Reykjavik: Pre-program for Nature Lovers - The Icelandic Highlands

Planned Pre-Program Itinerary:

Day 1: Reykjavik

Arrival at hotel Reykjavik. Day at your leisure and overnight. 

Day 2: Reykjavik/Drive to Kerlingarfjöll

Leave Reykjavík and head to the Kerid Crater. Iceland is dotted with volcanic craters, and Kerid is one of the more dramatic. Created by an explosion followed by implosion of its cone, it now has a lake at is bottom. Continue your journey to the Geysir Geothermal Area with its multitude of hot springs, where the most active geyser, Strokkur, spouts every few minutes. Lunch will be served in the area. After lunch, you continue your drive to Gullfoss Waterfall. The "Golden Waterfall" is the most famous of the country’s many waterfalls where the river Hvítá drops 105 feet into two falls, creating an awesome spectacle.

Following your visit to Gullfoss you will head onto Kjölur highland road, leading up to Highlands of Iceland. Kerlingarfjöll is your destination, a tall mountain range which is a part of a large volcano of 38 square miles. You will stay overnight in the cozy Kerlingarfjöll Mountain Resort. The rooms are new and each room has a private bathroom with shower.

Day 3: Kerlingarfjöll

Enjoy your day in the Icelandic Highlands, with a hike around Hveradalir. The scenery of Hveradalir offers mini glaciers, high energy steam springs and arctic vegetation which together create one of the most unique combinations of colors you can imagine. The spectrum features hues ranging from white snow to stones of shining black obsidian. Enjoy your day in this wonderful area. You can either relax, or go to the manmade natural bathing facility in the area, which is about 25 minutes walking distance from the Resort. Again, you will stay overnight at Kerlingarfjöll.

Day 4: Kerlingarfjöll/Reykjavik, embarkation

Depart from Kerlingarfjöll mountain range towards the Secret Lagoon in Fludir, a natural hot spring located in the small village of Flúðir. The Secret Lagoon is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland, built in 1891. Have a unique experience relaxing in warm water surrounded by several geothermal spots and a little Geysir which erupts every few minutes. The water in the lagoon holds a temperature of 100- 104°F all year and it’s natural surroundings and steam rising into the air gives the place a magical feeling.

Head to Fridheimar and you will be introduced to Icelandic agriculture – the local market greenhouse production. There you will meet the local family who will share the story of how their joint passion for horses and horticulture became the basis for the enterprising establishment that it is today. Visit the greenhouse, amidst the fragrant aroma of fresh tomato plants and the buzzing of worker bees. Then it’s “bon appetite” and lunch is served. Following Fridheimar, you will head towards beautiful Thingvellir National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your visit to the park allows you to experience one of Iceland's most spectacular landscapes. The area is surrounded by mountains which shelter a vast lava plain of green moss and wild flowers.

NOTE: This tour will also be operated as a post extension program for the voyage ending in Reykjavik on 05-23-2018 (MS Fram) and start from the pier. The order of visited sites may vary.

Practical information

Available on these cruises (pre-program):

• The Elves, Sagas and Volcanoes of Iceland
• From Mythical Iceland to Untouched Greenland
• Discover the Heart of Greenland
• Iceland, Jan Mayen, Spitsbergen - Arctic Islands Discovery (10 days) (May 26, 2019)
• Iceland and Greenland – The Viking Heritage (17 days) (July 11, 2019)
• Circumnavigating Iceland – The Land of Elves, Sagas and Volcanoes (May - June 2019)
• Iceland, Jan Mayen, Spitsbergen - Arctic Islands Discovery (12 days) (July 01, 2019)
• Shetlands, Faroe Islands, Iceland – In the Wake of the Vikings (Eastbound) (October 06, 2019)
• Iceland and Greenland - The Viking Heritage (16 days) (August 06, 2019)

Available on these cruises (post-program): 

• From the Wilderness of Newfoundland and Labrador to the Magic of Iceland

The price includes one night at a first class hotel in Reykjavik incl. breakfast, two nights at Kerlingarfjöll Mountain Resort with half board, professional English speaking driver guide during tour to Kerlingarfjöll, 3 x lunch or lunchbox, entrance fee to Secret Lagoon (incl. towel), greenhouse visit.  
Not included: dinner at hotel in Reykjavik, drinks, gratuities.

Dates: 05/23-26/2019, 07/08-11/2019, 05/15-18/2019,
05/26-29/2019, 06/06-09/2019, 06/17-20/2019, 07/28-06/01/2019, 08/03-06/2019