Naturetour Iceland

Tourcharacter

To discover the Icelandic nature by Pedes is the goal of this program. Volcanos and volcanic activities like hot springs and fountains smelling of sulphur, glaciers with cool icebergs and shimmering ice tongues as well as the wild coast at the atlantic ocean are waiting for us! We stay in the south of Iceland where these impressive nature phenomena lie close to each other and we have various possibilities for excursions. Our first destination is a little farm nearby Vik. Our comfortable accommodation which also houses sheeps and cows lies rurally in the shade of the glacier Myrdaljokull. Within the next three days we will hike to and on glaciers and to the impressive waterfall Skogarfoss and visit the Skogarmuseum as well as the National Park Skaftafell. With a variety of activities we will dive into the world of glaciers. The Skaftafell National Park protects one of the biggest glaciers of Iceland, the Vatnajokull. Besides a well equipped visitor center the park offers easy hiking routes to the foot of glacier tongues and to a waterfall. The popular glacier lagoon Jokullsarlon is also located close to Skaftafell National Park. Icebergs which break off of another glacier tongue of the Vatnajokulls collect in a basin. Who feels like it can do a boat trip between the iceberg. During our stay in Vik we also have the possibility of taking part in a guided glacier walk with crampons guided by the Icelandic Mountain Guides. With our experienced mountain guide we climb over the terminal moraines and walk directly on the icy layer of the glacier tongue. At this walk we can experience many fascinating phenomena which arise from the movements of the glacier. After these ice-orientated days we cross over with the ferry to the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar), which lie approx. 8 km off the southern shore of Iceland. Volcanoes and volcanic activity as well as life with and near volcanoes will be the theme of the next days. On the 11 km² main island Heimaey a volcano erupted in 1973 and we will explore the young volcanic landscape. Our German (meanwhile however native) guide Ruth will show us hidden treasures and tell us many storys about the history of the land and the people. We walk to the volcanic cone and learn about the influence which the volcano exerts on the residents of the island. At a film show about the eruption we experience how the eruption 1973 took place. Heimaey is also noted for his bird wealth which we want to explore at another hiking trip. At numerous cliffs along the shore Northern gannets, puffins, stormy petrels and much more birds collect to feed and breed. Our accommodation at Heimaey lies in the center of the little town, so we can really dip into the social environment of the Icelanders and reach everything by foot. In the third period of our tour we return to the mainland and move to our accommodation in Laugarvatn, approx. 100 km east of Reykjavic. From there we go on several hiking excursions in geothermale area. Of course we will also visit the famous Geysir and the impressive waterfall Gullfoss. We hike with the sulphur smell in our nose between seething mud basins, boiling water holes and steaming crevices on little paths. Moreover, we visit the old Icelandic political center, Pingvellir, where Iceland was ruled from for nine centuries. Today the place is declared as a National Park and destination of every visitor of Iceland. In Laugarvatn and in Heimaey we will find the popular possibility of relaxing in a hot pot in the evening. We finish our trip with a visit of the vivid city Reykjavic.
> Our almost daily hikes take depending on land and possibilities approx. 2- 4 hours. We stay in simple but cosy accommodations where contact to our native hosts is possible. In Vik and Heimaey our twin rooms are in a separate house or direct in the house of the hosts. Sanitary facilities are central. In Laugarvatn our twin rooms have private bath and toilet and the hot pool waits for us in the garden. In Reykjavik we are accommodated in twin rooms in a hotel with central sanitary facilities. In all accommodations we will be served breakfast. In Vik we are provided with typical Icelandic meals by our nice hosts in the evening. In Heimaey and Laugarvatn we cook together in the evening. For lunch we will take sandwiches. Iceland is one of the most expensive holiday destinations of Europe. We have paid attention to an economical enabling of this journey in the choice of our accommodations as well as at the decision to partly prepare dinner together. The booking of a single room is possible in Reykjavik or in Laugarvatn at an early enrolement. There is also the possibility of booking some of our accommodations as sleeping-bag accommodations (price will be reduced).
Changes in schedule are possible. We ask all our participants to actively contribute to the success of the tour. Included in the price is a 1:2 assistance (1 seeing assistance for each two blind/ visually impaired participants). If desired we can organize a 1:1 assistance for an additional charge. All our staff members are Germans with knowledge of english as a foreign language. First priority of the tour are the participants. We therefore will look after every one who decides to visit Iceland with us. We strive to an atmosphere where every participant feels at ease and free to meet Icelandic culture and nature and enjoys our activities at one's own speed and possibilities. There are no special qualifications or a specific level of condition necessary.

Schedule

Day 1: Arrival in Reykjavik. Transfer to our Icelandic farm accommodation Solheimar (approx. 2 hours drive from the airport). Arrival and first dinner together, program introduction.
Day 2: Hiking trip to the waterfall Skogarfoss, visit of the Skogar Farm Museum. Dinner in our accommodation.
Day 3: Trip to Skaftafell National Park, hike to the glacier tongue and guided tour from the visitor center. Possibility for a boat trip on the glacier lake Jokullsarlon. Dinner in our accommodation.
Day 4: Possibility for a glacier tour at the Myrdalsjokull with the Icelandic Mountain Guides. Afterwards visit of Vik with the most beautiful beach of Iceland. Dinner in our accommodation.
Day 5: Ferry crossing to the Westman Islands (approx. 2.5 hours). Obtaining our accommodation in Heimaey, orientation walk in Heimaey. In the evening visit of the show about the volcanic eruption in 1973.
Day 6: Hiking trip to the volcano cone with our guide Ruth, baking bread together in the volcano.
Day 7: Hiking trip to the south coast of Heimaey to bird cliffs and along the wild rockbound coast. Relaxing in a public hot pot.
Day 8: Ferry crossing back to the mainland. In the afternoon excursion to the Gullfoss waterfall and the famous hot spring Geysir.
Day 9: Excursion to the high temperature area at the foot of the volcano Hengill and hike in the geothermal region through hot springs and warm brooks. Visit of a geothermal heat factory.
Day 10: Visit of Pingvellir, guided tour with a Ranger and hike in the crack between the two continental plates of Europe and America.
Day 11: Day 11: Hiking trip to the natural hot pots of Hveravellir, with the possibility to take a warm bath.
Day 12: Day 12: Transfer to Reykjavik, visit of the vivid city center. Farewell meal
Day 13: Day 13: Return flight Changes in schedule out of organisational reasons, because of weather conditions or other reasons are possible.

Journee

The journey to and from Rekjavik is not included in the price. Any Airlines worldwide fly to the International Airport at Keflavik. We will arrange a meeting time and pick you up from your flight. If desired we can help with the search for an appropriate flight. Favorable is a prior consultation with us, to coordinate the arrivals of all our guests.

Date:

June 5th until 17th 2008

Price:

1990,- euro (including 1:2 assistance), 1590,- Euro (no assistance)
Price with sleeping-bag accommodation: 1900,- euro/ 1500,- Euro
The tour is designed for 6-10 blind or visually impaired people. Included in the regular price is a 1:2 assistance. If desired we can organize a 1:1 assistance for an additional charge. All our staff members are germans with knowledge of english as a foreign language. If an assistance is not needed or you bring your own assistance, the price will be 1590,- Euro. If the minimum number of participants (6) is not reached, the tour can realized with an additional charge.

Participants:

6-10 blind, visually impaired or seeing persons
Included in the price is a 1:2 assistance. If desired we can organize a 1:1 assistance for an additional charge. All our staff members our germans with knowledge of english as a foreign language. If an assistance is not needed or you bring your own assistance, we will reduce the price. If the minimum number of participants (6) is not reached, the tour can realized with an additional charge.

Services:

Included in the price:
English speaking tour guide
12 times accommodation in twin rooms in country guesthouses or hotels (4 nights with private bath/ toilet)
Full catering (breakfast, lunch and dinner) (except 1 dinner in Reykjavik.)
1 english speaking assistance for two blind/ visually impaired participants (including all travel costs for the assistance staff)
All transfers in the car/minibus
Ferry journey westman islands and back
2 days of guided hiking tours with local guide on the westman islands
Guided Tour in Thingvellir and Skaftafell
Visit of the volcano show

Not included in the price:
Journey to/ from Reykjavic
1 x dinner in Reykjavik
Optional swimming bath entrances in Heimaey
Optional glacier walk with mountain guides (approx. 45 euros.)
Optional boat trip on the glacier lagoon Jokulsarlon (approx. 20 euros.)
souvenirs
extra food or drinks e.g. alcohol or visits of cafes/ bars/ extra restaurants