Gems of South Iceland and Reykjavik - 2023

AVAILABLE:
June 14 to August 23

DURATION:
6 days / 5 nights

TOUR ID:
GG20

5 nights accommodation, in rooms with shower/WC
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4 days escorted tour with English-speaking guide/driver-guide
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Arrival & departure airport transfer by Flybus shuttle (no guide)
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5x breakfast
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1x lunch
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Guided Whale Watching tour from Reykjavík
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Entrance to the Whales of Iceland exhibition
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Entrance to the Sky Lagoon geothermal spa, including a rental towel
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Return ferry trip to Westman Islands
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Entrance to Eldheimar exhibition
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Entrance to Lavashow
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Entrance to Skógasafn Folk museum
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Return transport in a highland vehicle to Landmannalaugar
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Ölvisholt microbrewery tour and beer tasting
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Any private expenses
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Any additional services
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Meals that are not listed under “included”
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Single supplement (mandatory when in a single room)
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Day 1. Arrival Day

Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from Keflavik airport to your accommodation in Reykjavik. You may explore Iceland’s capital city on your own if time allows.

Overnight location:
3-star Fosshotel Baron or similar in Reykjavík
4-star Fosshotel Reykjavik or similar in Reykjavík
(50km / 31mi)

Day 2. Reykjavik City Tour, Whale Watching & Sky Lagoon

At 09:00, meet your tour guide, who will show the group the highlights of Iceland’s exciting capital. Learn about life in the city from the very beginning of settlement in Iceland to the present day. We stop by the church of Hallgrímskirkja and drive through the university district, past the Nordic house and the National Museum. In the city centre, we stop by the City hall, which juts into the small lake of Tjörnin. Nearby are the Lutheran Cathedral and the House of Parliament. We also drive by the harbour to observe fishing vessels of different sizes, whale hunters and whale watchers. In Reykjavík are many public works of art, mainly sculptures. The latest addition to Reykjavík is the concert/conference hall of Harpan (the Harp), built on the town centre’s northern waterfront, whose dramatic design captures and reflects the city’s light, ocean and sky with a thrilling effect.

In the afternoon, enjoy the spirit of whale watching, getting as close as possible without disturbing the animals. You might see dolphins, humpback, orca, blue, and minke whales during this 3-hour cruise. Let a guide direct your attention as we travel across Faxaflói Bay, where a blend of warm and cold ocean currents creates spectacular whale-watching opportunities. Afterwards, visit the Whales of Iceland exhibition with life-sized whale models and a virtual reality experience.

The Sky Lagoon is Iceland’s latest geothermal lagoon spa experience, where the ocean meets the sky. Immerse yourself in the warm and rejuvenating waters of an oasis near the city centre of Reykjavík. Enjoy this authentic and remarkable place through an unforgettable and inspiring spa experience.

Overnight location:
3-star Fosshotel Baron or similar in Reykjavík
4-star Fosshotel Reykjavik or similar in Reykjavík
(50km / 31mi)

Day 3. Westman Islands

Ahoy! We take a short ferry ride to the Westman Islands. There is a bus and walking tour of the village of Heimaey and this extraordinary island. The volcanic eruption in 1973 is, without doubt, considered the largest natural disaster in Iceland in recent history. The eruption began on January 23rd on the island of Heimaey, the only populated island of the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. After the evacuation of the inhabitants and during the 5 months while the eruption lasted, there was much uncertainty as to whether or not the island could ever be repopulated. We explore bird cliffs during our tour to the Westman Islands, walk up the volcano crater, and visit „Pompei of the North“, a volcanic excavation project. You have the afternoon free to wander around the town of Heimaey, with its birds and sign of recent volcanic eruptions. Finally, we return to the mainland and stay for 2 nights in South Iceland.

Overnight location:
Stracta Hotel, Hella or similar, South Iceland.
(210km / 130mi)

Day 4. South Coast & Lava Show

Our first stop of the day will be at the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which plunges over the mountains and where you can follow a slick and wet trail right behind the falls. Next, we visit the thundering Skógafoss waterfall, which is 60 meters high and belongs to the most impressive waterfalls in the country. Nearby is the beautiful Skógar folk museum with its turf houses. We pass the glaciers Mýrdalsjökull and the infamous volcano Eyjafjallajökull. In the village of Vík, we attend the stunning Iceland lava show, the only exhibition in the world where you can experience actual flowing lava! By melting lava and pouring it on ice in a room full of people, you will be able to see the lava flowing, hear it sizzling, and feel the heat that radiates from it. We walk along the black lava beach and bird cliffs at Reynisfjara and see exciting basalt columns and rock formations. In the afternoon, we stop at the Sólheimajökull glacier tongue, where you can join an optional glacier hike. It‘s an informative and easy glacier walk through a frozen wonderland of different shades of glacier ice.

Overnight location:
Stracta Hotel, Hella or similar, South Iceland.
(220km / 137mi)

Day 5. Landmannalaugar & Microbrewery

Today we drive the rough unpaved road to Landmannalaugar, an oasis in the barren highlands surrounded by vivid rhyolite mountains. The highlight is a 90-minute round-trip hike up toward Brenninsteinsalda, the rainbow mountain of Iceland, which is still “hot” and where you can see sizzling sulfur springs and vapor at its sides. It could very well be the most colourful and spectacular volcanic mountain of Iceland, and so its picture is often found in books and calendars. After a picnic lunch, you have free time to enjoy a relaxing bath in the natural geothermal stream. Next, we take a short stop at the beautiful waterfall Hjálparfoss, surrounded by unusual basalt rock formations. Finally, before we reach our last overnight location in Reykjavík, let us visit Ölvisholt, a microbrewery located at an old dairy farm in South Iceland. You will get an introduction to the brewery’s history, the brewing process, and of course, try a selection of Icelandic beer.

Overnight location:
3-star Fosshotel Baron or similar in Reykjavík
4-star Fosshotel Reykjavik or similar in Reykjavík
(310km / 193mi)

Day 6. Departure Day

Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle from your accommodation in Reykjavik to Keflavik airport.

Breakfast included. (50km / 31mi)

June 14, 2023	English
June 28, 2023	English
July 12, 2023	English
July 26, 2023	English
August 09, 2023	English
August 23, 2023	English

20% Deposit
Cancellation:
A cancellation fee of 20% of the tour price will be retained by us for cancellations made from 4 to 8 weeks before tour start. A cancellation fee of 50% applies for bookings cancelled 14-28 days prior to tour start. No refund is possible for cancellations less than 14 days before tour start, or for no shows, and a tour begun, but not completed.
TOURIS reserves the right to charge a deposit of up to 20 % in order to secure space on the tour.
Children:
Tour is not recommended for children younger than 12 years of age.
Triple rooms are double rooms with extra bed and ideal for two adults and one child. Available on request only.

MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE: 25

DURATION: 6 days / 5 nights

AVALABILITY: June - August

LANGUAGES: English

AGE: Min Age 12+

Complementaries:
• Free Wi-Fi on the bus

Additional services
• Extra night in Reykjavik before/after the tour – on request
• Upgrade for private airport transfer – on request

NOTE: Itineraries may be subject to change at short notice during severe weather conditions, and certain outdoor activities/day trips may be cancelled during the winter season in Iceland. In these rare cases, where situations of force majeure apply, excursions/activities cannot be refunded, but the local guides will try their best to find reasonable alternatives where and whenever possible.

NOTE: Accommodations are subject to change.

CANCELLATIONS:
A cancellation fee of 20% of the tour price will be retained by us for cancellations made from 4 to 8 weeks before tour start. A cancellation fee of 50% applies for bookings cancelled 14-28 days prior to tour start. No refund is possible for cancellations less than 14 days before tour start, or for no shows, and a tour begun, but not completed.
The exchange of one arrangement for another must be agreed by us beforehand. TOURIS reserves the right to charge a bookings fee/payment deposit of up to 20 % in order to secure space on the tour.

PAYMENT:
A deposit of 20%, of the total package price should reach TOURIS within 2 days of confirmation of booking and full payment not later than 6 weeks prior to tour departure. In case of delay on payments, TOURIS will reserve the right to treat this as a cancellation and withdraw its confirmation of the services.
Every detail regarding the booking must be included, in order for TOURIS to ensure efficiency, including the passengers´ name, flight information, all accommodation, tours and other services.

TRAVEL INSURANCE:
To avoid dispute in case of cancellation, we strongly recommend that our clients purchase a comprehensive travel insurance in their home country, that covers your cost should you have to cancel your tour. This kind of travel insurance is usually not expensive and it frequently covers other risks too.