EUROPE Adventure in

11 days from $5,597 total price from Boston, New York, Wash, DC ($5,195 air & land inclusive plus $402 airline taxes and fees) The second largest island in the North Atlantic, Iceland is a land of massive glaciers, rumbling volcanoes, spouting hot springs, lava fields, and powerful . It is also known for its gracious hospitality and relaxed pace. Experience the astonishing natural history and cultural heritage of pristine Iceland on our journey.

Pu n Island Siglufjordur

Akureyri Godafoss Lake Myvatn

Snaefellsnes ICELAND Peninsula Borgarbyggo Thingvellir Nat’l Park Reykjavik

Selfoss Overnight Skogafoss Featured Site Visit Skogafoss, which often features rainbows on sunny days. Vik Air Motorcoach Avg. High (°F) Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Reykjavik, Iceland for scenic views. Call on a Gauksmyri farm to see their Lake Myvatn 58 59 50 46 37 famed Icelandic horses – small and hardy, with long Reykjavik 57 56 52 47 37 Day 2: Reykjavik and Borgarbyggo Arriving manes – and tour Glambaer, a folk museum featuring early morning in Iceland’s capital, meet your tour authentic turf houses. Reach the small fishing village leaders and enjoy a scenic drive north stopping for of Siglufjordur and arrive at your hotel in time for dinner tonight. (B,D) Highlights Include breakfast along the way. Then take an excursion to the thermal areas of Deildartunguhver and also to Marvel at the stunning, unique natural wonders • Tour the Falls. Visit the Settlement Center, an Day 5: Lake Myvatn and Jokulsargljufur National beautiful Snaefellsnes Peninsula • Visit charming Akureyri interactive museum detailing the story of Iceland’s Park Today travel to beautiful Lake Myvatn. One • Admire Godafoss, “ of the gods” • Learn about earliest settlers, including that of famed 10th-century of the world’s natural wonders, Lake Myvatn and its Lake Myvatn’s mud flats, lava fields, and volcanic craters • environs of bubbling mud flats, lava fields, and lunar- Witness , Iceland’s “Niagara Falls” • Visit Glacial Viking Egil Skallagrimsson. After reaching your like volcanic craters comprise a stunning national River Canyon National Park • Tour Thingvellir National hotel mid-afternoon, enjoy time to relax before this Park • Experience a bird-watching coastal cruise • Dis- evening’s briefing on the journey ahead followed by a park. Your explorations begin with a walk to view the cuss Iceland’s economic issues with a local expert • Enjoy welcome dinner. (B,D) fascinating Hverfjall crater, a local land-mark. Later sophisticated Reykjavik • Visit Hellishedi geo-thermal see the region’s unique “pseudo craters,” the boiling power plant Day 3: Borgarbyggo and Snaefellsnes Peninsula mud pots at Namaskard, the bizarre lava formations Encounter the stupendous scenery of the Snaefellsnes­ at Dimmuborgir, the explosive crater at Viti, and the Day Itinerary Hotel Rating Peninsula. Begin with a walk along the shell sand beach flat volcano system at Krafla. Your last stop is at the 1 Depart U.S for Reykjavik at the abandoned fishing village of Budir, surrounded incredible Glacial River Canyon National Park 2-3 Borgarbyggo Hotel Husafell First Class by a vast lava field. Explore the caves and bizarre rock (Jokulsargljufur), yet another of Iceland’s natural 4 Siglufjordur Siglo Hotel First Class formations along the rugged shore at Arnarstapi, wonders, where you walk to jaw-dropping Dettifoss, 5-6 Lake Myvatn Fosshotel Myvatn First Class site of thousands of nesting cliff birds. After stopping Europe’s most powerful waterfall and Iceland’s 7-8 Hotel Selfoss First Class for lunch at a rustic oceanfront restaurant, visit “Niagara Falls.” After this day of stunning scenery, Djupalonssandur where you see the haunting remains check in to your hotel in time for dinner together 9-10 Reykjavik Grand Hotel First Class Reykjavik of abandoned coastal farms. (B,L,D) tonight. (B,L,D) 11 Depart Reykjavik for U.S. Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel Day 4: Siglufjordur Travel towards the northeast Day 6: Lake Myvatn and Husavik This morning industry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too corner of Iceland today, through the beautiful Norou- traverse Hljodaklettar Echo Cliffs, the labyrinth of small, too new, or too remote to be listed. rardalur Valley. Along the way visit Grabok Crater “echoing rocks” created by the spiral basalt formations

24 SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

Iceland is one of the most revealing places to study the history of our earth. The volcanoes, lava fields, waterfalls, and geysers are amazing reminders of the power of nature. – Judith H.

of arches and canyons­ here. Continue to Asbyrgi, plates of North America and Europe is most evident. a huge canyon with towering walls; in the middle of Learn about the historic parliament founded here in the par­tially wooded canyon sits a huge hoof-shaped A.D. 930. Meet with a local expert to learn about the rock called “The Island.” Continue to Husavik, and 2008 bank crisis and its effects throughout Iceland. embark on a bird-watching cruise to Puffin Island to Dinner tonight is on your own. (B,L) see the thousands of seabirds here (based on season- ality): puffins, black guillemots, fulmars, and Arctic Day 10: Reykjavik Today is at leisure to explore and terns. (B,D) enjoy Reykjavik as you please; those who wish can join in an optional tour to the Blue Lagoon for a soothing Day 7: Reykjavik, Thingvellir National Park, bath in geothermal waters. Tonight, celebrate over a Selfoss This morning stop at Godafoss, the “water- farewell dinner. (B,D) fall of the gods,” named for the carvings of Norse gods discarded here when the country was declared Chris- Day 11: Depart for the U.S. The morning is at tian 1,000 years ago. Then transfer to the Akureyri leisure. Early this afternoon, depart for the airport airport for the flight to Reykjavik. Upon arrival enjoy and your return flights to the U.S. (B) lunch at a local restaurant then embark on a city tour of the Icelandic capital, home to more than half of Smithsonian Journeys Experts Iceland’s population. Depart for Selfoss, stopping Iceland’s landscape reveals an austere beauty along the way to see the geothermal exhibit at the Pat Dickerson is a geologist and Hellisheidi Power Plant, Iceland’s largest. Continue visiting research fellow with the your drive along the country’s southern coast to the Jackson School of Geosciences– beautiful agricultural area of Selfoss. (B,L) University of Texas at Austin 2019 Tour Dates and Prices and the American Geosciences including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees This morning visit the new Institute. Her field research Day 8: Selfoss and Vik Sep 12u Jul 25t Lava Centre, dedicated to Iceland‘s riveting volcanic focuses on rifts of the world as ^ u u activity and its frequent earthquakes. En route to Vik, well as on mountain-building. She was schooled Oct 24^ Sep 24* Aug 31° in geology and classical archaeology (B.A.), then Boston, New York, stop at Skogafoss waterfall, known for its rainbows on $5,597 $6,397 $6,797 sunny days. Continue to lovely Vik, Iceland’s south- geology/tectonics (Ph.D.) at UT–Austin. She Washington, DC draws from those experiences in leading geological ernmost town, and enjoy time to have lunch on your Baltimore, Denver, and natural history field seminars for Smithsonian own and explore or shop for items of locally produced Minneapolis, $5,897 $6,697 $7,097 groups. Pat will lead the July 25 departure. wool. Take a walk along the black-sand beach at Philadelphia, Seattle Reynisfjara, lined with columnar basalt-filled caves. Atlanta, Charlotte, En route to the hotel, stop by the Solheimajokull Jim Reynolds is a professor of Chicago, Cincinnati, “sliding” glacier, so named for its rapid advance in the geology at Brevard College. He $5,997 $6,797 $7,197 1990s, and visit picturesque Seljalandfoss waterfall. (B,D) received his Bachelor’s degree in Cleveland, Detroit, earth science and Master’s degree Miami, Orlando, Tampa Day 9: Reykjavik Traveling back to Reykjavik continue in volcanology from Dartmouth Dallas, Houston, through “saga” country, the setting of one of the country’s College. He then worked in the Los Angeles, Phoenix, $6,097 $6,897 $7,297 famous medieval stories. Stop along the way to visit minerals and energy industries, Portland (OR), government, and academia for six years before Gullfoss, the immensely popular “golden” waterfall, and San Francisco Great Geysir, the most famous of Iceland’s geysers. returning to Dartmouth for a Ph.D. (Andean tectonics, 1987). Jim was awarded two Fulbright Land Only $4,995 $5,795 $6,195 After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to Thingvellir Scholarships to teach at Argentine universities, and National Park, known both for its historic importance Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person in 2006 he was inducted into the fellowship of the and as the place where the fissure between the geological based on double occupancy­ and include airline taxes, Geological Society of America. He will lead the surcharges, and fees of $402, which are subject to Aug., Sep. 12, and Oct. departures. The Sept. 24 change until final payment is made. Single travelers Iceland boasts 8-10 million puffins. departure will be led by a comparable expert. please add $995 Oct; $1,395 all other dates. All 2019 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, Your Tour Price Includes and fees) are guaranteed. Accommodations: Days 2-3 *Icelandair Hotel Hamar; • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; flight Days 5-6: tIcelandair Hotel Myvatn, °Fosshotel Husavik within itinerary (Husavik); Days 9-10: ^Hotel Centrum (Reykjavik) • 9 nights accommodations in First Class hotels u • 21 meals: 10 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 7 dinners These departures offer the best opportunities for • Sightseeing as described, including all ­entrance fees witnessing the Northern Lights. • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Business Class upgrade on round-trip transatlantic Journeys Expert flight: $1,495 from Boston, Newark, New York, Washing- • Services of a professional Tour Director ton, DC, (Dulles); $2,195 from Chicago, Minneapolis; • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person $2,395 from Denver, Seattle (upgrade is on request and • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room pricing is subject to change). servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

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