Reykjavík-Westman Islands-South Coast
8 days and 7 nights in Beautiful Iceland!
July 3rd - 10th, 2012
Special thanks to my partner in Iceland, Tim Vollmer
for helping me prepare this tour. Tim will also
provide us with all the guides and logistic for our
stay in Iceland.
Day 1
Pick up at Keflavík airport. Overnight at hotel near the airport. (Icelandair hotel in Keflavik)
We will visit Sandgerði time permitting on our arrival day.
Sandgerði is a friendly fishing town on the west coast of the peninsula. In the northern part of the town is Sandgerðistjörn pond, where hundreds of migratory birds gather each spring. You will see large groups of the Arctic tern and Eider-ducks in this area.
Day 2
Reykjanes seashores- Reykjanesviti lighthouse
The lava scarred Reykjanes peninsula lies on one of the world’s major plate boundaries, the Mid Atlantic Ridge, where you can walk across a small footbridge between the two continents. The peninsula is lunar landscaped and pitted with craters, volcanic and geothermal wonders.
Stop at Hafnaberg a low, sheer cliff just south of the fishing hamlet Hafnir. It is an interesting and popular spot among the bird watchers, teeming with such bird species as the guillemots, kittiwakes, fulmars and razorbills.
On we go to Reykjanestá (toe), the south-western point of the Reykjanes Peninsula, the tuff mountain Valahnjúkur where many species of birds nest. There you will also see Reykjanesviti lighthouse, one of many lighthouses on the peninsula.
During the day we might see the following species among others: Harlequin Duck, Great Northern Diver, Horned Grebe, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Kittiwake, Arctic Tern, three species of guillemots and Razorbill.
Drive the new road along the peninsula to overnight in a guesthouse near the ferry harbour where you sail to Vestmannaeyjar.
Day 3
Heimaey Vestmannaeyjar
Drive to the ferry harbor (departure either 10:00 or 13:00. If choosing the 10am departure –very early rise and breakfast) and sail to Heimaey Vestmannaeyjar.
On the arrival day:
A three hour boat tour will take us to the south islands amongst them Súlnasker were the second largest colony of gannets (sula) in Icelandic waters nests. We will literally sail under the island which stands on four posts.
After that we sail to and around Surtsey, an island formed in eruption in 1963. You will sail around the islands, into caves, pass by other small islands/skerries and experience the buzzing birdlife that is in Westman Islands. Who knows, maybe we will see a pod of killer whales swimming by.
Second day: hiking on the island and leave the island 15:30/ 3:30pm.
Vestmannaeyjar/Westman Islands are home to around 4,500 people and eight million puffins (every summer). The islands are a true wonder of nature. Heimaey is surrounded by rocky mountains, a volcano and 14 other small islands which are all in different sizes and shape. The islands were all created by volcanic activity originating on the seabed. The last volcanic eruption took place in January – July, 1973 with overwhelming damage as nearly one-third of the town burned down or was covered under lava.
For bird-watchers, there are many interesting locations to visit in Heimaey such as the west coast to the southern tip. Here, during the breeding season, it is possible to observe nearly all the species of birds that nest in the Vestmannaeyjar cliffs. The main puffin colony is to the south of the island. Passerines and waders also nest in the grassy area between the airport and coastline. If one is fortunate, it is even possible to observe the Manx Shearwater on the sea near their breeding grounds on Ystiklettur and the Storm Petral and Leach´s Petral also breed there but are only out and about during the night.
Hiking up the volcanoes Helgafell and Eldfell (Fire mountain) is quite easy and going down into the crater of Eldfell does not present any difficulties either.
Overnight at a guesthouse in Heimaey town.
Day 4
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
We leave Heimaey (15:30 - 3:30pm) and drive from the harbour along the coast to a guesthouse in the southeast near Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
We pass the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull and others on the south coast and stop at Reynisfjara beach, Reynisdrangar (rocks), Vík village in Mýrdal valley and in Landbrot near Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
The valley of Mýrdalur is a rich birding area with Reynisfjall mountain and Dyrhólaey the chief birding sites. Puffins breed on the cliffs at Víkurhamrar cliffs above the village of Vík and on mount Reynisfjall and it´s an option to hike up there for better view of the birds.
Reynisfjara Beach is a natural black sand and pebble beach with some larger boulders. By the beach you can see basalt caves which are very interesting for photographers. Here is the nesting site of puffins and other seabirds and a great view of Dyrhólaey. This is a very beautiful place, but please be careful, the ocean can be extremely dangerous here.
Reynisdrangar are basalt sea stacks situated very near to Reynisfjara and the village Vík í Mýrdal.
The areas Landbrot and Meðalland south of Kirkjubæjarklaustur support a wide range of birds. The region´s wetlands are varied and include floodmeadows, lakes, springs and lava fields. Breeding birds include Horned Grebes and various ducks. White-fronted Geese are common visitors on spring passage.
Overnight at guesthouse Hali.
Day 5-6
Skaftafell - Jökulsarlón Glacier Lake
Ingólfshöfði (optional)
Vatnajökull glacier towers over this region and has immensely affected the landscape. We will visit many of Vatnajökull's outlets and outwash areas and the Jökulsárlón lagoon, a famous glacial lagoon full of icebergs were we can take a short boat tour and sail among the huge icebergs, an unforgettable experience!
The glacial scenery continues with a visit to the stunning Skaftafell, Iceland’s second largest national park, where the landscape has been formed in thousands of years by different influences of fire and water (volcanic eruptions and glaciers).
Ingólfshöfði is an isolated headland between black sands and the Atlantic Ocean, with thousands of nesting seabirds, especially puffins and the great skua. This historical cape is named after the first settler of Iceland, Ingólfur Arnarson, who spent his first winter in Iceland there in the year 874 AD. You will be driven to the nature reserve on a tractor with hay cart by a local farmer who will also be your guide in the area. The tour will either be early in the morning or in the evening. These are special departures for advanced photographers who need more time to work with their equipment. Duration of tour is 3 hours.
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Day 7
Drive back to Reykjavik along the south coast. Stops at Sólheimasandur, Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss and other places of interest.
Sólheimasandur is a black volcano-sand-coast near Sólheimajökull where you have a spectacular view of the glaciers, the near mountains and the sea.
Seljalandsfoss is a picturesque waterfall. You can walk behind this waterfall and get a different photo angle. Here are bird colonies of fulmars.
Skógafoss is one of the biggest and most beautiful waterfalls in the country and lies under the glacier and volcano Eyjafjallajökull. Due to the amount of spray, the waterfall consistently produces a single or double rainbow which is normally visible on sunny days. According to legend, the first Viking settler in the area, Þrasi Þórólfsson, buried a treasure in a cave behind the waterfall. A local boy found the chest years later, but was only able to grasp the ring on the side of the chest before it disappeared again.
Overnight at a hotel in Reykjavík
Day 8
Departure from Keflavík airport
All inclusive fee = $5,200.00 USD
Single supplement USD 315
Included minimum 6person- 1 instructor 1assistant
Private bus – also in Westman Islands
Return fare/boat to/from Westman Islands
Accommodation (hotels and guesthouses with shared facilities)
Breakfast
Lunch box 6 days (arrival and departure day not included)
Dinner 7 days
Meeting facilities in the evening
Sail-sightseeing tour around the island
Guided tour to Ingolfshöfdi – bird watching
Volcano film show in Heimaey- Westman islands
Boat tour in Jökulsár glacier lagoon
Not included
International flights
Gratuities
Personal spending.
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