The Travel Group
Search
Ellie L....we are having a great great great trip!!!
by The Travel Group
Jason's Iceland Adventure
- Transfered to Hilton Reykyavik Nordica
- Transfered to Blue Lagoon for relaxing recovery from flights in Thermal pool !
- Transfered back to Hotel approx 2 hours later refreshed and invigorated from a wonderful experience.
In the morning, we flew to Höfn village after a 2 hour delay due to weather (snow), a young town framed by the Vatnajökull Glacier, larger then all other glaciers in Europe combined. We Drove to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where huge, aqua-blue icebergs dot the mystical landscape. This area was the setting for the opening scene of the James Bond film, Die Another Day and other movies. A fantastical, magical area!
Next, we were to climb aboard four-wheel ATVs to experience Iceland’s incredible landscape up close however due to our late departure we were taken to the stunning location by mini van instead. In the shadow of the mighty glacier, we passed by snow capped hills and rivers raging through ravines forged by the forces of nature. We were lucky as we glimpsed herds of reindeer, the only place in Iceland where this is possible. We also stopped and patted Icelandic Horses who greeted us with warmth and friendliness! Before the flight back to Reykjavik, we visited the Glacier Exhibition in Höfn to learn about the area, the nature and basic glaciology. The Exhibition rooms provided a direct view to Vatnajökull Glacier and some of its outlet glaciers.
We Departed from Reykjavik Airport on-time to Akureyri Airport with Air Iceland. Nonni Tours Bus and guide met passengers upon arrival at Akureyri airport which is located just at the edge of the town. We drove along the oldest part of Akureyri and through the very centre of this charming town, then continued north along the Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland and through the farming land. We enjoyed the views of high moutains and valleys that were formed by ice-age glaciers. On the way we passed Möðruvellir, a place of great importance in the past, and where we saw a typical countryside church from the 19th century. Further along the fjord we saw views of Hrísey island which is a real bird sanctuary and has a population of about 200.
Though this far out in the fjord Hrisey Island is actually a part of Akureyri municipality. After a great scenic view of the mountains surrounding Svarfaðardalur valley we arrived into the small fishing village of Dalvík with an interesting church and pretty old houses many of which
have now been renovated. The scenic road took us to the short one-lane tunnel and to the village of Ólafsfjörður, sorrounded by high mountains.
From there we continued through the recently opened tunnel which opened a way into the remote Héðinsfjörður which until this year had only been accessible from the sea or hiking accross the mountain. A scenic photostop in the valley before we continued through the second tunnel. We arrived in Siglufjörður which was the most important and lively fishing town at the peak of the herring era. We had a glimpse into this period aand a taste and a feeling for the atmosphere of those days by visiting the Herring era museum. We tried picked, smoked and spiced Herring washed down with the Iceland "Brenavin" schnaaps! Return trip was via the same route, and time allowed us to make a short stop in the pretty town of Akureyri (Iceland's 2nd largest populated town), before ending the tour at Akureyri airport.
Pick-up at hotel was 08:00. Departure from Reykjavik Airport at 8.45 am and the flight left from Akureyri Airport at 16:10
1900: West Danish Delights Evening at Hilton Reykyavik Nordica
Tel: (604) 681-6345, Toll-free: (800) 665-6345, Fax: (604) 684-9704, Email: mail@travelg.com
