International Expeditions has announced a new active, small-group Iceland Winter Adventure, featuring excursions in the remote and rarely explored reaches of northern Iceland and the Troll Peninsula. Leading guests is a knowledgeable expedition leader, who helps travelers delve into Iceland‘s distinct nature, culture and folk lore. Currently, only one winter departure is scheduled — March 7, 2018 — with additional tours planned for spring 2018 and winter 2019. Tour itinerary, outlined below.

“I’m excited to add this arctic paradise to our line-up of destinations,” said Bill Robison, Director of Product Development. “Tourism here has been on the upswing, and our Winter Iceland adventure showcases both staggering beauty and activities that are uniquely Icelandic.”

Guests on the Iceland Winter Tour savor nine days taking in riveting beauty and rugged landscapes as they travel from modern Reykjavik north to Husafell, Lake Myvatn and tiny Hauganes. The journey begins in the Golden Circle, surveying the geothermic forces of Iceland on excursions to famed Gullfoss, Thingvellir National Park, and deep into a lava cave. Intrepid travelers are sure to enjoy venturing into the heart of Langjokull Glacier, and exploring the otherwise inaccessible wonders of frozen Lake Myvatn via Icelandic horse, snowmobile, snowshoe and 4×4 “Super Jeep.” Along the way, guests take a break from the action to observe the elusive northern lights (conditions permitting).

Those hungry for a taste of Iceland are sure to savor a home-cooked meal of Icelandic staples in a Lake Myvatn guesthouse as well as sampling lava bread and local beers at a family run microbrewery. Joining local fishermen in Eyjafjordur Bay, travelers will even catch their cod lunch from a working fishing boat.

An in-depth look at Iceland‘s culture is woven into every moment of the journey, from time spent being regaled with tales of trolls and elves to an excursion to the Herring Era Museum, the only Icelandic museum to win the European Museum Award.

After days spent in the wild, travelers relax in charming accommodations. Highlighting the accommodations are the boutique Hotel Husafell, tucked near Iceland‘s second largest glacier; Vogafjos Guesthouse, a working dairy farm; and Hotel Siglo, a posh new harbor front hideaway.

Pricing for the winter Iceland tour starts at $7,898, and includes 21 meals, transfers, and tips to day guides, drivers and hotel staff.

For more information on International Expeditions call 1-800-234-9620 or visit www.IEtravel.com.

About International Expeditions

Celebrating 37 years of nature travel, International Expeditions specializes in small-ship voyages and escorted journeys to more than 20 countries worldwide. Hosted by knowledgeable local naturalists, International Expeditions‘ travelers survey the habitats, cultures, cuisine and traditional lore of Earth’s most exhilarating destinations. A pioneer of environmentally responsible travel, IE is committed to preserving natural habitats and improving the welfare of the people and communities it visits, partnering with local programs as well as with The Nature Conservancy.

Tour Details

Discover Iceland — a land of otherworldly landscapes, closer — and perhaps warmer —than you imagine. In this land of snowcapped peaks and glaciers, steaming hot springs, active volcanoes, impossibly blue ice caves, thunderous waterfalls and colorful wildlife, International Expeditions has found an open-air paradise, a destination for multiple seasons and of striking contrasts, to create new and distinct itineraries capturing it all.  No “bucket list” is complete without Iceland and its spectacular features impress even the most well-traveled of visitors. Small in size but big in “wow,” this island nation can also be both traditional and modern, lava and ice, lush and frozen, stimulating and relaxing and dramatically light and dark. Fulfilling experiences and unique activities in Iceland make it a top choice for lovers of natural history and culture.

Iceland Adventure

International Expeditions’ winter Iceland Adventure is for travelers craving invigorating physical activity and modes of travel for intimate access to natural wonder.  Under leadership of a professional Icelandic Expedition Leader, layer up and be surrounded by the stunning beauty of Iceland’s rugged landscape to enjoy dynamic, once-in-a-lifetime excursions including venturing into the heart of Langjokull Glacier; exploring the hidden world of a lava cave; and reaching otherwise inaccessible areas while whisking about on snowmobiles, 4 x 4 vehicles and Icelandic horses.  Weather permitting, a break from the action will reveal the elusive, ethereal display of the Northern Lights dancing quietly across the starry sky. Along the way you’ll form an authentic connection to the rich cultural heritage and modern character of Iceland’s people, enjoy superlative photo opportunities and witness the power of geothermal energy, making Iceland an experience like no other.

Only One 2018 Departure: March 7, 2018

Double Occupancy: $7,898 | Single Occupancy: $9,798 | Plus In-Country Air: $407

Trip Highlights

• Take in the dazzling display of the Northern Lights, conditions permitting
• Venture onto Langjokull Glacier via man-made ice tunnel
• “Journey to the Center of the Earth” as you explore Vídgelmir lava cave, once an active lava tube
• Interact with and learn about Icelandic horses as you ride out onto frozen Lake Myvatn
• Explore otherwise inaccessible wonders in the frozen Lake Myvatn area via snowmobile, snowshoe and 4×4 “Super Jeep”
• Savor a home cooked meal of Icelandic staples in a Lake Myvatn guesthouse
• Learn about trolls, elves, and other mythical creatures deeply woven into Icelandic culture

Day 1

Depart Home to Reykjavik

Depart your home city on independent overnight flights to Keflavik, the international airport for Reykjavik.

Day 2

Keflavik / Reykjavik

Upon arrival in Keflavik you’ll be met and escorted to your hotel in Reykjavik where rooms have been pre-blocked to ensure immediate occupancy.  After breakfast and rest, spend the afternoon exploring Iceland’s capital on a guided excursion.  Enjoy a hardy lunch before you stroll the old harbor, a growing and colorful part of the city.  See Hofdi House where Reagan and Gorbachev held an historic summit in 1986. Visit Hallgrimskirkja church, designed to mimic basalt lava columns, a common formation found throughout the island. Explore the old town center with the Icelandic parliament Althingi and the town hall. Join your fellow travelers for dinner this evening. Spend two nights at Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina, a restored historic property in a privileged location on the waterfront of the old harbor. Perhaps book one of the northern lights excursions by boat this evening.  This excursion (at additional cost) is available from the hotel.

Day 3

Reykjavik: The Golden Circle

Today you’ll explore a collection of Iceland’s greatest natural attractions, the iconic Golden Circle. Stop in Hveragerdi where you see the powers of geothermal energy at work.  Try Icelandic black bread, baked using the warm ground as an oven.  Next, visit family-run Fridheimar Farm where you tour the greenhouse and enjoy lunch.  A demonstration of the power and ability of the majestic Icelandic horse is next.  When you witness first-hand the warm personalities, intelligence, sure-footedness and unique gaits that make them a special breed you’ll understand why the locals are fiercely proud.  Continue to Geysir to find amazing geological forces at work as you stroll the geothermal park sitting atop a vast boiling cauldron of steam and lava.  Belching sulphurous mud pots of unusual colors, hissing steam vents, hot and cold springs, warm streams, and primitive plants can all be found here. Continue with a stop at Gulfoss, a waterfall dropping over 100 feet into a canyon over a mile long.  Stop in Thingvellir National Park, site of one of the oldest parliaments in the world.  Parts of Thingvellir form a fissure zone running through Iceland and are situated on the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.  This might be the only place in the world where you can walk on ground not part of any continent.  Your evening in Reykjavik is at leisure to reflect on the wonders you enjoyed today and the adventures to come.  Local staff will have restaurant recommendations and ideas for you to enjoy your night in this vibrant and friendly city. If conditions are right, you may join the optional boat tour to see the northern lights.

Day 4

Langjokull Glacier / Husafell

A scenic drive northeast brings you to Husafell and the base of Langjokull Glacier, the second largest in Iceland.  Here you’ll embark on an experience unlike any other as you venture onto the icecap and into the very heart of the glacier via a man-made tunnel.  The Langjokull Ice Cave gives you a first-hand look at the interior workings of a glacier.  Next you explore Víðgelmir lava cave for a “Journey to the Center of the Earth” experience.  Víðgelmir, the largest lava cave in Iceland, is about 5250 feet long.  The lava field where this cave is found was formed during a destructive eruption in the 10th century that originated under Langjokull. The cave is mentioned in writing as far back as 1398 and evidence of human presence dating back to the Viking Age (983-986) was discovered here in 1993. You’ll enjoy viewing remarkable cave formations and learning about its features.  Check in at Hotel Husafell this afternoon and enjoy some time to rest.  Join your fellow travelers for dinner and then, if conditions are right, view the northern lights from your hotel.  With less light pollution than Reykjavik and no need to take a boat to avoid it, chances are higher in locations like this.

Day 5

Reykjavik / Godafoss / Lake Myvatn

Return to Reykjavik to visit the new Aurora Reykjavik (Northern Lights Center).  This small but educational museum gives you info on what creates this mesmerizing phenomenon and even tips on how to photograph it.  Next door is the Saga Museum where informative exhibits walk you through the hedonistic and violent history of the Vikings.  Take a scheduled flight to Akureyri and a new world of Icelandic wonders to encounter.  Visit a dairy farm where cows are so well-taken care of they have automated back-scratchers and calves have music played to them.  See the laser-guided milking machine before enjoying some coffee (with fresh milk of course) and a snack.  Visit Godafoss, or “Waterfall of the Gods” into which Viking Lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði cast statues of Norse deities upon acceptance of Christianity in the year 1000.  Continue over and through the mountains to Lake Myvatn, one of Iceland’s most scenic and geothermally active locations.  Lake Myvatn is the setting for mass bird migrations in springtime. In winter, it’s equally amazing as a frozen expanse of Arctic beauty…also a fun place for locals and visitors alike to enjoy some unique activities.  You’ll have three nights at the family-owned and operated Vogafjos Guesthouse, in spacious, cozy cottages.  Also a working dairy farm, through the windows at reception you can see the cows giving milk in the very next room, and perhaps watching you right back. From this rural location you will have the best chances of the trip for viewing the northern lights, if conditions are right.  Even without the northern lights, the start-filled sky of a clear Icelandic night is breathtaking; the stuff of legend.

Day 6

Lake Myvatn

What began as a hobby has become a popular way for locals and adventurous visitors to get well off the beaten path and experience otherwise inaccessible attractions.  “Super Jeeps” are what locals call various models of 4×4 vehicles designed to ride high and to muscle through and climb over the snow and ice, allowing guests to visit pristine places otherwise completely inaccessible during this time of the year; places that include thunderous waterfalls, lava fields, and countless volcanic cones and craters.  It’s a unique and glorious thing to see these areas in winter, hopefully covered in snow, almost washing away the reality that just kilometers below this serenity lay unfathomable forces that have many times erupted, and will again, with fire and sulfurous anger.  Spend the day exploring the area to places where you snowshoe for even more up-close experiences.  All the while your local driver/guide will amaze you with stories of the incredible geothermal activity in the Krafla area, the unmatched skills of the Icelandic volcanologists, and even stories of the trolls and elves that keep a close eye on you along your journey.  Careful not to disturb their homes or unfortunate events will follow at the hands of these vengeful and mischievous creatures!  Enjoy a well-deserved dip in the Myvatn Nature Baths. Geothermally heated pools allow you to relax and soak in restorative water no matter what the ambient temperature, and enjoy full views of the frozen countryside.  It’s a relaxing way to end a day of spirited adventure.

Day 7

Lake Myvatn

Today you get the chance to experience the countryside by horseback; on one of the world’s finest breeds of horse.  This fully guided and easy-paced excursion takes you out onto frozen Lake Myvatn (if environmental and safety conditions are right) and lets you see the area as the Vikings did, and like many Icelanders enjoy today.  Your senses will be enveloped by the majesty of snow-capped mountains, the open-air, the sound of your horse’s gait and all the beauty that is Lake Myvatn in winter.  But, the adventure is not over yet. Next you step from the past to the present, from traditional to modern as you board snowmobiles to continue your exploration, at a faster pace, as you whisk over the frozen landscape and continue the fun. Explore more of the Myvatn area for great vistas and pictures and the chance to spot rock ptarmigan, locally known as Rjupa. This elusive bird is a favorite food of the snow owl and the gyrfalcon, also found in the area. To protect itself the bird has evolved to change plumage from brown in the summer to white in the winter. Look for their distinct tracks and you might be lucky enough to spot one. Your reward for a day of adventure is a home-cooked meal at a guesthouse.  Savor traditional Icelandic dishes, reflect upon and share with locals your mutual experiences in the area and learn even more about the Icelandic way of life. Get a good night’s rest but not before, if conditions are right, witnessing the awe-inspiring northern lights.

Day 8

Hauganes / Ekatafiskur / Siglufjordur

Head north to the tiny town of Hauganes to board a typical Icelandic fishing boat on Eyjafjordur Bay.  Though not the season for whale watching, there’s a chance some will be in the area.  Drop a line into the icy water, as generations of Icelanders have done, and try your luck at cod fishing.  Local fishermen show you how it’s done. Visit Ektafiskur, premier cod fishing and processing company, owned and operated by the same family for generations.  Elvar Reykjalin hosts as you tour the facility.  Those brave enough may become card-carrying members of “The Rotten Shark Club of Hauganes” by sampling fermented Greenland shark and washing it down with a shot (or two) of schnapps produced from a family recipe of local ingredients.  Staff cleans your catch and then it is incorporated into a traditional Icelandic lunch.  Next, visit Bruggsmidjan Brewery, makers of Kaldi beer, to sample current varieties and to hear a wonderful story of family, determination, and perseverance. Head north to Siglufjordur, at the far end of the Troll Peninsula, for one of Iceland’s most beautiful and remote regions.  After the collapse of the herring fishing industry, Siglufjordur became a sleepy village until recently when tunnels in the mountains were opened and the town was rediscovered.  The Herring Era Museum is the only museum in Iceland to win the European Museum Award, naming it the best museum on the continent for 2014. It has been painstakingly and lovingly restored by local donors, artists, architects and volunteers to be a time portal, taking visitors back to the days of the herring boom through displays that bring to life every detail of what it was like to live and work here in those times. Check in at the new and posh Hotel Siglo, a warm and comfortable property right on the waterfront.  Enjoy a farewell dinner and then perhaps a relaxing sauna and thermal pool just outside the hotel on the harbor. Chances for seeing the northern lights are good if the right conditions exist.

Day 9

Siglufjordur / Reykjavik / Depart / Arrive Home City

Fly via scheduled air from Akureyri to Reykjavik where you connect with your independent flights home, taking with you lasting memories, fun photos, new friendships and the pride of knowing you explored one of the most exciting and adventurous destinations in a most unusual and engaging way.

Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina

With its romantic location on the boardwalk, guests enjoy spending two nights at this stylish property of well-equipped rooms featuring modern home comforts and wood flooring.

Hotel Husafell

Designed to be in harmony with surrounding nature, Hotel Húsafell offers breathtaking views and each room is decorated with paintings from Húsafell’s own world-renowned artist, Páll Guðmundsson.

Vogafjos Guesthouse

You’ll have three nights at the family-owned and –operated Vogafjos Guesthouse, in spacious, cozy cottages.  Through the windows at receptions you can see the cows giving milk in the very next room, and perhaps watching you right back, as you enjoy a coffee, a local craft beer, or your hearty meal prepared from locally produced, fresh and tasty products. From this rural location you will have the best chances possible at viewing the northern lights, if conditions are right for them to appear.  Even without the northern lights, the start-filled sky of a clear Icelandic night is breathtaking; the stuff of legend.

Siglo Hotel

In this quiet, little fishing village haven in north Iceland, guests enjoy this new hotel’s spacious rooms and views over the beautiful surrounding mountains and marina as well as relaxation in the thermal pool.

Ragnar Hauksson, Expedition Leader

For nearly 30 years, Ragnar has been a guide in his homeland, leading groups of various kinds and sizes to almost every corner of the country. He has also taken part in a number of voyages on expedition cruise ships in the North Atlantic over the past 10 years. Ragnar’s guidance and informative discussions weave the everyday life of Icelanders together with the history, folk tales, fairy tales, and sagas that have made Iceland such an interesting and sought after destination. Fluent in five languages and a skilled translator of books, Ragnar enhances our journey with a deep knowledge of his fascinating country and a deep desire to share that with his guests.