A great day tour through the Southlands, balancing of spectacular scenery with important cultural sites.
The South of Iceland has many spectacular natural sites, including majestic waterfalls,sprawling mountaintop glaciers with volcanoes lurking underneath and powerful rivers. Small communities dot the fertile pastoral landscape. This also setting for one of Iceland's most significant ancient works of literature, Njal's Saga, an epic story of the friendship of two men. One is the prophet, Njál of Bergthórshvolli and the other is the heoroic chieftain, Gunnar of Hlíðarenda. Their wives were arch-enemies who conjured up schemes of tretchery and violence, yet although the husbands pay high prices for these, they still remain friends. Family loyalty, clan feuds, blood vengence, reconcilliation and the fulfillment of prophecy are all set in the broad panorama of the Southlands. Readers of Njal's Saga will find many of the story's significant sites on this tour, from the homestead of Gunnar, to the raging river, Markarfljót, and the mountain, Stóri Dimon. As befits any major story, Njál's Saga takes place in a magnificent setting. Everywhere one looks there's a waterfall, a mountain or a glacier acccenting the scene. Our tour explores the terrain of Njál's Saga and, if taken in the summer or on other weekends, we will we visit the IcelandicSaga Centre in Hvolsvöllur, to learn more about Njál's Saga and the beautiful setting where it takes place.
Farther east, our tour arrives at Skógar and we visit a collection of well-preserved homes and buildings from by-gone times, that show how dwellings in Iceland have evolved over the centuries. Nearby Skógarfosss waterfall is a scenic bonus on this trip.
Stóri Dimon, a fateful site in Njál's Saga
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Eyjafjallajökull from Bergþórshvoll, Njál's homestead
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Price: €147, minimum of 2.
Included: Certified English-speaking driver-guide, visits to Seljandsfoss, Fljótshlíð Valley, Markarfljót River, Icelandic Saga Centre (in season), return to hotel(s).
Not included: food or refreshments - lunch eg. at a café along the way, or perhaps purchase sandwiches at Hvolsvöllur
Duration: 7-8 hrs depending on museum visits, roads, weather, etc.
Price subject to change due to currency fluctuation and rising fuel costs.
