Daily Details

Saturday July 20th

• All arrive in Reykjavik approx 9:30 a.m. Private transfer service from airport to cruise dock ($200, includes one piece of luggage to be stowed and one piece for your lap).

• Viking confirmed that we can drop luggage off at boat starting at 11 a.m. We can have lunch on the boat and get info about when we can access room. (Embarkation begins at 11:00. Is lunch a real option? Deluxe Veranda Staterooms become available at 2:00)

• Explore Reykjavik on foot. Rick Steves has a two-hour walking tour that we can do as an orientation to the city.

• Consider trip to Blue Lagoon. There are busses that run to Blue Lagoon or we could even rent a car to BL and also visit the Lava Fields near there. BL is open until either 11 p.m. or midnight in the summer.

Sunday July 21st—Reykjavik

• We are all booked on the 8:45-11:30 Viking included city tour. Then we have the rest of the day to explore Reykjavik and/or rent a car to visit BL or other local spots.

• Boat leaves port at 6 p.m.

Monday July 22nd—Isafjordur

• Boat is in port from 8-5. David and Andrea are booked on 8:30-10:30 Viking tour and others are on the 1:30-3:30 tour. Do we want to try and move to the same time?

• Isafjordur is the least volcanic part of Iceland but it’s often the most chilliest. Main Street of the town is a few minutes walk off the boat. Sounds like a pretty small town, although it’s “easily the biggest town in the Westfjords.”

• Sounds like there is agreement that Hornstrandir Nature Reserve is too difficult to get to for the day. There is another alternative which is a boat trip to the island of Vigur. It’s closer and there are puffins on the island. We could just wait and see what the weather looks like that day and decide whether to take an excursion, stay on the boat (which may be our only day to do so) or just visit the tourist info office and ask about day hikes.

Tuesday July 23rd—Akureyri

• Boat is in port from 8-5. We are all skipping the Viking tour and renting a car. Pick up is at 8:30 (?). 60 miles/75 min to Myvatn.

• Myvatn is considered Iceland’s Yellowstone. There are several sights to consider: Skutustaoir Pseudocraters (short and long trails), Dimmuborgir Lava Formations, Hverfjall Crater (2 hrs to hike up and around the 2-mile perimeter), Grjotafja Thermal Cave (just before the turn-off to the baths). Those are all on the south and east shore. There is also Godafoss Waterall on the way (only 40 feet high but 100 yards wide).

• Peg has a good article on the Lake Myvatn area (laidbacktrip.com—the ultimate guide to Lake Myvatn in Iceland).

• Myvatn Nature Baths gets very positive marks (“imagine the Blue Lagoon but a bit more modest, less crowded and about half the price” per RS). Currently, Peg, Misty, Karen and Steve have 11 a.m. reservations.

• Myvatn is named for the midges—aquatic insects that swarm in large numbers in the summer. They do not bite but they are annoying, getting in ears, mouths and noses. Consider a net over your head to keep them out.

Wednesday July 24th—Seydisfordur

• Boat is in port from 8am-11pm (long day here). I think we are all on the 3-5:30 Viking tour. May be okay that it’s the middle of the day. We can explore in the morning on our own, eat lunch on the boat, take the tour, have dinner and still have plenty of daylight to hike. Peg/Misty—what is the hike you were thinking about here? I know you were looking on AllTrails. We can also rent bikes and kayaks. To be discussed further.

• Per RS, this is the most interesting stop in eastern Iceland. Apparently there is a bustling arts community.

Thursday July 25th—Djupivogur

• Boat is in port from 8-6. We have Viking tours at different times, but it doesn’t matter since we will be gone all/most of the day on a private tour.

• Glacier Lagoon/Diamond Beach Tour. $1,150 for 6 people + $110/pp for the Zodiac Tour. It’s an 8-hour tour (Jokulsarlon, Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach and Secret Glacier). Misty, do we know what time they are picking us up from the port? Depending on timing, we might be able to jump on the 8:30 a.m. Viking tour for a bit.

Friday July 26th—Heimaey, Westman Islands

• Boat is in port from 10-6. There are 2 different Viking tours and we are on different ones or not on ones at all. And what I have learned is that you can actually only book one of the two anyway. DO WE WANT TO TRY AND GET ON THE SAME TOUR?

• There are also lots of hiking options here. Walking to fiery mountain (per Steve, 90 min to walk up/down mountain). Hike to puffins (approx 3 hrs). Peg also found some hiking options. To be discussed further.

Sat July 27th—Reykjavik

• Boat is in port VERY early and they will typically give you disembarkation instructions the night before. People catching flights will have to be off first so hopefully we can have a leisurely breakfast and then disembark.

• Per Viking, we can leave our luggage on the boat for the day, but Peg also found luggage storage options if needed. Her recommendation is the bus terminal near the domestic terminal (not international terminal which is further out, and I think the domestic terminal is near the rental car place).

• Day to explore anything in Reykjavik that we missed before. Car is available starting at 5:00 p.m. (I think). Misty is picking up her RV on the 27th, as well (near the int’l terminal?).

• Drive to AirBnB in Selfloss on Saturday evening.

Sunday July 28th—Golden Circle Tour

• All-day tour with Benni, including the Pingvellir National Park (longer route), the Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss waterfall (both viewing areas), tomato farm, skalholt church, Keri’s crater. Estimated to be about 10 hours on the tour. $800 total for group if we pay in cash (plus tip). He has been very responsive and accommodating to Peg, and he was highly recommended by someone she knows, so it should be a great day. Final logistics TBD, but he is willing to start in Selfloss.

• Selfloss AirBnB for a second night.

Monday July 29th—Drive to Vik

• There is further discussion to have here, but there are lots of places to explore between Selfloss and Vik: Seljalandsfoss Waterfall (where you can walk behind), Eyjafjallajokull Volcano area, Skogafoss Waterfall (500 stairs and a hike), Solheimajokull Glacier, Dryholaey Promontory (beautiful views), Reynisfjara Black Sea Beach.

• We all have hotel reservations in Vik for the night of the 29th (except Misty who is in her RV somewhere).

Tuesday July 30th—Vik and back to Reykjavik

• There is further discussion to have here. We can do the Kalta Ice Cave Tour, drive east of Vik to the Eldhraun Lava Field (largest in the world) and/or the Fjarargljufur Canyon, do horseback riding on the black sand beach, walk on a glacier. Our one requirement is to return the car to Reykjavik by 5:00 (dropping Peg off in Selfloss en route). Vik to Reykjavik without stops is about 2.5 hrs.

• Kelty’s and Berger’s spend night in Reykjavik (perhaps Peg can transfer her hotel reservation to Karen/Steve). We need to figure out whether we Uber/taxi to airport on Wed a.m. or pre-book service. There are only the 4 of us.

Agenda for our next call:

• Moving any Viking tour times, options for days where we have extra time (or just wait and play by ear based on weather), group specialty dining (opens May 21), options for drive to Vik and excursions in/near Vik.

Thursday, February 17th

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Thursday, February 17th

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Thursday, February 17th

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Thursday, February 17th

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