In medieval times your secular life was not fulfilled if you had not been to Rome or made other pilgrimages to lesser places of religion. In geological terms your scientific life is incomplete without a visit to Iceland. Situated on the mid-Atlantic Ridge the island exhibits many features that are fundamental to the understanding of modern Plate Tectonics, volcanism, geothermal activity. In addition it is a wonderful natural laboratory to experience numerous geomorphic phenomena such as modern glaciers, outwash rivers, deserts landforms and marine features. This two-week excursion to "The Land of Ice and Fire" will allow you to see many of these phenomena first hand.

Bring your cameras and lots of film. This is a most unusual country. Also bring notebooks, binoculars and bathing suits since this might be your only opportunity to swim in the Blue Lagoon, hot rivers and Hell in a two week period!

Leaving the capital city Reykjavik, that is heated by geothermal waters, we will travel to Nesjavellir and the Thingvellir Rift where Iceland can be "seen" pulling-apart. Geothermal activity will be observed at Geysir, and, later, in eastern Iceland. Close to Geysir is Gullfoss waterfall, possibly one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

From Gullfoss our route will take us back to the west coast with a chance at whale watching, then and along the north to Akureyri, Iceland's second largest settlement. From here it is east to the eastern fjords, visiting the active geothermal centre at Myvatn and seeing the Tjornes Peninsula, or Askja another huge volcanic centre. After eastern Iceland we will travel to Hofn on the south coast and then visit Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in Europe. After a visit to Svartifoss a small waterfall with spectacular lava columns and to the Vatnajokull ice margin (where several James Bond films and the recent "Batman" movie were filmed) we move along the south coast across huge outwash spreads from Myrdalsjokull. We will pass the Laki (1783) basalt flows, one of the biggest outpourings of lava seen by humans. Our return will take us back to Reykjavik. After this circumnavigation of Iceland we will have time for one last chance at a geothermal soak in the waters of the Blue Lagoon, before heading to Keflavik and our flight home.

Alan Morgan

Proposed Itinerary:

DAY 1: Mon. July 24 - We arrive at Keflavík airport and are met with our local guide and transferred to our hotel in Reykjavík.
Overnight Reykjavik

DAY 2: Tue. July 25 - In the morning we go on a whale watching tour. We should be able to see Minke whales and Orcas, and also dolphins. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight Reykjavik

DAY 3: Wed. July 25 - The day starts with a drive to the spectacular double waterfalls at Gulfoss, followed by a visit to the thermal area of Geysir, which has given its name to water spouts throughout the world. We continue on to historic Thingvellir, where the early settlers founded a commonwealth in AD930. In the afternoon we reach Stykkisholmur.
Overnight at a tourist class hotel in Stykkisholmur. Dinner at hotel.

DAY 4: Thu. July 26 - Today we take a boat trip around the island of Breioafjordur, home of puffins and the white-tailed eagle.
Overnight at a tourist class hotel in Stykkisholmur. Dinner at hotel.

DAY 5: Fri. July 27 - We spend the day exploring the wonders of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, including the majestic Snaefellsjokull Glacier (4,730 ft), where the writer Jules Verne placed the entrance to the ‘Centre of the World’ in his famous novel.
Overnight in Stykkisholmur. Dinner at hotel.

DAY 6: Sat. July 28 - We drive through an ever-changing landscape to the northern capital of Akureyri.
Overnight in Akureyri for. Dinner at hotel.

DAY 7: Sun. July 29 - This morning we take a boat trip to Hrisey Island. Afternoon at leisure in Akureyri.
Overnight in Akureyri for. Dinner at hotel.

DAY 8: Mon. July 30 - We drive to the magnificent waterfall at Godafoss (literally ‘falls of the Gods’). In the afternoon continue to Lake Myvatn, one of Iceland’s major breeding grounds for birds, and an area of spectacular volcanic activity. Nowhere else in Iceland can you see the same combination of volcanic craters, fresh lava fields, hot springs and bubbling mud pools.
Overnight in the Myvatn area. Dinner in a local restaurant.

DAY 9: Tue. July 31 - Today we travel into the Tjornes peninsula, and then visit Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Continue to the township of Hallormsstadur, our base for visiting the eastern coastal region, rarely visited by foreign tourists.
Accommodation in Egilstadir area for the next 2 nights. Dinner at hotel.

DAY 10: Wed. August 1 - We explore the rugged and isolated eastern fjords. We include time at the charming fishing village of Seyoisfjordur, Lake Logurinn and Hengifoss, one of Iceland’s highest waterfalls.
Overnight in Akureyri for. Dinner at hotel.

DAY 11: Thu. August 2 - We leave Hallormsstadur and take the coastal route south, dominated by unique rock formations. Cross over the Almannaskard Pass to reach Hofn.
Overnight in Hofn. Dinner at hotel.

DAY 12: Fri. August 3 - This morning we visit the incredible Vatnajokull Glacier, Europe’s greatest icecap, a kilometre thick in places. We take a memorable boat trip on a glacial lagoon between icebergs.
Accommodation in the area of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Dinner at hotel

DAY 13: Sat. August 4 - Return to Reykjavik .
Overnight in Reykjavik.

DAY 14: Sun. August 5 - Drive to the world-famous Blue Lagoon for a relaxing swim in the thermal waters Transfer to Keflavík airport for our afternoon flight to North America.

TOUR RATE

CAD 2,100.00 Single Supplement

Deposit:

$1850.00 CAD non refundable to secure your space on this tour.

Balance:

Final payment is due no later than June 1, 2006.

Cancellation Policy:

Bestway Tours & Safaris reserves the right to cancel tour should the number of participants be below that required for the tour to operate. In that case full payment minus an administration fee of $200.00 USD per person, will be refunded.

Tour Includes:

- Transfer from Keflavik airport to hotel in Reykjavik.
- Bus and English speaking guide for 11 days as per the above itinerary.
- Transfer from hotel to airport with bath stop at the Blue Lagoon
- Accommodation in tourist class hotels for 13 nights in double rooms with private facilities, including breakfast.
- Entrance fee for whale watching,, horse show, boat tours and museums.
- 10 - 3 course dinners at hotels in the countryside only.

Tour rate does not include:

- International airfare.
- Meals in Rekjavik other than breakfast.
- Medical and /or cancellation insurance.
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry and gifts etc.
- Airport taxes/fees where applicable.
- Gratuities.

RESERVATION FORM

Bookings cannot be processed unless accompanied by a completed, signed and dated Tour Reservation Form (2 pages).

For your convenience we also have a Credit Card authorization form. Payments by cheque are also accepted.

INSURANCE

Medical and Cancellation Insurance is strongly recommended in order to protect your investment. Cancellation Insurance must be requested at time of booking.

PASSPORTS

You are required to carry a valid passport with an expiry date of six (6) months past reentry into your home country.

VACCINATIONS

Please contact the travel clinic in your area for advice. British Columbia residents may consult Travel Medicine & Vaccination Centres. Telephone 604-681-5656 in Vancouver or toll free 1-888-288-8682.

Flight itinerary and rates will be negotiated with the airline for the group. Please note on reservation form your city of origin.

Suggested Reading List:

National Geographic Articles:
Jan/73 This Changing Earth
May/77 Vestmaunaeyjar up from the ashes
Sep./84 Iceland Wild Glacier-born River
Feb./87 Life under glaciers
Oct./90 Beyond the Horizon
May/Jun./94 Ring around Iceland
Jan./96 He only have ewes for you

Here's a brief selection of favorite, new and hard-to-find books on the Arctic and Iceland. For your convenience, you may call 1-800-342-2164 to order any of these books from Longitude, a specialty mail-order book service. To order online, and to get the latest, most comprehensive selection of books for your voyage, go to www.longitudebooks.com or e-mail to info@longitudebooks.com.

- E. C. Pielou: A Naturalist's Guide to the Arctic. 1994. Paper, 327 Pages. US$19.95. A compact guide to natural history throughout the North, this book is an excellent introduction to Arctic climate, geography, plants, birds, mammals and insects. With line drawings.

- Jeanette Mirsky: To the Arctic, The Story of Northern Exploration from Earliest Times.1997. Paper, 392 pages. US$16.95. From the Dutch in Spitsbergen to the Russian Great Northern Expedition, the search for Franklin and the quest for the North Pole, this re-issued classic is a vivid history of the North.

- Nikita Ovskynikov: Polar Bears, Living with the White Bear. 1999. Paper, 144 pages. US$19.95. This book chronicles four years among the bears, countering popular wisdom on their behavior and offering insight into Wrangel Island.

- Canada Map Office: North Circumpolar Region MAP US$19.95. A view of the top of the world, showing the Arctic Ocean and all the lands of the north.