This amazing combination features the dramatic wilderness landscapes of Greenland & Iceland. Expect to see Volcanoes, Icebergs, Geysers, Calving Glaciers and Mini Rift Valleys all under the midnight sun.Seeing the Icebergs glow under the pink midnight sun is a Once in Lifetime Experience, and there is an extremely high chance that you can also watch Whales fluke in-front of Icebergs in Disko Bay. As well as being incredibly beautiful with the pink hues of “sunset” contrasting against the white of the icebergs and the blue of the sky, the other huge benefit of the midnight sun is that you can do so much more in the extended daylight hours – particularly useful in Iceland.
Reykjavik – Ilulissat – Reykavik – Golden Circle
Travel Style: Guided
From June – End August
Fly to Reykjavik and on arrival have a fly-bus transfer you to your hotel to start your special weekend away.
Rest of the day is free, perhaps to enjoy one of the best seafood restaurants you will find anywhere in the world.
Overnight in Reykjavik.
Fly to Greenland. On arrival at Ilulissat a guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the Arctic hotel to start your West Greenland Tour.
Begin with your guided Ilulissat City Walk to visit the old part of town and learn its history. You will see the original Danish trading station, the busy fishing harbour, the old church and the museum.
After a welcoming dinner you will take a spellbinding night cruise to see the Icebergs. During the Evening Iceberg Cruise the sunset warm red colours and the gigantic icebergs reflecting in the icy waters is an unforgettable sight. Cruise between the icebergs and enjoy a late Martini on “the real rocks”! Until about the 24th July this cruise will run as a midnight sun cruise with all the beauty and eeriness of the Polar Sun.
Overnight in Ilulissat.
The Eqip glacier is the only glacier in the area where you often experience a glacier calving. You will cruise in front of the 5 km wide glacier for about an hour and hopefully see this unique calving sight creating new icebergs. In our opinion this is the highlight of the your West Greenland holiday.
Afterwards you will continue to the Ataa, a former trading station for lunch and a glass of wine. There will be time for a short walk in the area before returning to Ilulissat. Dinner will be included
Overnight in Ilulissat.
You will go as far as the road goes, and then take a beautiful walk along to the UNESCO designated Ilulissat Ice Fiord to Sermermiut where traces from the 3 old Eskimo cultures still can be seen, as well of course as the fantastic icebergs.
Afterwards you will meet some Innuit people in their home, and whilst enjoying a “Coffee-Mik“, learn about Greenland and its people and their way of life.
The 3,500 husky dogs in town are still used for both work and fun every winter. We invite you to join the feeding of a dog team, where you can see, feel, touch and hear the howling of 20 hungry dogs. The owner will demonstrate the sledge and the harness and tell you about life as a sled dog.
Optional Extras
Kayaking to See the Icebergs
Whale Watching in Disko Bay
Ice Fjord Photo Sightseeing Flight
Overnight in Ilulissat.
Fly to Reykjavik where on arrival your guide will pick you up and drive you (@ 2 hrs ) to your private rural cabin situated in stunning South Iceland. Private Dinner cooked for you at your cabin by your guide.
Tonight your guide will come and cook for you on the bbq or serve you a 3 course meal. We have had wonderful feedback on his meals with the bbq lamb from his family farm being particularly liked.
Afterwards he will retire and leave you to enjoy this private space all to yourself so you can enjoy the midnight sun.
Overnight at the cabin.
– An authentic cabin located in the middle of arctic tundra and perched n the banks of the frozen Torne River.
Cabins are built from logs or weather board and although fairly basic in design and contents are always snug and warm once the fires are going. We have a number of cabins available and can flex according to the size of the party. We can cater for 2, 4 or even 6 family members or friends on an overnight adventure.
After breakfast in the cabin your guide will take you on the Golden Circle Highlights 4WD Tour a magnificent introduction to first timers in Iceland. Experience the famed Strokur Geyser which erupts every 5 mins, the magnificent Gullfoss Waterfall which can totally freeze in the winter as well as the beautiful area of Pjorsardalur behind Mount Helka. This area is full of waterfalls, including Háifoss, Iceland’s tallest.
The maximum number of people will be 8, (though it is often 4), which is in sharp contrast to the bus companies that offer a similar trip. The guide will also time it so as to beat the bus trips so you can enjoy the sights in all their beauty and “at one” with nature. Tonight you will cook for yourself. You will pre-choose your meal before you go so that your ingredients and recipe are waiting for you at the cabin.
Afterwards why not relax outside with a drink and enjoy the silence of the midnight sun in the evening – it’s a bizarre feeling!
Overnight: Cabin
Breakfast will be available at your cabin before your superjeep off-road adventure – all you have to do is to choose which of the two options below you prefer!
You will be in a Super jeep of up to 8 people, though normally it is 4 and is in sharp contrast to the coach tours offered by other companies, which also cannot venture to many of the places that you will be taken to. This is serious off roading !
EITHER
Eyjafjallajökull’s volcano Tour
This tour will take you as close as is possible to the new large crater in Eyjafjallajökull volcano from the 2010 eruption and to places where no hire car can go. We drive up the slopes of the glacier in a highly equipped Super-Jeep and on our way take in the astonishing view over the whole South coast of Iceland with it’s glaciers, and back across the Atlantic including the Westman-Islands. This tour gives you the perfect glacier experience; an exciting Super Jeep drive in the snow, walk on the glacier and the magnificent view over the south. This is real adventure.
OR
Porsmork valley Tour
Your guide will take you up between the three glaciers; Myrdalsjokull, Eyjafjallojokull and Tindfjallojokull. In your specially adapted SuperJeeps you will have the thrilling drive of fjording glacial rivers and driving across the flood plain to see the lasting effects and landscape changes following Eyjafjallajökull’s 2010 eruption.
You will be surrounded by an imposing mountain ridge and see spectacular landscapes. Stop at the stunning Seljalandsfoss waterfall , which you can walk behind and be mesmerised looking back through the falling water. If you wanted to see the “Raw Iceland” this is hard to beat!
We work only with local guides who have lived their whole life in this area, are very experienced & belong to the Mountain Rescue Team. They all have fascinating stories to tell of their experiences during the 2010 volcanic eruption!
Tonight you will cook for yourself. You will pre-choose your meal before you go so that your ingredients and recipe are waiting for you at the cabin. Sit outside and watch the sun setting in the middle of the night – a truly strange feeling!
Alternatively, we can arrange for you to have a 3 course dinner in Hotel Ranga
Overnight in Cabin
Today will be a free day for you to choose from a variety of optional activities.
Glacial Hiking on glacial tongue Seimajökull
Transfer to join the small group visiting the magnificent frozen glacial tongue Seimajokull and hike on the glacier. Explore the crevasse riddled outlet glacier with its amazing ice formations, sinkholes and jagged ridges.
You will be on the ice 1 ½ hrs-2 hrs and the pace is leisurely with plenty of stops to talk about the formation of Glaciers and Global warming etc. The Glacier is a 20 min walk from the starting point. We will provide all the tools you need: crampons and safety lines but you must wear Hiking Boots for the Crampons to fit onto.
OR
Riding in Icelandic Countryside
A purebreed descendant of its Viking ancestors from the 9th century, the Icelandic horse is a product of isolation and a thousand years of breeding for good riding qualities, resulting in a gentle, friendly disposition and calm manner that make them a delight for anyone to ride. Whilst small in size they are hardy animals that have an unusual gait called a tolt. As fast as a trot it is much smoother- Indeed there are competitions where people hold full glasses of unspoilt beer as they ride the tolt!
You have a choice of a 1 hour or 2 hr ride by Irafoss Waterfall, or a 3hr ride which takes you up steep tracks towards the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano. Here you will be able to enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the glacier behind you and in front of you the Atlantic Ocean in all its glory. Finally there is the option to take a 2 hour ride through farmland , followed by a choice of a Jacuzzi or Sauna and a light lunch.
OR
Snowmobiling on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier
Head up in your hire car to the Snowmobile Meeting Point.
Here you will transfer to a SuperJeep to go on rough tracks up to the Snowline of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier to take an exhilarating hours snowmobile ride to a vantage point with superb views back down to the Atlantic Coast . This Glacier is on the top of Katla Volcano with dramatic views across to Eyjafjallajokull. Whilst Katla is the next Volcano due to erupt it is extremely closely monitored and you will not be taken there at any hint of danger – but what a great story to tell when it does erupt that you actually snowmobiled on it!
Overnight in Reykjavik
Your guide will take you to the Blue Lagoon (@ 2 hr drive) to relax in the bright blue geothermal waters.
In addition to bathing there is a sauna with a view of the lagoon, a steam bath with white walls that resemble silica mud, and a cosy steam bath carved into a lava cave.
After a relaxing time, head to the airport for your onward journey back home.