Archived from the original tour planning site. Preserved for reference.
Iceland Itinerary, July 1 – July 9, 2022
Sing with the New Hampshire Friendship Chorus and discover sensational scenery and extraordinary natural wonders in “The Land of Fire & Ice”.
Day 1: July 1, Friday
Arrive Keflavik at 9:40pm (FI #634). Upon arrival, there will be time for duty-free shopping before exiting the airport. Meet our local guide and transfer to the Center Hotel Grandi for 3 nights. Enjoy an included light dinner at the hotel. (D)
Day 2: July 2, Saturday
Golden Circle Tour: Join our guide and head to the Golden Circle region. Begin with a visit to Þingvellir National Park, the site of the world’s oldest democratic parliament, founded in 930 AD. Þingvellir is the site where the North American and European tectonic plates meet at the dramatic Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Explore Gullfoss, the “Golden Waterfall,” and the nearby Geysir area to see the famous erupting Strokkur Hot Spring. A stop will be included at Friðheimar Farm for an included lunch of tomato soup with freshly baked bread, and a chance to meet the farm’s Icelandic horses. Evening: walk to Harpa Concert Hall for the Nordklang Choral Festival, organized every three years, attracting choirs and vocal ensembles from across the Nordic region. (B, L)
Day 3: July 3, Sunday
Leisure time in Reykjavik — explore the waterfront and view the “Sun Voyager” sculpture, visit Hallgrimskirkja Church, or learn about Iceland’s history at the Settlement Exhibition or National Museum. Late afternoon rehearsal, followed by a collaborative concert in the evening. (B, Pre-Concert Light D)
Day 4: July 4, Monday
Travel to Akureyri: Drive north via the Hvalfjörður tunnel to Borgarnes, then on to Skagafjörður fjord — the only county in Iceland where horses outnumber people — and over the highland plateau of Öxnadalsheiði to Akureyri, capital of north Iceland (3 nights). Stops include the Icelandic Seal and Wool Centres in Hvammstangi and the Flugumýri Horse Farm. (B, L)
Day 5: July 5, Tuesday
Diamond Circle Part 1: Goðafoss (“Waterfall of the Gods”), Lake Mývatn Nature Reserve with its pseudocraters and lava pillars, the Námaskarð geothermal field, and Dettifoss, one of Europe’s biggest waterfalls. Evening concert at Akureyri Church. (B, L)
Day 6: July 6, Wednesday
Diamond Circle Part 2 & Whale Watching: Húsavík, the “Whale Capital of Iceland” and oldest settlement in Iceland — a 3-hour whale watching cruise, then on to Ásbyrgi, a forested horse-shoe shaped canyon in Vatnajökull National Park. Late afternoon: informal concert TBA. (B, L)
Day 7: July 7, Thursday
Tröllaskagi & Siglufjörður: The Troll Peninsula, one of Iceland’s most extraordinary mountain landscapes. Visit the Herring Museum in Siglufjörður, rehearse for the evening’s church concert, then the farewell group dinner overlooking the Fisherman’s Marina. (B, D)
Day 8: July 8, Friday
Main group travels to Reykjavik with stops for breaks, lunch, and sightseeing. Overnight at the Grand Hotel or similar; evening at leisure. (B, L)
Day 9: July 9, Saturday
Mid-morning visit to the Blue Lagoon, passing Geldingardalur where a volcanic eruption began in March 2021. Lunch on own at the Lagoon café. Coach continues to Keflavik for 5:15pm departure (FI #631).