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Welcome to the FOTO Iceland Northern Lights Trip Page.
***Reserve your place now, just fill out the registration form below***
and join this once-in-a-lifetime 6 night trip to Iceland to hunt for Northern Lights and see the very best this unique country has to offer with FOTO.
Dates of Trip: 6th - 12th November 2010
Prices: from $4,495.00PP (excl. international flights, based on Double/Twin accommodation throughout)
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Iceland Overview
Iceland is a country of contrast, known affectionately as the Island of fire and ice. It is unlike any country you will ever have visited. Where else offers so many marvels of Mother Nature? Spouting geysers, several glaciers, volcanoes, and awe inspiring waterfalls to name a few. However, not forgetting the spectacular Northern Lights! FOTO has created an itinerary that will never be forgotten.
What are the Northern Lights?
The aurora borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights, is a natural wonder. A phenomenon created by electrically charged particles colliding at speed with the atmosphere. These particles transform the sky into a glowing array of colours. Iceland is centrally located to this amazing formation, being seen almost every clear evening.
The Northern Lights
Daily Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrival in Reykjavík, city tour.
The group will arrive early in the morning and will be brought straight to the Hotel Centrum for check-in and breakfast. The morning will be free to recover from the long flight. After lunch at the hotel, a sight-seeing trip of the colourful capital of Reykjavik is undertaken.
In the evening, an authentic Icelandic meal is served at the award winning Einar Ben restaurant. The cuisine is quintessentially Icelandic, using the finest local ingredients from local waters and mountains. After the meal, the party will embark on their first expedition for the Northern Lights in the countryside outside Reykjavik.
The beautiful Reykjavik
Day 1 Overview
• Group airport transfers.
• Accommodation at 4* Hotel Centrum.
• Breakfast at the Hotel.
• A guided tour of Reykjavík.
• Lunch at the Hotel.
• Dinner at the award winning Einar Ben restaurant.
• An evening searching for the Northern Lights.
DAY 2: Höfn: Jökulsarlón & Svinaflelsjökull.
After breakfast the group will be transferred to Reykajvík’s Airport, a short drive from the Hotel. The flight is across country reaching the town of Höfn. A town located on the edge of Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Iceland, and Europe. The visit to the Glacier Exhibition is a perfect start to understand basic glaciology. The Exhibition rooms provide a direct view to Vatnajökull and its outlet glaciers. A platform on the roof is also accessible for a panoramic view of the surroundings.
The day continues to the glacier lagoon, Jökulsarlón, the second deepest lake in Iceland. The boat ride on the lagoon will be taken in the late morning. After lunch at Smyrlabjorg the group will drive to the glacier tongue of Svinaflelsjökull. Here the glacier will be explored upon crampons, aiding the discovery of ice sculptures, ridges and deep crevasses.
A glacier Lagoon
At the end of the afternoon, the group depart for the Hotel Laki. Dinner will be served at the hotel, before another inspiring search for the Northern Lights in the east of Iceland’s wilderness.
Day 2 Overview
• Breakfast at the Hotel.
• Flight to Höfn.
• Visit to the Vatnajökull and the Glacier exhibition.
• A boat ride on the Jökulsarlón glacier lagoon.
• Lunch at Smyrlabjorg.
• Guided walk on the glacier Svinaflelsjökull.
• Accommodation and dinner at the Hotel Laki.
• An evening searching for the Northern Lights.
DAY 3: Laki: Volcanoes and Waterfalls.
The group will be collected in modified Super Jeeps, after breakfast. These Jeeps are able to take mountain roads, cross un-bridged rivers to reach Laki. The Laki craters are a spectacular natural phenomenon. Most of the craters stand 20 – 50 meters (65-164 feet) tall, the highest rising up to 100 meters.
The natural phenomenon of Laki
Lunch is served back at the Hotel Laki, prior to heading west. The journey continues to Dyrholaey, a 120-metre (393 feet) high rock. The group also observe the amazing glacier, Sóheimajökull tongue, and the Skógafoss waterfall, an incredibly powerful waterfall located in the historic farm Skogar. This area is also home to the Skogar museum and turf house. The final stop is Seljalandsfoss, one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland that includes a hiking route behind it.
This evening the group have dinner at Hotel Ranga prior to hunting for the Northern Lights.
Day 3 Overview
• Breakfast at the Hotel.
• Transfers to Laki in Super Jeeps.
• Visiting the Laki craters
• Lunch at the Hotel Laki
• Observing the Sóheimajökull glacier and Skógafoss waterfall.
• Watching the mighty Seljalandsfoss waterfall.
• Accommodation and dinner at the Hotel Ranga.
• An evening searching for the Northern Lights.
DAY 4: Landmannalaugar: Volcanoes and Lava Fields.
This morning after breakfast at the hotel the group travel by Super Jeep, along the roots of Mt. Hekla, Iceland’s most active volcano. The frequent eruptions have created dramatic scenery. From the comfort of the Super Jeeps, the group climb 1,000 meters (3280 feet) above sea level to enjoy the captivating view over nearby glaciers and Icelandic landscape. The next stop is the crater Ljótipollur, home to a deep lake that holds a population of trout! The party will enjoy the surreal colours and surroundings of Landmannalaugar and take a bath in the natural hot pools here. A packed lunch is provided before heading back to the hotel.
Mt.Hekla Iceland
In the afternoon the group will return to Hotel Rangá, based in a secluded, countryside area. The hotel provides optimum conditions to view the skies without light interference or pollution making this Northern Lights viewing unforgettable.
Dinner is served at the hotel and another evening locating the Northern Lights awaits the group.
Day 4 Overview
• Breakfast at the Hotel.
• Super Jeep tour of Mt. Hekla volcano.
• A packed lunch is provided.
• Visiting the Ljótipollur crater.
• An opportunity to bathe in the natural pools at Landmannalaugar.
• Accommodation and dinner at the Hotel Rangá.
• An evening searching for the Northern Lights.
DAY 5: Golden Circle: Geyser’s and Gullfoss.
The group is picked up from Hotel Ranga by Super Jeep. The volcanic activity that formed Iceland continues to feed thermal springs and gushing steam from geysers. The best place to see this natural wonder is in the Haukadalur Valley. The group will witness the spouting Geyser “Strokkur”, a giant plume is ejected in intervals. The group will then head to Gullfoss waterfall, considered as the most beautiful in Iceland.
Snowmobiling across the glaciers.
The group is able to witness the glacier river Hvitá deliver a raging torrent that thunders into an impressive canyon. A two-course lunch will be served at the restaurant adjacent to the waterfall. The day continues with a drive to the glacier Langjökull, where the group will experience driving on or by the glacier, on Snowmobiles, followed by an expedition onto the glacier accessible only by snow vehicles. The sightseeing tour ends at the Thingvellir National Park, where a walk is taken through the geological fault known as Almannagjá, to Europe’s oldest national legislative assembly, the Icelandic Althing, was established. Afterwards the group drive to Reykjavík, where they will check into the Hotel Centrum.
Tonight dinner will be taken at the Fish Company Restaurant, a fish restaurant with flair and a touch of fusion. Following this meal there will be the opportunity to hunt and observe the Northern Lights.
Day 5 Overview
• Breakfast at the Hotel.
• Transfers to Haukadalur Valley, to watch the Strokkur Geyser.
• Visit the beautiful Gullfoss waterfall and the glacier river of Hvitá.
• Lunch is served adjacent to the Hvitá waterfall.
• A snowmobile experience at Langjökull.
• A walking sightseeing tour of Thingvellir National Park.
• Drive to Reykjavík.
• Accommodation at Hotel Centrum.
• Dinner Fish Company Restaurant.
• An evening searching for the Northern Lights.
DAY 6: Jewel of the North: Lava Fields & Waterfalls.
Today the group will be transferred to Reykjavik’s Airport, a short distance from the hotel. The group will fly across the country to the north east to reach the town of Akureyri. A wonder of bubbling mud flats, lunar-like volcanic craters, lava fields. These are among the exotic sights in store on today’s tour to the striking Lake Myvatn region, one of the most geologically active and stunning areas in Iceland. The best trout and salmon fishing in Iceland can be found here. The shallow lake teems with invertebrate life, attracting thousands of ducks and waders.
Another of Iceland's natural wonders.
Heavy volcanic activity has resulted in the most extraordinary land formations and geology. The group visits the Dimmuborgir lava labyrinth, towering lava castles, natural arches and countless unexplored grottos. The next wonder for the group to observe is the gurgling purple and yellow sulphur cauldrons of Namaskard, which are so hot they boil. The other stops included on this tour are the pseudo-craters at Skútustadir and the Godafoss falls, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. Lunch is served in a restaurant in the Mývatn Area, the group will transfer to Hotel Reyhnilio where they can relax before eating dinner at the hotel. Following this the group continue their search for the Northern Lights.
Day 6 Overview
• Breakfast at the Hotel.
• Flights and Transfers to Akureyri
• Visiting the sticking Lake Myvatn.
• Visit the lava labyrinth of Dimmuborgir.
• Observe the sulphur cauldrons of Namaskard.
• Lunch is served in the Mývatn Area.
• Dinner and accommodation at the Hotel Reyhnilio.
• An evening searching for the Northern Lights.
The Blue Lagoon
DAY 7: Departure Day: Lava Landscapes & The Blue Lagoon.
After breakfast the group will be brought to the airport in Akureyri to fly back to Reykjavík. A coach will pick the group up at the airport and drive the group directly to the Blue lagoon. The Blue Lagoon offers visitors a chance to rekindle their relationship with nature whilst soaking up scenic beauty and breathing pure Icelandic air. This unique spa features a huge outdoor lagoon filled with geothermal hot water internationally known for providing the visitor with an unforgettable bathing experience.
In addition to bathing in the lagoon, visitors have access to a sauna with a view of the lagoon. There is also a waterfall providing the most wonderful energizing massage.
Visitors bathing in the milky waters of the lagoon have easy access to the famous white silica mud, an essential part of the spa experience. After a two-course lunch at the Lava Restaurant the group will be transferred to the airport for their return flight to the US.
Day 7 Overview
• Breakfast at the Hotel.
• Domestic flights from Akureyriand to Reykjavík.
• An experience of the Blue Lagoon spa.
• Two course lunch at the Lava Resturant.
• Group transfers to the airport.
COSTS
The price for all services and based on Double/Twin accommodation throughout: $4,495.00PP
Single supplement: $395.00 PP
Prices exclude: All elements not mentioned in the above itinerary, international flights, personal travel insurance, travel to and from US airport, items of a personal nature
TO MAKE A RESERVATION PLEASE FILL IN THE FORM BELOW AND WE WILL MAKE CONTACT WITH YOU IN THE PROCEEDING 24 HOURS (Monday to Friday) TO FINALIZE AND CONFIRM YOUR BOOKING:
**Although every effort is made to keep to the prices quoted, they may change subject to factors such as currency fluctuation, increase in hotel rates, fuel, tax and any other services offered that are not within our control.
