Quest Nature Tours travelled extensively in Iceland in the 80s and 90s and since we decided to return in 2006 we have been delighted with our clients' response and will continue to visit this wonderful and exciting country in future years. Iceland is a magnificent, exotic, northern island that lies on the Arctic Circle and basks in perpetual daylight for much of the summer. Thanks to the warming influences of the Gulf Stream, Iceland enjoys a temperate ocean climate, cool in the summer and mild in the winter.

ICELAND: Land of Ice and Fire
Itinerary
(Breakfast - B, Lunch - L, Dinner - D)

Day 1
Depart North America
Today we will leave North America for our flights to Iceland.

Days 2 - 3
Arrive Reykjavik / Snaefellsnes
We expect our group flight to arrive in Reykjavik early this morning, after which we will make our way to Snaefellsnes. This will be a leisurely journey, with frequent stops along the way to sample the bird life, wild flowers and magnificent scenery of this unique island. We’ll spend two days at Snaefellsnes, making our way west to the edge of the peninsula where we hope to see dolphins from the cliffs as well as myriads of nesting sea birds. We also visit the westernmost lighthouse of Europe, where we watch for seals and whales. If the day is clear, we may be able to see the Snaefellsjokull, the glacier at the end of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, made famous by Jules Verne in his book ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’.
o/n Hotel Framnes, Snaefellsnes (B, L, D)

Day 4
Boat Trip to Flatey Island / Helgafel
The island of Flatey (Flat Island) is the largest inhabited island in Breidhafjordur. It is a unique place to visit and the old town has been virtually unchanged for one hundred years. There was a monastery here in the 11th century. Arctic Tern, Black Guillemot breed here and Snow Buntings are numerous among the houses. On our way to the island we’ll be looking out for whales. The smaller islands are home to colonies of Atlantic Puffins, Black-legged Kittiwakes and Harlequin Ducks. Both the peninsula at Snaefellsnes and the area of Breidhafjordur are good places to look for White-tailed Sea Eagle. On our return we will visit Helgafell or Holy Mountain once sacred to the god Thor.
o/n Hotel Framnes, Snaefellsnes (B, L, D)

Day 5
Breidafjordur / Eyjafjordur
We’ll take a boat ride through thousands of tiny islands of Breidafjordur which legend says were created by trolls, nasty creatures in Icelandic mythology. These trolls can still be seen, frozen in time, as standing stones at Kollafjordur.

We’ll be looking for White-tailed Sea Eagles and Gray and Common Seals basking on the rocks. After lunch we’ll make our way along the north coast to Eyjafjordur, the longest fjord in Iceland. The scenery on the way is magnificent. Arctic wildflowers are in full bloom at this time of the year with delicate orchids and robust lupins creating a fascinating vista.
o/n Guesthouse Ongullstadir, Eyjafjordur (B, L, D)

Days 6-7
Lake Myvatn and area
Myvatn, or “Midge Lake” in English, holds the largest concentration of breeding ducks, some 50,000 breeding pairs or more, on a lake covering only 37 sq. km. At 63 degrees N, the lake lies very close to the Arctic Circle, and its environs hold a mix of low arctic and temperate flora and fauna. The Myvatn basin sits along the mid-Atlantic ridge and is the centrepiece of a rich volcanic wilderness of lava flows, craters and geothermal activities. The area lies in the rain shadow of the Vatnajokull icecap and is the “driest” spot in Iceland and we can expect some nice weather when we are here, maybe. Experts believe the area is due for another large eruption, the last serious activity was in the early 1990’s. On the south and west sides, bogs and moors boast an abundance of alpine and arctic plants, whereas on the north and east sides, birches predominate. In 1974, the Parliament granted nature reserve status to 440,000 hectares around the lake. Unfortunately the lake lives up to its name and the non-biting midges can be a nuisance. We’ll spend some time here among bubbling mud flats, moonlike volcanic craters, newborn lava fields, and grassy shoals teeming with waterfowl, in one of the most geologically active and stunningly beautiful areas in all of Iceland. We may be lucky and find a Short-eared owl or Gyrfalcon during our explorations. During our explorations of the Lake Myvatn area, if time permits, we’ll visit the colourful fishing village of Húsavík, which lays claim to be the first real settlement in Iceland and is perhaps the most picturesque of all the coastal villages. Its coloured houses are a photographer’s delight. There are many things to do and see in this area of Iceland, our actual program will depend on time and the interests of the group.
o/n Guesthouse Ongullstadir, Eyjafjordur (B, L, D)

Day 8
Interior of Iceland / Gullfoss / Hveravellir
Today we will head inland across the dramatic interior of Iceland. Our goal is to explore this wilderness area and to reach the magnificent falls of Gullfoss. This waterfall which is the most famous and most dramatic of Iceland’s many waterfalls, falls over 30 metres and creates a spectacular mist and rainbow. The falls were once slated to become a hydroelectric project but fate rather than good sense intervened and the falls have been preserved since 1975 as a nature reserve. The land surrounding Gullfoss is about 200 metres above sea level. Vegetation is typical of Icelandic heath land. Lichens grow on the rocks, forming irregular patches of varying colours. Wooly Willows are widespread in the dry moorland. Other common small shrubs are Blueberry and Dwarf birch. Lady’s Smock is found in the marshy, low-lying areas. All along the Gullfoss canyon there are deep, grassy hollows, green with vegetation. Water Avens and Lady's Mantle grow there in abundance and Crane's Bill, Mountain Sorrel and Alpine Bartsia can be found on the slopes along the path.
On our way to Gullfoss we’ll pass a unique area of hot springs and mud baths. Although hot springs are ubiquitous across much of Iceland, the geothermal area of Hveravellir has some multicoloured pools, one of which is the most brilliant blue imaginable. Our hotel is near the falls at the southern most end of Iceland’s wild and uninhabited interior.
o/n Skaholtsskoli (B, L, D)

Day 9
Mýrdalsjökull
We’ll visit this world famous glacier, Iceland’s fourth largest icecap. It covers over 700 square kilometres and rises to 1480 metres at its highest point. There is an active volcano that is situated under the glacier and erupts on a fairly regular basis. Scientists suspect that a small eruption took place in the 1950’s and expect another one soon. The resultant flow of melt waters and ash and sand is catastrophic to the surrounding countryside.

We’ll explore the moonscape of boulders of the terminal moraines of the glacier. Many plants and wildflowers have found niches in which to flourish among the rocks and it is interesting to study the succession stages of plant colonization as plant life re-establishes itself after each eruption. On the way to Mýrdalsjökull we’ll stop at Geysir, the geyser after which all the others in the world are named. This spectacular geyser was blocked tourists throwing rocks and other debris into the geyser to make it blow. However there are other dependable geysers in the area, the most reliable being Strokkur. This geyser erupts on a regular schedule every 10 minutes and is great for photo opportunities.

o/n Skaholtsskoli (B, L, D)
Day 10
Thingvellir, Stokkseyri
Today we’ll spend our time visiting the old Viking Parliament at Thingvellir and explore the villages of Stokkseyri and Eyrabakki. Thingvellir is the island’s most historic site. It was here that Ingolfur Arnarson established the Icelandic Parliament in 930 A.D. This is the longest running democratic institution in the world. Every important law and decision was passed by this Parliament until taken over by Norway in 1262. As well as being historically important, the valley itself is beautiful and sits in the midst of rolling lava flows. The surrounding landscape is spectacular, scarred by rocky fissures. Rivers and streams meander though lava flows and waterfalls cascade into gloomy canyons. The Almannagja fault line is one of the most famous and was the site of the ancient parliament. Other faults are famous for a less than savoury practice for it was here that heretics and criminals were burned at the stake.

The Parliament Plains as they are known are cloaked with moss and Dwarf Birch. In 1928 the area was set aside as Iceland’s first Pjdarourinn or National Park. This site is approximately 50 km east of Reykjavik and contains Iceland's largest lake, surrounded by lava flows, volcanoes and grassy meadows. The meadows are reminiscent of Europe and have breeding Black-tailed Godwit here. Gyrfalcon can often be seen as well as Great Northern Diver or Common Loon.
o/n Skaholtsskoli (B, L, D)

Day 11
Reykjavik / Flights Home
Today we’ll spend time exploring Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital before making our way to the airport for our flights home. Reykjavik, or Smokey Bay, was named after the steam rising from the nearby geothermal vents and was established in AD 874. It remained pretty much a backwater until the end of the 19th century. By the time of Icelandic independence in 1944 there were more than 45,000 inhabitants. Today, Reykjavik is a modern, lively city with theatres, upscale restaurants and a legendary nightlife. Reykjavik is completely heated using the geothermal heat sources that are common throughout the island and is now known as the smokeless city. (B, L)