2019 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

Iceland: Off the Beaten Path HIKING ADVENTURES IN THE UNCROWDED NORTH

The north of Iceland holds some of the country’s most extraordinary landscapes, from towering Snaefellsjökull (4,745'), the volcano that inspired Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth , to brilliant blue Lake Myvatn, surrounded by a geothermal wonderland. With our Icelandic Trip Leaders, we explore this legend-filled realm—the place where Icelanders go to hike! Our trails bring us to the glacier-carved Peninsula of the Trolls, along the black-sand beaches and bird cliffs of Snaefellsnes, and through magical Ásbyrgi Canyon, home to the “hidden people” (or huldufólk ), Iceland’s elves and trolls. We finish with whale watching from charming Húsavík, on the lookout for humpback, minke, and blue whales, gliding in silence thanks to the ship’s electric engine. Come and discover Iceland’s wild north! ´

remote and much more local version of Reykjavík’s “Blue Lagoon.”

Days 7-8 Vatnajökull National Park / Dettifoss / Húsavík / Whale Watching In Vatnajökull, we see the enormous Dettifoss waterfall and hike past columnar basalt formations into Ásbyrgi Canyon, known in Icelandic legend as the “shelter of the gods.” Our journey ends with silent whale watching aboard a ship with an electric engine—no noise! Depart via Akureyri on Day 8 or join our Arctic Circle Extension.

Eiríksstadir, Búdir, the exact spot where Erik the Red and his son Leif Eriksson lived, for insights into the Viking era. From the coastal village of Dalvik, we hike in the surreal mountains of the Trollaskagi

Days 1-2 Reykjavík, Iceland / Snaefellsnes Peninsula / Búdir From Reykjavík, we head to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, with its stunning coastline and peaks plunging into the sea. Our hikes bring us around the perfect crater rim of Eldborg volcano and along a magnificent coastal route with Snaefellsjökull as a backdrop. Overnights are in a welcoming inn renowned for its cuisine.

Peninsula (“peninsula of the trolls”), with its legends of mythical creatures.

Days 3-4 Eiríksstadir / Akureyri / Tröllaskagi Peninsula En route to Akureyri, we visit

Days 5-6 Lake Myvatn / Krafla Volcano After visiting the thundering cascade of Godafoss, we hike amid Dimmuborgir’s volcanic arches and along the colorful lava flows at Krafla. We’ll enjoy a soak in the thermal waters at Lake Mývatn, a ´

HIGHLIGHTS • Hike across a pristine landscape of waterfalls, lava fields, volcanic craters, and magnificent seacoasts • Explore Lake Myvatn, with its thermal waters and amazing lava formations • Go whale watching on a wooden ship with an electric engine—no noise or fumes • Stay in welcoming hotels, savor fresh seafood, enjoy extraordinary cuisine at Hotel Búdir DETAILS • 8-day trip begins and ends in Reykjavík • 7 nights hotels • All meals included except 1 dinner ´

ON OUR WEBSITE ICELAND EXPEDITION Hike in Thingvellir National Park and the glacier kingdom of Skaftafell. Jun 21-28, Jul 12-19, Aug 2-9, Aug 16-23, 2019. From $7195.

Our hiking journey reveals the landscapes and legends of a country unlike any other on Earth. PHOTO: RAGNAR TH. SIGURDSSON

DATES Jul 1-8, 2019 Jul 22-29

TRIP COST $7495 (11-14 members) $7895 (8-10 members) $8195 (4-7 members) Single supplement: $1380

TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 + 4 5 6 7 7 hiking days on moderate to strenuous trails, some steep sections, 4-8 hours a day, van support

COMBINE ANY TWO EUROPE TRIPS FOR A $400 PER PERSON DISCOUNT! 76