 iceland IN WINTER
ICELAND WINTER BIRDS and the AURORA BOREALIS
Thursday 26 February - Monday 2 March 2009
Price: £1125 pp
Single Supplement: £125 pp Deposit £300 pp
A tremendous long-weekend in the land of ice and fire in winter. See Gyr Falcon, Harlequin Duck, Barrow's Goldeneye, White-tailed Eagle, Ptarmigan in white plumage, chance of Brunnich's Guillemot, Little Auk and more in a very relaxed setting. PLUS we hope to see the awe-inspiring aurora borealis, or northern lights, an experience never to be forgotten! Glaciers, geysers, volcanoes, lava fields, waterfalls….. Our group size is small and we travel in a winterised 4x4 vehicle to some of the best sites in south west Iceland, accompanied by our friend Andy Jones, a very knowledgeable and experienced naturalist/guide.
Thursday: Arrival
We arrive in Iceland and transfer to our en-suite accommodation in the magnificent countryside of South Iceland. We'll call at some coastal locations on the way as we look for Iceland Gull and other wintering seabirds. Later, there's always the chance of seeing an auroral display.
Friday: Where Europe meets America – Þingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir
With around seven hours of useful daylight we have plenty of time to fill our day. Today begins with Gullfoss, considered by many to be Iceland's finest waterfall. Nearby is the famed Geysir after which all geysers are named. A dynamic gusher erupts every few minutes to a height of 30 metres. We then explore Þingvellir National Park, where for centuries the early parliament met in the open-air. The area is geologically fascinating with countless fissures and ravines bearing witness to the forces at work below the earth's surface. There may be some Barrow's Goldeneye on nearby lakes and streams, and we'll also be searching for White-tailed eagle and Gyr Falcon. Again, if weather conditions allow, we'll hope to witness a display of the northern lights.
Saturday & Sunday: Waterfalls, glaciers and the dramatic coastline of South Iceland
We’ll travel over vast glacial outwash plains to reach the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. On the coast nearby we'll look for Harlequin Duck, which winter at sea, as well as Glaucous and Iceland Gull, Grey and Common seal, and anything else that's trying to find food during the Icelandic winter. The coastline is spectacular and we'll also learn about the vigourous geology of this part of Iceland as we visit a headland created by a submarine volcanic eruption in the past. Again, if weather conditions allow, we'll hope to witness a display of the northern lights this evening.
Monday: Reykjanes
We travel to the Reykjanes peninsula for some more coastal birdwatching — Harlequin, Eider and the chance of Little Auk. We should also find over-wintering Whooper Swans and we'll search for Ptarmigan, resplendent in white winter plumage. There's also the option to take a relaxing soak in the warm waters of theBlue Lagoon geothermal spa and whilst bathing look out for the flocks of Snow Buntings that are found in the area. Later we’ll travel to the airport for our afternoon flight to London.
Fully inclusive of return flights London - Keflavik, en-suite accommodation, all meals from dinner on day of arrival to breakfast on day of departure, picnic lunches, activities as detailed and the services of Leader Andy Jones with another of the Heatherlea team if more than six clients. Max. 12 clients. Transport in winterized 4x4 vehicle.
Comfortable en-suite hotel accommodation.
Please note: all itineraries are given as a guide only. Actual
holiday content may vary according to the judgement of your guide, and
elements beyond our control (eg weather).
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