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Activity note: Check-in available from 2:00 PM. Please note that towels are provided at the Blue Lagoon. Slippers, bathrobes and spa treatments are available at an additional cost.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room. 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: We will drive from the Inn and begin 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. We’ll return to the hotel by motorcoach.
Lunch: Hotel dining room. Lunches on this program are typically a two course set menu.
Afternoon: After lunch we will check in at the hotel. 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. 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.
Dinner: Hotel dining room. Dinners on this program are typically a three course set menu. Please note that water is included in the program cost at all meals.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: 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.
Lunch: At a country restaurant.
Afternoon: We’ll visit Hvanneyri, an Agricultural Science Center for an expert-led lecture and introduction to Icelandic agriculture. Arrival and check-in at hotel.
Dinner: Hotel dining room.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: 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.
Lunch: En route at a local restaurant.
Afternoon: 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.
Dinner: Hotel dining room.
Evening: At the hotel we’ll enjoy an evening of traditional Icelandic folk music and dance.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: 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!
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: We'll visit the Bjarnarhöfn shark farm and museum to learn about shark processing, where we'll have the chance to to taste this special Icelandic delicacy. Then we'll take a peek into the tiny church at Bjarnarhöfn.
Dinner: Hotel dining room.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: 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."
Lunch: At a country restaurant.
Afternoon: 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. We’ll then continue to Akureyri, and check in to our hotel in the late afternoon.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: 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.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: 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.
Lunch: En route at Sel Hotel Mývatn.
Afternoon: 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.
Dinner: 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.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: 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.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: 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.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: 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.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: We’ll attend a music performance at the Minjasafnið Museum church.
Activity note: Please note that today's internal flight is an Air Iceland flight, and is approx. 45 minutes long. The luggage limit is 44 pounds, and the hand luggage limit is 13 pounds. Please see Internal Flight Luggage Note for further luggage information.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: We’ll attend a lecture on Iceland’s flora and birds at a venue 5 minutes’ walk from our hotel. The rest of the morning is free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: After lunch we’ll fly from Akureyri to Reykjavík, and transfer to our hotel by motorcoach. 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.
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: 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 ride to the Friðheimar tomato farm and learn about greenhouse horticulture.
Lunch: In the Friðheimar greenhouse restaurant, we’ll have a light lunch with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon: 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.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: At the hotel, we’ll attend a lecture on Iceland’s past and present. We’ll then board a motorcoach for a field trip to the Arbær open air museum, an incredible representation of how life used to be in Reykjavik.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: 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. We’ll set out by motorcoach and see highlights of the city including Hofdi House, Lake Tjornin, City Hall, and the old Parliament as we return to our hotel.
Dinner: A farewell Dinner at a downtown restaurant, accompanied by evening entertainment.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Free time.
Lunch: In the hotel dining room.
Afternoon: Transfer to Keflavík International Airport (KEF) for departures. This concludes our program. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures.
My wife and I recommend the Best of Iceland tour very strongly, although we are glad we went in shoulder season as crowds were never a real problem. The trip itself was an engrossing mixture of experiences. We came away much impressed with Iceland and (again) much impressed with Road Scholar.
I loved the Best of Iceland trip. The contrast in the landscape is amazing. I learned so much about the country through our guide, Erik. I will never forget he delicious food, the museums, boat rides and varied experiences I had. I highly recommend this trip.
Fantastic tour! Great itinerary, leader & bus driver! Once in a lifetime experiences!
This Road Scholar trip to Iceland was not a visit; it was an adventure. As if the stunning landscape, the eye-catching architecture, and the gastronomic delights were not enough, the lecturers tied it all together. Our Viking guide was even better than the usual great RS ones; she was a fountain of knowledge. OK, so the fermented shark was a bit strong and the scallops fresh from the ocean were not McDonald's fare but I told you, it was an adventure. Finally, where else except the Blue Lagoon could you luxuriate in chest high, warm mineral water while sleet beat on the back of your neck? Yes, a few places were a bit crowded with tourists (and deserved to be because they were amazing) but most of the island was peaceful and serene.
A great program to learn the geology and culture of the Iceland people.
Great trip, great guide, would recommend to anyone wanting to go to Iceland
The Best of Iceland is a true adventure vacation!
This program exceeded any and all expectations I might have had. A wonderful travel and learning experience.
Iceland is a country of exceptional beauty, history, culture and contrasts. Experience a well-planned, guided tour through many facets of Iceland from Icelandic animals to sagas and culture. An experience of a lifetime!
It is really the best of beautiful Iceland what one can be seen with easy pace. Well organized for this time of the year with long daylight and informative.
If you cannot wait to see the glaciers, mountains, fissures, water falls, wildlife, and oceans of Iceland take this trip. Easy to get there and easy to get around with RS's fine guides and perfect itinerary.
The trip was incredibly interesting and well organized. Kristin Saetran did and outstanding job as our leader. The hotels were first rate and the food was very good. Every day we has 2 or 3 events scheduled; lectures or interesting places to visit. We learned about the fishing, the agriculture, the history and the geology of Iceland. My only negative is that we had little down time. I could have used a bit more time at the end of the day for rest and relaxation before dinner. It's a worthwhile trip for anyone curious about Iceland.
This is a great trip, especially if you are a geologist. If you have issues with smell, you might need to reconsider as the whole country has a strong scent of sulfur. Even in your hotel rooms, you will confront the scent of sulfur as you turn on the hot water to shower or wash your hands. If you look to share a room to cut costs and get to know new people, realize that the hotels (all of them) only use twin beds and they may have placed them together as a make-do full-size bed. Be prepared to eat fish daily or multiple times within the day. And remember, the American Disabilities Act applies to America. Out of 18 participants, a driver, and a guide, 4 to 5 people fell on my trip to include the driver. None of the people who used walking sticks regularly, fell. Expect uneven grounds and sidewalks that become part of the streets and frequent uneven steps without hand-rails. Beyond this, the country is beautiful along with the waterfalls, boiling water, boiling mud pots. The folktales are captivating. And the people take great pride in being from Iceland. Prices are extremely high on everything; plan on 2 to 3 to even 4 times higher than the United States.
Just came back from a Road Scholar trip to Iceland. It was a wonderful trip; the Blue Lagoon, Icelandic horses, geothermal power plant, tomatoes grown in a geothermal greenhouse, gorgeous scenery, great guide and lectures - and more!
Wonderful trip!!!!!!!! Road Scholar I would highly recommend to anyone who loves to travel with a group!
This tour exceeded my expectations! Beautiful country, interesting culture and history, lots of good educational experiences, enjoyable fellow travelers, and delicious food. Thank you Harpa and Steinunn for making it extra special!
This was our first trip with Road Scholar (we went to Iceland) and it was everything we could have wished for.....every detail taken care of, fascinating and informative lectures, a guide who was simply extraordinary....knowledgable, fun, patient, and someone we would love to live near. Plus three wonderful entertainments offered in the evenings. The hotels and the food were great. We will absolutely plan another trip with them.
If you're looking for a beautiful land, congenial people, wonderful food and a place where nature is on awesome display at every turn, this is the tour to choose.
The program went beyond expectations. I had no idea what to expect. what made it especially good was the Program Leader, Eirikur Einarsson. With his knowledge, humor and understanding of who we are and his own country, he made us feel comfortable in a strange place. Iceland is a wonderful country and more people should visit it.
This was an outstanding program and exceeded all expectations.
This program is very comprehensive: geology, history, literature, agriculture, farming, Icelandic horses, the fishing industry, geothermal power, whale watching, waterfalls, geysers, lava fields, rifts caused by the continental shift, and thermal pools. A few of our group didn't bring bathing suits and missed the awesome experience of wading in the Blue Lagoon (admission included in this program). The mineral water truly did make my skin feel healthier! We also saw the Northern Lights, but at this time of year they are more white than green or blue. The food was up to Road Scholar's exceptional standards. Well-prepared and plentiful. Iceland's staple is fish, cooked many ways, fresh organic tomato soup, and lamb (also cooked in various ways). The vegetarians in our group ate so well that at one point I said, "Wow, I wish I was vegetarian!" The field trips were all interesting and Eirikur was very good at explaining what we saw looking out the bus window at lava fields, mountains, volcanoes, steam vents, lichen, rifts, etc.
Visiting this island and learning it's history gave me great respect for its founders and their hardships. Each country has a different history, but we aren't really aware of it until we are able to visit and hear about it first hand.
Roadscholar made Iceland a land to remember and a trip to remember!! Try it --you will love it.
This program gave me an overall view of the highlights of Iceland, helping me to better understand their history, geology, and their people. I felt very safe and relaxed in Iceland and took some risks in eating things I would not normally encounter. And I loved everything I tasted! One does have to like lamb and fish, though, as that is what most of the meals consist of. Fortunately, I love both so had no problem. I learned many new things about the country that I had never closely examined before. Their geography, outlook, and way of life is somewhat different from other countries I have visited, so it was a great learning experience for me.
Iceland was much more interesting than I expected. The history of the settlement of the country and the geological features is fascinating.