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ICELANDIC SAGAS & THEIceland: AURORA BOREALIS September 27 to October 5, 2021 9 Days and 8 Nights Iceland: Icelandic Sagas and the Aurora Borealis | September 27 to October 5, 2021 ITINERARY AT A GLANCE Day 1: Sept. 27 - Depart Your Home City Day 5: Oct. 1 - Land of Ice Day 2: Sept. 28 - Arrive in Reykjavík Day 6: Oct. 2 - Golden Circle Day 3: Sept. 29 - Fire & Ice: The Geology Day 7: Oct. 3 - Waterfalls, Beaches of an Island Nation and Local Wildlife Day 4: Sept. 30 - Land of Fire: Lava Tube Day 8: Oct. 4 - Blue Lagoon and Lava Waterfalls Day 9: Oct. 5 - Return Home We excitedly present Icelandic Sagas and the Aurora cosmopolitan sophistication: chic cafés sell bread baked Borealis, a nine-day tour. We’ll explore the drama of by geothermal heat, designer boutiques are filled with this small island, from its bold Viking roots and Scandinavian prints and natural fabrics. Join us on magical history to its wild landscape shaped by this exploration into the mythical, rugged beauty of millennia of active volcanoes and tip-toeing glaciers. otherworldly Iceland. Iceland balances untouched nature with uniquely 1-800-856-1045 | [email protected] | www.ConnoisseursTours.com page: 2 Iceland: Icelandic Sagas and the Aurora Borealis | September 27 to October 5, 2021 DAY 1: SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 DAY 2: SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 DEPART YOUR HOME CITY FOR REYKJAVÍK ARRIVE IN REYKJAVÍK Connoisseurs Tours offers a Concierge Airline Service to We arrive in colorful Reykjavík to check in and meet help with your reservations. Your dedicated reservation at our lovely hotel, the Canopy Hilton. After getting team will manage your airline reservations from the situated, we have an optional walking tour to the time you begin selecting flights until the day you return famous Hallgrímskirkja church, or the afternoon is free and will spend extra effort to find just the right airline for you to relax and get acclimated to the new time schedule to suit your needs. This will alleviate any of zone. the unexpected headaches that can arise in today’s travel environment with schedule changes. There is a In the evening, we’ll dine together as we enjoy supplemental cost for this service. Icelandic cuisine and learn more about the fascinating history of Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital and largest city. Optional Pre-Tour Package Available: (D) A 2-day, 1-night (September 27-28) package available for participants who wish to arrive early. 1-800-856-1045 | [email protected] | www.ConnoisseursTours.com page: 3 Iceland: Icelandic Sagas and the Aurora Borealis | September 27 to October 5, 2021 DAY 3: SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 FIRE & ICE: THE GEOLOGY OF AN ISLAND NATION This morning, we walk from our hotel to visit Perlan archeological digs have uncovered the oldest relics of (‘The Pearl’), a museum and rotating glass dome that human habitation in Reykjavík dating to before 871 AD. stands on top of Öskjuhlíð Hill. Surrounded by forest, it is one of the capital’s most distinctive landmarks. The site is built on top of six water tanks that together Finally, we’ll make our way to the elegant Húsafell Hotel store 24 million liters of Reykjavík’s hot water and hosts in Stórarjóður for dinner and relaxation in the hotel’s incredible natural history exhibitions. With our guide, heated outdoor pool. (B,L,D) we’ll explore models of the tectonic plate split, better understand how glaciers move, and explore how lava helped shape this magnificent island, to set the stage for the rest of the journey. For lunch, we enjoy the museum’s restaurant before driving to the Settlement Exhibition, where 1-800-856-1045 | [email protected] | www.ConnoisseursTours.com page: 4 Iceland: Icelandic Sagas and the Aurora Borealis | September 27 to October 5, 2021 DAY 4: SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 DAY 5: OCTOBER 1, 2021 LAND OF FIRE: LAVA TUBE AND LAND OF ICE LAVA WATERFALLS After breakfast at our hotel, we venture to Langjökull This morning we begin with exploring a lava tube to Glacier, the second largest glacier in Iceland, to explore better understand this geological force! After, we’ll its crevasses and long glacial tunnel. visit Hraunfossar, a beautiful and powerful stretch of waterfall that flows from underneath a lava field and We’ll have lunch together and allow the rest of the porous rock into a nearby river. The water’s source is afternoon for exploration. As an optional activity, the Langjökull Glacier, underneath which sits the extinct this afternoon we have arranged a nature hike that volcano that created the lava field. explores the surreal landscapes of the highlands, followed by a serene and relaxing soak in a geothermal We’ll eat lunch nearby with views of the lava field pool that has just been recently opened. We’ll gather and glacier. Your afternoon is free for leisure to enjoy for dinner together at our hotel. (B,L,D) Húsafell’s geothermal heated pool, miles of hiking trails, nearby golf or resting and taking in the tranquility of the valley. (B,L) 1-800-856-1045 | [email protected] | www.ConnoisseursTours.com page: 5 Iceland: Icelandic Sagas and the Aurora Borealis | September 27 to October 5, 2021 DAY 6: OCTOBER 2, 2021 GOLDEN CIRCLE We begin the day with a trip to Þingvellir, a remarkable farm-to-table lunch with local ingredients before geological site and one of the most historic places on continuing the day. the island. The world’s oldest democratic parliament was founded here in 930. Þingvellir, located by Lake Only a few minutes away is Gullfoss (Golden Þingvallavatn, the largest lake on the island, is now a Waterfall), one of the most impressive waterfalls in national park and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Europe. Here you will witness thousands of tons of icy Site since 2004. The beautiful canyon running through water thunder majestically down into a deep gorge. the park is actually the meeting point of two of the earth’s tectonic plates. Finally, we’ll drive together to Hotel 360, our home We continue on to discover the famous Great Geysir for the next two nights, and enjoy dinner together. which has given its name to hot springs all over the Because the hotel has just 13 rooms, our group will be world. You will see one of the most active geysers in the only ones on the property. (B,L,D) the area, Strokkur, which spouts up to 30 meters in the air every 5 to 7 minutes! We will pause for a delicious 1-800-856-1045 | [email protected] | www.ConnoisseursTours.com page: 6 Iceland: Icelandic Sagas and the Aurora Borealis | September 27 to October 5, 2021 DAY 7: OCTOBER 3, 2021 WATERFALLS, BEACHES AND LOCAL WILDLIFE After breakfast, we’ll visit two of Iceland’s most iconic coastline; the sea is now located across a stretch of waterfalls: Selfoss and Seljalandsfoss. Foss is Icelandic lowlands and is visible from the site. We pause for a for waterfall and these are two of Iceland’s most iconic delicious lunch near the falls before setting off for the and dramatic. At Selfoss, we’ll have the opportunity to Southern Coast. Once there, we will visit the wall of hike behind the falls and feel the power of its cascading Balsite Columns set on the black sands beach, a magical volumes of water pummeling 36 feet down. Next, we sight to behold. explore Seljalandsfoss, part of the river Seljalandsá, a river with origins underneath the glacier Eyjafjallajökull. On our way back to our hotel, we’ll stop off at a puffin The volcano beneath this glacier was the one that erupted colony to take in views of the coast, one of Iceland’s in 2010 and caused havoc at airports across Europe. largest glaciers, and puffins in their cliff-homes. Dinner will be together at our hotel. (B,L,D) Seljalandsfoss’ cascade is relatively narrow, but it falls from a tall cliff that once marked the country’s 1-800-856-1045 | [email protected] | www.ConnoisseursTours.com page: 7 Iceland: Icelandic Sagas and the Aurora Borealis | September 27 to October 5, 2021 DAY 8: OCTOBER 4, 2021 DAY 9: OCTOBER 5, 2021 BLUE LAGOON RETURN HOME After breakfast, we’ll transfer to the Geothermal We assist with transfers to the airport for our flights Center to learn about how Iceland is able to harness home. the country’s geothermal heat and steam to power this island nation. We’ll then go to the stunningly beautiful Blue Lagoon for a two-hour spa experience. We’ve secured VIP entrances for full relaxation and luxury. After enjoying the Blue Lagoon, we’ll have lunch together before checking into the Hilton Canopy in Reykjavík. The afternoon is free for you to explore and shop in Reykjavík. Tonight we gather for one farewell dinner together. (B,L,D) 1-800-856-1045 | [email protected] | www.ConnoisseursTours.com page: 8 Iceland: Icelandic Sagas and the Aurora Borealis | September 27 to October 5, 2021 ACCOMMODATIONS THE CANOPY HILTON | REYKJAVÍK Occupying six connected buildings, this chic, contemporary hotel overlooking Faxa Bay is a short walk from striking landmarks. Ultra-modern rooms immerse you in Icelandic style and offer pleasant surprises at perfect moments – from in-room Nespresso machines to bike rentals, and nightly local beer and wine tastings in the bistro. The gourmet breakfast buffet is served in a sophisticated, hip restaurant offering local fare. 1-800-856-1045 | [email protected] | www.ConnoisseursTours.com page: 9 Iceland: Icelandic Sagas and the Aurora Borealis | September 27 to October 5, 2021 ACCOMMODATIONS HÓTEL HÚSAFELL Combine the comfort of a luxurious hotel with the exploration of the unique wonders of Icelandic nature.