Compare The Best of Iceland: A Country of Beautiful Contrasts by Road Scholar vs The Maritimes: Nova Scotia by Intrepid Travel

Day 1 In Transit to Program In Flight

Day 2 Arrive Iceland, Blue Lagoon, Check-in, Orientation Grindavik

Walking from the airport terminal with luggage to the coach to driving 10 minutes to Viking World. Getting on/off motorcoach; driving about 15 miles to Blue Lagoon, approximately 1/2 hour; about 35 miles to hotel, approximately 1 hour. 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. Northern Lights Inn check-in from 2:00 p.m.

After meeting our group at Viking World, we will depart via motorcoach at approximately 11 a.m. to the Bridge Between Continents to see where Europe and North America meet.

We will board a motorcoach and continue our Icelandic adventure with a soak in the mineral-rich, geothermally heated waters of the Blue Lagoon. (Entrance fee and towels included at Blue Lagoon; slippers and bathrobes available at additional cost.) There are other “blue lagoons” but this one is truly unique. The stark volcanic terrain that surrounds it creates an otherworldly feeling. The lava field is surely natural, but in fact the lagoon owes its existence to a geothermal power station built in 1975. Superheated water from a nearby lava flow feeds into the power plant system and finally flows into the lagoon, where the temperature stays between 98°-104°F (36°-40° C). Minerals from the underground geological layers account for the coloration. Not only is lounging in the waters delightfully comfortable, the minerals and white silica mud are reputed to provide benefits for skin conditions. After, we'll continue our transfer to the Northern Lights Inn for check-in. The rest of the afternoon is free time to relax before dinner.

Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Meals will feature local cuisine. Water is included with all meals. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. The remainder of the evening is free to continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars. Then settle in and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At Viking World.

At a local restaurant.

At the hotel.

Day 3 Grindavik, Borgarnes Borgarnes

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 80 miles, approximately 2.5 hours. Walking up to 2 miles; standing in the museum and the fish processing center.

We’ll set out from the hotel for an expert-led visit to Grindavik's fish processing factory, where we’ll also learn about the Icelandic fishing industry during a lecture.

We'll visit the Borgarnes Settlement Center which is devoted to recreating Iceland's history over the last 1000 years. The Settlement Center uses the meticulously written Book of Icelanders and The Book of Settlement, both from the 13th century, as the resource for creating this exhibition. Arrival and check-in at hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At the Borgarnes Settlement Center.

Hotel dining room.

Day 4 Reykholt, Borgarfjördur Region Borgarnes

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 80 miles, approximately 2 hours. Walking up to 3 miles; uneven, hilly terrain.

We’ll depart by motorcoach for Reykholt, homestead of the famous Saga writer, Snorri Sturluson. Here we’ll learn how Snorri’s poetic and political lives intertwined in medieval Iceland’s turbulent parliament and royal court.

After lunch we’ll take a field trip by motorcoach through the Borgarfjördur region. Stops include Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most prolific hot spring; Hraunfossar, rare and beautiful waterfalls; and Borg, the homestead of Viking/poet Egill Skallagrímsson in the 10th century.

At the hotel we’ll enjoy an evening of traditional Icelandic folk music and dance.

At the hotel.

At a local restaurant.

At the hotel.

Day 5 Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Breidafjördur Boat Ride Borgarnes

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 130 miles, approximately 3 hours. Walking up to 3 miles; uneven, hilly terrain. Getting on/off a boat, assistance provided as needed. The boat ride is approximately 2 hours.

We’ll set out by motorcoach for Stykkisholmur, a fishing village on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. From here, we’ll take a two-hour boat ride among the islands of Breidafjördur, watching locals fishing for scallops and tasting some of their catch!

We'll visit the Bjarnarhöfn shark farm and museum to learn about shark processing, where we'll have the chance to taste this special Icelandic delicacy. Then we'll take a peek into the tiny church at Bjarnarhöfn.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At a local restaurant.

At the hotel.

Day 6 Horse Farm, Textile Exhibition, Glaumbær Folk Museum Akureyri

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 210 miles, approximately 4 hours. Walking and standing up to 3 miles; uneven, hilly terrain.

We’ll set out by motorcoach to transfer to Akureyri, North Iceland. En route we will visit a horse farm, where we will become acquainted with the Icelandic horse, enjoying an informative talk from the farmer about life at the farm, and meeting the remarkable breed during a "horse show."

As we continue our transfer by motorcoach, we’ll stop at the textile exhibition at Heimilisiðnaðarsafnið, to see its beautiful collection of wool, national costumes, and tools of the trade including looms and spinning wheels. We’ll then enjoy an expert-led visit of the Glaumbær Folk Museum, located on an old turf farm that was inhabited until 1947. The farmhouse is a great example of the typical building method used in Iceland for centuries, and the exhibition focuses on rural life in Iceland in the 18th and 19th centuries. After, we will stop by the Vidimyri Church. The church was built in 1836 and is one of the six turf churches still preserved in Iceland. We’ll then continue to Akureyri, and check in to our hotel in the late afternoon.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At a country restaurant.

At the hotel.

Day 7 Lake Mývatn Akureyri

Did you know that the word "myvatn" means "midge" in Icelandic? Please be aware that you may encounter midges (small flies) at Lake Myvatn. If you do, it is better to be prepared. We recommend bringing insect repellent and a mosquito head net. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 100 miles, approximately 2.5 hours. Walking and standing up to 3 miles; uneven, hilly terrain.

We’ll begin our day with a lecture on Iceland’s geology, at a venue 5 minutes’ walk from our hotel. We’ll then set out by motorcoach to Lake Mývatn, for a full day's exploration of one of the richest nesting grounds for water birds in the world.

We’ll continue our full-day field trip to Lake Mývatn. The pseudocraters, solfataras, craters and volcanoes of the surrounding landscape make for a fascinating geological study. We’ll return by motorcoach to our hotel in Akureyri.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At a local restaurant.

At the hotel.

Day 8 Whale Watching Excursion, Akureyri Exploration Akureyri

If weather permits you to embark on the Whale Watching excursion, please be aware that you will be required to stand for most of the time. There are only some seats on the boat. Getting on/off a motorcoach; walking up to 2 miles on paved streets.

Weather permitting, we’ll embark on a whale-watching excursion in the beautiful Eyjafjördur bay to get a closer look at the gentle giants inhabiting Iceland's waters.

We’ll spend some time getting to know Akureyri, Iceland's second largest city, with a sightseeing excursion through Akureyri by bus and on foot. We’ll walk through the Botanical Garden, explore Akureyri's church, and view the distinctive architecture of the Hof Cultural Center.

We’ll attend a music performance at the Minjasafnið Museum church.

At the hotel.

At a family-owned restaurant.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Day 9 Akureyri, Fly to Reykjavik Reykjavik

Please note that today's internal flight is an Iceland Air flight, and is approx. 45 minutes long. The luggage limit is 50 pounds, and the hand luggage limit is 13 pounds. Please see Internal Flight Luggage Note for further luggage information.

We’ll fly from Akureyri to Reykjavík. Upon arrival we'll board a motorcoach for a panoramic field trip through Reykjavik, first seeing the historic Höfði House, site of the 1986 summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev that precipitated the end of the Cold War. We will also drive by Lake Tjornin, a small lake in downtown Reykjavik known for its birdlife, as well as the Parliament House and City Hall, worth a visit for its large topographic map of Iceland. We’ll check in to the hotel mid-afternoon, and the rest of the afternoon is free time to settle in and explore the local area.

Free time to explore on your own.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

On your own to enjoy local fare.

On your own to enjoy local fare.

Day 10 Hellisheiði, Þingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir Reykjavik

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 150 miles, approximately 3.5 hours aboard motorcoach. Walking distances up to 2 miles; uneven, hilly terrain.

We’ll set out from the hotel on a full-day field trip by motorcoach, beginning at the Hellisheiði geothermal power plant. The largest in Iceland, it’s the second largest in the world, situated in the Hengill volcano area. Here we’ll learn about this renewable resource and how geothermal energy is used in Iceland. We’ll then visit Espiflot and learn about how flower greenhouses work.

Our full-day field trip will also take us to the fascinating sites of Iceland’s “Golden Circle”. þingvellir National Park, site of the original parliament, is known as the most sacred place in Iceland due to its geological and historical significance. The Althing, or General Assembly, was established here in 930 CE and is the world’s oldest existing parliament. Not only historically significant, the site is located on the meeting point of the American and European continental plates. Gullfoss — golden falls — is the most famous waterfall in Iceland. Water from the Langjökull glacier flows into the Hvítá (White) River. When it reaches the great Gullfossgjúfur canyon, it falls in two stages more than 100 feet (32 meters). We’ll experience the stillness and beauty of the wintry countryside and the frozen waterfall. At Geysir, the site from which all geysers take their name, the active Strokkur geyser bursts forth every few minutes in a cloud of steam. We’ll return to our hotel late in the afternoon by motorcoach.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At a local restaurant.

At a local restaurant.

Day 11 National Museum, Reykjavik Reykjavik

Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking distances up to 2 miles.

At the hotel, we’ll attend a lecture on Iceland’s past and present. We’ll then board a motorcoach for an expert-led field trip to the National Museum of Iceland. In addition to a permanent exhibition on the making of a nation, there are special exhibits on a variety of history and culture topics.

At the amazing site called Perlan, we’ll have unforgettable 360-degree views of the city from the observation deck atop the museum, that is itself situated on gigantic tanks filled with geothermal hot water. After our visit you will have free time to explore on your own.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At a local restaurant.

At a local restaurant to enjoy a farewell meal. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends.

Day 12 Program Concludes, In Transit from Program In Flight

Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Free time.

Staggered transfers to Keflavík International Airport based on final flight times. This concludes our program. 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. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

At the hotel.

On your own based on departure flight time.

Day 1 Halifax / Lunenburg

Welcome to Halifax! Your tour starts today with a welcome meeting at 10am before you head to historic Lunenburg on the South Shore, one of only two urban communities in North America designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore Mahone Bay and nearby Blue Rocks on a leader-led walking tour and learn about this old fishing community that’s become a hub for artists and photographers. Enjoy some free time exploring the old town centre, which is a National Historic Site of Canada. And since Lunenburg was a rum-running town in the days of Prohibition, make sure you take the time to sample of the local brews. Head back to Halifax in the late afternoon and meet later in the evening for an optional dinner if you wish.

Day 2 Halifax

Take a trip to famous Peggy’s Cove, a picturesque fishing village that is one of the most photographed places in all of Canada – for good reason! Rocky outcrops, the crashing Atlantic, colourful fishing boats and that famous red-tipped lighthouse are what you expect to see on Maritimes postcards. Follow your local leader along the Peggy’s Cove Rock Walk, which meanders along the barren coastline that glaciers created some 12,000 years ago. Grab lunch in the village (your own expense) – perhaps a creamy seafood chowder or fresh lobster roll.

Day 3 Baddeck

Today you will drive from Halifax to Baddeck, but not without a stop at the excellent Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Center. Located in the heart of a development owned by Millbrook First Nation, it tells the story of the Millbrook Mi’kmaq and the important role they played and continue to play in the Maritimes. Don’t miss the gift shop which sells beautiful traditional arts and crafts. On arrival in Baddeck, relax and settle into your hotel before we head for an included dinner together.

Day 4 Baddeck

Today offers a big day of discovery and adventure. Start with a visit to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site to gain insight into the life and work of this inventor, scientist, and teacher who is arguably best known for inventing the telephone. Then drive along the Cabot Trail and stop for a leisurely hike within Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The Skyline Trail is the park’s signature hike, which leads out to spectacular sweeping views over the sea. If it’s a nice day for driving, your leader will take you further along the Cabot Trail – a 4 hours’ drive, but with plenty of beautiful stops along the way. Enjoy a picnic lunch while you’re out along the trail before returning to Baddeck for the night.

Day 5 Charlottetown

Drive from Baddeck to Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island and the smallest provincial capital in the country. It’s the perfect destination to explore on foot when you arrive in the late afternoon. Stroll alongside the picturesque harbour or take in the leafy parks and Victorian-era streets lined with gabled houses. Tonight you may like to join your group for an optional dinner and toast your adventure.

Day 6 Charlottetown

You’re free to leave at your leisure today, or spend some more time exploring Charlottetown on your own. If you’re joining our Maritimes Prince Edward Island & New Brunswick tour for a combo trip, you’ll meet your group here today in Charlottetown.