South Iceland Volcano Tours | Heimaey Tour | Volcanic Experiences

Future Tours

ATOL Security - We are a UK based tour operator holding ATOL licence number 6187. Payments made to Volcanic Experiences Ltd. for all tours are covered under the ATOL-bonding scheme. For more information on ATOL protection contact: www.atol.org.uk

Volcanic Experiences are now on Facebook

The south and interior of Iceland,
including trip to Heimaey

Estimated Cost £1465

Details and Itinerary

The tour will focus on the natural highlights of this spectacular country, which is often referred to as "the land of water, ice and fire". There will be the chance to see dramatic waterfalls and fast flowing rivers fed by the meltwater from ice-caps. We will spend time looking at one glacier in detail and the lava flows and volcanic craters from this country which is geologically very recent. Our venture into the interior, only accessible for a few months in summer, will take us over a rugged landscape that is covered in snow and ice for most of the year. The visit also includes a trip to Heimaey, the largest of the Westmann islands, the site of a major eruption in 1973. The tour will also offer a superb opportunity for photography, and for those with an interest in bird-watching, flora and fauna, or Icelandic culture and history, there will be much to see.

For bookings and extra information please call us on
01527 832 578 or info@volcanic-experiences.co.uk

Planned itinerary

Day 1
Leave Heathrow on early afternoon flight to Keflavik. Transfer to hotel in Reykjavik in the capital for overnight stay. Free time in evening to explore Reykjavik. (For those who would prefer it, an alternative flight from Glasgow or Manchester can possibly be arranged).

Day 2
Pick up charter coach from hotel, then on to Þingvellir National Park. Here, there are a series of deep rifts in the surface, from which basalt lava has poured. This area lies on the Mid-Atlantic ridge and forms the boundary between the Eurasian and North American Plate. The spot also marks the site of the "Althing", the original parliament of Iceland and the World's oldest. After lunch, we continue on to Geysir. There are many hot springs here, but the main attraction is the geyser called Strokkur, which produces a spout of boiling water up to 30m. every few minutes. We continue to Gullfoss, a huge waterfall and gorge below which is regarded as Iceland's major tourist attraction. Transfer to the 4-star Hotel Ranga near Hella, our base for the next 5 nights.

Day 3
We follow the coast road eastwards to the spectacular high cliffs at Dyrholaey, where there are many coastal features (it is also a nesting site to a large puffin colony). Later, we visit the Solheimajökull glacier. The route will give excellent views of the recently erupting Eyjafjallajokull volcano. We then proceed to the dramatic Skogarfoss waterfall, and the nearby Icelandic Folk museum.

Day 4
Short journey by the new fast-ferry service from nearby port to Heimaey. The day will be spent there climbing Eldfell and Helgafell and viewing sites associated with the eruption of 1973, which caused the evacuation of the island and threatened to overwhelm Heimay town and harbour. Part of the town is still buried by volcanic ash from the eruption. It is gradually being unearthed and displayed to the public as the "Pompeii of the North".

Day 5
The day starts with a journey through the rugged interior to Landmannalagaur to view the red and green rhyolite peaks, lava flows, steam-vents and hot springs, with the opportunity to bathe if desired. On the way, we stop to examine lava flows and ash deposits on the lower slopes of Hekla and a crater lake at Ljotipollur.

Day 6
We travel along the coast, eventually turning inland along the Markarfljot outwash plain and valley to the Gigjokull glacier which feeds from the Eyjafjallajokull ice-cap near þorsmark. We will see all the usual features associated with a valley glacier.

Day 7
We spend time in the þjorsdalur valley to see a variety of features and visit a reconstructed 11th Century Viking settlement, buried by an eruption of Hekla in 1104 and only unearthed in 1939. Our return is via the volcanic explosion crater at Keriđ, near Selfoss, proceeding back to hotel in Reykjavik for the last night of our stay in Iceland.

Day 8 (Tuesday 26th July)
Free morning, with the chance to visit museums and other sights in Reykjavik. Afternoon bus-transfer to Keflavik airport for return journey to UK, arriving mid-evening. Those who wish to can use the free time to visit the famous "Blue Lagoon."

(Please note that this might have to be amended due to weather conditions, but hopefully all planned activities will take place. The itinerary has been planned with a certain amount of flexibility so that adverse weather on one day should not prevent a planned visit to a site being cancelled completely.)

Cost
The cost of the visit, based on half-board is £1465. This will include flights by Icelandair from Heathrow to Keflavik and return (and airport taxes), bus transfers, ferry to Heimay & return and coach-charter on the itinerary listed above. Included in the cost is accommodation (two nights at hotel in Reykjavik and five nights at Hotel Ranga near Hella) Accommodation is based on two-people sharing twin / double rooms, though alternative arrangements are possible. All evening meals and breakfasts are included in the price (except for the two evenings in Reykjavik). We will aim to stop at localities where lunch can be purchased, or packed lunches can be supplied (at a small extra cost). NB. All those taking part in the tour are expected to arrange their own holiday insurance, which can be obtained from any travel agent or insurance broker.