Gyr Falcon Keith Offord. Iceland with Wild Insights Land of Geysers and Gyrs 24th June 4th July The Ultimate Travel Company Escorted Journeys

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1 Gyr Falcon Keith Offord Iceland with Wild Insights Land of Geysers and Gyrs 24th June 4th July 2016 The Ultimate Travel Company Escorted Journeys

2 Iceland with Wild Insights With Keith and Linda Offord 24th June 4th July 2016 Contact Sophie Lonsdale Direct Line Telephone Fax Snaefellsness Peninsula Keith Offord

3 Detailed Itinerary We return north for this mid-summer holiday to the land of geysers, glaciers, volcanoes and a sun that doesn t really set at this time of year. During this extended ten-day programme we will be exploring three top areas for birds including the Snaefellsnes peninsula, Þingvellir and Lake Myvàtn. Red-throated and Great Northern Divers in vibrant summer plumage, Red-necked Phalarope, Harlequin Duck, Whooper Swan, Slavonian Grebe, Snow Bunting, Gyr Falcon and a host of breeding waders and seabirds are just a few of the spectacles on offer. There will also be an opportunity to do a boat trip from our third base near Husavik, regarded as the whale-watching capital of Europe. Harlequin Duck Keith Offord Black tailed Godwit Keith Offord Day 1: Saturday, 24th June London / Keflavik Depart Manchester or Heathrow on a lunchtime flight, arriving in Rekjanes mid afternoon. Transfer to the Icelandair Hotel where two nights are spent. The hotel is very conveniently situated in Keflavik, minutes from the airport so on arrival we can make the most of the remainder of the day and explore the Rekjanes Peninsula. Day 2: Sunday, 25th June Keflavik Full day to explore the local area. We should see our first breeding waders such as Golden Plover, Snipe, Redshank, Whimbrel and Dunlin. Snow Buntings and Ptarmigan can also be found in this area and there is a large Arctic Tern colony nearby. Sea-watching at Gardur can be very rewarding with skuas, auks, shearwaters and Gannets all passing by. Day 3: Monday, 26th June Hellnar With a journey ahead of us we will set off after breakfast, stopping at some pools near Njardvik where we might see our first dainty spinning Red-necked Phalaropes after which we bypass Rekjavik and take the road north towards Snaefellsness via the Myrar peninsula. The journey itself is fascinating with stunning scenery and roadside pools with Red-throated and Great Northern Divers.The occasional. Arctic Skuas can be found breeding on rough grassland and are unpopular with the breeding Arctic Terns. Our route takes us along the south of the Snaefellsness Peninsula where we may find Slavonian Grebes in summer plumage. Bizarre volcanic rock formations add further fascination to this route. Check-in to the idyllically positioned Hotel

4 Hellnar where three nights are spent. Overlooking the sea on one side and the glacier on the other, this is one of the most attractive spots on the peninsula. The hotel is ideal simple yet very comfortable with good food. Days 4-5: 27th 28th June Hellnar The whole of the next two days will be spent around this stunning area where we will explore sea-bird colonies as well as wild volcanic landscapes where Golden Plover, Whimbrel and Purple Sandpipers can be found breeding. The dormant Snaefellsnes volcano and glacier presents an awesome backdrop as we visit various sites around the peninsula including the auk colony near Hellissander where we will look for Brunnich s Guillemots amongst the masses of Common Guillemots (with bridled race amongst them) and Razorbills. We may encounter our first gaudiliy-plumaged Harlequin Duck as the first drakes arrive on the sea from their breeding grounds. Out to sea we might sight the occasional Orca Whale and seals are relatively common. Under the glacier we will also look out for one of Icelands few land mammals, the Arctic Fox. There are numerous gulls to be checked in the area including the impressive Glaucous Gulls which breed on the massive cliffs on the way to Stykkishólmur and, very occasionally, Iceland Gull. We will also take a delightful boat trip around the islands of the Breiðafjorður, a bird paradise with multitudes of Puffins, Kittiwakes, Fulmars and a good chance of a close-up White-tailed Eagle. The trip is also rich in history, folklore and some of the most extraordinary geology in the country. Ptarmigan Keith Offord Red-necked Phalarope Keith Offord Days 6-8: 29th June 1st July Myvàtn Today we head east across to Myvàtn, one of the most famous birdwatching sites in Iceland. Our journey takes us along the north coastline of Iceland, through vast mountain passes and around endless fjords. We will make stops along the way to scan but aim to get to our destination in good time. Check-in to the Hotel Reynihlid where three nights are spent. The leading hotel in the region, it offers a combination of very comfortable accommodation and excellent food, all within sight of the lake. The following two days will be spent exploring the whole area which is well-known for large numbers of breeding wildfowl including Long-tailed Duck and Common Scoter while the rivers hold Barrow s Goldeneye and Harlequin Duck, Iceland being the only European country where these two species can be found. Slavonian Grebes and both divers also breed on the lake. One of Iceland s emblematic species is the mighty Gyr Falcon which hunts duck and Ptarmigan and with patience we have a reasonable chance of a sighting in this area. Weather permitting we will also take a second boat trip from Husavik which gives us the best chance anywhere to see whales.

5 Days 9-10: 2nd 3rd July Selfoss We travel back south today to Þingvallavatyn, an enormous lake west of Reykjavik. Check-in to the Hotel Grimborgir, where two nights are spent. Surrounded by unspoilt country, just 40 minutes from Reykjavik and very close to the outstanding Þingvellir National Park, Hotel Grimsborgir combines high-standard accommodation with perfect position. This area is steeped in history and since 930 this was for centuries the site of the Alþing, the world s oldest parliament. It is also of immense geological interest with a massive fissure marking the meeting of the tectonic plates of Europe and America. It is also one of the most spectacularly beautiful areas and from the southern end of the lake flows the river Sog flows where we will be looking out for Harlequin Ducks. The north end of the lake is frequented by Red-throated and Great Northern Divers in their summer magnificence while surrounding moorland is home to the Icelandic race of Black-tailed Godwit in its finest livery, Redwing and Ptarmigan. Merlins are also present in this area and at this time they are very active feeding medium-sized young. During our time here we will also visit Laugarvatn, the waterfall at Gullfoss and the hot water spout at Geysir all of which are excellent birdwatching sites. Day 11: Monday 4th July Keflavik / London Morning flight from Keflavik back to London Heathrow or Manchester Airport.

6 Tour Price COST PER PERSON: 3,250 Single supplement: 600 Please note that the minimum group size for the tour is 6 and the maximum is 12 The tour cost includes: economy class international scheduled flights air passenger duty, passenger service charge, airline security charges, airport taxes and fuel surcharges where applicable accommodation throughout as shown in the itinerary all meals all entrance fees, visits and excursions as per the itinerary all transportation as detailed in the itinerary all tips the services of your tour leaders throughout The tour cost does NOT include: travel insurance items of personal expenditure (e.g. alcoholic drinks, telephone calls / laundry etc.) government levies or taxes introduced after costing and publication of this programme on 03/08/15 Changes to the Itinerary Please note, that certain elements of this itinerary, and/or the order of events, may well be subject to alteration due to circumstances beyond our control. Fitness to travel The pace will be relaxed throughout. There will however be walks, generally no longer than 4 Km, at a gentle pace, mostly on level gradients but occasionally over uneven ground. Opportunities will be taken routinely to stop. A reasonable level of mobility is required throughout. Whilst we do not impose any age limitations on joining a tour, participants must be reasonably fit. The very nature of the activities involved in our tours (and the difficulties of direct access by vehicle in various places) means that a certain amount of walking and standing is unavoidable on almost all tours. We regret that our tours are not suitable for people who have significant difficulty in walking, may require wheelchair assistance at any time, or are unable to keep pace with the group. If you are in any doubt as to the suitability of a tour, please make this known to us before you book and we will advise you accordingly. The Ultimate Travel Company reserves the right to decline a reservation without necessarily giving a reason. Airline Tickets As a tour operator we have access to special airfares. While these offer good value, they do carry certain restrictions applied by the airline. Please ask us for details.

7 Note: If you are thinking about using air miles to upgrade to a premium cabin on the flights, please check with us first as fare restrictions might not permit this. Health Requirements As we are not medical experts we advise that you contact your doctor or local health authority for up-to-date medical advice. We would advise that all your routine vaccinations are up-to date prior to travel. No special precautions are required for travel to Iceland, and no inoculations are compulsory, although a Yellow Fever certificate is required if you have travelled within an infected area recently. A number of inoculations are recommended in certain circumstances hepatitis A and B, polio, tetanus, typhoid, diphtheria & TB and Japanese B encephalitis. Passport and Visa Information Passengers should hold a full passport, which should have at least six months validity after the date of your return. FCO Advice Travel advice issued by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office can be viewed at

8 Yew Tree Farmhouse, Craignant, Selattyn, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 7NP Tel: Web: Wild Insights overseas tours are part of a wider programme of Ultimate Travel Company holidays worldwide, and their terms and conditions apply. The Ultimate Travel Company is fully licensed and bonded with ABTA and IATA and all their overseas tours are fully protected by their Civil Aviation Authority ATOL Licence, number 5111.