We set off early on this daytour, and start
by driving eastwards across the Hellisheiði plateau, past Hveragerði and,
turning north off the main road at Ingólfsfjall, on to the splendid volcanic
crater Kerið in
the Grímsnes county. At the old bishopric Skálholt, which was the
prime religious and spiritual centre of Iceland for centuries, we will visit the
new cathedral, which is renowned for it 's architectural splendour and acoustic
excellence.
After a short halt for refreshments
at the small village of Flúðir, we will head up the Þjórsárdalur
valley which was devastated in the year 1104 by a huge eruption in Iceland 's
most famous volcano, the Hekla.
In that valley, we can start by admiring the beautiful
Hjálparfoss
waterfall,and then visit the excavated ruins of a viking age homestead at Stöng
and thereafter visit "Þjóðveldisbærinn",
a reconstructed version of it built on top of a hill near the Búrfell hydroelectric
power-station.
To the north of the Búrfell
high dam, we will encounter scores of workers and engineers with heavy equipment
which are busy building a new extension to the existing power installations in
the area, and shortly thereafter we will cross eastwards over Iceland 's longest
river, the Þjórsá and from there hopefully catch our first
panoramic view of the impressive volcano Hekla whose last eruption dates back
to February 2000.
Crossing alongside the mountain
over vast stretches of pumice and lava fields, we will try and get a glimpse of
one of the newest lavaflows in the area at Skjólkvíar (1970),and
visit the little Hekla museum at Brúarlundur before heading back home in
the afternoon.(on the way,in case someone is interested, there are several farms
which offer riding trips to visitors)via the towns of Selfoss and Hveragerði,
with a look into the Eden
Greenhouse, and thenback to Reykjavík.
Duration of tour: 8-9
hours,
Departures: Wednesdays
at 8:30 a.m.,and by request.
Tour Price:
Price per
person, (for 4 passengers or more):
Price:
(click inside box
to select your currency).
Conditions
of sale. (please read carefully)
Services included: Four-wheel drive
transportation and guidance.
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