall Cultural Center, where we’ll explore the and 328 feet wide, plummeting tons and tons home of author and poet Gunnar Gunnarsson. of water down to Jokulsargljufur canyon every Gunnarsson was a highly controversial figure, day. Film buffs will appreciate that Dettifoss an active member of a far right party which had was featured in the 2012 science-fiction film ties to the Nazi regime. Prometheus, representing the landscape of a primordial Earth-like planet. Later, we’ll continue on to our hotel, where you’ll have the rest of the day free for your own Later this afternoon, we’ll complete the final discoveries. Check with your Trip Experience stretch to Husavik, with a brief panoramic Leader for suggestions. stop at Lake Myvatn, a volcanic, mineral-rich lake. Upon arrival at our hotel, we’ll receive Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience room assignments and check in. Depending Leader can provide restaurant ideas. on where we stay, our hotel may feature an Evening: Free to explore as you’d like. on-site restaurant. Each room might include a Check with your Trip Experience Leader for private bathroom and satellite television. The suggestions. remainder of the day is free to explore as you wish. Perhaps you’ll join your Trip Experience Leader on an orientation walk around the vicinity of the hotel, a great time to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings and ask for dinner and activity suggestions.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

39 Dinner: On your own this evening. You may manmade alkaline bathing lagoon. Soaking in wish to dine at Naustid, an Icelandic fusion hot springs is a favorite pastime for Icelandic restaurant featuring items like Arctic char people, as plentiful geothermal energy is a and lamb. signature characteristic of the island. Of course, the cool climate also lends itself to such an Evening: Free to explore on your own. Perhaps activity. The water is about 266°F when it you’ll grab a drink with fellow travelers at a reaches the holding basin, before cooling to local bar. around 100°F and flowing into the lagoon. Altogether, around 1 million gallons of water Day 8 Explore Lake Myvatn are held on the premises at any given time. • Destination: Husavik Also onsite, you’ll find steam baths and a • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch small eatery.

• Accommodations: Fosshotel Husavik After enjoying a soak, we’ll head back to the or similar hotel, where you’ll have the remainder of the Breakfast: At the hotel. afternoon free. Should you be interested, ask your Trip Experience Leader about arranging a Morning: Our small group will spend the day bike or whale-watching tour. exploring the Lake Myvatn area, sculpted throughout the ages by volcanic eruptions Dinner: On your own this evening. Check and renowned for its diverse bird population with your Trip Experience Leader for dining of ducks, gyrfalcons, plovers, ptarmigans, suggestions. and more. Throughout the morning, we’ll Evening: Free to explore on your own. Perhaps experience Skutustadir, the pseudo crater field you’ll spend your final evening in Iceland formed by steam explosions; Dimmuborgir, taking a stroll and enjoying a freshly baked the whimsical “black castle” lava formations pastry, often very similar to Danish pastries. said to be home to a lonely troll; and the lunar landscape of Hverastrond Sulphur Springs, a barren area dotted with steaming fumaroles Day 9 Transfer to Reykjavik • and other geothermal features. Our discoveries Join main trip this morning will allow us to better understand • Destination: Reykjavik the unique geology, terrain, and evolution of • Included Meals: Breakfast the distinctive landscape. We’ll also get a literal Breakfast: At the hotel. taste of the environment when we sample “lava bread,” a local favorite in Iceland. This Morning: We’ll check out of our hotel and bread is comprised of dark rye, whole wheat depart for the Husavik airport, where you’ll flour, buttermilk, golden syrup, baking powder, board a plane for Reykjavik. There, you’ll join baking soda, and a dash of salt. It is then fellow travelers and begin your Untamed Iceland enclosed in a metal container, sealed and buried adventure. in the ground to bake for 24 hours.

Lunch: At a local restaurant near Lake Myvatn.

Afternoon: Following lunch, we’ll continue on to the Myvatn Nature Baths, where we’ll immerse ourselves in the warmth of the

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40 POST-TRIP Greenland’s Natural Splendor & Inuit Culture

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Roundtrip airfare between Reykjavik » All land transportation and 2 internal and Kulusuk helicopter flights » Accommodations for 2 nights in » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Ammassalik at the Hotel Ammassalik, 1 Experience Leader night in Kulusuk at the Hotel Kulusuk, and 1 » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and night in Reykjavik at the Hilton Nordica luggage porters » 11 meals—4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, » All transfers and 3 dinners » 5 small group activities

POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Cleverly christened “Greenland” by Erik the Red in an effort to attract settlers, 80 percent of this nation’s land mass is covered in ice caps, with picturesque towns and villages clustered along the coasts. After you travel through Iceland, come breathe the pure air, witness the magnificent icebergs, experience the Inuit way of life, and discover a land as exotic as it is remote. Please note: The activities on this post-trip extension are weather dependent.

Day 1 Reykjavik • Helicopter flight • Morning: Around 9am, we’ll bid farewell to Explore Ammassalik Iceland and board our private motorcoach for a 45-minute drive to Reykjavik airport, where • Destination: Ammassalik we’ll depart for our almost 2-hour flight to • Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner Kulusuk, Greenland. • Accommodations: Hotel Ammassalik or similar Upon arrival around 10:45am, we’ll then prepare for an approximately 45-minute Activity note: Due to local conditions, the helicopter ride to our hotel, departing at about order of activities and hotel stays may be 11am. When we arrive, we’ll check into our hotel reversed; however, this will not impact the and receive our room assignments. Depending number of included features and meals. Your on where we stay, the hotel may feature a coffee Trip Experience Leader may inform you of this bar, lounge with fireplace, terrace, and souvenir change while you are in Iceland. shop. Typical room amenities include a TV, en suite bathrooms, and wireless Internet access for a charge.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

41 Lunch: Around 12:30pm at the hotel. Arctic Ocean. Throughout the ride, we may have the opportunity to spot whales and even pass by Afternoon: At approximately 2:30pm, we will abandoned villages. set out on a walking tour of the town and a visit to the Ammassalik Museum, led by a staff When we return to the pier around noon, we’ll member of our hotel. Housed in an early 20th transfer by private motorcoach back to our century church, the museum features exhibits hotel, where we’ll enjoy lunch. on the history and culture of East Greenland, Lunch: Around 12:30pm at the hotel, featuring including an extensive mask collection, local cuisine. historical photos, bead work, traditional costumes and carvings. Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll depart around 1:30pm for an approximately 30-minute private After our visit, the rest of the afternoon will motorcoach ride to the Valley of Flowers—a be free for your own explorations before we valley carpeted with green grass and dotted reconvene for a Welcome Briefing around with delicate Arctic wildflowers. There, we’ll 5pm at the hotel. During this briefing, we will enjoy a hike through the valley, led by our review our itinerary in more detail (including Trip Experience Leader, during which we’ll any changes that may need to occur). Our Trip learn about the unique flora and fauna of this Experience Leader will also discuss logistics, area and gain a different perspective on the safety and emergency procedures, and answer Arctic climes. any questions we may have. Around 4:30pm, we’ll board our private Dinner: Around 6:30pm at the hotel, featuring motorcoach and make the approximately local cuisine. 30-minute return to the hotel. Around 5pm, Evening: On your own—check with your Trip we’ll dive deeper into local culture by watching Experience Leader for ideas. Perhaps you’d like an Inuit drum dance at our hotel. to explore the surroundings of your hotel. Dinner: Around 6:30pm at the hotel, featuring local cuisine. Day 2 Iceberg boat tour • Valley of the Flowers • Inuit drum dance Evening: On your own—check with your Trip Experience Leader for ideas. • Destination: Ammassalik • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 3 Helicopter flight • Explore Kulusuk • • Accommodations: Hotel Ammassalik or similar Mountain Jeep tour • Destination: Kulusuk Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 8am, featuring international options. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Accommodations: Hotel Kulusuk or similar Morning: We’ll enjoy a leisurely morning, Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at taking our time with breakfast and getting 8am, featuring international options. ready for the day’s activities. Around 10am, we’ll take a short drive by private motorcoach to the pier for an approximately 2-hour boat ride from Tasiilaq to behold the blue- and green-striped icebergs that flow from the

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42 Morning: After breakfast this morning, we Around 5:30pm, we’ll take a 10-minute ride check out of our hotel and depart around 10am by private motorcoach back to the hotel, for our approximately 15-minute helicopter where you’ll have around 1 hour to freshen up ride back to Kulusuk. During the short flight, before dinner. we’ll enjoy views of the ice-filled sea below. Dinner: Around 6:30pm at the hotel. Upon landing around 11am, we’ll drive 5 Evening: On your own—check with your Trip minutes to our hotel, receive our room Experience Leader for recommendations. assignments, and have about 1 hour to settle in. Depending on where we stay, the hotel may feature an on-site restaurant and bar, Day 4 Fly to Reykjavik as well as views of the nearby fjord. Typical • Destination: Reykjavik room amenities include satellite TV, a desk, • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch private bathroom with a shower, and rooms • Accommodations: Hilton Nordica or similar with a view. Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at Lunch: Around noon at the hotel featuring local 8am, featuring international options. cuisine, during which we’ll also hear a Welcome Briefing about upcoming activities. Morning: After breakfast, we’ll check out of our hotel around 9am, and enjoy approximately 3 Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll enjoy a guided hours of free time in Kusuluk before flying to walking tour of Kulusuk Village around 1:30pm, Reykjavik. Your Trip Experience Leader is happy led by our Trip Experience Leader. Kulusuk is to provide ideas, whether you’d like to enjoy a settlement of less than 300 people located nature or perhaps venture back into the village in the Sermersooq municipality. During our to pick up some souvenirs and mingle one last tour, we’ll walk by a graveyard where the time with locals. deceased have been laid to rest above ground, due to the rocky nature of the landscape. Lunch: Around noon at the hotel, featuring We’ll also visit a local historical museum, and local cuisine. explore modern neighborhoods, where we’ll Afternoon: Shortly after lunch, we’ll make come to understand why plumbing systems the 5-minute drive to the airport, where we’ll are not utilized here. We may even have the board our 2-hour flight departing at 2:30pm for opportunity to witness husky dogs in action, Reykjavik. Upon arrival around 6:15pm (local pulling their owners or a load of some kind. time), we’ll transfer by private motorcoach Later this afternoon, we’ll discover the natural approximately 30 minutes to our hotel for the surroundings of Kulusuk by 4x4 vehicles, final evening of our adventure. Depending on taking in views of rugged mountainscapes and where we stay, our hotel room will likely offer a jagged coastline. If we’re lucky, we may spot desk, flat-screen TV, wireless Internet, private wildlife, such as polar foxes and snow buntings bath and tea- and coffee-making facilities. The (a species of bird). Our tour will take us through hotel typically features two restaurants, a bar, an area which was home to a former U.S. naval beauty salon, and fitness room. base. Along the way, we’ll have the opportunity Dinner: On your own, whenever you’d like. to stop for photos and explore a bit on foot. Check with your Trip Experience Leader for suggestions.

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43 Evening: On your own. Perhaps you’d like to have a farewell drink with your fellow travelers before departing the next day.

Day 5 Reykjavik • Return to U.S. • Included Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 6:30am, featuring international options.

Morning: Depending on your specific flight arrangements, you will transfer 45 minutes by private motorcoach to the airport sometime this morning for your flight home to the U.S.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

44 POST-TRIP The Faroe Islands Archipelago & Copenhagen

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Airfare between Reykjavik and Vagar » All land transportation » Accommodations for 4 nights in Tórshavn » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip and 2 nights in Copenhagen Experience Leader » 12 meals—6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and and 3 dinners luggage porters » 7 small group activities » All transfers

POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Explore vast, treeless moorlands, witness abundant birdlife, and experience the mix of Dutch and Danish cultures of the remote Faroe Islands. Round out your Northern Europe journey in the trendy, environmentally friendly capital city of Copenhagen, where the contrast of old and new exists at every turn—from ancient Viking treasures to sleek, understated Danish design.

Day 1 Reykjavik • Fly to Vagar, Faroe fish, it remains quite vulnerable, especially Islands • Visit Bour and Gasadalur villages as more and more young people migrate to Denmark to study and work. Still, visitors • Destination: Torshavn will always flock to the islands, if only for the • Included Meals: Dinner natural paradise it contains. Fell-walkers, Morning: We’ll bid farewell to Iceland and birders, and all-around nature lovers can depart for Reykjavik airport, where we’ll board look forward to discovering miles upon miles a flight to Vagar, part of the Faroe Islands. of green pastures, abundant populations of seabirds, plunging cliffs, and stunning fjords. The Faroe Islands are a remote archipelago in the North Atlantic, situated about halfway Lunch: On the airplane. between Norway and Iceland. This mostly autonomous (it does bear some ties to Afternoon: Upon arrival in Vagar—the only Denmark), 540-square-mile territory consists airport in the islands—we’ll drive to the of 18 isles dotted with colorful cottages, tiny, postcard-worthy villages of Bour and thatched-roof churches, and low-lying Gasadalur. To be clear as to how small these moorlands. The vast majority of the 52,000 villages are: Bour boasts a population of 74 residents are ethnic Faroese and of Norse and residents and Gasadalur just 11. Both villages Celtic descent, most of whom make a living in are surrounded by the high mountains the fishing and fish farming industries. Because and rocky coastline of Vagar, offering the economy is almost entirely dependent on stunning panoramas of the Tindholmur and Mykines islets. Our first stop will be Bour, a

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45 centuries-old village—in fact, records show it Morning: After breakfast this morning, we’ll dates back to 1350 AD, but historians believe it embark on a walking tour of Torshavn with a to be even older. As we walk through the town, local guide. With a population of around 13,000 we’ll notice the old wooden houses, narrow people, Torshavn is the capital and largest city lanes, traditional 19th-century church, and of the Faroe Islands, yet one of the smallest pastoral atmosphere. We’ll then continue on capitals in the world. It’s perhaps best known to Gasadalur, which until 2004, was the only for its old town, Tinganes, which features rows village in the Faroe Islands without a road of black-tarred, wooden turf-roofed houses connection to other towns. Its remoteness nestled on a small peninsula. Another point is quite apparent: the town consists of just of interest here is the renovated 18th-century a handful of buildings, including a small Torshavn Cathedral. In addition to its history, restaurant, guesthouse (containing 4 rooms), Torshavn is also full of modern amenities souvenir shop, and of course, homes for the and a lively social scene. Chic, locally owned dozen residents. But what Gasadalur is best boutiques line the main shopping street, Niels known for is Mulafossur, a waterfall that Finsens gota, and the north side of town is plunges over the craggy coastline into the home to a theater, as well as dance and music ocean. Throughout our discoveries, we’ll be venues. Most of our walking tour, however, will sure to walk to the water to appreciate the focus on the medieval old town, including the beauty of Mulafossur. 14th-century houses and one of the world’s oldest parliament buildings, which is located on Later this afternoon, we’ll continue on to our a small strip of land that separates the east and destination for the next several days and the west sides of Torshavn’s harbor. capital of the Faroe Islands, Torshavn. When we arrive, we’ll check in to our hotel and receive Lunch: At a local restaurant in Torshavn. our room assignments. Depending on where Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll depart for we stay, the hotel may feature an on-site Kirkjubour, the southernmost village on the restaurant. Typical room amenities include a island of Streymoy. This stunning village is TV, wireless Internet, and en suite bathrooms. the heart of Faroese heritage—in fact, three The rest of the afternoon will be free for of the most prominent historical sights of all your own exploration before we reconvene the islands are located here, all of which we’ll for dinner. discover this afternoon. Our first visit will be Dinner: At a local restaurant. to St. Magnus Cathedral, the largest medieval structure in the Faroes, dating back to 1300. Evening: On your own—check with your Trip The cathedral was actually never completed Experience Leader for ideas. Perhaps you’ll (you’ll notice it’s missing a roof), and today, stroll through one or both of Torshavn’s it is in ruins. In recent years, an effort has two harbors. been made to protect the structure, which has dramatically deteriorated over the centuries as Day 2 Explore Torshavn • Visit Kirkjubour a result of exposure to seawater and high winds. • Destination: Torshavn Next, we’ll visit 12th-century St. Olav’s Church, • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch serving as the seat of the Catholic bishop until the Reformation. This white-washed place Breakfast: At the hotel. of worship is still in use today, making it the oldest church in the islands. Finally, our last

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46 stop in Kirkjubour will be Kirkjuboargardur, faces—some of which tower at over 2,000 feet meaning “King’s Farm.” This 900-year-old above sea level—to view this ideal habitat for wooden house is the oldest in Europe, and to birds, which provides a safe nesting ground this day, remains inhabited. We’ll have a chance during the summer months. to meet the resident farmer who lives here, when he welcomes us into his home for tea and cake. During our visit, we’ll hear stories about Lunch: On your own. Check with your Trip the thousand-year history of the village, as well Experience Leader for options. as how the farmer lives in modern day. This is a great time to ask any questions you may have Afternoon: After lunch, embark on a scenic about life here in Kirkjubour. drive along the coast of Streymoy, the largest and most populated of the Faroe Islands. Later this afternoon, we’ll head back to Along the drive, we’ll pass numerous quaint Torshavn, where the remainder of the villages before crossing a bridge to the island afternoon is free for your own discoveries. of Eysturoy and then continuing on to Gjogv, You may wish to explore the main shopping where we’ll make a brief stop and observe street of Niels Finsens gota, where you’ll two rock formations called Risin and Kellingin find exclusive boutiques like Sirri. Sirri uses (meaning “Giant” and “Witch”). Legend has organic, dye-free yarn from pure Faroese wool it that an Icelandic chief sent a giant and his to craft warm, quality products like scarfs wife, who happened to be a witch, to the Faroe and sweaters—perfect for the climate on Islands in order to steal them and bring them the islands. back to Iceland. They were dedicated to this effort—so much, in fact, that they worked all Dinner: On your own this evening. Perhaps through the night and well until the first light. you’ll dine at Barbara, the oldest restaurant in As the story goes, creatures of the night turn the country, serving traditional Faroese cuisine. to stone when touched by sunlight, which is Evening: On your own—check with your Trip precisely what happened to the giant and the Experience Leader for recommendations. witch. Now they stand in stone, forever staring longingly toward their home country of Iceland.

Day 3 Torshavn • Vestmanna Cliffs • As we continue on, our drive will also take Explore Streymoy coastline us past the Slaettarartindur mountain range. • Destination: Torshavn At nearly 3,000 feet high, this is the highest • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner range in the Faroes. Finally, we’ll stop in Gota, a village of great historical significance to the Breakfast: At the hotel. Faroe Islands. A central figure in the Icelandic Morning: This morning we’ll depart for saga, Færeyinga, actually lived here. The Vestmanna, a town on the island of Streymoy character was Trondur, a heathen Viking-chief and best known for the steep cliffs that lie who ruled all of the islands for a period of time. just north of it. The cliffs are teeming with Today, our main reason for visiting Gota, a thousands of seabirds, including puffins, village of just under 600 people, is to explore fulmars, kittiwakes, razorbills, and guillemots. the wooden church in the town center, which Upon arrival in Vestmanna, we’ll board a dates back to 1833. The church features glass boat in the harbor and navigate the narrow paintings created by renowned Faorese artist straits and grottoes between the jagged rock Trondur Paturson.

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47 We’ll venture back to the hotel later this Dinner: On your own. Perhaps you’ll try the afternoon, where you’ll have free time until traditional dish of skerpikjot, dried mutton. dinner. Perhaps you’ll stretch your legs with a Evening: On your own—check with your Trip stroll through the old town. Experience Leader for recommendations. For Dinner: At a local restaurant. your final night in Torshavn, you may wish to venture to a lively bar for a nightcap. Evening: On your own—check with your Trip Experience Leader for recommendations. Day 5 Torshavn • Fly to Copenhagen • Explore Copenhagen Day 4 Torshavn • Ferry to Nolsoy Island • Destination: Copenhagen • Destination: Torshavn • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Breakfast: At the hotel. Breakfast: At the hotel. Morning: We’ll depart early this morning for Morning: After breakfast, we’ll head to the the airport, where we’ll board our flight to harbor, where we’ll board a ferry to Nolsoy, a Copenhagen, Denmark. Upon arrival, we’ll small island located 3 miles off of Torshavn. transfer to our hotel and check in. Depending The island is just 4 square miles, but home to on where we stay, our hotel may feature an more than 200 people, hundreds of sheep, and on-site restaurant and bar. Room amenities thousands of migratory birds. Of particular may include wireless Internet, satellite TV, and interest here is the storm petrel colony, the a private bathroom. largest in all of Europe. In fact, Nolsoy has been identified as an Important Bird Area by Lunch: At a local restaurant. BirdLife International because of its sizeable population of storm petrels, Atlantic puffins, Afternoon: This afternoon you’ll enjoy a bit and black guillemots. The island’s grassy and of free to explore on your own before our rocky coastline provides an optimal breeding small group comes together for a walking tour and feeding habitat for these seabirds, which with a local guide. The capital of Denmark, we’ll have an opportunity to observe on a walk Copenhagen is a modern, chic, livable city with a local guide. In addition to the pristine abuzz with a hip social scene, culinary nature, we’ll walk through town, passing by hotspots, and cultural treasures. Denmark is the most famous taxidermy shop in the country considered a forerunner in green energy and and several cozy, welcoming cafés. Along the waste management, and we’ll see examples of way, we may meet some of the locals who this throughout the city. During our walk, we’ll reside here. stroll by Amalienborg Palace, where the Danish royal family resides. Constructed in 1760, the Lunch: At a local restaurant in Nolsoy. area consists of a cluster of four palaces, two of which are open to the public. We’ll also Afternoon: We’ll take the ferry back to make our way to the glistening waterfront for Torshavn after lunch, where you’ll have the a view of Maersk Opera House, as well as to remainder of the day to explore on your own. the public gardens to see the city’s signature Perhaps you’ll visit Listasavn Foroya, the attraction—the Little Mermaid monument. national art gallery of the Faroe Islands, which Unveiled in 1913, the Little Mermaid was features more than 2,600 works of Faroese art. designed from bronze and granite by Edvard

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48 Eriksen and given as a gift to the city from time to explore on your own. Perhaps you’ll Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen of Carlsberg walk to the Dragor Havn (harbor dock), where Breweries. The statue marks the influence of you can watch the fishermen sell their daily fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, who catch. Or, you might like to wander over to was born in Copenhagen. Store Magleby Village, considered one of the best-preserved rural villages in the region. Dinner: On your own this evening. You might like to dine at Manfreds, a wine Lunch: On your own. Check with your Trip bar offering quality charcuterie and an Experience Leader for suggestions. Being in inventive menu—you might like to try the Dragor, you might like to opt for some fresh restaurant’s signature beef tartare, made with seafood, like herring. rye breadcrumbs, poached egg mayo, and Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll head back to spicy cress. Copenhagen, where we’ll have the remainder Evening: On your own—check with your Trip of the afternoon free. Perhaps you’d like to Experience Leader for recommendations. rent a bike and tour around the city. Denmark If you’re curious to tap into local nightlife, is a very bike-friendly country—in fact, most venture to Joy, a bar and music venue located places feature a network of paths, including on the spirited, multicultural street of innovative bridges, which are solely for bikers. Griffenfeldsgade. For alternative activity suggestions, check with your Trip Experience Leader.

Day 6 Copenhagen • Visit Dragor Dinner: We’ll toast to our discoveries during a • Destination: Copenhagen Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Evening: On your own—check with your Trip Breakfast: At the hotel. Experience Leader for recommendations.

Morning: This morning we’ll take a public bus to the nearby fishing village of Dragor. Founded Day 7 Copenhagen • Return to U.S. by the Dutch in the 12th century, dozens of • Included Meals: Breakfast settlers were ordered to move here by the King Breakfast: At the hotel. and grow vegetables for the Court, but due to its seaside location, their cultivation efforts Morning: Transfer to the airport, where you’ll quickly shifted to fishing. Today, Dragor is a board your flight home to the U.S. blend of Dutch and Danish cultures, as well as old and new. It has many well-preserved historical buildings in the old town, a winding warren of alleys and cobblestone streets lined with yellow, Danish-style houses—many of which are hundreds of years old. History buffs will be interested to know that the village played an important role during World War II, when fishermen helped Danish Jews escape by ferrying them across Oresund to Malmo. After a discovery walk through the village, enjoy free

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49 Untamed Iceland RISK-FREE BOOKING POLICY: RESERVE WITH CONFIDENCE—NOW THROUGH 12/31/21 We will waive any change fees if you transfer to another departure date for 2023 Dates & Prices any reason—up until 24 hours prior to departure. See details at www.oattravel.com/riskfree-booking.

MAY 27-30; DEPART FROM MAY 7-26 SEP 1-4 JUNE-AUGUST SEP 6-29 OCTOBER Boston, New York, Newark, Orlando, $ 5095 $5695 $5795 $5495 $4795 Tampa, Washington, DC

Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Phoenix, $ 5195 $5795 $5895 $5595 $4895 Portland, San Francisco, Seattle

Dallas, Houston $ 5295 $ 5895 $ 5995 $ 5695 $ 4995

San Diego $ 5395 $ 5995 $ 6095 $ 5795 $ 5095

Philadelphia $ 5495 $6095 $6195 $5895 $5195

Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami $ 5595 $ 6195 $ 6295 $ 5995 $ 5295

Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details.

MAY 7-26 MAY 27-30; SEPTEMBER JUNE-AUGUST OCTOBER Without international airfare $ 4295 $ 4695 $ 4795 $ 3995

ICE2023

NEW! STOPOVERS All O.A.T. Stopovers include 3 nights in a centrally- located hotel, daily breakfasts, and roundtrip private airport transfers. Prices are per person. Airfare prices include government taxes, fees, and airline fuel Amsterdam: $795 per person surcharges. All prices and availability are effective as of the date of this publication, and are subject to change without notice. Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our website: London : $895 per person www.oattravel.com/tc. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We Paris : $895 per person reserve the right to correct errors. Other O.A.T. Stopovers are available. If a city you are interested in is not offered, we can arrange your airfare for that, too. Call your Regional Adventure Counselor for full details at 1-800-955-1925.

For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.oattravel.com/ice2023pricing

SAVE UP TO 10% WITH FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS SHARE YOUR LOVE OF TRAVEL OUR GOOD BUY PLAN We offer FREE Single Supplements on all New travelers you refer will instantly save The earlier you reserve your departure of our adventures and pre- and post-trip $100, and you’ll earn increasing rewards— and pay in full, the more you’ll save—up extensions. up to a FREE trip! to 10%—plus, you’ll lock in your price. Each departure has limited solo space For details, visit www.oattravel.com/va For details, visit www.oattravel.com/gbd available—call today to reserve.

Publication Date 5/17/21

Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/ice2023

50 TRAVEL DOCUMENTS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Your Passport • Must be in good condition

• Must be valid for at least 6 months after your scheduled return to the U.S.

• Must have the required number of blank pages (details below)

• The blank pages must be labeled “Visas” at the top. Pages labeled “Amendments and Endorsements” are not acceptable

Need to Renew Your Passport? Contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778, or visit their website at www.travel.state.gov for information on obtaining a new passport or renewing your existing passport. You may also contact our recommended visa service company, PVS International, at 1-800-556-9990 for help with your passport

Recommended Blank Pages Please confirm that your passport has enough blank pages for this adventure.

• Main trip only: If you are taking only the main trip, you will need 3 blank passport pages.

• Pre-trip extension to Westman Islands: No additional blank pages needed.

• Pre-trip extension to Eastern Iceland: No additional blank pages needed.

• Post-trip extension to Greenland: You will need 2 additional pages for a total of 5 blank pages.

• Post-trip extension to the Faroe Islands: You will need 2 additional pages for a total of 5 blank pages.

• Both a pre-trip and a post-trip extension: You will need a total of 5 blank pages.

No Visas Required Travelers with a U.S. passport do not need any visas for this adventure, including the optional trip extensions.

Traveling Without a U.S. Passport? If you are not a U.S. citizen, or if your passport is from any country other than the U.S., it is your responsibility to check with your local consulate, embassy, or a visa services company about visa requirements. We recommend the services of PVS International, a national visa service located in Washington D.C.; they can be reached at 1-800-556-9990 or www.pvsinternational.org.

51 Traveling With a Minor? Some governments may require certain documentation for minors to enter and depart the country or to obtain a visa (if applicable). For further detail on the required documentation, please contact your local embassy or consulate.

Emergency Photocopies of Key Documents We recommend you carry color photocopies of key documents including the photo page of your passport plus any applicable visas, air itinerary, credit cards (front and back), and an alternative form of ID. Add emergency phone numbers like your credit card company and the number for your travel protection plan. Store copies separate from the originals.

If you plan to email this information to yourself, please keep in mind that email is not always secure; consider using password protection or encryption. Also email is not always available worldwide. As an alternative, you could load these documents onto a flash drive instead, which can do double-duty as a place to backup photos during your trip.

Overseas Taxes & Fees This tour may have taxes and fees that cannot be included in your airline ticket price because you are required to pay them in person onsite. All taxes are subject to change without notice and can be paid in cash (either U.S. or local currency). If applicable, you will receive a list of these fees with your Final Documents.

52 RIGORS, VACCINES & GENERAL HEALTH

Is This Adventure Right for You? Please review the information below prior to departing on this adventure. We reserve the right for our Trip Experience Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their condition would adversely affect the health, safety, or enjoyment of themselves or of other travelers.

PACING • 4 locations in 12 days; one 1-night stay

• One 45-minute internal flight

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids

• You must be able to walk at least 3 miles unassisted over the course of each day, participating in 6-8 hours of daily physical activities and standing unassisted for 30 minutes at a time

• We reserve the right for Trip Experience Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience

CLIMATE • Daytime temperatures in Reykjavik range from 44-57°F in the warmer summer months to 35-50°F in the fall

• Evenings can be chilly, even in summer

• Iceland is sometimes subject to harsh weather, but the summer months are quite mild

TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION • Travel over some rugged paths, as well as bumpy, gravelly, slippery, and sometimes icy roads by motorcoach and on foot

• One short hike up a small mountain

• Travel by 19-passenger and 32-passenger motorcoaches and a whale-watching boat

ACCOMMODATIONS & FACILITIES • Hotels feature a variety of Western-style amenities and personal services

Steps to Take Before Your Trip Before you leave on this adventure, we recommend the following:

53 • Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting. You can contact them online at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel or by phone at 1-800-232-4636.

• Have a medical checkup with your doctor at least 6 weeks before your trip.

• Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

• Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less urgent)

Vaccines Required

COVID-19 Overseas Adventure Travel requires that all travelers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and are able provide proof of their vaccination upon arrival at their destination. A full vaccination is defined as having been inoculated at least 14 days prior to departure by an approved vaccine. This requirement is not contingent on the countries the tour visits, but a strict company policy due to the nature of the pandemic.

Medication Suggestions • An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness

• Prescription pain medication in the unlikely event of an injury in a remote location

Traveling with Medications • Pack medications in your carry-on bag to avoid loss and to have them handy.

• Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers for a quicker security screen at the airport and a better experience if you get stopped by customs while overseas.

• Bring copies of your prescriptions, written using the generic drug name rather than a brand name to be prepared for any unforeseen loss of your medications.

We recommend checking with the State Department for medication restrictions by country: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel- Country-Information-Pages.html. (Pick the country and then follow the links to “Local Laws & Special Circumstances”; if you don’t see any medications specifically mentioned, then you can presume major U.S. brands should be OK).

Staying Healthy on Your Trip Jet Lag Tips

• Start your trip well-rested.

• Begin a gradual transition to your new time zone before you leave or switch to your destination time zone when you get on the plane.

• Attempt to sleep and eat according to the new schedule.

54 • Avoid heavy eating and drinking caffeine or alcoholic beverages right before–and during– your flight.

• Drink plenty of water and/or fruit juice while flying

• Stretch your legs, neck, and back periodically while seated on the plane.

• After arrival, avoid the temptation to nap.

• Don’t push yourself to see a lot on your first day.

• Try to stay awake your first day until after dinner.

Allergies

If you have any serious allergies or dietary restrictions, we advise you to notify us at least 30 days prior to your departure. Please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814, and we will communicate them to our regional office. Every effort will be made to accommodate you.

Water • Tap water is safe to drink in Iceland, Greenland, and Denmark.

• Bottled water is also readily available, but tap water complies with all health safety criteria.

Food • Food should not cause any health problems—salads, fruit, and dairy products are all fine— but try to vary your diet.

• Be careful with food that has been cooked and left to go cold, which might happen in some self-service places.

Electricity Supply Barring the occasional and unpredictable power outage, electricity is as readily available in Iceland as it is in the U.S. Travelers dependent on electricity supply (as in the case of those with sleep apnea) may wish to bring a rechargeable battery as a backup.

55 MONEY MATTERS: LOCAL CURRENCY & TIPPING GUIDELINES

Top Three Tips • Carry a mix of different types of payments, such as local currency, an ATM card, and a credit card.

• Traveler’s checks are not recommended. They can be difficult to exchange and the commission fee for cashing them is quite high. It’s more practical to view them as a last resort in the event of a special situation.

• Plan to bring a reserve of cash if you are taking the Greenland extension. ATMs can be difficult to find and shut down at night in Greenland. We recommend that you bring a combination of cash and a credit card instead of relying on ATMs.

Local Currency For current exchange rates, please refer to an online converter tool like www.xe.com/ currencyconverter, your bank, or the financial section of your newspaper.

Iceland The official currency of Iceland is the Icelandic krona (plural krónur). The krona is divided into 100 eyrir. Banknote and coin denominations are as follows:

• Banknotes: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10,000 Icelandic krónur

• Coins: 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 Icelandic krónur

U.S. dollars are not widely accepted in Iceland; the local currency is preferred.

Greenland The official currency of Greenland is the Danish krone (plural kroner). The krone is divided into 100 øre, although only the 50 øre coin is still in use. Banknote and coin denominations are as follows:

• Banknotes: 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 kroner

• Coins: 50 øre and 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 kroner

U.S. dollars are accepted by some hotels in Greenland; in other businesses the local currency is preferred.

Denmark The monetary unit of Denmark is the krone which is divided into 100 oere. Banknote and coin denominations are as follows:

• Banknotes: 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 krone

56 • Coins: 50 ore and 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 krone

Danish krone are not the same as Norwegian krone or Swedish krona.

How to Exchange Money If you want to exchange money before your trip, you can usually do so through your bank or at an exchange office. Your departure airport in the U.S., a travel agent, or an AAA office are also possible outlets. Or you can wait and change money on the trip instead—but it might be helpful to arrive with some local currency in case you run into a bank holiday or an “out of order” ATM.

On your trip, the easiest way to obtain local currency is to withdraw funds from a local ATM. The ATM will give you local money and your bank at home will convert that into U.S. dollars.

You may be able to exchange cash at some hotels, large post offices, and money exchange offices, however they do not typically offer good exchange rates and can be difficult to find. To exchange cash, you’ll usually need your passport and bills in good condition (not worn, torn, or dirty). New bills (post 2004) are best.

Please note that many banks in Europe will only exchange money for their own customers. Never exchange money on the street. All exchange methods involve fees, which may be built into the conversion rate; ask beforehand.

ATMs When using the ATM, keep in mind that it may only accept cards from local banks, and may not allow cash advances on credit cards; you might need to try more than one ATM or more than one card.

Many banks charge a fee of $1-$10 each time you use a foreign ATM. Others may charge you a percentage of the amount you withdraw. We recommend that you check with your bank before you depart.

Lastly, don’t forget to memorize the actual digits of your card’s PIN number (many keypads at foreign ATMs do not include letters on their keys—they only display numbers.)

Iceland: International ATM networks are available throughout large cities and small towns.

Greenland: ATMs are far more limited in Greenland. Typically, you can find them in banks and in the larger post offices. But generally speaking, the more rural the community in Greenland, the less likely it is you’ll find an ATM. Plus many ATMs in Greenland are not 24/7; they shut down at night. Since we’ll be traveling in parts of Greenland that have limited ATM access, a combination of a credit card and some cash is a better idea than relying on an ATM card. The cash can be U.S. dollars (which some hotels will accept) or Danish currency (which is accepted everywhere in Greenland). You can get Danish currency in Iceland before you leave for Greenland.

Scandinavia: ATMs are widely available throughout Scandinavia and should not be hard to find, especially in larger cities.

57 Credit & Debit Cards Even if you don’t plan on using a credit card during your trip, we still suggest that you bring one or two as a backup, especially if you are planning a large purchase (artwork, jewelry). We also suggest that you bring more than one brand of card (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, American Express) if possible, because not every shop will take every card. For example, although the Discover card is accepted in some countries outside the U.S., it is not widely adopted, so other brands will work at a much larger range of stores, restaurants, etc.

Iceland: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Iceland. However, as of 2015 credit card machines there require you to enter your PIN. If your credit card doesn’t have a PIN, you can use another form of payment. For example, a debit card can be useful in place of a credit card because debit cards use PINs.

Greenland: Credit and debit cards are starting to gain momentum in Greenland. You’ll be able to use a credit card at most hotels and tourist shops in Greenland—but you won’t be able to pay with plastic absolutely everywhere. So for Greenland, it would be a good idea to have some cash as well.

Scandinavia: Credit and debit cards are readily accepted in Scandinavia. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card in Scandinavia, followed by MasterCard and then American Express.

Chip Cards Many countries have adopted a new type of credit card that has an embedded computer chip. These cards are inserted into the reader instead of swiped. The card owner then authorizes the purchase using a PIN instead of signing.

This new technology is only now gaining traction in the U.S., so occasionally there are machines in other countries that can’t read U.S. cards. Or the machine can read the card, but asks for a PIN. This doesn’t happen often, and is nothing to worry about. You can usually resolve the situation by asking the cashier to let you sign. (If you don’t speak the language, just mime signing on your hand.) If you are not able to sign for a purchase, such as at an automated ticket booth, you can use another form of payment, such as a debit card that has a PIN.

Notify Card Providers of Upcoming Travel Many credit card companies and banks have fraud alert departments that will freeze your card if they see suspicious charges—such as charges or withdrawals from another country. To avoid an accidental security block, it is a good idea to notify your credit card company and/or bank you will be using your cards abroad. You can do this by calling their customer service number a week or two before your departure. Some banks or credit card companies will also let you do this online.

You should also double-check what phone number you could call if you have a problem with a card while you are abroad. Don’t assume you can use the 1-800 number printed on the back of your card—most 1 800 numbers don’t work outside of the U.S.!

58 Tipping Guidelines Of course, whether you tip, and how much, is always at your own discretion. But for those of you who have asked for tipping suggestions, we offer these guidelines.

• O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader: It is customary to express a personal “thank you” to your Trip Experience Leader at the end of your trip. As a guideline, many travelers give $8-$12 USD (or equivalent in local currency) per person for each day their Trip Experience Leader is with them. Please note that these tips can only be in cash. If you are taking any of the optional extensions, your Trip Experience Leader during the extension(s) may not be the same as the one on your main trip.

• Housekeeping staff at hotels: $1-2 per room, per night

• Waiters: Tipping at restaurants is not common in Iceland. Locals might round up the bill to the next 500-1000 ISK and tell the waiter to keep the change, but it is not expected. Tipping is not necessary—and may not be possible—when paying by credit card.

• Taxis: Taxi drivers do not expect a tip either. There is usually a service charge included in the cost of your ride, so do not feel obligated.

Please Note: Your tour price includes gratuities on the main trip and optional extensions for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters that may assist you during the scheduled activities on your adventure. All tips are quoted in U.S. dollars; tips can be converted and paid in local currency or in U.S. dollars. Please do not use personal or traveler’s checks for tips.

59 AIR, OPTIONAL TOURS & STAYING IN TOUCH

Land Only Travelers & Personalized Air Quick Definitions

• Land Only: You will be booking your own international flights. Airport transfers are not included.

• Air-Inclusive: You booked international air with us. Airport transfers are included as long as you didn’t customize your trip’s dates (see next bullet).

• Personalized Air: You booked international air with us, and have customized it in some way. If you have customized your trip’s dates to arrive early, stay longer, or stop on your own in a connecting city, airport transfers will NOT be included. You must also arrange your own accommodations for any additional nights. For your convenience, a preliminary list of your included hotels is available on your My Account at www.oattravel.com/myaccount under “My Reservations”.

Airport Transfers Can Be Purchased For eligible flights, airport transfers may be purchased separately as an optional add-on, subject to availability. To be eligible, your flight(s) must meet the following requirements:

• You must fly into or fly home from the same airport as O.A.T. travelers who purchased included airfare.

• Your flight(s) must arrive/depart on the same day that the group arrives or departs.

Airport transfers can be purchased up to 45 days prior to your departure; they are not available for purchase onsite. To learn more, or purchase airport transfers, please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814.

If you don’t meet the requirements above, you’ll need to make your own transfer arrangements. We suggest the Rome to Rio website as a handy resource: www.rome2rio.com.

If you are taking the pre-trip extension, Worlds of Fire: Iceland’s Westman Islands, please arrange a flight that arrives at the Keflavik International Airport by 7:00am on Day 2 of the extension. The group will meet at the 10-11 Supermarket (after Customs) in the airport for the included group transfer to the first hotel which typically departs at around 7:30am based on flight arrival times. If you arrive early, this means you may be waiting a couple of hours for the rest of the group. If you are not able to meet the group in time for the included transfer, you are responsible for making your own arrangements to get to the first hotel in the Westman Islands.

60 Optional Tours Optional tours are additional add-on tours that allow you to personalize your adventure by tailoring it to your tastes and needs. And if you decide not to join an optional tour? Then you’ll have free time to relax or explore on your own—it’s about options, not obligations.

What You Need to Know • All optional tours are subject to change and availability.

• Optional tours that are reserved with your Trip Experience Leader can be paid for using credit/debit cards only. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover credit cards; we can also take MasterCard or Visa debit cards as long as the card allows you to sign for purchases. (You won’t be able to enter a PIN.)

• To ensure that you are charged in U.S. dollars, your payment will be processed by our U.S. headquarters in Boston. This process can take up to three months, so we ask that you only use a card that will still be valid three months after your trip is over. The charge may appear on your credit card statement as being from Boston, MA or may be labeled as “OPT Boston”.

• Your Trip Experience Leader will give you details on the optional tours while you’re on the trip. But if you’d like to look over descriptions of them earlier, you can do so at any time by referring to your Day-to-Day Itinerary (available online by signing into My Account at www.oattravel.com/myaccount).

Communicating with Home from Abroad To ensure you are available during your trip, you will receive two copies of your hotel list, including phone numbers, with your Final Documents. One copy is for you to bring, and one to leave behind with friends or relatives in case they need to contact you during the trip.

Cell Phones If you want to use your cell phone on the trip, check with your phone provider to see if your phone and service will work outside of the U.S. It may turn out to be cheaper to rent an international phone or buy a SIM card onsite. If you want to use a local SIM, just make certain your phone can accept one.

Calling Apps Another option is to use a smartphone app like Skype or FaceTime. These services are usually less expensive than making a traditional call, but you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection and the calls may count towards your phone plan’s data allowance. Many smartphones—and some tablets or laptops—come with one of these apps pre-installed or you can download them for free from the appropriate apps store.

61 Calling Cards and 1-800 Numbers When calling the U.S. from a foreign country, a prepaid calling card can be useful because it circumvents unexpected charges from the hotel. Calling cards purchased locally are typically the best (less expensive, more likely to work with the local phones, etc.).

One reminder: Do not call U.S. 1-800 numbers outside the continental United States. This can result in costly long distance fees, since 1-800 numbers do not work outside the country.

Internet Nearly all hotels in Iceland have complimentary wireless Internet service (WiFi). Most hotels will also offer a limited number of computers in the lobby or business center for guests to use. So you can either bring your own device during the trip and use WiFi where it is available, or leave your device at home and rely on hotel computers.

How to Call Overseas When calling overseas from the U.S., dial 011 for international exchange, then the country code (indicated by a plus sign: +), and then the number. Note that foreign phone numbers may not have the same number of digits as U.S. numbers; even within a country the number of digits can vary depending on the city and if the phone is a land line or cell phone.

Iceland: +354 Denmark: +45

Greenland: +299

62 PACKING: WHAT TO BRING & LUGGAGE LIMITS

Luggage Limits

MAIN TRIP LIMITS

Pieces per person One checked bag and one carry-on per person.

Weight restrictions Checked luggage is limited to 44 lbs total. Carry- ons are limited to 13 lbs total.

Size Restrictions Standard airline size: checked luggage should not exceed 62 linear inches (length+ width + depth). Carry-ons should not exceed 43 linear inches

Luggage Type Duffel bag or soft-sided suitcase. Please do not bring a hard-sided (clamshell) suitcase.

TRIP EXTENSION(S) LIMITS

Westman Islands pre-trip extension: Same as the main trip.

Greenland post-trip extension: Use a small duffel bag, backpack, or overnight bag as your checked luggage (should be about the same size as a carry-on for an international flight). Checked bags are limited to 22 lbs total and carry-ons are limited to 13 lbs total.

63 REMARKS/SUGGESTIONS

Luggage rules: Luggage rules and limits are set by governmental and airline policy. Enforcement of the rules may include spot checks or may be inconsistent. However one thing is the same across the board: If you are found to have oversized or overweight luggage, you will be subject to additional fees, to be assessed by—and paid to—the airline in question.

Weight Limits in Iceland vs International Flights: On the main trip, the flight from Akureyri to Reykjavik has a luggage limit of 44 lbs for checked luggage. If you prefer to bring the standard 50 lbs of luggage for your international flights, you will have the option to pack an overnight bag and send your excess luggage with the motorcoach, which will meet the group at the airport upon arrival in Reykjavik the following day. If you choose this option, any remaining luggage that you do bring on the flight must be under the 44 lb limit.

Bring a small additional bag for the post-trip extension in Greenland: The stricter weight limits for Greenland are due to the helicopter rides. To work around this limit, our Trip Experience Leaders suggest bringing a smaller bag to use in Greenland. This lets you work around the limit by leaving excess luggage in Reykjavik before departing for Greenland. At the end of the extension, you’ll return to Reykjavik and pick up your luggage. If you would like to take advantage of this “left luggage” service, bring an additional small bag with a lock.

Don’t Forget: • These luggage limits may change. If the airline(s) notify us of any changes, we will include an update in your Final Documents booklet.

• It’s a good idea to reconfirm baggage restrictions and fees directly with the airline a week or so prior to departure. For your convenience, we maintain a list of the toll-free numbers for the most common airlines on our website in the FAQ section.

• Baggage fees are not included in your trip price; they are payable directly to the airlines.

• The luggage limits above are based on your regional flights, which may be less than your international flights. Even if your international airline offers a larger weight limit, you will need to pack according to the lower restrictions.

Your Luggage Checked Luggage

One duffel bag or suitcase. Look for one with heavy nylon fabric, wrap-around handles, built-in wheels, and a heavy duty lockable zipper. Please do not bring a rigid (clamshell) suitcase.

Carry-on Bag

You are allowed one carry-on bag per person. We suggest a tote or small backpack that can be used as both a carry-on bag for your flight and to carry your daily necessities—water bottle, camera, etc—during your daily activities.

64 Small Additional Bag

• Optional for the main trip (flight between Akureyri and Reykjavik): You have the option to pack an overnight bag for this part of the trip and you will be able to send your excess luggage with the motorcoach, which will meet the group at the airport upon arrival in Reykjavik the following day.

• Strongly recommended for the post-trip extension in Greenland: During the extension, you will be able to store your excess luggage at the hotel in Reykjavik where you will be able to retrieve it upon your return.

Locks

For flights that originate in the U.S., you can either use a TSA-approved lock or leave your luggage unlocked. Outside of the U.S. we strongly recommend locking your luggage as a theft- prevention measure.

Clothing Suggestions: Functional Tips As you will experience a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions, we suggest several layers of clothing. If you like to hand-wash your clothes, look for fabrics that will dry out overnight. You can buy clothing designed especially for travel, with features like wrinkle- resistant fabric or built-in sun protection.

• Footwear: You’ll be on your feet a lot during the trip, and walking over some rough and slippery surfaces. The soles of your shoes should offer good traction. Sturdy and comfortable walking shoes with arch support are suggested.

• Everyone should bring layers, even in summer, so you can adjust as the temperature varies.

• Wind + rain = Bring good rain gear. Because Iceland is so windy, the rain often comes in sideways. A waterproof layer over your clothing (such as a raincoat/windbreaker and waterproof pants) is more effective than just an umbrella.

Style Hints Dress on our trip is functional and casual. You might want to bring one slightly dressier outfit for dining on your own at nicer restaurants, or for the Welcome and Farewell Dinners, but that is totally up to you.

Suggested Packing Lists We have included suggestions from Trip Experience Leaders and former travelers to help you pack. These lists are only jumping-off points—they offer recommendations based on experience, but not requirements. You may also want to consult the “Climate” chapter of this handbook.

And don’t forget a reusable water bottle—you’ll need it to take advantage of any refills we offer as we are working to eliminate single-use plastic bottles on all of our trips.

65 Recommended Clothing ‰Shirts: Mainly long-sleeved shirts but also short-sleeved shirts. ‰Trousers: Comfortable and loose-fitting so you can easily hike, enjoy a boat ride, or be active.

‰Shoes and socks: Comfortable, sturdy, highly supportive walking shoes—lightweight hiking boots are recommended. There will be hiking on rocky paths so sturdy walking shoes are essentials. Also recommended is a pair of water-tolerant footwear in case of heavy rain.

‰Light cotton or wool sweater. During colder times of year, this is useful for layering. ‰Hat, gloves, and warm socks. ‰Rain gear that protects you from top to toe. Because Iceland is so windy, the rain often comes in sideways. Some combination of a raincoat, waterproof windbreaker, waterproof pants, and a hat/hood is in order.

‰For Icelandic weather, layers (sweater, fleece, jacket, etc.) are key. Thermal underwear is recommended for all seasons, even summer so you can adjust to the varied weather. Although the summers are in general rather mild cold spells are common especially in the north of Iceland.

‰Underwear and sleepwear. ‰Lined windbreaker. ‰A folding or collapsible walking stick for hiking. ‰A swimsuit is recommended for Icelandic-style thermal swimming pools.

Seasonal Clothing Recommendations You can expect summer daytime highs in Iceland to be in the 50s and 60s °F and only occasionally reach or exceed 70 °F. September and October will be significantly cooler, with some days like early winter in the northern U.S. Wind is likely and rain is possible during any of our outdoor activities.

For spring and fall (May, September-October) ‰You’ll want long, warm trousers, and not shorts. ‰You’ll mostly want long-sleeved shirts.

66 ‰Warm outer gear is a must. This means a warm wind and waterproof jacket, hat, and gloves.

‰Bring clothing you can layer (sweater, fleece, jacket, etc.); thermal or long underwear adds warmth without bulk and doesn’t take up much room in your luggage. Layers are key for this season, so you can adjust to the varied weather.

‰Snow can occur as late as May and as early September, so factor that into your clothing and footwear choice. Our staff in Iceland also recommend crampons (spikes) for these months, but those are completely optional—do not feel the need to purchase them if you don’t want to.

For summer (June-September) ‰Summer is often quite cool, so the best choices are long trousers. Early June and late August can be closer to spring/fall weather.

‰There are often periods during summer that are quite rainy; so good rain gear is useful. ‰Blindfolds (eye shades) are recommended because it is very bright in Iceland through the summer nights.

‰There are a lot of black flies especially around Lake Myvatn but also in other places so a head net is useful.

Essential Items ‰Daily essentials: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, hairbrush or comb, shaving items, deodorant, etc. Our hotels will provide the basics like soap and shampoo/conditioner, but if you are sensitive to fragrances or new products, you may wish to bring your preferred brands. Most hotels do not provide a washcloth, so you may wish to pack one.

‰Spare eyeglasses/contact lenses. If you wear eyeglasses, consider a string or band to keep them from falling into the water during the whale watch.

‰Sunglasses, 100% UV block ‰Sunscreen, SPF 15 or stronger ‰Insect repellent ‰Cold-water hand-wash laundry soap such as Woolite and plastic hang-up clothespins ‰Photocopies of passport, air ticket, credit cards ‰Moisturizer and sun-blocking lip balm

67 ‰Packets of pocket-size tissues or small roll of toilet paper ‰Moist towelettes and/or anti-bacterial “water-free” hand cleanser ‰Water bottle (narrow-mouth) ‰Electrical converter & plug adapters

Medicines & First Aid Gear ‰Your own prescription medicines ‰Travel first aid kit: Band-Aids, headache and pain relief, laxatives and anti-diarrhea tablets, something for upset stomach. Maybe a cold remedy, moleskin foot pads, antibiotic cream, or allergy medication.

‰An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness ‰Optional: A strong prescription pain medication for rare emergency purposes ‰Optional: Motion sickness medication for the boating activities (if you are prone to motion sickness)

‰Optional: Allergy medication. If you suffer from allergies, keep in mind that we’ll spend a lot of time outdoors on this adventure.

Optional Gear ‰Lightweight binoculars (essential if birding and wildlife viewing) ‰Folding walking staff, sold in most camping stores (preferably rubber-tipped) ‰Hair dryer (available in most hotels, but not all—particularly in Greenland) ‰Reading materials ‰Travel journal/note pad and pens ‰Phrase book ‰Pocket-size calculator for exchange rates

Hairdryers: Hairdryers are provided at most hotels in Iceland, but not in the hotels in Greenland.

68 Home-Hosted Visits Many of our adventures feature a visit with a local family, often as part of the A Day in the Life experience. It is customary, though not necessary, to return your hosts’ generosity with a small gift. If you do bring a gift, we recommend that you bring something the whole family can enjoy, or something that represents your region, state, or hometown. Get creative and keep it small—peach jelly from Georgia, maple sugar candy from New England, orange blossom soap from California; something that can be used or used up is best. When choosing a gift, be certain to consider the local culture as well. For example, we do not recommend alcohol in Muslim communities because it is forbidden in Islam, and your hosts may be religious. Not all O.A.T. adventures include a Home-Hosted Visit; please check your final itinerary before you depart.

Electricity Abroad When traveling overseas, the voltage is usually different and the plugs might not be the same shape.

Voltage Electricity in Iceland and Greenland is 220 volts. In the U.S. it is 110 volts. Most of the things a traveler will want to plug in—battery chargers, MP3 players, tablets or computers—can run off both 110 and 220-240. But you should check the item or the owner’s guide first to confirm this before you plug it in. If you have something that needs 110 volts—like a shaver or a hairdryer— you can bring a transformer to change the current. (But transformers tend to burn out, so it might be better to leave whatever it is at home.)

Plugs The shape of plugs will vary from country to country, and sometimes even within a country depending on when that building was built. To plug something from the U.S. into a local socket you’ll need an adapter that fits between the plug and the socket. Because there are many different types of plugs in this region, it may be easier to purchase an all-in-one, universal adapter/ converter combo. Versatile and lightweight, these can usually be found at your local electronics goods or hardware stores. Sometimes you can buy them at large retailers too, like Target or Walmart. If you forget to bring an adapter, you might also find them for sale at the airport when you arrive at your destination.

Different plug shapes are named by letters of the alphabet. Standard U.S. plugs are Type A and Type B. Here is the list of plugs for the countries on this trip:

Iceland: C and F

Greenland: C or K

69 Denmark: C and F

Type C Type F Type K

Availability: Barring the occasional and unpredictable power outage, electricity is as readily available on this adventure as it is in the U.S. Travelers dependent on electricity supply (as in the case of those with sleep apnea) may wish to bring a rechargeable battery as a backup.

70 CLIMATE & AVERAGE TEMPERATURES

Iceland: Though Iceland’s climate is cool, warm ocean currents keep it more temperate than you might expect for its northerly location. Highs in Reykjavik during the summer months, with their long hours of daylight, average in the 50s but can easily reach the 60s or low 70s—like fall days in the northeastern U.S. Humidity can be low at summer’s outset (May), when the air has exceptional clarity on sunny days. September and October in Iceland are cooler and you’ll want to have a warm jacket, warm hat, and gloves available. The winter months bring below-freezing weather and shorter daylight hours, offering a unique opportunity to go in search of the Northern Lights, but you’ll need warm winter gear.

It’s often windy, so bring a good windbreaker. The weather can change rapidly, so be prepared to add or remove outer layers during the course of a day’s tour.

Also, know that when conditions are windy, the temperature will feel several degrees cooler than it really is, a phenomenon known as “the wind chill effect”. Locals are used to it, but it often catches visors by surprise—anything a local describes as a “light breeze”probably requires an extra layer, like a windbreaker or jacket. In winter, this may mean wearing three layers (a top, a fleece/sweater, and a jacket/coat).

Westman Islands, Iceland: The Westman Islands enjoy a relatively temperate maritime climate similar to the rest of Iceland.

Húsavík, Iceland: Húsavík is the only town in Skjálfandi bay, on the northern coast of Iceland. The weather is cold year-round, with January being coldest and July being warmest. Rain is common, if less so than the southern coast of Iceland, the sky constantly covered by clouds. The winters are long and cold, with very cool summers and little direct sunlight. In June, Iceland experiences “midnight suns”, where the sun doesn’t fully set on Iceland for a season, leaving the night-sky lit up by the sun.

Tórshavn, Faroe Islands: The Faroe Islands are cold, wet, and windy all year-round, with mild winters and cool summers. For all the winters are long and cold, snow is infrequent and sunlight just as rare. Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands, is noted as the least sunny place in the world, averaging less than 900 hours of sunlight a year. During the summer, the Islands are known to experience “white nights”, where the sky does not get completely dark until midnight.

Greenland: Greenland is cooler than Iceland, with an arctic climate whose high temperatures average below 50° F in the summer months; however, afternoon highs can reach the 60°s F from June through August. During summer you can expect high humidity and foggy days.

Climate Averages & Online Forecast The following charts reflect the average climate as opposed to exact weather conditions. This means they serve only as general indicators of what can reasonably be expected. An extreme heat wave or cold snap could fall outside these ranges. As your departure approaches, we encourage you to go online to www.oattravel.com/myaccount for your 10-day forecast.

71 Average Daily High/Low Temperatures (°F), Humidity & Monthly Rainfall

MONTH REYKJAVIK, ICELAND AKUREYRI, ICELAND

Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relatvive Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (avg) (inches) JAN 35 to 27 78 to 79 3.4 33 to 24 80 5.1 FEB 37 to 29 79 to 77 2.9 34 to 25 80 6.5 MAR 37 to 29 79 to 74 3.0 35 to 26 80 5.6 APR 41 to 33 81 to 72 2.2 40 to 30 80 3.5 MAY 47 to 39 83 to 69 1.7 48 to 37 75 2.3 JUN 52 to 44 85 to 73 1.8 54 to 44 75 4.4 JUL 55 to 47 86 to 75 2.0 57 to 47 80 3.3 AUG 54 to 46 88 to 75 2.4 56 to 46 80 5.1 SEP 49 to 41 83 to 72 2.8 48 to 39 80 6.5 OCT 44 to 36 81 to 75 3.5 42 to 33 85 5.2 NOV 38 to 31 80 to 78 3.3 36 to 27 85 5.0 DEC 36 to 28 78 to 77 3.3 33 to 24 80 4.6

MONTH WESTMAN ISLANDS, ICELAND HUSAVIK, ICELAND

Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (avg) (inches) JAN 37 to 31 79 to 78 5.7 34 to 25 -- 3.1 FEB 38 to 33 79 to 79 4.6 35 to 26 -- 2.4 MAR 38 to 32 79 to 77 4.5 35 to 25 -- 2.5 APR 40 to 35 81 to 77 3.9 41 to 30 -- 1.9 MAY 45 to 40 86 to 80 3.3 49 to 35 -- 1.5 JUN 49 to 44 89 to 84 3.3 55 to 42 -- 1.7 JUL 52 to 47 91 to 86 3.2 58 to 45 -- 2.6 AUG 52 to 47 90 to 85 3.7 55 to 44 -- 2.6 SEP 47 to 28 85 to 81 5.4 49 to 39 -- 3.6 OCT 43 to 28 83 to 81 6.0 42 to 34 -- 4.1 NOV 39 to 34 81 to 80 5.3 37 to 28 -- 3.4 DEC 38 to 32 78 to 79 5.8 35 to 25 -- 3

72 MONTH TORSHAVN, FAROE ISLANDS GREENLAND

Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # Days of Average Temp. % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (avg) Rainfall Humidity (avg) (inches) JAN 43 to 36 89 22 17 80 4.5 FEB 43 to 34 88 17 16 80 3.9 MAR 43 to 36 88 21 16 79 3.9 APR 45 to 37 87 16 24 79 3.0 MAY 48 to 41 87 13 32 83 2.5 JUN 52 to 45 88 12 39 84 2.2 JUL 55 to 45 89 13 42 83 2.0 AUG 55 to 48 90 13 42 83 2.7 SEP 54 to 46 89 18 37 78 3.3 OCT 48 to 41 89 22 29 80 3.4 NOV 45 to 37 88 21 22 80 3.8 DEC 43 to 36 89 22 17 78 4.0

73 ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS: CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE

O.A.T. Trip Experience Leaders: A World of Difference During your adventure you’ll be accompanied by one of our local, expert Trip Experience Leaders. All are fluent in English and possess the skills, certification, and experience necessary to ensure an enriching adventure. As locals of the regions you’ll explore with them, our Trip Experience Leaders provide the kind of firsthand knowledge and insight that make local history, culture, and wildlife come alive. Coupled with their unbridled enthusiasm, caring personalities, and ability to bring diverse groups of travelers together, our Trip Experience Leaders ensure that your experience with O.A.T. is one you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Icelandic Culture Iceland is about the size of New York state, but with only 360,000 people, its population is far lower. That hasn’t kept them from impressive social achievements. There’s a running joke that Icelanders like to boast “Ísland, best í heimi” (Iceland is the best in the world) and back it up with “per capita” statistics. For instance, Iceland has a 99.9% literacy rate and more published authors than any other nation, per capita (1 in 10 people will publish a book). Iceland has more Grand Master chess players per capita than any other nation. More musicians per capita. And the highest internet usage per capita. Given the small population, some of these boasts must be delivered with tongue in cheek, for instance, Iceland has more Nobel Prize winners per capita. (There was only one—but one in 360,000 is still the world’s best ratio.)

Facetiousness aside, Icelanders have a lot to be proud of. Theirs is an open, tolerant, and prosperous society, with virtually no crime, a strong safety net of social welfare programs, a stellar environmental record, and one of the lowest poverty rates in the world. It is a nearly classless society, and almost everyone is called by their first name.

On the other hand, something visitors find odd is the fact that last names are almost meaningless here. People do not have surnames, but take the first name of their father and append a “-son” (son) or “-dóttir” (daughter) to it. So a woman named Helga whose father’s name is Ólaf would be called “Helga Ólafsdóttir” while her brother Lars would be “Lars Ólafsson”. Women do not take the name of their husband upon marriage. Until recently the patronymic naming convention was traditional, but nowadays people can also choose to take their mother’s name. This is not surprising in a nation that ranks first in the world for gender equality. For instance, more than 30 of the country’s 62 parliamentary seats are held by women.

Education is valued and considered a basic right, with university education available to all and free (save for the minimal registration fees). Iceland has a very high literacy rate, and on Christmas Eve it is traditional for family members to exchange books as gifts. During this seasons, so many new books are published they’ve invented a word for the Christmas book flood: Jólabókaflóðið. Because the Icelandic language has not changed much since medieval times, most people can (and do) read the traditional, 10th- and 11th-century Icelandic Eddas and sagas with ease. These tales are still widely loved, and the sources for a lot of Icelandic folklore.

74 Much has been made of Iceland’s supposed widespread belief in elves (called huldufolk). Some surveys have asserted that up to 62% of the people believe that the existence of elves is “likely.” There are also stories about construction projects being diverted lest they interfere with purported elfin dwellings. If you are in Iceland over the holidays, you can be the judge because between Christmas and New Year’s is when the elves and trolls supposedly come out to shake things up!

Some of Iceland’s strength may come from the fact that its culture has had to thrive in a pretty harsh physical environment. Self-sufficiency, independence, and a strong work ethic are valued. In fact, many people have more than one job—not for economic reasons, but to keep busy during the long, dark winters. Those winters may also account for the nation’s high rate of social cohesion: people stay in contact with friends, family, and neighbors. Friendship and social supports are very important, and even people who are not related may refer to each other using kinship terms. People trust their neighbors. In fact, you might be taken aback to see unattended baby strollers and carriages left outside cafes and shops—with sleeping infants inside them. This is very common. Though you may find Icelanders to be reserved or matter-of-fact at first, you will very quickly discover their helpfulness and love of fun.

Religion and Religious Observance Irish monks inhabited Iceland as early as the 8th century, even before the Vikings arrived. But the Vikings themselves also adopted Christianity around 999, and since then, Christianity has been the main religion in Iceland. With the Reformation sweeping Norway and Denmark in the 16th century, Iceland soon followed suit. Today, the official state religion is Lutheranism. When people are born, they are automatically registered as members of the (Lutheran) Church of Iceland. About 67.2% of Icelanders say they are Lutheran, but in name only because only about 11% of the people attend church.

A small percentage of people identify as Catholic or other Christian denominations, and there is also some representation of Bahai, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist believers. But the fastest-growing religion in Iceland is a surprising one: Ásatrú, the old Norse pagan religion. The contemporary iteration of this pantheistic belief system is closely tied to ecological awareness, and the warlike aspects of the old gods like Odin and Thor have been replaced with an emphasis on caring for the earth and spreading peace.

Language The official language is Icelandic, a Germanic language that is closely related to Norwegian and Faroese, but separate and distinct from them. Icelandic also has Gaelic and Celtic influences. Though everyone in Iceland speaks Icelandic, nearly all Icelanders also speak English— and speak it quite fluently. The study of English is mandatory in Icelandic schools. Many people also speak Danish or German.

Useful Phrases

Since everyone speaks English so well, you probably won’t need to use these popular idioms and slang terms—unless you want to impress your Icelandic hosts!

75 • Two things that go together are borgari (burgers) and bjór (beer.) If you eat too much of the former, you might get feitt (which means “fat,” but also means “cool”). If you drink too much of the latter, you might get sauôdrukkinn (drunk as a sheep), in which case someone may tell you “ról-ex.” This has nothing to do with your watch, it’s a cognate of the Icelandic rólegur (calm down) and the English “relax.”

• If someone tells you “áfram með smjörið” they are literally saying “on with the butter.” It’s equivalent to “carry on” or just keep on doing what you’re supposed to be doing.

• Ég kem alveg af fjöllum means “I come completely from the mountains,” but it’s not meant to describe your origins. It means “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

• Just as Brooklyn has been taken over by hipsters, so, too, has Reykjavik 101, the center of town. So if you are acting a little too trendy, an Icelander might say Þú ert nú meiri lattelepjandi lopatrefillinn. (“You are such a latte-drinking, wool scarf.”)

Taking Photographs The etiquette of photographing most people in Iceland and Greenland is about the same as it would be on the streets of your hometown. You need permission to take a close-up, but not for a crowd scene. If you want to shoot a great portrait, show interest in your subject, try to have a bit of social interaction first. Then use sign language to inquire if a picture is OK. Your Trip Experience Leader can help.

Safety & Security Common Sense and Awareness

As you travel, exercise the same caution and awareness that you would in a large American city. Don’t be overly nervous or suspicious, but keep your eyes open. If you are venturing out after dark, go with one or two other people.

Carry a one-day supply of cash in your pocket. Carry most of your money, and your passport, in a travel pouch or money belt under your shirt. Replenish your pocket supply when you are in a safe and quiet place, or in our vehicle. Don’t leave valuables unattended in your hotel room. Every hotel will offer use of a hotel safe at the front desk or an electronic in-room safe. If you’ve used it, remember to empty the safe before you leave.

Meals in Flight Flights to Iceland are shorter than to the rest of Europe, so airlines rarely provide meals during the international flight. You might want to have something to eat before boarding the plane (we will provide breakfast on your first day after you arrive at the hotel).

76 Meal Prices Iceland is an expensive country in general, but especially when it comes to food—which makes sense given that many ingredients need to be imported or are grown in special greenhouses. To give you a sense of what to budget, here’s some sample prices in USD. Please keep in mind that these are guidelines only and are subject to change.

• Light takeaway lunch (sandwich, soup): $11-$17 per person

• Lunch in a cafe: $20-$30 per person

• Dinner entrée in a high-end restaurant: $40-$70 per person

Previous travelers have suggested lowering costs by hitting up local grocery stores; choosing dishes with ingredients from Iceland (i.e. fish, lamb); looking for happy hour deals in local pubs; and trying one of Iceland’s Thai restaurants (which is kind of like their version of a Chinese takeout place).

Hotels With an emphasis on minimalism and functional design, you’ll discover that hotel rooms in this region are traditionally much smaller than in the United States, and tend to feature a sleek, modern look. Rooms are comfortable, clean, and well-equipped, but you should expect to experience how locals make use of limited space, which may mean that the bathrooms are smaller, or the beds are closer together, than you’d find at home.

Icelandic Cuisine Most visitors are surprised by the freshness, variety, and overall quality of Icelandic cuisine. For a small island whose arable land is limited by climate and geography, ecology-minded Iceland has developed ingenious techniques for raising and preparing produce, fish, and livestock that is organic, non-GMO and free of chemicals. In Reykjavik you’ll find innovative chefs experimenting with New Nordic and other cutting-edge cuisines, plus plenty of ethnic eateries. But here are some traditional specialties to try.

Reykjavik’s Hot Dogs (or pylsur) are wildly popular, and you’lll see lines of dog lovers queuing up at pylsur stands all over the capital. These franks are usually a blend of beef, pork, and sometimes lamb. Order it eina með öllu, with everything, and you’’l get crunchy deep fried onions, raw onions, sweet brown mustard, and a creamy remoulade sauce. Sauce, by the way, is somewhat of an Icelandic obsession. They slather everything from pizza to fries to fish with a healthy dollop of brown gravy, béarnaise sauce, paprika sauce, jafningur (béchamel), mayonnaise and more. Kokteilsósa means cocktail sauce but it’s not the same zippy, tomato-based condiment you’d eat with your shrimp. Here, it’s more like thousand island dressing, and is eaten with French fries.

Icelandic lamb is among the best in the world. They are free-range and never grain fed. Try it roasted with herbs like blódberg (Arctic thyme), or in the traditional lamb soup called kjötsupa.

77 Skyr is Icelandic yogurt, a creamy and protein-rich concoction that is ideal with berries. It is similar to Greek yogurt in consistency, but milder in taste. You can also enjoy skyr frozen, but don’t leave without tasting Icelandic ice cream. It’s another obsession here, and some ice cream shops stay open till 1 am to accommodate the throngs. (By the way, there are chocolate and candy and fruit sauces for these, too.)

The waters around Iceland support 340 varieties of fish, and the ones that end up on your plate are likely the daily catch—be it salmon, halibut, haddock, cod, arctic char, lumpfish, monkfish, mackerel, or pollock. There is nothing heartier than plokkfiskur or “mashed fish stew,” made with potatoes, onions and cod or haddock, mashed up with herbs (such as dill or parsley), and white pepper. Hardfiskur is fish jerky that is often served with Icelandic butter and rúgbraud, a dark rye bread baked in an earthen pot buried next to a hot spring. It is delicious when topped with smoked salmon and cream cheese.

There are no real lobsters in Icelandic waters, but here, what the locals call lobsters are really langoustines. Their tails are tender, sweet, and delicious. Sometimes they are served in a creamy bisque with curry, or in a grill with Icelandic scallops and mussels.

Perhaps the most infamous Icelandic dish is hákarl. It is shark meat that has been fermented underground till nearly (but not quite) rotten, then hung to dry for four to six weeks. It is intensely strong, with a heavy ammonia smell. Hákarl is usually served in small cubes on long toothpicks, along with a shot of brennivín, a caraway-scented schnapps. Because it is so strong it is called “the Black Death,” but expiring from brennivín might be preferable to dying of hákarl.

Two other items you might see on an Icelandic menu may also give you pause: whale meat and puffin. Though our modern sensibilities may find these repugnant, they were once essential to the Icelandic diet when food was hard to come by. Most whales are protected but in Iceland, fin and minke whales may be hunted for meat. Puffin meat is often smoked or cured like pastrami. Most Icelanders don’t eat whale or puffin anymore, but it turns up in restaurants that cater to foreign foodies and culinary adventurers.

Greenlandic Cuisine As an island nation covered in permanent glaciers with a harsh climate and little vegetation, the sea is Greenland’s most important source of food. Before the island’s colonization and the introduction of international trade, many spices, fruits, and vegetables were not available, and the native Inuit’s relied only on what they could hunt or gather. As such, meals in Greenland are high in protein and primarily utilize seafood (seal, whale, fish, or shell-fish) or less common land meats (reindeer, lamb, musk-ox, foxes, or bird), all of which can be served boiled, dried, frozen, fermented, or raw. Many dishes are served with root vegetables like onion, potatoes, and turnips and rice or barley. Crowberries and blueberries are used for cakes and other desserts with angelica, rhubarb, turnips, and bluebells eaten as snacks, raw or cooked.

Much of Greenlands cuisine is based off the native Inuits but due to their close contact and shared history, has been influenced by the Netherlands and the nearby neighbors of Britain, America, and Canada. While some Greenlandic dishes will look similar due to the influence, the island is heavily set in its Inuit heritage. A extreme example of a Greenlandic Inuit delicacy is kiviak,

78 where a seal is gutted and, with the blubber still intact, filled with whole sea king birds. Stuffed with birds, the seal is sowed together and sealed airtight with more blubber, to prevent flies. The ‘seal bag’ is buried for three to twelve months to ferment before being dug up in the winter for a birthday or wedding celebration. While the dish is considered a delicacy, there are many who find the dish unappetizing in its nature. Alternatively, with new spices and imported foods from their neighbors, Greenlanders updated their dishes and decided to serve their barbecued reindeer with ketchup, soya sauce, paprika, and chili powder.

Other traditional dishes include mattak, the raw hide of a narwhal or white whale. Mattak is prepared with either blubber or dried reindeer meat and often called Greenlandic chewing gum or Greenlandic candy. Suassat, Greenland’s national dish, is a soup, traditionally made with seal but whale, reindeer, or seabirds are common substitutes. The soup is also made with onions and potatoes, seasoned with salt and pepper, and served with rice or barley. Arfivik, or bowhead whale, is smoked whale meat served with onions and potatoes. Greenlandic coffee, a popular after-dinner drink, is hot coffee mixed with whiskey, kahlua, grand marnier, and whipped cream, set on fire before drinking. While homebrewing was common as alcohol sales were restricted until 1954, the local ice beer is made with 2000-year-old arctic ice from glaciers and brewed with crowberries and angelica.

As hunting and fishing is an integral part of Greenlandic cuisine, it holds a significant place in the culture, with some hunts traditionally being social family events. In Inuit culture, when hunting, all parts of the catch are used. The meat is eaten or dried for future consumption, but the oil is used for cooking, preserving, or light when made into candles. The innards are either eaten or made into sewing thread, the skin into clothing, kayak covers, or tents, and the bones into tools. And with hunting and fishing being an integral part of Greenland’s culture, and a major export for the country, most non-animal-based products or tough root vegetable are imported in tins or pre-cooked.

Danish Cuisine Twenty years ago one might’ve described Danish food as peasant cooking—hearty, stick-to- your-ribs Viking fare that would get you through a long day of farming, fishing, or raiding. Today, Denmark is the epicenter of the New Nordic cuisine, a movement begun by Danish chefs René Redzepi and Claus Meyer, who helmed Copenhagen’s Noma restaurant (considered the world’s best) and influenced chefs everywhere with their philosophy that celebrates sustainable, locavore, and seasonal ingredients—many of which are foraged and were previously forgotten. It has inspired many cooks to revisit and refine some of the classics of Danish cuisine, like these:

Perhaps the best-known Danish delights are smørrebrød—open-faced sandwiches built on a base of buttered rugbrød, a dense, dark rye bread. These are not random sandwiches, they are artfully composed, so the dish is colorful and the garnishes are complementary. Toppings might include syltede sild (pickled herring) with micro greens; shrimp and egg with dill; or roast beef with pickles, onions, and horseradish. A favorite is dyrlægens natmad, which translates as “veterinarian’s midnight snack” and includes corned beef, sky (Danish meat aspic), and leverpostej (liver pâté) topped with slivered red onions, sprouts, and parsley or dill.

79 The national dish is stegt flæsk, crispy pork belly chunks served with boiled potatoes and parsley sauce. So many Danes have a “burning love” for bacon, they named a dish after this affliction, brændende kærlighed, which is mashed potatoes topped with oven-roasted cubes of bacon, caramelized onions, and butter. Another pork favorite is brunkål, brown cabbage braised with sugar till it’s caramelized, then roasted with pork shanks, and served with pickled cucumber.

For a dish that looks as impressive as it tastes, there’s forloren hare, a Danish meatloaf made with ground pork, leeks, and egg. Bacon strips are woven around the loaf, which is then baked till it looks like an elegant brown basket. On the flip side there’s the humble røde pølser, which translates as “red sausage” and is a Danish hot dog. They are sold from pølsevogen (hot dog wagons) all over, and come with toppings like fried onions, pickles, and a variety of condiments.

Not all protein is pork. Try rødspættefilet, a filet of plaice (a mild white fish) that is breaded and fried. It can be eaten as an entrée, or as the stjerneskud (“shooting star”) of a smørrebrød topped with shrimp, lettuce and caviar from the Limfjord. Tarteletter are flaky pastry tartlets filled with chicken and asparagus in a creamy béchamel sauce. Roast duck or andesteg is a holiday favorite, stuffed with apples and prunes, then roasted until golden-brown and served with a sauce made with reserved duck fat, whiskey, and wine.

For something sweet to go with your coffee (bica), order a Danish but call it by its proper name, wienerbrød, which means “Vienna bread” and is a more accurate reflection of its provenance. Even though Danes did not invent them, they love these flaky, croissant-like glazed pastries filled with cream or fruit. They also love risalamande, a cold rice pudding topped with hot cherries, with an almond hidden in the custard. If you order frugtsalat, be your fruit salad may be turbo-charged with bits of chocolate and marzipan, and maybe topped with whipped cream.

Then there’s the cake that literally towers above them all, kransekake. It’s a cone of concentric almond cake rings bound together with a white icing glaze, and sometimes decorated with berries or nuts. They are served at festive occasions (especially New Year’s), and the center of the tower might hold candies, chocolates, and even champagne or wine bottles.

Shopping: What to Buy, Customs, Shipping & More There may be scheduled visits to local shops during your adventure. There is no requirement to make a purchase during these stops, and any purchase made is a direct transaction with the shop in question, subject to the vendor’s terms of purchase. O.A.T. is not responsible for purchases you make on your trip or for the shipment of your purchases.

Returns If you discover an issue with an item, you should contact the vendor directly and expect that any resolution will take longer than it would in the U.S. We recommend that you keep a copy of all your receipts, invoices, or contracts, along with the shop’s contact information. Keep in mind, local practice may vary from U.S. standards, so don’t assume that you have a certain number of days after the purchase to speak up or that you are guaranteed a refund.

80 Crafts & Souvenirs

Iceland Hand-knit Icelandic sweaters and other woolens, including hats, mittens, and jackets, are widely available. Icelanders enjoy contemporary Scandinavian-style housewares and accessories so you’ll find a good selection of these, many with Icelandic themes. The Laugavegur and Skolavordustigur shopping streets in the heart of Reykjavik have contemporary boutiques and shops offering European fashions and accessories, plus unique Icelandic designs and jewelry.

VAT: Although prices are inflated by a hefty Value-Added Tax (between 11-24%), non-European Union citizens can receive a refund. For more details and a list of all tax-free shops, ask at the tourist office for a copy of the Tax-Free Shopping Guide.

Greenland Tupilaks—small figures carved in bone, tooth, or stone, like ones that traditionally represented the spirits of ancestors—are souvenirs typical of Greenland’s Inuit culture. You’ll also find soapstone carvings, tugtupit precious stones, and other crafts and nature-based items.

Denmark A showcase for world-famous Danish design and craftsmanship, Copenhagen seems to have been designed with shoppers in mind. The best buys are such luxury items as crystal, porcelain, silver, and furs. Look for offers and sales (tilbud or udsalg in Danish) and check antiques and secondhand shops for classics at cut-rate prices.

VAT: Although prices are inflated by a hefty 25% Value-Added Tax (Danes call it MOMS), non-European Union citizens can receive about an 18% refund. For more details and a list of all tax-free shops, ask at the tourist office for a copy of the Tax-Free Shopping Guide.

U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs & Border Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov has the answers to the most frequently asked questions. Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511.

The top three points to know are:

• At time of writing, your personal duty-free allowance is $800 for items brought with you. Items totaling more than $800 are subject to duty fees.

• Items shipped home are always subject to duty when received in the U.S. Even when the shop has offered to include shipping and duties in the price, this typically means shipping to the nearest customs facility and payment of the export duties—not door-to-door shipping or payment of the import duties. All additional duties or shipping charges would be your responsibility. Unless an item is small enough to send by parcel service (like FedEx), chances are you will need to arrange shipping or pick-up once the item is in the U.S. and will need to pay customs duties.

81 • It is illegal to import products made from endangered animal species. U.S. Customs & Border Protection will seize these items, as well as most furs, coral, tortoise shell, reptile skins, feathers, plants, and items made from animal skins.

82 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY

Iceland

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 39,769 square miles

• Capital: Reykjavik

• Languages: Icelandic is the official language; English, Scandinavian languages, and German are also spoken.

• Ethnicity: Norse/Celtic descent 94%, foreign-born 6%

• Location: Iceland is an island bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean.

• Geography: Poised atop the geologically active mid-Atlantic Ridge, where tectonic plates are separating as Europe drifts away from North America, Iceland is one of only two places in the world where an undersea mid-ocean ridge rises above sea level. Iceland’s 3,088 miles of coastline are punctuated by numerous rugged fjords, while some 63 percent of the mountainous interior is treeless tundra.

• Population: 360,000 (estimate)

• Religions: Lutheran Church of Iceland 73.8%, Roman Catholic 3.6%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.9%, Hafnarfjordur Free Church 2%, The Independent Congregation 1%, other 3.9%, none 5.6%, and unspecified 7.2%

• Time Zone: Iceland is on UTC (“Greenwich Mean Time”), five hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 11am in Reykjavik.

83 National Holidays: Iceland

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/01 Labor Day Iceland celebrates a number of national Late May Ascension Day (moves each year) holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter. To find out if you will be traveling 06/17 Icelandic Republic Day during these holidays, please visit www. timeanddate.com/holidays. 12/24 Christmas Eve

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/25 Christmas Day

Late April First Day of Summer (moves 12/26 Second Day of Christmas each year) 12/31 New Year’s Eve

Iceland: A Brief History Geologically speaking, Iceland is one of the youngest places on earth, and thanks to its ongoing volcanic and glacial activity, you can still see it being born. The first known human to take note of this roiling mass of fire and ice was the Greek explorer Pytheas, who wrote of an island he called “Ultima Thule.” He described it as a realm of ferocious storms and even more ferocious, dog-headed people. That did not stop Irish monks (called papars) from settling here around 700 AD. They left after Norse settlers began arriving in the ninth century. Many were fierce Vikings, as you would imagine, but just as many were Scandinavian farmers, herders, and traders looking for better opportunities. It was one of these Norwegian farmers, Flóki Vilgerdarson, who gave the island its current name, Ísland or Iceland.

By 930 AD, there were many settlements, all connected through commerce, intermarriage, and various agreements over land and resources. Realizing that they needed some sort of government to define and uphold laws, they wrote a constitution and created the Althing (AlÞing in Icelandic), which exists today as the oldest active legislative assembly in the world. The Althing met at the natural amphitheater of Thingvellir, where local chieftains gathered annually to elect leaders. Among the decision made there was the adoption of Christianity by Iceland in 1000 AD, notable for the fact that it took place peacefully. The 11th and 12th centuries were a peaceful Golden Age when the literary tradition of the Icelandic saga developed. But by the early thirteenth century, Iceland descended into clan warfare.

That internal strife left an opening for Norwegian King Haakon to claim Iceland in 1262—a claim superseded in 1397 by Denmark, who held the island for the next 600 years. It was an era beset by trade restrictions, pirates, kidnappings, plagues, crop failures, and a series of devastating volcanic eruptions that caused about 20% of the population to die of starvation. By the 19th century, Icelandic nationalism was on the rise. Between 1855 and 1918, Iceland won increasing degrees of autonomy, with Iceland becoming a sovereign nation under the Danish Crown in 1918. In 1944, following a referendum in which 97% of Icelanders voted to sever ties with the Danish Crown, the establishment of the free Republic of Iceland took place in a ceremony symbolically located at Thingvellir, site of the ancient Althing.

84 During World War II, Iceland’s vulnerability as a potential Nazi target led the British to occupy the defenseless island. The Icelandic government allowed US troops to move in in 1941. When the US military left in 1946, it retained the right to re-establish a base at Keflavík should war threaten again. In the postwar years, Iceland only reluctantly became a member of NATO, with the provision that its citizens would not participate in any offensive action, and that no foreign troops would be based there during peacetime. That proviso fell apart with the Cold War. The US only relinquished its base at Keflavik in 2006. Today Iceland is a multi-party parliamentary democracy and a member of NATO.

At the dawn of the 21st century, Iceland enjoyed one of the highest standards of living in the world, but it was severely affected by the global economic downturn. In 2008, the government took over all three of Iceland’s failing major banks, but weeks later had to apply to the International Monetary Fund for emergency aid. The coalition government was forced to resign, and the new Prime Minister formally applied for EU membership in 2009.

The ensuing years saw a series of banking scandals and controversies around the repayment of loans to the IMF and the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Perhaps because of this, most Icelanders do not wish to pursue EU membership. Meanwhile, the Icelandic economy has been making a tremendous comeback, thanks to a surge in tourism.

Greenland

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 836,330 square miles

• Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)

• Languages: Greenlandic (West Inuit) is the official language; Danish and English are also spoken.

• Ethnicity: Inuit 88%, Danish and others 12%

• Location: Greenland is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Greenland Sea, Arctic Ocean, and Baffin Bay.

• Population: 57,733 (estimate)

• Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs

• Time Zone: Greenland is two hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in New York, it is 8am in Nuuk.

Politically, Greenland is connected to the Kingdom of Denmark, but in 2008 it won a measure of independence due to a referendum on self-rule that passed with a 75% approval rating.

85 National Holidays: Greenland

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/01 May Day Greenland celebrates a number of national 05/16 General Prayer Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter. To find out if you will be traveling 06/21 National Day during these holidays, please visit www. timeanddate.com/holidays. 12/25 Christmas Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/26 Boxing Day

01/06 Epiphany 12/31 New Year’s Eve

Greenland: A Brief History Greenland was one of the last places on the planet to be settled, with the earliest known humans (the Saqqaq culture) crossing from northern Canada about 4000 years ago. By 2400-1300 BC, a second group of Paleo-Eskimoes (called Dorset I or Independence I) arrived. They left large, snow-cutting knives that indicate they built igloos. After a 900-year gap when Greenland appears to have been uninhabited, an Inuit group called Dorset 2 settled in the island’s north. Around the tenth century, they were followed by the Thule culture, which spread along the east and west coasts. Thule people developed the kayak, harpoon, and dogsled. Today’s Inuit are descended from the Thule and are known as the Inussuk.

Norse sailors from Iceland had sighted Greenland by 900 AD, but it wasn’t until 985 AD that Eric the Red created a long-term settlement here. It was not a voluntary move—Eric had been banished from Iceland (just as he had been banished from Norway) over disputes that ended up with several of his neighbors dead. The matter was settled in the Althing (assembly), which ordered Erik to leave Iceland for three years. He landed on the western coast of Greenland, near present-day Nuuk. At the time, the area was uninhabited. (The ancestors of today’s Inuit inhabitants migrated here around AD 1200.)

When his exile was over, Erik returned to Iceland telling people about the marvelous “Greenland” he had settled. According to his saga, it was an intentional bit of marketing because he knew “green land” would sound enticing to those whose land was poor, and who had just barely survived a famine. He set out at the head of 25 Viking ships, but only 14 made it. At its peak during the 13th century, Greenland’s Vikings numbered around 5,000 souls. By the 1500s they had either disappeared or died out, and no one knows exactly why. It could have been that they died of disease or attrition; they might have brought on environmental catastrophe by over-clearing forests and causing soil erosion; they may have died in conflicts with Inuit people; from the effects of climate change; or all the above.

With the Viking demise, the Inuit had Greenland largely to themselves for several centuries, save for the occasional visit from Norse or English whalers. King Christian IV claimed the island for Denmark in 1605, after European interest had been revived by the search for a Northwest Passage. But it wasn’t until 1721 when the Norwegian missionary Hans Egede arrived that settlement by Europeans resumed. Egede found the Inuit receptive to Christianity and established the

86 Evangelical Lutheranism that is still practiced in Greenland today. For the next 200 years or so, the territory was disputed by Norway and Denmark. In 1933, the Permanent Court of International Justice ruled in favor of Denmark.

By the late 1930s, Greenland’s strategic North Atlantic position prompted Nazi Germany to extend its war operations there. In response, the Danish ambassador to the United States, Henrik Kaufmann, signed a treaty with the U.S. allowing for the building of bases and the protection of Danish Greenlanders against German aggression. He did this without the knowledge of the Danish government, and was subsequently accused of treason. But Kaufmann held firm and even encouraged other Danish diplomats to act on their own against Nazi aggression. The U.S. Thule air base is still operational on Greenland.

Greenlanders have held full Danish citizenship since 1953 and have exercised home rule in domestic affairs, with their own parliament, since 1979. In 2009, a special referendum was passed to increase Greenland’s self-rule, giving the local population more control over the courts, police, and coast guard. Although it was a step towards autonomy, Greenland’s economy remains very much tied up with Denmark’s. But as part of the 2009 rule, Greenland can declare full independence if it wishes; it would have to be approved by a referendum. Most people in Greenland and Denmark believe that full political independence lies in Greenland’s future. The question is a matter of pace.

Denmark

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 16,640 square miles

• Capital: Copenhagen

• Government: Constitutional monarchy

• Geography: Denmark is the smallest of the Scandinavian countries (it’s about half the size of Maine). The country occupies the Jutland peninsula, a lowland area, where the highest elevation is only 565 feet above sea level. But that doesn’t mean that the country is entirely flat. Most of its terrain consists of folds, undulations, small, often steep hills, and long, low rises. There are also forests, rivers, lakes, and beaches, many of which are excellent for swimming, though the water may be too cold for some people.

• Languages: Danish, Faeroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), and a small German- speaking minority

• Location: Denmark consists of the peninsula of Jutland and a group of islands at the entrance to the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Germany. The two largest islands are Sjaelland, site of Copenhagen, and Fyn. Denmark also has two self-governing dependencies—Greenland and the Faeroe Islands.

• Population: 5,605,948 (estimate)

• Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 76%, Muslim 4%, other 16%

87 • Time zone: Denmark is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, six hours ahead of Eastern Time. Daylight Saving Time is in effect in Denmark from the end of March until the end of September.

National Holidays: Denmark

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/01 May Day/Labor Day Denmark celebrates a number of national 05/05 Liberation Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter and Ascension Day. To find out if you 06/05 Constitution Day will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 12/25 Christmas Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/26 2nd Christmas Day

Denmark: A Brief History About 10,000 years ago, the glacial ice sheets that covered northern Europe began to retreat, attracting huge herds of reindeer. These in turn attracted hunter-gatherers who arrived from southern and eastern Europe. As the climate further warmed, the reindeer migrated north, but the early Danes remained in this fertile land, establishing farming communities by 3000 BC.

By 1800 BC, these proto-Danes were trading weapons, jewelry, amber and furs with people as far away as Rome. They buried their dead in peat bogs and many of those bodies have been remarkably preserved. The first people identified as Danes came from Sweden around 500 AD. They had a written system of communication based on runes. (The symbol we now use for bluetooth devices is based on the runic signature of Harald Bluetooth, or Harald I, the Danish Viking who became king around 900 AD.)

The Viking Age began in 793 AD with the raid on Lindisfarne, an English island monastery. Sporadic raids had likely occurred before this, by Vikings from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. They were not unified and the Danish Vikings primarily raided northeastern England, which at the time was a collection of warring Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Danish Vikings had established a large settlement in Kent by 850 AD, and as more Danish colonists arrived, all of northeastern England fell under their control. The exception was Wessex, which reached an agreement with the Danes granting Wessex sovereignty, while the rest of the region was ruled as the Danelaw.

The Danish King Harald Bluetooth converted to Christianity in 965 AD, possibly to appease the Franks at Denmark’s door. Harald forcibly established the new religion, and elevated the status of the Christian clergy. But Christianity did not bring peace. The Danes continued to fight to maintain and expand their territory, conquering parts of Germany and Estonia. After the Viking Age ended in 1066, Denmark’s power declined. In 1397, the Union of Kalmar united Denmark, Sweden, and Norway under a single monarch, with Denmark as the dominant power.

Beginning in the 16th century, Denmark and Sweden began a lengthy rivalry. In 1658, Sweden took the Danish regions of Skåne, Halland and Blekinge, which are still Sweden’s southernmost provinces. In the ensuing century, Denmark suffered more defeats: in 1814, it had to cede Norway to Sweden. But there were important domestic gains. . . . As 19th-century Europe was swept by

88 nationalist fervor and revolution, Denmark had already abolished serfdom and established universal public education. By the 1830s, social and agricultural reforms had boosted the economy; there was a peasant landowner class; and a free press. In 1849, a new constitution created a legislative democracy, ending the monarchy’s previous absolute power.

Denmark remained neutral during World War I, and tried to do the same during World War II. It signed a non-aggression pact with the Third Reich. But Germany invaded in 1940, threatening to bomb Copenhagen. With only a small military, the Danish government yielded. The Nazis at first allowed the Danes some autonomy. But when it began pressuring officials to comply with anti- Semitic policies, the Danish government resigned in protest. The Nazis took over in earnest, and the resistance movement grew. Tipped off by a Nazi diplomat that Germany was about to deport Denmark’s Jews to concentration camps, the Resistance and many citizens managed to evacuate 7,220 of Denmark’s 7,800 Jews to safety in Sweden.

After Germany’s defeat, Denmark joined the United Nations in 1945, and became a founding member of NATO in 1949. The latter half of the 20th century saw Denmark’s emergence as a prosperous, stable social democracy with one of the world’s highest standards of living. In 2000, Denmark voted by referendum not to adopt the euro. It is one of only 5 countries in the world that meets the UN goal for wealthy nations to provide 0.7% of its gross national income for international development assistance. In addition, Denmark has established Danida, Danish Development Assistance, to fight poverty and improve education in developing countries. The current Prime Minister, Mette Fredericksen, is the second woman and youngest person (at 44) to hold that office. She is the leader of the center-left Socialist Democratic Party.

89 RESOURCES

Suggested Reading

Iceland Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (2013, Fiction) A novel based on the true story of Agnes Magnussdottir, an Icelandic woman waiting to be executed for murder in 1829. Since there are no prisons for women she is sent to wait out her execution on a remote farm. Previous travelers highly recommended it, but also mentioned there are a few tough scenes.

Woman at 1,000 Degrees by Hallgrimur Helgason (2018, Fiction) Octogenarian Herra makes an appointment for her own cremation, then waits out her time in her garage. Here she occupies herself with a hand grenade, a Facebook account, anonymous digital attacks on her family, and a head full of memories that take us to World War II Europe, the Westmann Islands, Argentina, Reykjavik and back. A roller coaster of a ride that is at once bawdy, outlandish, gleeful and tragic.

Butterflies in November by Audur Ava Olafsdottir (2014, Fiction) Things are going badly for our unnamed narrator, a young woman who gets dumped twice in one day and also finds herself the reluctant caregiver of her friend’s four-year old deaf-mute son. But when the boy helps her choose a winning lottery number, the two set out on a picaresque adventure along Iceland’s Ring Road.

The History of Iceland by Gunnar Karlsson (2000, History) A scholarly and comprehensive review from the Viking era through independence and the 20th century. The book evolved from a course that the author taught at the University of London.

Independent People by Halldor Laxness (1934, Fiction) This great mock-epic uses the saga style to tell the tale of an independent-minded sheep farmer. The story’s sardonic humor and rich cultural details are a hallmark of this author, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955.

The Little Book of the Icelanders by Alda Sigmundsdottir (2018, Nonfiction) Here are 50 lively essays on the quirks, habits, and inscrutable customs of Iceland.

The Sagas of Icelanders introduced by Jane Smiley, illustrated by Robert Kellog (2001, Cultural Literature) A collection of nine sagas and six tales, translated in a lively, easy-to-read style for the modern reader. At over 500 pages, this is a big and bold volume. (For a quicker read, consider Hrafnkel’s Saga and Other Icelandic Stories translated by Hermann Palsson.)

The Thora Gudmundsdottir Series by Yrsa Sigurdardottir (2009-2016, Mystery) The so-called “Queen of Icelandic Crime”, author Yrsa Sigurdardottir is known for this popular mystery series set in Iceland that features an attorney-turned-sleuth.

90 Greenland The Greenlanders by Jane Smiley (1998, Literature) This marvelously researched novel recreates life in the Viking settlements in Greenland that disappeared 500 years ago. Smiley delves into the medieval colonies, their struggles to survive in the harsh environment, contacts with indigenous people and causes of their disappearance. It includes the tale of the Norse discovery of North America.

The Sea Road by Margaret Elphinstone (2000, Fiction) The accidental discovery of North America is told by a Viking woman, Gudrid who lives on the edge of the known world in a Greenland settlement.

This Cold Heaven by Gretel Ehrlich (2003, Memoir) The author describes her travels throughout Greenland, a world of awesome and treacherous beauty, and shares the history and cultural anthropology of the people who live here.

Denmark We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen (2011, Fiction) An epic seafaring adventure that follows the inhabitants of the Danish town of Marstal from 1848 to World War II, when the men sail the world and the women who are left behind form a community. The book is long (600 plus pages) and deals frankly with war, violence, and cruelty. But it was a runaway international bestseller and lauded for its use of fantastical elements.

Iceland’s Bell by Halldor Laxness (2003, Fiction) Nobel Laureate Halldor Laxness reinvents the traditional Icelandic saga and injects it with a modern sensibility and a satirical undercurrent that speaks to our age. The plot pits an impoverished Danish colony – Iceland in the 17th century – against the grand historical workings of Danish and Icelandic history. Three interconnected stories reveal the political and personal conflicts of the day in historical context.

On Tycho’s Island: Tycho Brahe and his Assistants, 1570-1601 by John Robert Christianson (1999, Biography/History) Chiefly famed as an astronomer, this book offers a fuller vision of Tycho Brahe as Renaissance man and scientist. From his private island in Denmark, Brahe assembled and manipulated the artists, nobility and the intelligentsia of the age to create breakthroughs in astronomy, science and research.

Winter’s Tales and Seven Gothic Tales by Isak Dinesen (1934, Stories) Best known for Out Of Africa, her memoir of 20 years running and living on a coffee plantation in Africa, Karen Blixen (pen name, Isak Dinesen) also wrote short tales based in her homeland, Denmark. Winter’s Tales and Seven Gothic Tales are generally considered the high water marks of her shorter works.

The Complete Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen (Folklore) There are several different anthologies of these fairy tales, written by Denmark’s famous poet, novelist, and writer of short stories. Considered a genius for his inventiveness and imagination, his works continue to captivate both children and adults.

91 Suggested Film & Video

Iceland Children of Nature (1991, Drama) This Best Foreign Film nominee follows the adventures of Thorgeir, an elder who is unceremoniously dumped by his family in a nursing home. There he meets an old flame from his past, Stella, and the two of them break out on a road trip across Iceland unlike any other.

Under an Arctic Sky (2017, Documentary) Can you imagine surfing the frigid waters of northern Iceland during the biggest storm in decades, along a beach ringed by frozen white mountains and illuminated by the shimmering green curtains of the Northern Lights? You will, after watching this crew of daredevil surfers go in search of the perfect wave.

Cold Fever (1999, Comedy) This offbeat comedy follows the travails of a Japanese businessman, Hirata, who comes to Iceland (where his parents died) to perform a traditional burial ritual. Between the exploding icebergs, boiled sheep heads, Icelandic country & western bands, quarrelsome American hitchhikers and other quirky locals, it is a long, strange trip indeed.

Jar City (2006, Drama) In this tangled bit of Nordic noir, a Reykjavik detective tries to piece together the connections between a cold case from 1974 and a recent death. A good choice if you like gritty TV police procedurals like “Prime Suspect.” In Icelandic with subtitles.

Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008, Adventure) This latest version of the Jules Verne sci-fi classic stars Brendan Fraser, and was shot in and around Snaefellsjökull National Park.

Of Horses and Men (2013, Drama) This cult classic examines the intense, funny, and almost spiritual relationships between men, women, and horses. Set amidst the colossal landscapes of rural Iceland, the story reveals how the horses enjoy more honest, intimate and unselfconscious connections than their neurotic human masters.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013, Comedy) Ben Stiller plays James Thurber’s famous daydreamer in this updated story of a meek functionary in the photo department at Life magazine. Mitty withstands the abuse of his boss, and lets his feelings for a co-worker go unspoken—until some valuable negatives go missing and he sets out in search of them. Greenland and Iceland are the spectacular backdrops where Walter’s real adventures finally surpass the ones he had previously only imagined.

And lastly, a music suggestion from previous travelers: Inspired by Harpa: The Traditional Songs of Iceland (available for purchase online or in Iceland).

Greenland Journey to Greenland (2016, Comedy) Two unemployed French actors (both named Thomas) travel to the Inuit community of Kullorsuaq, where the father of one of the two Thomases lives. There’s something for everyone in this lighthearted film that looks and feels like a travelogue, was shot like a documentary, and is essentially a buddy flick.

92 Smilla’s Sense of Snow (1997) The mysterious death of an Inuit boy in Copenhagen leads Smilla, an arctic ice researcher, to a mining town in Greenland, where some horrific secrets (of the corporate and cosmic kind) are revealed. The international cast includes Julia Ormond, Gabriel Byrne, Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave.

A Polar Year (2018, Documentary) A Danish teacher accepts a job in a remote coastal village in Greenland with no running water and a population of 80—nearly all of whom are suspicious of the newcomer. The teacher forges a connection with a charming Tunumiit boy, Asser Boassen, and gradually comes to understand the enormous challenges facing the Inuit people.

Denmark The Danish Girl (2015, Drama) The Danish artist Einar Wegener (later known as Lili Elbe) was one of the first people to undergo sex reassignment surgery. This biopic depicts Elbe’s early career and marriage to artist Gerda Gottlieb, and the Bohemian worlds of Copenhagen and Paris in the 20s and early 30s.

A Royal Affair (2012, Historical Drama) The mentally ill King Christian VII comes to rely on his friend and physician, Johann Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen), a radical Enlightenment thinker from Germany. So, too, does the lonely Queen Caroline (Alicia Vikander), who begins a passionate affair with the doctor. The king learns of their liaison, but protects them, and makes Struensee a Royal Advisor who essentially rules in the king’s name. But his reforms are cut short when plotting aristocrats use the affair and Struensee’s foreign status to bring a tragic end to this true story.

Pele the Conqueror (1988, Drama) Directed by Billie August, this Danish-Swedish production won the 1989 Oscar for Best Foreign Film, and star Max von Sydow was nominated for Best Actor. It follows the early 19th-century widower Lasse, who emigrates with his 12-year old son Pelle to the Danish island of Bornholm in search of a better life. That is not what they find.

Babette’s Feast (1988, Comedy) Set on the rugged coast of 19th century Denmark, this film is from a short story by Isak Dinesen. Two beautiful daughters grow up with a clergyman father, who preaches self-denial. After his death, the sisters uphold his inflexible practices until the arrival of a French refugee, Babette. She cooks and for them, and introduces them to the deep pleasure of a gourmet French meal. Winner of the 1987 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

The Danish Solution (2003, Documentary) Filmmakers Karen Cantor and Camilla Kjaerulff , with Garrison Keillor narrating, reveal how the citizens of Denmark protected their Jewish population against Hitler’s attempt to impose export his final solution into Denmark.

93 Useful Websites

Overseas Adventure Travel World Weather www.oattravel.com www.intellicast.com www.weather.com Overseas Adventure Travel Store www.wunderground.com www.oatshop.com Basic Travel Phrases (80 languages) Overseas Adventure Travel Frequently www.travlang.com/languages Asked Questions www.oattravel.com/faq Packing Tips www.travelite.org International Health Information/CDC (Centers for Disease Control) U.S. Customs & Border Protection http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel www.cbp.gov/travel

Electricity & Plugs Transportation Security www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/ Administration (TSA) plugs-and-sockets www.tsa.gov

Foreign Exchange Rates National Passport Information Center www.xe.com/currencyconverter www.travel.state.gov www.oanda.com/converter/classic Holidays Worldwide ATM Locators www.timeanddate.com/holidays www.mastercard.com/atm www.visa.com/atmlocator

94 Notes

95 Notes

96 Notes

97 Notes

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99 YOUR TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADER

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