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 Enriching. 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