Compare Dramatic Iceland by Foot and by Sea: A Circumnavigation by Road Scholar vs Iceland In-Depth featuring the Northern Lights by Tours of Distinction
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| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 13 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 6,395 | $ 3,699 |
| Price Per Day | $ 492 | $ 462 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small ship cruise | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Luxury |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
12 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches and 10 Dinners |
6 Breakfasts | 3 Lunches | 5 Dinners |
| Description |
Your hiking boots trace a picturesque coastline as cliff-side blowholes spray seawater skyward. Later, riding a Zodiac in a clear bay, you are awestruck as a mighty whale breeches starboard. At every turn of this educational adventure in Iceland, unexpected beauty and natural phenomena abound as you learn while exploring its ice, sand and lava by foot, and by weaving into fjords and pristine bays by water craft. Discover why this extraordinary Land of Fire and Ice has an evolving story like no other. |
Iceland is one of the world’s ultimate islands of contrasts… fire and ice; long nights with colorful northern lights and daylight for 20 hours; glaciers and steaming hot geysers, waterfalls galore, pretty puffins, and magical elves. It is a fierce landscape of volcanoes, plains of mossy, craggy cliffs, and black sand beaches. It is an island still being formed by water, ice, and fire and closer than you believe. |
Day 1: Departures
In Flight
Day 2: Arrive Reykjavik, Welcome, The Blue Lagoon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Saga Hotel
Activity note: If you wish to swim in the Blue Lagoon, please remember to pack your bathing suit in your carry-on luggage. Towels will be provided. Slippers, bathrobes and spa treatments are available at an additional cost.
Breakfast: At the Northern Light Inn, approx. 15 miles from the airport. On this program, breakfasts will offer a typical European style breakfast buffet with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water. Please note that water is included in the program cost at all meals.
Morning: After breakfast, drive to the Blue Lagoon for a relaxing bath in its mineral-rich, geothermally-heated waters. The Blue Lagoon, located just 40 minutes outside of Reykjavik, was accidentally formed in 1976 during operation at a nearby geothermal power plant. In the years that followed, people began to bathe in the unique water and apply the silica mud to their skin. Those with psoriasis noticed an incredible improvement in their condition. Today the Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland's most popular tourist destinations and features a research and development facility searching for cures for other skin ailments using the mineral-rich water. At the Blue Lagoon, you will learn the history of the volcanic eruption that formed the surrounding landscape 800 years ago, and how the Blue Lagoon itself came to be. Enjoy some free time to bathe in the lagoon. Fully refreshed, coach to Reykjavik to check into your hotel.
Lunch: Enjoy a 2-course light lunch at Lava Restaurant at the Blue Lagoon.
Afternoon: At 5:00 PM, meet in the hotel lobby for the program orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Please be aware that program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: Enjoy a three-course set menu welcome dinner inclusive of tea, coffee, water at the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day 3: The Golden Circle
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Saga Hotel
Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.
Morning: This morning you will depart on a full day journey from Reykjavik on this popular route which covers over 185 miles from Reykjavik to central Iceland and back. Stop at Thingvellir National Park, home of Iceland's first parliament, Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall), and the spouting spring area of Geysir, after whom all geysers are named.
Lunch: At a local restaurant featuring a two-course set menu.
Afternoon: Field trip through the Golden Circle continues, concluding at the program hotel in the late afternoon.
Dinner: On your own. This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 4: Reykjavik; Embark Ocean Diamond
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond
Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.
Morning: Following breakfast, enjoy a lecture —“Iceland: Past and Present"—by a local expert before visiting the National Museum of Iceland. This charming museum traces the history of this remote island nation from the Settlement era to the modern day.
Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Afternoon: Enjoy a bit of free time to see and do what interests you most before joining the group to embark the MV Ocean Diamond. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities provided in your first Information Packet, or ask your Group Leader for ideas.
Dinner: Aboard the ship. All meals are served in the ship's main dining room. For dinner, you will enjoy a 3-crouse meal and can choose from one of the three chef-prepared entrées. Coffee, tea and water are included in all meals about the ship.
Evening: At leisure. Evenings on board the Ocean Diamond typically include a presentation or concert by the ship's expedition team.
Day 5: Hiking lava fields of Berserkjahraun
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond
Activity note: This morning's hike is approx. 4 hours in duration and covers approx. 5 miles. Please bring a small backpack and a water bottle. Comfortable hiking boots are required.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: Close to Stykkisholmur on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula are the rugged 4,000 year old lava fields of Berserkjahraun. It is named after two Berserkers – Norse warriors – who forged a road across the enormous lava field according to the Saga of Eyrbyggja. Enjoy a hike through this remarkable landscape during this morning's Road Scholar exclusive field trip. Along the way you will spot ruins from early settlements, craters from which the lava flowed, and birdlife – all of which will bring to life the Sagas.
Lunch: Box lunch is provided by the ship.
Afternoon: Free time to relax on board before the ship sails for our next port in the early evening.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 6: Isafjördur
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond
Activity note: Today's hike will last 5 hours and covers approx. 8 miles. Please bring a small backpack and a water bottle. Comfortable hiking boots are required.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: From Isafjordur, we’ll coach to Engidalur, pass through the Botns & Breiðadals tunnel, to arrive in Önundarfjörður. The tunnel was completed in 1996 to allow for year round passage on Iceland’s highest road. At 2,000 ft above sea level the road had been impassable for weeks. Enjoy a hike with your Road Scholar group through this mountainous landscape to enjoy a beautiful view over Isafjördur.
Lunch: Box lunch is provided by the ship.
Afternoon: Free time to relax on board before the ship sails for our next port in the late afternoon.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 7: Siglufjördur; Grimsey Island
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond
Activity note: This morning's hike is approx. 3 miles, and moderately hilly. Please bring a small backpack and a water bottle. Comfortable hiking boots are required.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: The next fjord east of Siglufjördur is Hedinsfjördur. Inhabited until 1951, this deserted fjord is named after its first settler, Hedinn Karlsson. His brother Olaf settled in the next fjord of Olafsfjördur. Step back in time and learn the stories of the early inhabitants as you hike from one ruin to another along a small lake which lies in the middle of the valley. Spot birds, and with any luck, an arctic fox.
Lunch: Box lunch is provided by the ship.
Afternoon: The ship arrives into Grimsey by late afternoon. Just three square miles, this small island is located on the Arctic Circle, just 25 miles from the mainland. Grimsey is home to a handful of families and hundreds of birds. Enjoy a short hike on the island to get a sense of what life is like in this remote locale.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: Enjoy live entertainment provided by your Icelandic guides.
Day 8: Akureyri, Hike in the Lake Myvatn Area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond
Activity note: Today's hike will last 4 hours; be forewarned: you'll need to climb two fences with ladders.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: Depart from port by coach to Reykjahlid to begin this morning's Road Scholar exclusive hike. Upon arrival to Grjotagja, we will stop briefly for refreshments. There is option here for those who are tired to be coached to Mt. Hverfell. For the rest, we'll continue our hike to the large crater of Hverfell which measures about 450 feet deep and is over 3,000 feet in diameter. Formed over 2,000 years ago, it is one of the largest of its kind in the world. After admiring the view, hike to Dimmuborgir, a large area of unusually shaped lava fields. The area is composed of various volcanic caves and rock formations, reminiscent of an ancient collapsed citadel. We'll meet back up with the coach and bus back to Akureyri.
Lunch: Road Scholar lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon: At leisure. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 9: Husavik, Whale Watching
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond
Activity note: Please wear warm clothing; the boat is not enclosed.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: Husavik is considered by visitors as the Whale Watching Capital of Europe. Enjoy an exciting trip on a traditional wooden harbor boat to watch for the gentle giants. The wonders of nature are on display in the beautiful surroundings of Skjálfandi Bay, sheltered by the stunning mountains of Vík.
Lunch: Aboard the ship.
Afternoon: Attend a talk by your Road Scholar Group Leader.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 10: Seydisfjördur, Vesturdalur Hiking
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond
Activity note: Today's hike is 4-5 miles with an elevation change of about 2000 feet. This hike starts off steep, but quickly evens out.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: Today's hike with the group takes you through majestic landscapes while keeping a lookout for wildlife. Enjoy a panoramic motorcoach ride through the historically rich Vestdalseyri headlands to hike the Vestdalur Valley which has a series of impressive waterfalls. Along the way there are remains of previous settlements and structures left by the British and American armies in World War II. Vestdalur is listed as a site of natural heritage, due to a diverse range of plants found there. Upon arrival to the final waterfall, return downriver and cross a footbridge before rejoining the coach and returning to port.
Lunch: Aboard the ship.
Afternoon: At leisure.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: Enjoy live entertainment provided by your Icelandic guides.
Day 11: Djupivogur, Glacier Lagoon Jökulsárlon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond
Activity note: The journey from Djupivogur to the glacial lagoon is quite far. Please be prepared for a long but very rewarding day!
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: Today's field trip from Djupivogur takes you to the magnificent Glacier Lagoon of Jökulsárlon. Huge blocks of ice constantly break off the glacier, Breidamerkurjokull, and large icebergs float on the lagoon. The lagoon is not very wide but it is up to 750 feet deep which makes it the deepest lake in Iceland. Breidamerkurjokull is an outlet of the Vatnajokull glacier. Sail among the huge icebergs in the picturesque scenery of Jökulsárlon with a specially equipped boat.
Lunch: Box lunch is provided by the ship.
Afternoon: Continuation of full day excursion.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 12: Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond
Activity note: This morning's hike is approx. 6 miles and approx. 650 ft. in elevation change. Zodiac excursions are dependent on favorable weather conditions.
Breakfast: Aboard the ship.
Morning: During this Road Scholar exclusive field trip, you will walk from the harbor, through brand new lava fields all the way to the volcano Eldfjall, which erupted in 1973. On this walking exploration, walk past the part of the town that was covered with lava - almost 400 homes were buried in lava and ash. Hike back to the ship through the town of Vestmannaeyjar. There will be an opportunity to visit a museum that tells the story of the Heimaey volcanic eruption in 1973, the Surtsey Island in 1963 and the geology of the Vestmannaeyjar Islands.
Lunch: Aboard the ship.
Afternoon: For a different perspective, travel by Zodiac around Heimaey Island. Be on the look out for caves, birdlife and hopefully whales.
Dinner: Aboard the ship.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare belongings for tomorrow's disembarkation and departure.
Day 13: Departures In Flight B
Meals: Breakfast
Aboard the ship.
Morning: The Ocean Diamond is scheduled to arrive in Reykjavik at 8:00 AM. Upon disembarkation, enjoy a panoramic coach excursion of Reykjavik. See historic Höfði House - sight of the 1986 meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev that precipitated the end of the Cold War. Visit the Perlan, one of Reykjavik's most recognized landmarks, and also the city's hot water storage facility that has a deck providing a 360° vista of Iceland's capital city. Coach by Lake Tjornin, a small lake in downtown Reykjavik and teeming with birdlife, as well as the Parliament House and City Hall, worth a visit for its large topographic map of Iceland. Enjoy some additional free time in Reykjavik. Make sure to pop into the stunning Harpa Music Hall. This concludes our program.
Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon: Transfer to the Keflavík International Airport (KEF) for late afternoon flights returning to North America. Group flights are currently scheduled to depart at 5:00 PM. If you are arranging your own flights, we recommend coordinating your flights so they coincide with the group departure. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future.
Day 1 - Depart for Reykjavik, Iceland
Transfer to the airport and check-in for your overnight flight to Reykjavik.
Day 2 - Reykjavik
Arrive in Reyjakvik and head toward the famous Blue Lagoon. The lagoon is a geothermal wonder of nature, with pleasantly warm mineral rich geothermal seawater in the middle of a lava field. The high natural levels of silica, minerals and algae give the Lagoon its rich blue colour – hence the name Blue Lagoon. Later, a city tour will show us the highlights of the capital.
Welcome dinner and overnight at your Reykjavík hotel.
Day 3 - Iceland Countryside
After breakfast, we drive north out of Reykjavik and through the tunnel under Hvalfjordur, one of the country’s longest fjords. We make a visit at the Settlement Center museum in Borgarnes. We continue through the pretty lake-dotted valleys of the Borgarfjördur district where the ice-age glacier covered the area about 10,000 years ago. We will then make a brief stop at Deidartunguhver, Europe’s largest hot spring, where around 200 liters of 97C hot water flows from the earth every second. Enjoy our short stop at the beautiful waterfalls of Hraunfossar and Barnafossar in the river Hvítá before returning to Borgarnes.
Lunch and dinner and overnight in Borgarnes.
Day 4 - Iceland Countryside
The first highlight of the day is Thingvellir, the great lava arena in a rift valley, where the divide between the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates is clearly visible. Founded by the Norse settlers in 930 AD in Thingvellir, you will see the world’s oldest still-existing national parliament. Get ready to visit Gullfoss, which is often described as Iceland´s most beautiful waterfall, and the famous Geyser area, Strokkur, the world´s most active, is likely to spout several times. We make our final stop at Friðheimar, known for using geothermal heating for cultivation of tomatoes and cucumbers – come and enjoy their famous tomato soup.
Light lunch in Frioheimar. Dinner and overnight in Selfoss.
Day 5 - Iceland Countryside
Today we will drive along the south coast and visit the magnificent waterfall of Seljalandsfoss. It is a narrow and high waterfall which plunges over the mountains of West Eyjafjöll. From there we head to Vík, a village east of Mt. Reynisfjall in Myrdal. In Vík and the neighboring coastline, there is a wealth of contrasts and landscapes renowned for their natural beauty. Mt. Reynisfjall and its cliffs have few rivals in Iceland for richness of vegetation and bird life and the black sand beach Reynisfjara is a large breeding colony for the Arctic tern. According to local folklore, three rock stacks rise up to 66m from the sea: Skessudrangar, Landdrangar and Langhamrar and are said to be trolls turned to stone at sunrise. Then we continue towards Kirkjubæjarklaustur, which in the old days was known as „Kirkjubær“ (Church Farm) and was an important farming village.
Day 6 - Iceland Countryside
From Klaustur, we travel along the south coast to Skaftafell. Skaftafell National Park was designated as one of Iceland´s three National Parks in 1967. Towering mountains, imposing glaciers, gulches with clear brooks and beautiful waterfalls, birch woods, a wealth of wild flowers and lush vegetation give credence to its status. The most majestic of its several waterfalls is Svartifoss (“Black Falls”) that cascade over a wall of symmetrical columnar basalt that resembles an organ. En-route to our stop for the evening, we visit glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón and the museum Þórbergssetur in Höfn. The museum is dedicated to one of Iceland‘s most significant twentieth century author, Þórbergur Þórðarson.
Day 7 - Iceland Countryside - Reykjavik
Today, we start by making a stop at the breathtaking waterfall Skógarfoss, which is 60m high and one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country. After, we experience the Folk Museum at Skógar before continuing to the power plant Hellisheiðarvirkjun for a Geothermal Exhibition about geothermal energy in Iceland.
Overnight at your Reykjavik hotel.
Day 8 - Depart Reykjavik
Say goodbye to Iceland this morning as we head to the airport for our flight. Upon arrival in the USA, transfer home.
