Monday, June 20, 2011

Oh the places you'll go...trip itinerary

Oh man - 48 hours from departure to Boston Airport and not a thing is packed - eek!  At least I have a list, so when I do decide to put things in a bag I'll know what goes in there.  (Or it will remind me what I should have put in the bag...)

Below is my game plan while out in Iceland.  As you can see there are loads of activities that would make any lover of the outdoors jealous to just do one of them and I am fortunate enough to get to do all of them! 

----- Here is the plan -----
DAY 1 - June 23
Bjorn geologist picks you up at the airport around 06:45-07:00 and drives me to Extreme Iceland's office in Reykjavik. There we will deliver a good car, vouchers for all my accommodation, a travel guide book, a description of my tour and everything else I need for my tour.  Spend the rest of the day sightseeing in Reykjavik.... Maybe visit the Blue Lagoon.  Arrival and overnight in Reykjavik
Go for your my midnight run (5K race).  Accommodate at Reykjavik Hostel next to Laugardalslaug:

DAY 2 - June 24
Go to Hellisheidarvirkjun geothermal power plant: http://www.orkusyn.is/index.php/english.html
Drive across Hellisheiði plateau to the greenhouse village of Hveragerði.  Then go to Thingvellir for diving, meeting at 10:00: http://www.extremeiceland.is/en/activity-tours-iceland/diving-iceland/deep-into-the-blue
After diving, I explore the waterfall Gullfoss and the hot springs at Geysir geothermal field.  Visit Þingvellir National Park, site of the ancient Icelandic parliament, before driving through Hvalfjörður fjord to Borgarfjörður.  http://www.extremeiceland.is/geysir-geothermal-field  

DAY 3 - June 25
Drive north through Borgarfjörður to the shores of Húnaflói bay and the towering mountains and horse-breeding valley of Skagafjörður.  Continue to Akureyri, the capital of the north.  Do some hiking in North Iceland. There are many hiking routes in Skagafjordur and near Akureyri.  Here is a website (in Icelandic though) that shows some hiking routes: http://nat.is/gonguleidirisl/gonguleidir_nordurland_eystra.htm
You can click each route to explore it better. I will get a brochures and maps when I arrive.

DAY 4 - June 26
Spend the morning exploring the town of Akureyri.  Continue your journey to the unique Lake Mývatn area. Geothermal areas and take a bath at Jardbodin natural bathing site, very similar to the Blue Lagoon, (just cheaper), http://photosfromiceland.com/all-categories/category/42-jareboeein
Hike around this area for the day.  Tent for the night: Hlíð Ferðaþjónusta - http://hlidmyv.is/ 

DAY 5 - June 27
Explore the mystical lava formations at Dimmuborgir.  Visit the volcanic area of Krafla along with the colorful sulfurous slopes of Námaskarð pass.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krafla
Accommodate at Vogar - http://vogahraun.is/  - Sleeping bag accommodation

DAY 6 - June 28
Drive north to the fishing port of Húsavík and around Tjörnes peninsula, maybe whale watching in Husavik.  Visit Ásbyrgi canyon, a magnificent horseshoe-shaped canyon and Jökulsárgljúfur National Park.   Proceed to Dettifoss, Europe's mightiest waterfall, before heading across the highland plateau to Egilsstaðir. Dettifoss on a map. Accommodation: Tent for the night - Egilsstadir camping area.

DAY 7 - June 29
Drive south through the spectacular East Fjords, where towering mountains plunge vertically into the ocean.  The journey continues to the town of Höfn in Hornafjörður, a gateway to the south coast. You can explore glaciers and you can explore Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and take a boat ride there. Sail with the icebergs. 
Accommodate at Hali -  http://www.hali.is/ 

DAY 8 - June 30
Go  to Skaftafell National Park for a glacier hike. Maybe this one:
Or one of these: http://www.extremeiceland.is/activity-tours-iceland/glacier-hiking-iceland/glacier-hikes-from-skaftafell  Skaftafell is a good place to tent.  Skaftafell camping area next to information center

DAY 9 - July 1
Wake up in a tent in Skaftafell national park. Hike to Svartifoss waterfall: http://www.extremeiceland.is/en/photoalbum/30-waterfalls/comment/1110-wa30
Drive the south coast: the churchfloor at Kirkjubaejarklaustur, even Solheimajokull glacier, Reynisfjara coast, Skogarfoss waterfall, Seljalandsfoss waterfall, and many other things.
Return to Reykjavík.  Accommodate at http://www.lily.is/ 

DAY 11 - July 2
Caving in Buri with Extreme Iceland. Maybe the geologist will guide this tour.  http://www.extremeiceland.is/en/caving-iceland/buri   The Buri tour is finished around 17:00.  Accommodate in Reykjavik.  Accommodate at http://www.lily.is/  

DAY 12 - July 3
Start the day by going to the swimming pool and relax after a good vacation.  I may do the Blue Lagoon or Svartsengi geothermal power on this day instead of day 1 if timing or weather aren't good. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svartsengi_Power_Station
Drive to BSI bus terminal and meet us there and return the car.  Take the Flybus to Keflavik airport and fly out at 17:00.  The bus departure table is at the bottom of this website: http://www.re.is/Flybus//

Fly back to Boston to arrive at night on the 3rd of July.

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