Tour Iceland with the ETV Endowment
Experience the birth of Planet Earth! Join ETV Endowment members on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the glorious island nation of Iceland this summer.
Amidst a stunning landscape of glaciers, mountains, craters, lava fields and geothermal reservoirs, rushing rivers and hundreds of waterfalls, we explore the spectacular wonders of nature in this pristine land.
We start with three nights in Viking country to the west, where the original Icelandic sagas were penned. The west of Iceland is known for its diversity of dramatic, natural wonders: Soaring mountains, cascading waterfalls, black sand beaches, the country’s 2nd largest glacier, basalt columns, a lava tunnel, even a picturesque fishing village -- the west has it all!
Next our private coach takes us along the South Coast to the southwestern corner of the Icelandic Highlands - one of the last true wildernesses of Europe. The smooth-edged South Coast, developed over thousands of years by volcanic ash carried south by glacial rivers creating black sandy beaches, is unique to the rest of the country’s fjord indented coastlines. Our three days here provide breathtaking views at every turn: Seljalandsfoss and Skógarfoss waterfalls, Reynisfjara black sand beach and green lava fields. You’ll take a boat ride on a glacier lagoon!
On the way back to the capital, we pass through the largest desert in Europe with dazzling multicolored rhyolite lava fields and mountains, bubbling geothermal areas and a blue lake inside a red crater. The name Reykjavik is derived from the Icelandic words reykur (smoke) and vik (bay), and the city is home to over half of the population of Iceland. Discover colorful buildings, quirky, creative people and a city loaded with art, rich culinary choices, shopping and a nightlife of renown. From here, we will make the remarkable Golden Circle Excursion, and you have the option to visit the famed Blue Lagoon.
This tour is FULL.
Please note: There is moderate to active walking on the tour, sometimes over varied, uneven or slippery terrain. You should feel comfortable participating in long days of activities. As of this writing, all passengers must provide proof of up-to-date vaccination for the Covid-19 virus, per the U.S. Center for Disease Control.