|
by Paul Shaw, President, KTA Board of Directors
KTA and Treks & Trails International invite you to join us on another fundraising hiking trip to benefit KTA—this time to spectacular Iceland, the land of fire and ice. Iceland is an island nation bordering the Arctic Circle in the far North Atlantic about halfway between Greenland and Norway. The dates are August 5-15, 2017. Trip co-leaders are KTA President Paul Shaw and KTA Executive Director Joe Neville.
Iceland is a nation of superlatives. With superb trails leading to towering volcanoes, massive glaciers, thundering waterfalls, roaring rivers, hot springs, geysers, smoky fissures, and icebergs, it is certainly among the world’s great hiking destinations.
Our adventure starts in Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital, where highlights include Harpa, the new state-of-the-art concert hall, and Hallgrímskirkja, the skyline-dominating church built to resemble a mountain of basaltic lava. Before leaving Reykjavík, we will visit the enormous Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir hot springs, and Þingvellir, Iceland’s most historical site and the place where the North American and European tectonic plates are visibly tearing apart.
We’ll depart Reykjavík for Iceland’s magnificent south coast. Activities will include
• Hiking in Steam Valley, a geothermal area with boiling mudpots and smoky fumaroles
• A ferry excursion to the Westman Islands, with hikes to the largest puffin nesting colony in the North Atlantic and to the top of Eldfell volcano, which last erupted in 1973
• Hiking along the Skóga River, which many consider to be the world’s greatest waterfalls hike
• A visit to the fascinating Skógar Museum, which depicts life in rural Iceland
• A visit to the black sand beaches and soaring cliffs at Vík
• Hiking along Jökullsárlón, a glacial lagoon filled with calving icebergs
• Hiking to the base of the enormous Vatnajökull glacier
• Hiking in stunning Skaftafell National Park, with panoramic glacier views
On this van-supported trip, we’ll be staying in comfortable hotels and in delightful cottages on a working farm with stupendous views of the glacier. Hikes are 7 to 10 miles and range from moderate to strenuous. Options for shorter hikes will be available on most days. This trip is suitable for hikers in good physical shape.
The trip cost is $4,095 per person, double occupancy. Single supplement may be available for an additional cost. A deposit of $1,000 secures your place on the trip. The cost includes all transportation, including round-trip van transport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport from Harrisburg, round-trip airfare to Reykjavík, the Westman Islands ferry, and van transport in Iceland. Also included in the cost are 10 nights of lodging, 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, and admission to the Skógar Museum. All net proceeds benefit KTA (July’s KTA trip to Newfoundland raised more than $11,000).
For a detailed daily itinerary, visit www.treksandtrailsinternational.com. To reserve a space or for more information, contact Paul Shaw at pshaw@ptd.net or by phone 717-215-8339. We hope you can join us on this adventure of a lifetime!
|
