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HOLIDAY AT A GLANCE
14 nights – June to August – from £2455 per adult, £475 per child based on sharing a 4WD vehicle for 14 days, staying at a range of country hotels – breakfast and flights included.
If you have children over the age of 6 with an enquiring mind and a love of the outdoors this is the perfect holiday. |
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Daybreak |
Dusk |
| Jan. |
10:03 |
16:59 |
| Feb. |
09:13 |
18:11 |
| March |
07:46 |
19:35 |
| April |
05:55 |
21:10 |
| May |
03:50 |
23:04 |
| June |
24 hr. |
daylight |
| July |
24 hr. |
daylight |
| Aug. |
03:06 |
23:57 |
| Sept. |
05:17 |
21:35 |
| Oct. |
06:50 |
19:43 |
| Nov. |
08:18 |
18:03 |
| Dec. |
09:36 |
16:57 |
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Itinerary
ALL ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE ITINERARY ARE INCLUDED!
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| Day 1: |
fly UK to Keflavik, transfer to the Northern Lights Inn for an overnight stay. En route, stop for a dip in the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon. You can either opt to pick up your rental vehicle at the airport or take advantage of the transfer service to the hotel - if so, you will be transferred back to the rental depot the next morning to collect your vehicle. |
| Day 2: |
take the southern dirt track road via Krisuvik Hot Springs to Hveragerdi and spend two nights at Hotel Ork, sure to be a favourite with the kids as it has an outdoor pool with water slide. Whilst here, enjoy an included Eldhestar trek on a pure-bred Icelandic horse. |
| Day 3: |
take in the sites on the ‘ Golden Circle’ route. Apart from photographic opportunities (with time allowed for getting that perfect spouting geyser shot), there is a presentation at the Geysir Visitor Centre which might interest the family. At Thingvellir National Park perhaps go hiking or hire a rowing boat on the lake. Gullfoss is truly impressive and if you don’t mind getting wet from the spray, you can walk right up to the top tier although care should be taken with the wet steps. |
| Day 4: |
drive the the rough terrain of the Kjolur Mountain route. A swim in the hot spring at Hveravellir can also be included today, before heading to Hotel Varmahlid, your destination for the next two nights. |
| Day 5: |
time for a thrilling 3 to 4 hour rafting trip again included in the cost (may not be suitable for children with a small frame – ask our team for advice), followed by hiking and riding possibilities in the Skagafjordur area. |
| Days 6-9: |
head to Myvatn, via the northern town of Akureyri and check into Hotel Reynihlid for 4 nights. This lovely hotel with views across the lake, provides free bicycle rental (subject to availability) – the scenic roads around the lake are flat or gently undulating but a little further out you can find more challenging inclines although going ‘off road’ should be approached with care – ask at the hotel reception for advice. There are many great places to explore around the lake, either by car, bike, on foot or on horseback - don’t forget to visit the geothermal Nature Baths (entry included). Also whilst based in Myvatn head up to Husavik, about an hour’s drive and take an included whale watch trip in a converted, traditional oak fishing boat, then visit the fascinating Whale Museum with its great ‘hands on’ exhibits which children will love! |
| Day 10: |
continue the trip with a detour to Dettifoss, with a fact the children will enjoy – it’s Europe’s most powerful waterfall, set within Iceland’s spectacular Jokulsa Canyon. Continue to the East Fjords and overnight at Hotel Stadarborg. |
| Day 11: |
drive south around the coast and stop at Hofn to see the Glacier Exhibition (entry fee included). Go out on the rooftop panoramic viewing platform and marvel at Iceland’s largest icecap, Vatnajokull. This great exhibition features several film presentations, displays and hands on exhibits and is a perfect prelude to your next stop, Jokulsarlon. Travelling southeast be greeted by the sight of a glacier spilling down between the mountains into a huge blue lagoon, dotted with icebergs of all shapes and sizes – this is Jokulsarlon. Walk along the shoreline of the lagoon and take a boat trip, actually a ride in an amphibious vehicle (included). Climb aboard on land then splash into the lagoon and cruise up to the glacier front, weaving amongst the icebergs for some truly close up photography.
For eagle-eyed kids (of all ages!) you might spot that these vehicles were used in the film Tombraider, to ferry Lara Croft to the mystical ice cave, supposedly in Siberia! Jokulsarlon has also made appearances in James Bond and Batman Begins. Don’t forget to cross over the road and walk amongst icebergs washed ashore on the black sand beach – amazing! Stay two nights at Hotel Skaftafell |
| Day 12: |
just down the road from the hotel is the Visitor Centre for Skaftafell National Park, containing all sorts of hiking routes and information about this beautiful park. A guided glacier walk is included. Also whilst here, discover another of Iceland’s great waterfalls – Svartifoss. Small but perfectly formed, this waterfall is contained within its own little canyon of black basalt columns and appears almost ‘otherworldly’. |
| Day 13: |
drive the rough mountain track to Landmannalaugar, one of Iceland’s most scenic spots, especially loved by hikers and campers. Here, with a backdrop of colourful mountains, go swimming in a naturally heated river which bubbles up from under the lava. London passengers check in at Hotel Fludir for a 2-night stay, Glasgow passengers stay overnight – see note below. |
| Day 14: |
a day to relax and enjoy the enchanting scenery around the Thjorsadalur Valley, including the reconstructed farm at Stong, which dates from the Viking period. Head down to the south coast and visit the Skogar Folk Museum and the nearby waterfall. Skogafoss is magnificent, and for a different view, climb the steps to the summit and look out to sea. Take an included snowmobiling trip on Myrdalsjokull Glacier. If you’d like to explore further afield, head to Selfoss or Bakki where you can take an optional flight-seeing trip to the Westman Islands. |
| Day 15: |
make your way back to Keflavik, drop off your rental vehicle and take the afternoon flight home. |
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Please note Glasgow passengers spend their last night at the Northern Lights Inn as their flight home is one of the first from Keflavik on Day 15. |
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| © RTH Sigurdsson |
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Iceland
