Des na on Guide
Iceland
Contents Click below to jump straight to your subject area
City Highlights (Reykjavik)
Geography Golden Circle Tour Golden Circle Add-ons: Visit to Reykholt Greenhouse Hellisheidi Power Plant Hveragerรฐi Geothermal Park Quake 2008 Exhibi+on Secret Lagoon Kerid Crater Geysir Exhibi+on Centre
...3 ...3
South Shore Adventure South Shore Adventure Add-ons Glacier Walk Iceland Erupts Visitor Centre Skatafell Na+onal Park Westman Islands Westman Islands Add-ons Eldheimar Museum
...4 ...4
Reykjanes Peninsula Lake Myvatn Sightseeing Tour Blue Lagoon Tour Northern Lights Tour Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Centre Volcano House Reykjavik
...5 ...5 ...5 ...5 ...5 ...5
Reykjavik City Sightseeing Tour Whale Watching
...6 ...6
Laugardalur Botanical Garden Na+onal Museum Reykjavik Art Museum Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral Na+onal Gallery of Iceland
...6 ...6 ...6 ...6 ...6
The Pearl and Viking Saga Museum Hofdi House
...7 ...7
Restaurants & Evening Ac vi es Prac cal Informa on
...7 ...8
...4 ...4 ...4
2
Geography Golden Circle Tour
Dura on: 8—9 hrs
Stops include the Þingvellir Na+onal Park; the only place in the world where the Mid Atlan+c Ridge can be observed above sea level. Appreciate the interac+on between tectonic and glacial influences at Gullfoss waterfall as well as the Geysir geothermal area with its hot springs. Witness Strokkur the most famous and ac+ve geyser in Iceland which erupts every few minutes. Then it is +me to head back to Reykjavík over the Hellisheiði plateau, passing the geothermal village Hveragerði on the way.
Prices vary depending on me of year and number of people. Please refer to your quote for prices. Includes: Private coach hire & guide. Entrance fees and lunch addi onal.
Addi onal Stops can be made on the Golden Circle Tour to the following: Visit to Reykholt Greenhouse Iceland uses its abundant geothermal energy to heat greenhouses in which fruits and vegetables are grown. You can visit greenhouses at Reykholt in western Iceland where cucumbers, tomatoes, other vegetables and flowers are grown and learn about this important industry.
£11 per person
Hellsheidi Power Plant The Hellsheidi Power Plant´s Visitors Centre displays a geothermal energy exhibi+on. It explains how geothermal energy is used in a sustainable manner in Iceland.
£10 per person
Hveragerði Geothermal Park Take a guided walk around the hot springs and learn about the geology and history of this unique area. In the Geothermal Park you can find mud pools that produce material for natural mud baths.
£10 per person
Quake 2008 Exhibi on The exhibi+on presents the causes and effects of the 2008 earthquake in Hveragerði. The simulator allows visitors to experience a powerful earthquake that is over 6 on the richter scale.
£4 per person
Secret Lagoon This is a great alterna+ve to the Blue Lagoon, and offers a more authen+c Icelandic hot springs experience with geothermal waters which hold 38-40°C all year.
£23 per person
Kerid Crater Originally a cone volcano that collapsed aEer erup+on and filled with water, the remaining caldera is composed of red volcanic rock and is around 55 m deep, 170 m wide and 270 m across.
£4 person
Geysir Exhibi on Centre The Geysir Exhibi+on Centre presents informa+on on geothermal wonders, Northern Lights, earthquakes and ice caves through a dynamic mul+media show including an earthquake simulator. **NEW**Lava Tubing This is an incredible opportunity to experience caving through a lava tube. Groups will descend into the lava tubes to discover more about their forma+on and will see interes+ng forms of lava stalac+tes and different rock forma+ons making this an experience of majes+c and almost indescribable beauty. The Gjabakkahellir Cave is in the area of Thingvellir, so can be incorporated into your Golden Circle Day.
Free
£68 per person
3
South Shore Adventure
Dura on: 10 hrs
The drive from Reykjavik over the mountain pass Hellisheiði offers a magnificent view of the wide plains formed by glacial rivers, now fer+le farmland in South-Iceland. Stop briefly at the greenhouses of Hveragerði before proceeding east through small villages and farmlands to the majes+c mountains towering over the coast, including the towering strato volcano EyjaHallajökull, probably the most famous volcano in the world since erup+ng in March 2010. The tour con+nues with a stops at the spectacular waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógarfoss, the beau+ful sited village of Vík and Reynishverfi, a black sand beach with views of sea stacks and Dyrolaey before heading back to Reykjavík.
Prices vary depending on me of year and number of people. Please refer to your quote for prices. Includes: Private coach hire & guide. Entrance fees and lunch addi onal.
Addi onal Stops possible on the South Shore Adventure include: Glacier Walk Take the rare opportunity to see Sólheimajökull, a glacier tongue extending south from the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier, study the outwash plain, and witness glacial processes in ac+on. During the 3 hour tour you will be walking on the southernmost glacier in Iceland where you will experience pure ice with amazing landscape. Iceland Erupts Visitor Centre Colourful graphics, incredible photos and clear text explain the local volcanic system and the frequency of erup+ons in Iceland. For many, the highlight of their visit is the drama+c film, which shows the incredible power and scope of the erup+on as well as how we met the challenges of clean-up and recovery.
£70 per person, Specialist equipment (ice axes, crampons and safety lines) will be provided. Dura on: 3 hrs. Age limit is 12 years. Warm outdoor waterproof clothing is required.
£8 per person
Ska8afell Na onal Park SkaEafell Na+onal Park is one of Iceland’s most outstanding areas of natural beauty dominated by the glacier Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest ice cap. You can con+nue on to the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon where huge icebergs, float and grind together in the s+ll, deep waters of the lagoon.
Price available on request.
Westman Islands
£60 per person Coach required
Approx 4.5 hours from Reykjavik, an overnight stay is recommended to visit the Ska<afell Na onal Park
This part of the town is known as “Pompeii of the North” and is within a group of 15 islands, situated off the south coast of Iceland. During this excursion you will venture out to magnificent ocean cliffs and also have the opportun+ty to see the nes+ng ground of 10 million Atlan+c puffins. Addi onal places to visit during your visit to the Westman Islands: Eldheimar Museum The exhibi+on focuses on the 1973 volcanic erup+on in Vestmannaeyjar, without a doubt one of Iceland´s biggest natural disasters. Visitors get a glimpse into peoples lives on Heimaey before the erup+on that would change their lives forever. The people of Heimaey had to leave their homes in the middle of the night and evacuate the island, many of them never saw their homes or any of their belongings ever again.
Opening Hours Summer(May to Oct): Daily 1.00—18.00 Winter (Oct-May): Weds-Sun 13.00— 17.00 Open for groups outside normal hours by prior agreement.
4
Reykjanes Peninsula
Dura on: 8hrs
This tour is designed to take a closer look at the ‘real Iceland’ away from the tourist hotspots. Visit lake Kleifarvatn to look at pillow lava the founda+on of Iceland, before stopping in the Seltún geothermal area, where the volcanic heat has formed thermal springs, steam vents, and mud pools. Visit Stampar volcanic fissure demonstra+ng two hornitos together with Reykjanesvi+, home to Icelands oldest lighthouse perched on top of a volcanic cone. The day concludes with a visit to the bridge between con+nents en-route to Reykjavik and the Perlan Centre which supplies Reykjavik with geothermally heated water.
Prices vary depending on me of year and number of people. Please refer to your quote for prices.
Lake Myvatn Sightseeing Tour
Price available on request.
Includes: Private coach hire & guide. Entrance fees and lunch addi onal.
There are few areas beVer than Lake Myvatn for viewing the Northern Lights and discovering the wonders of the Icelandic winter. The area is renowned for it’s natural beauty and geological wonders. Myvatn is approximatly 470 KM from Reykjavik, so an overnight stay is recommended. Blue Lagoon Tour The Blue Lagoon is a unique wonder of nature, with pleasantly warm mineral-rich geothermal water in the middle of a black lava field. The naturally high levels of silica and minerals give the Lagoon its rich blue colour. Facili+es include modern changing rooms and showers, an indoor geothermal pool, a winter garden, restaurants and other services. A visit to the Blue Lagoon is both invigora+ng and exci+ng whether one bathes there surrounded by snow in the middle of the winter or in the long summer daylight. Northern Lights Tour The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a spectacular natural phenomenon, oEen seen dancing around in the fantas+c colours across the Arc+c sky. Northern Lights can be seen when certain weather condi+ons are fulfilled, usually during crisp, cold and very s+ll evenings. Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Centre Catch the Northern Lights no maVer what the season. The exhibi+on, features a con+nuously running HD panoramic film of these amazing auroral displays in Iceland. Here you can read up on the auroras through stories and legends, learn about the science behind this amazing phenomenon and gaze at spectacular Northern Lights photography from top Icelandic photographers.
£56 per person plus coach hire Dura on: up to 4 hrs Prices vary depending on me of year and number of people.
Dura on: 2.5—3 hrs Prices refer to your Quote for prices. Available October—March. Subject to correct weather condi ons. Guide recommended Dura on: 45 minutes Entrance: Under 18s : £6.50 per person Adults: £10.50 per person 09:00 - 21:00
Volcano House Reykjavik
£8 per person
Documentary shows focus on some of the most famous erup+ons of Iceland, as well as talking about the causes and effects of Icelandic volcanology in general. There is also a hands-on geology exhibi+on featuring many different mineral samples, lava, pumice and ash from famous erup+ons, giving you great insight into the geology of Iceland while surrounded by drama+c photographs of different erup+ons.
Open daily 10:00 to 22:00 The Volcano House shows two documentaries in English from 10am to 9pm, every hour on the hour.
5
Reykjavik City Highlights Reykjavik City Sightseeing Tour During this tour you will see the old town centre, the Parliament, the Cathedral, the harbour, the Pearl, the Na+onal Museum and Hofdi (the summit site of 1986). You will then drive past the city’s salmon river, proof that Reykjavik is a pollu+on free capital, and the Arbaejarsafn outdoor folk museum, which offers an interes+ng contrast to the modern buildings of the most recent part of Reykjavik. The tour then con+nues past the city’s largest outdoor swimming pool in Laugardalur, heated by hot springs. There is the op+on to begin the tour from your arrival at the airport and finish at your hotel for check-in. Whale Watching Catch sight of whales, dolphins, porpoises and seabirds from the fantas+c internal and external viewing areas, aboard your luxury ship during this 3 hour tour. This trip is subject to weather condi+ons. Laugardalur Botanical Garden
Dura on: 3 hours Please refer to your Quote for prices. Includes: Private coach hire & guide and entrance to 1 museum
£37 per person Available April-December. Possible from Feb, however the boat departs at 13:00 and there is only just enough daylight for the trip. Free entrance
Reykjavik’s answer to Central Park, though obviously on a much smaller scale, is unusual in that it’s one of the most wooded parts of the capital. There’s an arboretum and a woodland area and you can also see where the original hot springs were, where women used to cook and clean.
May —September 10.00-22.00 October—April 10.00-15.00
Na onal Museum www.thjodminjasafn.is The museum offers a comprehensive historical overview of Iceland's past from the days of the SeVlement right up to the birth of the Republic in 1944. Tickets for the Na+onal Museum are valid for Culture House too.
May—Sept 10.00-17.00 Sept—April 11.00-17.00 (Closed Mondays)
Reykjavik Art Museum www.artmuseum.is
3 loca ons: Hafnarhus, Kjarvalsstadir and Asmundarsafn
Located in the former warehouses of the Port of Reykjavik, this museum features exhibi+ons from the Erró Collec+on, as well as from general collec+ons.
Open daily 1000-1700
Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral www.hallgrimskirkja.is
Suggested dona on: 50 ISKr
Loca on: Laugardalur og Haalei Reykjavik
Under 18 – Free / Adults: 2000 ISKr Advance booking: 1500 ISKr, Students 1000 ISKr
900 ISKr Admission to tower Hallgrímskirkja (Hallgrim's Church) in Reykjavik is the tallest and most striking church in Iceland. A Lutheran cathedral, Hallgrimskirkja is named aEer an Icelandic poet and clergyman, Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614-74), the author of the Passíusálmar and other works. He was one of the most influen+al pastors during the Age of Orthodoxy.
Open Oct—April: 09.00—17.00 Located: Reykjavik City Centre
Na onal Gallery of Iceland www.listasafn.is
Adults: 1500 ISKr Groups: 10+ : 750 ISKr
The museum owns the most valuable collec+on of works by Icelandic ar+sts in the country. The collec+on also includes an impressive array of works by interna+onally renowned ar+sts such as, Pablo Picasso, Edward Munch, Karol Appel, Hans Hartung, Victor Vasarely, Richard Serra and Richard TuVle.
Open 1100-1700 Closed Mondays Loca on: Reykjavik
6
The Pearl and Viking Saga Museum www.sagamuseum.is The Pearl was originally designed by Ingimundur Sveinsson. Perlan is situated on the hill Öskjuhlíð where there have been hot water storage tanks for decades. In 1991 the tanks were updated and a hemispherical structure placed on top. One of the water tanks at Perlan has recently been cleared in order to hold the Saga Museum there. It tells you about the Icelandic sagas as well as some other history.
The Pearl: free of charge The Saga: Students 1600 ISKr, Adults 2100 ISKr Open daily from 10.00—18.00 Reykjavik Audio guides in English available.
Hofdi House
Loca on: Borgartun
It was one of the many wooden houses built in Iceland in the early 20th century, but probably one of the most beau+ful. It s+ll bears many signs of its original purpose, such as the leVers RF, the abbrevia+on of the French Republic the name of the consul and the year of its construc+on above an inside door.
The house is not open to the public however visitors are welcome to explore the house from the outside
Restaurants and Evening Ac vi es Hamburger Factory This restaurant is a crowd pleaser serving Hamburgers, chips, ice cream and soE drink. 2 Course Burger Meal inc So8 Drink: from £22 per person
Hard Rock Café Reykjavik Authen+c American Cuisine wherever you are in the world alongside rock n roll memorabilia. 2 course menu: £24 per person, 3 course menu: £29 per person Ruby Tuesday This American chain restaurant serves all the dishes you would expect. Choices include Quesadilla, Cheeseburger, Chicken Pasta, with a soE drink and ice cream to follow. 2 Course Meal inc. So8 Drink: from £24 per person.
Po@urinn og Pannan (The Pot & pan, since 1982) is a family friendly restaurant, popular for it's relaxed atmosphere. They offer Icelandic Cuisine based on cultural heritage and local culinary tradi+ons. 2 Course Buffet Meal inc So8 Drink: from £27 per person Bowling A great op+on for an evening ac+vity. Enjoy an hours bowling, drinks and snacks are available. You can add on Pizza and a milkshake to combine an evening meal with an evening ac+vity. 1 Game of Bowling: from £9 per person Ice Ska ng Another op+on for an evening ac+vity. 1 hour ice ska ng: from £11 per person
7
Prac cal Informa on The Icelandic climate is warmer than the name suggests thanks to the Gulf Stream. The average annual temperature of Iceland is 5C . During the Summer the climate is mild but unstable with possible rain and frequent weather changes. In fact, there is an Icelandic proverb that sums this up nicely; "if you don't like the weather, just wait around five minutes"! As a result, the best +me to travel to Iceland for weather is between the months of April and September. At +mes during the rest of the year, the weather and lack of daylight (especially in December, January and February) mean that ac+vi+es can be limited, especially full day tours such as the Golden Circle and South Shore.
Summer Travel—(April to September) Please note that wherever possible if you do wish to travel during Summer, we will aVempt to accommodate you in a hotel with inward facing windows, due to the midnight sun which can keep people awake. This can not be guaranteed however. Please also be aware that the Northern Lights tour is not available during the Summer months. Sunset and Sunrise (Reykjavik) Jan
Feb
Mar.
Apr.
May.
Jun.
Jul.
Aug.
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
11:19
13:12
08:21
06:42
04:39
03:15
03:07
04:50
06:16
07:36
09:24
10:51
15:44
17:29
18:59
20:22
22:12
23:39
23:55
22:15
20:37
18:57
16:58
15:44
Banks are open from 09:15 to 16:00 and as a general rule, shops and offices are open from 09:00 to 17:00. The currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona, although Euros are widely accepted. 8