AESU

August 9-13 I will be traveling to Reykjavik, Iceland with AESU and through Ohio State Alumni Association.

Complete tour details HERE

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DAY 1 : WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9th, 2017

The Iceland Expedition begins with overnight flights from the US to Iceland.

Meals: In flight

 

DAY 2 : THURSDAY, AUGUST 10th, 2017 – ARRIVAL TRANSFER

Blue Lagoon / Hallgrímskirkja Church / Árbæjarsafn Outdoor Folk Museum

You will be met by your guide in the arrival hall; they will then take you to your private coach. The route leads from Keflavík airport to the Blue Lagoon, where you can take a relaxing bath in the healing mineral waters. Be sure to have your swimsuit in an easily accessible part of your carry-on. Towels will be provided. The Lagoon is a unique formation; with pleasantly warm , mineral-rich geothermal water in a middle of a black lava field. The high natural levels of silica and minerals give the Lagoon its rich blue color. The facilities include modern changing rooms and showers, an indoor geothermal pool, a winter garden, restaurants and other services. A visit to the Blue Lagoon is invigorating whether one bathes there surrounded by snow in the middle of the winter or in the long summer daylight. We stop there for approximately an hour for a memorable swim. When in Reykjavík we will have a short city sightseeing tour of the northernmost capital in the world, Reykjavík, where more than a third of the Iceland’s population lives. During this tour we will see the old town center, the Parliament, the Cathedral, the harbor, the Pearl, the National Museum and Höfði house, the summit site of 1986. We drive past the city’s Salmon River, an indicator of Reykjavík ́s low pollution levels, and the Árbæjarsafn outdoor folk museum, which offers an interesting contrast to the modern buildings of the “new” Reykjavík. Our drive continues past Reykjavik’s largest outdoor swimming pool in Laugardalur, which is heated with water from natural hot springs under the city, the Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture museum and Hallgrímskirkja Church (whose steeple is a Reykjavík landmark). The tour ends at the group’s hotel for a check-in. Meet this evening for a welcome cocktail and orientation session before embarking on our pub crawl.

Meals: Welcome Cocktail

DAY 3 : FRIDAY, AUGUST 11th, 2017 – GOLDEN CIRCLE

Gullfoss / Strokkur / Þingvellir

Depart this morning on our tour of the Golden Circle. This is a full-day round tour of the southwestern part of Iceland and includes three of the best known attractions Iceland has to offer: Gullfoss (The Golden Waterfall), one of the most impressive waterfalls in Europe with thousands of tons of icy water thundering majestically into a deep canyon; The Geyser Area, with numerous hot springs, fumaroles and geysers, including the 30 meter spouting world known Strokkur; and Þingvellir, a remarkable geological site and a historic site as well. Þingvellir is the site of the world’s oldest democratic parliament founded in 930 and the beautiful canyon running through the park is actually the dividing fault line between two of the earth’s tectonic plates. At the end of the day we head back to Reykjavík. Enjoy a free evening exploring the nightlife of Reyjkavik.

Meals: Breakfast

 

DAY 4 : SATURDAY, AUGUST 12th, 2017 – OPTIONAL SOUTH SHORE EXCURSION

Eyjafjallajökull / Skógarfoss / Reynisdrangar rock pillars

Explore Reykjavik on your free day or join us on our optional excursion to the South Shore. We drive from Reykjavik through the fertile farmlands of southern-Iceland heading towards the majestic mountains towering over the coast, among them the snow shrouded Hekla and the ice capped volcano Eyjafjallajökull, last active in 2010. Continuing on, we drive through the region where one of the best known of the Icelandic classical sagas, Njál’s Saga, is set. The South Shore is one of the most popular regions of Iceland due to the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógarfoss tumbling over high rock escarpments; The stone arch Dyrhólaey with its sheer cliffs; the picturesque setting of Vík village; and a row of glaciers towering over the scenery and the Reynisdrangar rock pillars (some say they are petrified trolls) decorating the black beach of Reynihverfi. In the evening, we head back to Reykjavík after a memorable day. This evening you will enjoy a delicious meal at our farewell dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

 

DAY 5 : SUNDAY, AUGUST 13th, 2017

Reluctantly we say farewell to Iceland and new found friends. Jet home with thoughts of your next Young Alumni adventure.

Meals: Breakfast