 iceland
THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE
THE BIRDS, CETACEANS, MAMMALS AND GEOLOGY!
Wednesday 30 July – Wednesday 6 August 2008
Price: £2010 pp
Single Supplement: £195 pp
Deposit: £300 pp
Wednesday 29 July - Wednesday 5 August 2009
Price: TBC Deposit: £300 pp
Summer is a great time for wildlife in the Land of Fire and Ice. The waders, wildfowl, seabirds and cetaceans of Iceland are justifiably world famous, and our trip is designed to show you the very best of them.
Exploring the dramatic landscapes, we seek the mighty Gyrfalcon, Red-necked Phalarope, Great Northern and Red-throated Divers, and North American birds including the dazzling Harlequin Duck and Barrow’s Goldeneye. We cover all the birdlife of this stunning and awe-inspiring land, including White-tailed Eagle, Ptarmigan, Brünnich’s Guillemot, Snow Bunting, Whimbrel, Arctic and Great Skua, Black-tailed Godwit, and hope to get some rarities as well. In 2006, we saw Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, American Wigeon and King Eider in a real waterfowl wonderland!
New for 2008 is the addition of three whale-watching trips—giving fantastic chances to see Harbour Porpoise, White-beaked Dolphin, Orca, Humpback and Minke Whales. There is also the possibility of the mighty Blue, Sperm, Fin and Sei Whales, and Bottle-nosed and White-sided Dolphins, as all these marine mammals congregate for the summer in the food-rich waters of the North Atlantic. No trip to Iceland would be complete without a chance to see these impressive animals.
This unique Heatherlea holiday has been carefully designed as a complete tour, giving you all the birds, Europe’s best cetacean searching, the magnificent volcanic scenery and the best geological sites in an unforgettable and thorough exploration of this remote northern wilderness.
With a price under £2000, this holiday represents exceptional value for a very comprehensive tour - don’t miss it!
ITINERARY CHANGE JANUARY 2008
Because of changes to flight schedules we have replaced the advertised whale cruise
on departure day with an evening whale cruise on Eyjafjörður. The schedule below has been amended to show this change, so please use this itinerary and not any version previously downloaded. Prices have also changed to reflect the new itinerary.
 
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Wed 30 July
Fly to Iceland from London and transfer from Keflavík airport to Snæfellsnes,
birding en route. Great Northern and Red-throated Divers, Ptarmigan and
Slavonian Grebe are all possible. Hotel in West Iceland.
Day 2 - Thurs 31 July
The majestic scenery of Snæfellsnes provides perfect introduction to Iceland and a
remarkable backdrop for our first day in the field. Orca, Humpback and Minke Whales, White-beaked Dolphins, Harbour Porpoise and, perhaps, the gigantic Blue, or Sperm Whale are all possible today, as we take a boat trip out into the cetacean rich waters of the north
Atlantic. Seabirds also abound, with Sabine's Gull being seen on a recent holiday. We expect to find Brünnich’s Guillemot and other auks, waders are everywhere including the Icelandic race of Black-tailed Godwit, and we will get good views of Red-necked Phalarope, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls. Hotel in West Iceland.
Day 3 - Fri 1 August
Heading north with a good chance of encountering White-tailed Eagle. We also look for Ptarmigan, Harlequin Duck, Pink-footed Goose, more white-winged gulls, and a chance of the elusive Arctic Fox in the field margins, or amongst the array of wild flowers. Hotel in North Iceland in a wonderful location overlooking the highest peaks in this part of Iceland, with Short-eared Owls quartering the fields.
Day 4 - Sat 2 August
The second of our cetacean trips, as we head out to the north. Again Humpback and Minke Whales, White-beaked Dolphins and Harbour Porpoise could be joined by something less common! Expect divers on the sea, and on inland lakes, and keep your eyes open for possibly our first Gyrfalcon. Either this evening or the next evening we will enjoy an evening whale cruise on Eyjafjörður. This will give us chances to see minke, humpback, dolphins and porpoise and
we may also arrange a very quick visit to the ptarmigan island of
Hrísey as well. Hotel in North Iceland.
Day 5 - Sun 3 August
Iceland's wildfowl spectacular! Lake Mývatn is famous for its breeding wildfowl, and we hope to catch up with a good number of species. Barrow's Goldeneye and Harlequin are found amidst the tens of thousands of more familiar duck species, and potential trans-Atlantic vagrants. Slavonian Grebe and Great Northern Diver are also found here. We should see Gyrfalcon and Merlin in the area, too. Mývatn is also very important geologically, and we shall study the impressive landscape, sculpted by millions of years of volcanic activity. Hotel in North Iceland.
Day 6 - Mon 4 August
An adventurous day's travel across Iceland's interior as we head for the south. We may visit the hot spring area of Hveravellir on the way, the dramatic glacial river falls of Gullfoss and the famous geysers at Geysir. There's a good chance of encountering Gyrfalcon, Snow Bunting and Pink-footed Goose on our journey. Hotel in South Iceland.
Day 7 - Tue 5 August
The glaciers and waterfalls of South Iceland. The tumbled moraines at the edge of these provide much of interest for botanists and geologists, whilst birds include Great and Arctic Skua and breeding waders. There will be more seabirds at the coast including thousands of Puffin, and weather permitting great views across to The Westman Islands and to the active volcano of Hekla. Hotel in South Iceland.
Day 8 - Wed 6 August
Today we depart Keflavík, and arrive back in the UK early evening.
Price includes: return scheduled flight from London - Keflavik, airport taxes, ground transportation, en suite accommodation with all meals, picnic lunches, incidental tips, and the services of Leader Andy Jones. Max. 14 clients.
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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