Posts Tagged ‘Iceland’

Only a few more rooms available for our Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice hiking tour, July 17-24. Call 800.941.8010 or e-mail Karen@boundlessjourneys.com for details and to learn about special incentives to join us.

Iceland Hiking Tour Overview
Iceland is a land of contrasts more extreme than any place we’ve visited. Vast, desolate lava fields are interrupted by lush moss-carpeted valleys. Giant cascading waterfalls give way to vibrantly colored rhyolite mountains. From the other-wordly landscapes of the south coast, to the mystical power of Snaefellsnes Peninsula in the west, our overland expedition takes in the most beautiful and inspiring areas of Iceland.

Hiking on the south coast leads us through fairytale landscapes and past dramatic waterfalls, under the powerful presence of Europe’s largest glaciers, while an amphibious boat trip brings us up close to icebergs. A visit to the site of the ancient Viking parliament, a glacier exploration, and an optional ride on the famed Icelandic horse round out our adventure. In between, we spend a day crossing the interior highlands of Landmannalaugar, soaking in hot streams and hiking colorful mountains – an experience not to be missed. Testaments to the constantly evolving earth are everywhere – lava fields, hot rivers, craters, and glaciers dominate our views daily. In the evenings, we return to comfortable accommodations and enjoy relaxing in “hot pots” (Icelandic hot tubs) or taking nighttime strolls under the midnight sun.

Iceland Hiking Tour at a Glance

Days 1-4: Meet in Reykjavik, Iceland. Hike past steaming fissures and tremendous waterfalls. Soak in a natural hot river and visit picturesque Vik. Hike above endless lava fields. View Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier, from one of our favorite trails. Explore an iceberg-filled lagoon by boat.

Day 5: Embark on an overland expedition through the fjallabak, or “route behind the mountains,” taking time to soak in the views of Landmannalauger from the comfort of a hot river.

Days 6-7: Explore Thingvellir, both the historic setting of the world’s first parliament and the best place to view the rift between the Eurasian and North American plates. Ride Icelandic horses on the beach at low tide, or hike to a beautifully shaped crater. Enjoy the inspiring presence of the mystical Snaefellsjokull during our explorations of the peninsula.

Day 8: Relax in the famed Blue Lagoon, a unique area of geothermally heated waters and mineral sands that offers a fitting end to our journey through the land of fire and ice.

Why trust your adventure to Boundless Journeys?
Boundless Journeys has been exploring Iceland for nearly 10 years. Widely recognized as one of the best travel companies anywhere (according to Travel + Leisure readers and National Geographic Adventure editors, among others), Boundless Journeys experienced local guides, first-class vehicles, and hand-picked selection of accommodations ensure that you’ll have a great adventure – on and off the trail.

About Boundless Journeys
Boundless Journeys is an award-winning small group adventure tour operator. With a diverse collection of locally guided, small group itineraries and Private Collection trips around the world, Boundless Journeys offers “The World’s Great Adventures.” The adventure trips for 2-16 guests are active, ranging from leisurely cultural explorations and wildlife safaris to challenging trekking in remote regions ― with plenty of easy to moderate walking and sea kayaking in between.

An Iceland adventure shows that it is truly the land of fire & Ice. I was lucky enough to tour and hike through this austere and fascinating country last week.

I thought, a trip to Iceland in February? Perhaps not my first choice of a mid-winter getaway from Stowe, VT. However, as the temperature rarely dipped below freezing with prevailing sunny skies, and warm thermal mineral baths at every turn, I was pleasantly surprised.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

I began my Iceland trip with a visit to the Vatnajökull Glacier, the largest glacier in Europe located on the east side of Iceland. After an early morning flight to the town of Hofn, we arrived at the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon just as the sun was coming over the horizon. With silence surrounding us, icebergs slowly floated along the lagoon as seals resting soundly enjoyed the ride. All around the lagoon were inspiring snow-covered peaks aglow with the pink color of the morning sun. Afterwards, we visited a black sand beach littered with icebergs on the sand and in the crashing waves. After breathing in the purest air imaginable, I felt invigorated, and ready for lunch.

Vatnajökull Glacier

We dined on lobster tails and Icelandic chocolates at a local hotel before continuing on to our afternoon adventure – riding ATV’s to a tongue of the Vatnajökull glacier. Whizzing by the immense landscape on these open air vehicles was awesome. As I stood at the base of the glacier feeling very small compared to its massive size, I was very much at peace with nature. The day ended with a spontaneous visit with Icelandic horses, the most friendly and good natured horses I have ever experienced.

Sólheimajökull Glacier

Another day of my Icelandic adventure included a walk on the Sólheimajökull glacier. With a group of nine other women and our guide, we sported crampons, a harness and ice axes as we explored the ice field. Quite unsure of my footing at first, I soon got the hang of “setting” my foot in the ice with each step. As we toured ice caves and peered into crevasses, I came to understand the dynamic nature of glaciers and their ever changing beauty. On the way back to Reykjavik, we stopped at the enthralling Skógafoss Waterfall, cascading 200 feet to the ground. It is said there is a treasure chest of gold hidden behind the falls waiting to be found.

Reykjavik

Back at Reykjavik, the location for the travel seminar, I explored this European city which is quite sophisticated for its small size. With plenty of coffee shops, trendy boutiques and thrift stores to discover by day, and night clubs and fine dining to discover at night, this city has a lot to offer. Not to mention the incredible views of the ocean and snow-covered peaks in every direction.

No trip to Iceland would be complete without a visit to the Blue Lagoon, my last stop before heading home. As I soaked in blue thermal waters, and applied a natural mud pack to my face, I began to understand why Icelandic people are so well known for their beauty and good health. Breathing clean air, drinking pristine glacial water, dining on fresh fish, soaking in mineral baths, and being so close to nature all had me feeling revitalized and refreshed.

Join Boundless Journeys for an unforgettable tour to Iceland this summer; June 20-27, July 18-25, or August 8-15. For more information, click here, or email the Iceland tour manager Karen Cleary at Karen@boundlessjourneys.com.

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With all the recession inspired travel specials out there, it may be hard to sift through the “silver lining this, silver lining thats,” and the “blowout once-in-a-lifetime sales.”  Yes there are many of those deals to be had, but most of the time, they come with a sacrifice in value.

At Boundless Journeys, we concentrate on adaptive, timely, and destination-appropriate promotions that in no way effect the quality of experience in our active, small-group adventures. As you have seen with our “Make Us An Offer” opportunities, we look for creative ways to get people on the trail, not just relying on slashed prices that can often come hand in hand with slashed value.

Now we’re happy to report some new unique opportunities – after keeping a close eye on international currency fluctuations, we have re-structured our pricing for two great summer getaways. Looking to explore the diverse natural treasures of Iceland? Check out our new 2009 price of $5,495 (A $400 per person savings! June 14–21, July 19–26, and August 09–16). Thinking about flexing your paddling muscles during the warmer months? You’ll appreciate our updated $2,495 price for Vancouver Island in 2009 (A $500 per person savings! June 21–26, July 12–17, August 09–14, and August 30–September 04, 2009).

We are thrilled to pass along the savings to our travel family, and are excited to keep seeking new opportunities to do so as international currencies shift, stumble, or spring back.

At Boundless Journeys you’ll never find a promotion that comes at the expense of your experience, so we caution you not to be fooled, travelers! Look for travel deals that have thought behind them and strive to take advantage of economical conditions around the world – the place to find those deals? www.Boundlessjourneys.com