Wilderness Travel 2017 Catalog of Adventures

Iceland Expedition MASSIVE GLACIERS, VIKING SAGAS, AND THE MIDNIGHT SUN

DAN HELLER

Our hiking journey brings you deep into the surreal natural wonder of a country unlike any other on earth. PHOTO: ERIC NATHAN

HIGHLIGHTS • Hike in an unearthly landscape of fjords, iceberg-filled lagoons, geysers, and moss-covered lava fields • Explore Skaftafell and Thingvellir, with their glaciers, waterfalls, and chasms • Take a fascinating glacier walk (with crampons provided!) on Iceland’s most impressive glacier in a magical setting of crystal-blue ice and ice sculptures • Soak in Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon, marvel at the midnight sun • Taste savory Icelandic cuisine, from fresh local fish to marinated lamb • Enjoy our small intimate lodges in beautifully remote settings DETAILS • 8-day trip begins and ends in Reykjavík • 7 nights hotels • All meals included

Nature reigns supreme in Iceland, a world of spouting geysers, blue lagoons, massive glaciers, and multicolored valleys stretching to the sea. We’ve created a spectacular adventure that immerses you in the full wonder of Iceland’s extraordinary landscapes, with a mix of fantastic coastal and mountain hikes (and plenty of summit options!). The glacier kingdom of Skaftafell National Park, the geologic wonders of Thingvellir National Park, the high valleys and brooding heaths of ancient “saga” country where the rich history of Viking clan warfare played out in the Middle Ages, culinary delights from arctic char to fresh-caught salmon—they’re all on this epic journey!

Days 1-2 Reykjavík / Höfn / Vatnajökull Glacier Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier, is the dramatic backdrop for our hike on a remote path among fascinating geologic formations with spectacular views across the wild coast. Days 3-6 Jökulsárlón / Skaftafell National Park / Skógar / Vík Our hikes bring us along stunning Jökulsárlón Lagoon, with its powder-blue icebergs, across Skaftafellsheidi Heath, past the tumbling Svartifoss waterfall, and below the Skaftafellsjökull Glacier. In the gorgeous hamlet of Skógar, we sample beers from a local microbrewery, discover one gorgeous waterfall after another, and visit the black-sand beach at the tiny village of Vík. Days 7-8 Thingvellir National Park / Blue Lagoon We hike in the Reykjadalur Valley, with its steaming hot springs, and marvel at the spectacular terrain of Thingvellir National Park, a World Heritage Site renowned for its dramatic rift walls. After a soak in the famed thermal waters of the Blue Lagoon in Keflavík, depart on Day 8.

DATES Jun 23-30, 2017

Jul 14-21 Aug 4-11 Aug 11-18 Aug 18-25

TRIP COST $5995 (13-15 members) $6295 (11-12 members) $6695 (8-10 members) Single supplement: $790 Internal airfare: $260 (subject to change) TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 + 4 5 6 7 8 hiking days on moderate to strenuous trails, some steep sections, 3-8 hours a day, optional glacier walking, van support

ON OUR WEBSITE NORTHERN ICELAND EXPEDITION

Explore Iceland’s wild northern reaches, including Lake Mývatn and the Snaefellsnes and Tröllaskagi Peninsulas. Jul 3-10, Jul 24-31, 2017. From $5795.

FOR A DETAILED ITINERARY: 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL EUROPE@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 52