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Iceland

The Best of Iceland: A Country of Beautiful Contrasts

Program No. 3342RJ

Traverse the wonders of Iceland with locals and scholarly experts, delving deep into a landscape of stunning geological features, glaciers and bubbling thermal pools.

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Itinerary

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Duration

11 days

10 nights

What's Included

25 meals ( 10B, 8L, 7D )

3 expert-led lectures

19 expert-led field trips

1 flight during the program

2 performances

An experienced Group Leader

9 nights of accommodations

Taxes and customary gratuity

Road Scholar Assurance Plan

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Day

In Transit to Program

Location: In Flight

Day

Arrive Iceland, Check-in, Orientation

Location: Reykjavik

Meals: B,D

Stay: Berjaya Reykjavik Marina Hotel

Activity Note

Getting on/off motorcoach; driving about 55 miles, approx. 1 hour aboard motorcoach.

Breakfast:

At Park Inn by Radisson.

Morning:

Upon all participants arrival in Iceland, we will board the motorcoach and depart for Reykjavik. Upon arrival in Reykjavik we will drop off our luggage at the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free time until Orientation.

Lunch:

On your own.

Afternoon:

Free time. You may check in at the hotel as early as 3:00 p.m. The Group Leader will be around to offer suggestions and assist with check in.

Dinner:

At the hotel.

Evening:

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. Meals will feature local cuisine. Water is included with all meals. 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. The remainder of the evening is free to continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars. Then settle in and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Day

Borgarnes

Location: Borgarnes

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Hotel Borgarnes

Activity Note

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 80 miles, approximately 2.5 hours. Walking up to 2 miles; standing in the museum.

Breakfast:

At the hotel.

Morning:

We will gather at the hotel for our first expert-led lecture, Iceland’s Past and Present. Following the lecture, we’ll board a motorcoach and begin our transfer to Borgarnes, making a few stops along the way. Our journey starts with an expert-led visit to the National Museum of Iceland. Here, we’ll explore the permanent exhibition on the making of a nation, as well as special exhibits highlighting various topics in history and culture. Next, we’ll continue by motorcoach to Hvalfjarðarvegur for a tour of Bjarteyjarsandur farm. Nestled by the picturesque Whale Bay just outside Reykjavik, this farm is a collaborative effort of three families who work together to raise animals, grow produce, and craft meals using locally sourced ingredients.

Lunch:

At the farm.

Afternoon:

After lunch, we will board the motorcoach for our last leg to Borgarnes. Upon arrival, we will visit the Borgarnes Settlement Center, a small museum devoted to recreating Iceland’s history over the last 1000 years.

Dinner:

At the hotel.

Evening:

At leisure.

Day

Reykholt, Borgarfjördur Region

Location: Borgarnes

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Hotel Borgarnes

Activity Note

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 80 miles, approximately 2 hours. Walking up to 2 miles; uneven, hilly terrain.

Breakfast:

At the hotel.

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:

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, and Hraunfossar, rare and beautiful waterfalls. We will return to the hotel mid-afternoon. Enjoy some time to relax before dinner and our evening entertainment.

Dinner:

At the hotel.

Evening:

At the hotel we’ll enjoy an evening of traditional Icelandic fold music and dance.

Day

Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Breidafjördur Boat Ride

Location: Borgarnes

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Hotel Borgarnes

Activity Note

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 130 miles, approximately 3 hours. Walking up to 2 miles; uneven, hilly terrain. Getting on/off a boat, assistance provided as needed. The boat ride is approximately 2 hours.

Breakfast:

At the hotel.

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:

After lunch we’ll visit the Norwegian House. The countries first two-story wood home now serves as the regional museum of Snæfellsnes, located right in Stykkishólmur. Here we will immerse ourselves into what everyday life in Iceland is like while we explore the two exhibits inside.

Dinner:

At a local restaurant.

Evening:

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Day

Textile Museum, Horse Farm, Glaumbær Folk Museum

Location: Akureyri

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Hotel KEA

Activity Note

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 210 miles, approximately 4 hours. Walking and standing up to 2 miles; uneven, hilly terrain.

Breakfast:

At the hotel.

Morning:

We’ll set out by motorcoach to transfer to Akureyri, North Iceland. En route we will 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.

Lunch:

At a country restaurant.

Afternoon:

As we continue our transfer by motorcoach, we’ll 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." 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.

Day

Iceland's Geology, Whale Watching

Location: Akureyri

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Hotel KEA

Activity Note

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. Getting on/off a motorcoach and boat; walking up to 1 miles on paved streets.

Breakfast:

At the hotel.

Morning:

We’ll take a short walk to the lecture venue for a presentation on Iceland’s geology. After the lecture, we’ll visit the Akureyri Museum to explore the region's highlights. Next, we will board the motorcoach and travel to Hauganes. We’ll visit a local fish factory for an expert-led tour. Here, we’ll learn about the operation of the fish processing facility and have the opportunity to sample one of Iceland’s true delicacies: shark.

Lunch:

At a local restaurant.

Afternoon:

Weather permitting, we’ll embark on a whale-watching excursion in the beautiful Eyjafjörður Bay to observe the gentle giants inhabiting Iceland's waters. Afterwards, we will board the motorcoach and head back to the hotel. You will have some down time to rest or freshen up before dinner.

Dinner:

At a local restaurant, we’ll enjoy dinner accompanied by a cultural musical performance.

Evening:

At leisure.

Day

Lake Mývatn

Location: Akureyri

Meals: B,L

Stay: Hotel KEA

Activity Note

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. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 100 miles, approximately 2.5 hours. Walking and standing up to 3 miles; uneven, hilly terrain.

Breakfast:

At the hotel.

Morning:

We’ll begin our morning exploring Akureyri, Iceland’s second-largest city, on a sightseeing excursion by bus and on foot. Guided by our group leader, we’ll visit Akureyri’s iconic church and admire the distinctive architecture of the Hof Cultural Center. Next, we’ll travel by motorcoach to Lake Mývatn for a full day of exploration. This area is one of the world’s richest nesting grounds for water birds and is renowned for its fascinating geological features, including pseudocraters, solfataras, and volcanoes.

Lunch:

At a local restaurant.

Afternoon:

After lunch, we'll continue our exploration of Lake Mývatn with a visit to the Mývatn Nature Baths, where we'll unwind in a geothermal lagoon, surrounded by breathtaking volcanic landscapes. If you are partaking in the Myvatn Nature Baths we recommend a small day bag for your swim suit and toiletries.

Dinner:

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening:

At leisure. Prepare for check-out in the morning.

Day

Akureyri, Fly to Reykjavik

Location: Reykjavik

Meals: B,L

Stay: Center Hotel Plaza

Activity Note

Please note that today's internal flight is an Iceland Air flight, and is approx. 45 minutes long. The luggage limit is 50 pounds, and the hand luggage limit is 13 pounds. Please see Internal Flight Luggage Note for further luggage information. Extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.

Breakfast:

At the hotel.

Morning:

We will check out of the hotel and transfer by motorcoach to the Akureyri Airport for our flight to Reykjavik. Upon arrival we'll board a motorcoach for a panoramic field trip through Reykjavik, first seeing the historic Höfði House, site of the 1986 summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev that precipitated the end of the Cold War. We will also drive by Lake Tjornin, a small lake in downtown Reykjavik known for its birdlife, as well as the Parliament House and City Hall, worth a visit for its large topographic map of Iceland.

Lunch:

At a local restaurant.

Afternoon:

Free time. This block of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner:

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening:

At leisure.

Day

Hellisheiði, Þingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir

Location: Reykjavik

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Center Hotel Plaza

Activity Note

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 150 miles, approximately 3.5 hours aboard motorcoach. Walking distances up to 2 miles; uneven, hilly terrain.

Breakfast:

At the hotel.

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 visit Espiflot and learn about how flower greenhouses work.

Lunch:

At a local restaurant.

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 to enjoy a farewell meal. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening:

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Day

Program Concludes, In Transit from Program

Location: In Flight

Meals: B

Activity Note

Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast:

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning:

Free time depending on departure flight time.

Lunch:

On your own based on departure flight time.

Afternoon:

Staggered transfers to Keflavík International Airport based on final flight times. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

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Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.

The Best of Iceland: A Country of Beautiful Contrasts

Enroll with Confidence

Protecting the Environment

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