Overview:
Iceland is a destination for the body and soul and here you can discover the energy of the elements: earth, water, air, and fire - basic things that are the core of life. Water and its role in wellness is a focus in this new escorted coach tour. During its six days, you will experience the health-giving benefits of nature with the therapeutic effect of thermal bathing and relaxing walks in fresh air. Explore beautiful natural sights in Southwest Iceland and the remote interior highlands where you can experience pure winter magic, on a true getaway from a busy life. Five evenings during this week-program are spent searching for the Northern Lights, enjoying fine dining and relaxing in geothermal pools, saunas, steam baths or hot pots. This is truly the most amazing escorted winter holiday in Iceland.
Package price is £1,565 per person based on availability and two people sharing a double or twin room. Single supplement is £270 per person.
2014 departure dates:
| Departure |
Return |
| 23 Mar |
30 Mar |
.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Sunday: Welcome to Iceland
Arrival in Reykjavik. Transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from Keflavik airport to your accommodation in Reykjavík where you‘ll spend the night at Grand Hotel Reykjavik & Spa. We‘ll provide some ideas to help you explore Iceland's capital on your own.
Day 2, Monday: South Iceland
Meet your tour guide and start your escorted tour program by heading out along the south coast. You’ll pass volcanic mountains, plenty of geothermal vents, and then get out near the active volcano that is beneath the Eyjafjallajökull glacier. Skógafoss waterfall is 60 meters high and one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country. At the seaside, you will stroll on the black lava beach to see the amazing bird cliffs at Reynisfjara near Vík. In the afternoon stop at the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which plunges over the mountain. There's a trail that goes behind the falling water and offers interesting views, if you are prepared to get wet!
We will spend two nights at Hotel Highland, one of Iceland's most remote hotel locations in the interior highlands of Iceland. This region can only be described as black and white, where the arctic snow covers the black sands and lava fields of the high Icelandic desert. During clear nights, you might be able to see what looks like billions of stars. This is also a place where you can experience calm and quiet, and perhaps even total silence. Due to the high altitude and the seemingly endless views from here, Hotel Highland is one of the best locations in Iceland to see the Northern Lights, if conditions are right. After a 3-course dinner, there will be a presentation about one aspect of the Northern Lights, and then you can step into the darkness to search for the magical Aurora Borealis. Simply enjoy the company of those billions of stars, or relax in the hotel's sauna and outdoor hot pot. (In the rare occasions that weather and road conditions don’t allow us to reach Hotel Highland, we will stay at an alternative location.)
Day 3, Tuesday: Interior Wilderness
How about a late breakfast and then a short guided walk into the wilderness? The weather is the boss in this stretch of Iceland. Today's program is simply powered by wind and snow conditions as well as by your willingness to spend a day away from your ordinary life. Today we explore the neighbourhood on foot, feeling a bit like the Icelandic outlaws from the past (which this area is quite famous for). We walk into the Arctic landscape where snow covers the black sand and lava fields most of the winter time. Here we can experience some moments away from modern noise and stress. We might listen to the wind and perhaps some ghost stories, but we will also listen to our inner self. Let's enjoy the calmness and open spaces of this unique location in the Icelandic highlands. We can take time to breathe in fresh air, take photographs, walk alone or with the group. Let's take time to find food for the soul in the power of a landscape that is full of contrasts and extremes at the same time. Lunch is included.
Back at the hotel you can enjoy a northern lights lecture and video presentation. If Iceland’s interesting cuisine catches your fancy, today offers a chance to immerse yourself in it, by joining in a 2 ½ hour cooking demonstration where you will help to "cook" your own Icelandic 3-course dinner. This activity is complimentary, but must be booked prior to arrival to Iceland as space is limited. After dinner, once darkness falls, you’ll be out chasing the Northern Lights and soaking in the hotel’s outdoor hot tubs.
Day 4, Wednesday: Waterfalls, Geysers and Geothermal Steam Baths
Heading down from the highlands, we start the day with a visit at Hjálparfoss waterfall that is split in two, with a beautiful pond in front, and surrounded by extraordinary basalt rock formations. The beautiful valley of Þjórsárdalur is dominated by Hekla, one of Iceland's most active volcanoes. At a local candle making workshop you might find your favorite candle made of volcanic ash for your stay at the next hotel.
At noon, we reach the Geysir geothermal fields. Here there are a variety of hot springs and bubbling pools including the original geyser, which is now dormant, but which has been replaced by the nearby Strokkur „the Churn“, which erupts at 5-10 minute intervals. Then it’s on to Gullfoss “the golden falls“, a double waterfall that tumbles 34 meters into the Hvítá river and attracts travelers in summer and winter. The last stop today is at the new thermal baths FONTANA in Laugarvatn, where healing geothermal heat simmers directly from the ground and the landscape is painted with beautiful mountain ranges. Laugarvatn FONTANA will be a highlight of any wellness retreat in Iceland where you find three geothermally heated baths, a sauna, a warm sand beach, and access to the pristine waters of Lake Laugarvatn. A visit to the open-air baths at Laugarvatn FONTANA will also give you the opportunity to experience the ever-changing Icelandic weather, as the thermal baths can be enjoyed all year around. In fact, wintertime makes the visit to the thermal baths an even warmer experience.
We continue to the small greenhouse town of Hveragerði in South Iceland. You will stay for two nights at the Hotel Frost & Fire, beautifully located on the Varmá River, with a geothermal swimming pool, several outdoor hot tubs, steam and kneipp bath, and a relaxation room. After dinner, you can check if the Northern Lights are visible. Also known as the Aurora Borealis, these spectacular sky-light shows can frequently be seen in Iceland from September through April on clear and crisp nights. White and green are usually the dominant colors of northern lights but sometimes there are considerable color variations. As they are ephemeral, however, sightings are not guaranteed.
Day 5, Thursday: Relaxation, Horse Show & Coastal Villages
The morning is free to enjoy the wellness facilities of Frost & Fire Hotel, taking pictures of the incredible geothermal surroundings or to join an easy, guided walk together through the greenhouse village of Hveragerði with several surprising attractions. In the afternoon we travel to the coastal villages of Stokkseyri and Eyrarbakki with many old and colorful houses and visit a local folk and maritime museum. We stroll along the black sands at one of the local beaches. Later you´ll learn about the history and special gaits of the Icelandic horse at a nearby horse farm. This is slow travel at its best! After a nice lobster dinner at a nearby seashore restaurant, it’s outside to watch out for the magical Northern Lights before returning to the hotel.
Day 6, Friday: National Park, Farm Visit, Blue Lagoon & Gourmet Dinner
Today you’ll travel to Thingvellir National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can join a relaxing walk through history and geological wonders. We will then continue to the scenic Hvalfjörður fjord to visit a local farm, where you can learn about rural life and farming and have lunch with some of the farmers.
In the afternoon you can soak in the healing waters of the famous Blue Lagoon, surrounded by a beautiful lava field. Then it’s back to Reykjavík where you’ll spend the last two nights at Grand Hotel Reykjavík & Spa. A 3-course gourmet dinner is included at the Perlan revolving restaurant offering a beautiful view over Iceland's capital and surroundings. If the night is clear, you might be lucky to see the Northern Lights swirling in a wild and carefree dance across the heaven in dramatic shapes, colors, patterns and sizes. We celebrate the Northern Lights Spa tour by sending your own peace light into the sky.
Day 7: Saturday: Reykjavík City Tour and afternoon at leisure
In the morning enjoy a two hour long city tour of the world's northern-most capital. The afternoon is available for sightseeing, museum visits, shopping, spa treatments or optional whale watching tour.
Day 8, Sunday: Departure from Reykjavik
Depending on the flight schedule, you may have some time to explore Reykjavik a bit more before taking the Flybus airport shuttle from your accommodation in Reykjavík to Keflavík airport.
Note:
In rare cases, change of itinerary might be necessary during winter programs in Iceland, should snow, road and weather conditions not allow to follow the scheduled itinerary, and certain outdoor activities might be cancelled. In this case we will try the find reasonable alternatives where and whenever possible.
Package Includes:
- Direct flights from London or Manchester
- Arrival & departure airport transfer by Flybus
- Fully escorted 6 day coach tour with English speaking guide as per program
- 3 nights accommodation at Grand Hotel Reykjavik & Spa
- 2 nights accommodation at Hotel Highland in the interior of Iceland
- 2 nights accommodation at Hotel Frost & Fire in Hveragerði
- 7x breakfast, 2x lunch, 5x dinner and 4x midnight refreshments
- Cooking demonstration & helpful hints to prepare dinner if you wish
- Visit to candle making workshop
- Entrance with towel at Fontana Steam Baths
- Visit to folk and maritime museum in Eyrarbakki
- Horse show in South Iceland
- Farm visit at Hvalfjörður fjord
- Entrance with towel at Blue Lagoon
- Northern Lights programme with 5 evenings of lectures, presentations, film and guided searches
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