Fire & ice, glaciers and high tech farming
This tour will show you – in spectacular fashion – how innovative and hardy farmers are successfully growing crops and livestock in some of the world's most challenging (and stunningly beautiful) regions.
The Netherlands offers a very refined start to this itinerary with its rich culture and hi-tech farming before we then venture off the well-worn road and into the remote reaches of Iceland and Norway. Stories of Icelandic arable farms surviving volcanic eruptions in the back paddock through to Viking rampages and troll roads in the Norwegian fjords, make this tour an unforgettable journey.
There are many independent tour options to consider both pre and post farm itinerary. In the past, ARCTIC SMALL SHIP CRUISE OPTIONS have been very popular ... but you need to be quick!
These include land and ship-based visits to Svalbard (home of the Global Seed Vault), the magnificent Arctic wilderness, stunning scenery and wildlife viewing (polar bears, whales etc).
As an example, there is currently a 6-day Arctic/Svalbard cruise offered by the Small Cruise Ship Collection which can link in both before and after this itinerary.
Be warned: These small ship cruises tend to fill up very rapidly so if you are interested, please contact Greenmount Travel as soon as possible.
Tour leader: Lloyd O’Connell 0428 724 615
The tour departs various Australian capitals for Amsterdam.
There is the option to leave a day or two earlier to break this long journey with a stopover on the way or to arrive in Amsterdam ahead of the main group.
On arrival in Amsterdam, we are met by our local guide and transferred to our city centre hotel. After a well-earned freshen-up we have a welcome lunch and then a chance to stretch our legs with a guided walk around some nearby sights.
Some more guided touring of Amsterdam this morning before heading out of town to visit some intensive agricultural operations. The Netherlands is a world-leader in autonomous farm machinery and precision agriculture technology – we will visit some of the manufacturers exporting their technology to Australian broadacre farmers.
More agricultural and cultural visits this morning before a free afternoon and evening in Amsterdam.
We transfer to the airport this morning (lunch at your leisure at the airport) before a 3 hour flight north to Reykjavik, Iceland. On arrival we are given an orientation tour of this amazing city while learning more about the fascinating history of Iceland. We enjoy an early dinner leaving time to do some of your own ‘daylight’ exploration.
We set out this morning on our anti-clockwise journey around the famed Icelandic Ring Road. Over the next five days we will discover some of the scenic and cultural gems of this remote island. Waterfalls, ancient Viking parliament sites, amazing geothermal activity and glaciers are just some of the highlights. We will also call in on a number of farms and meet with some of the more tenacious farmers on the planet.
One such farm is ‘Thorvaldseyri’ operated since 1960 by Olafur Eggertsson and his family. The Eggertssons farm grain and hay crops to support their dairy and cattle operation – all in the shadow of the Eyjafjallajokull Volcano. An eruption of this volcano in 2010 shut down European and trans-Atlantic air traffic for two weeks and covered the Eggertsson farm in tonnes of ash. Olafur Eggertsson will give us a first-hand account of farming under extreme and highly unusual environmental conditions – as a bonus, we might even learn how to pronounce the volcano’s name!
We continue onto Vik – a remote southern seafront village in the shadow of Europe’s largest glacier, Mýrdalsjökull. Here the beaches have black pebbles and the basalt columns and offshore rock formations add to the dramatic location.
We continue along the southeastern coastline crossing Eldhraun – the largest lava flow recorded on the planet. We arrive at the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur for overnight.
This morning we cross over the Skeidararsandur sands to Skaftafell. This is a beautiful glacial area where we will visit the the stunning Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon – the birthplace of icebergs. We will also enjoy magnificent views of mighty Vatnajokull, Europe‘s largest glacier.
We then gain altitude as the glacial landscapes give way to magnificent fjord views. We cross the Almannaskard pass offering views of the majestic coastline where towering mountains plunge vertically into the sea. We also encounter remote coastal fjord and farming villages on our way to the Breiddalsvik region, tucked between breathtaking coastal mountains and black sand beaches, for overnight.
We head north today and cross the vast emptiness of the highland desert plateau. We will stop at Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall before continuing on through Namaskard pass with its boiling mud pools and vibrant colours. We also visit the beautiful Lake Myvatn – home to more species of ducks than any other place on Earth – and also call in on the magnificent Godafoss falls.
Today we also visit Laufás farm and its beautifully maintained turf houses. Laufas has been a farm dating back to the 16th century. During the 19th century more than 20 people lived on the farm – this was the workforce required to harvest the many resources this remote and harsh region offered. One important resource was the down of the eider duck.
Overnight in the peaceful rural surroundings of the Reykjadalur Valley.
We continue onto Akureyri, Iceland’s ‘northern capital’. This is a colourful coastal town with charming buildings and a beautiful view of the Eyjafjordur Fjord. We visit some town sights before continuing along the coastal roads of Eyjafjordur and the Troll Peninsula. This is a beautiful drive along steep mountains with amazing views over the Arctic Sea and black sand coastline. We arrive at the town of Siglufjordur, set in a beautiful fjord of the same name. Siglufjordur has some of the finest timber buildings in the country.
We have reached the most northerly point (66°N) of our adventure around Iceland. We visit the Herring-Era Museum. During the early 20th century, Siglufjordur was transformed into a boom fishing town, thanks to a large migration of herring.
We travel southwards today and into the region of Borgarnes with a farm visit introducing us to the unique Icelandic horse breed with its special fifth gait – the tolt.
We cross the Holtavorduheidi plateau through the village of Borgarfjordur and onto the beautiful town of Borgarnes. As we track southwards we enter the magnificent Hvalfjordur (whale) fjord region. We visit a sheep farm, where hand-knitted woollen jumpers are a specialty, and enjoy some scenic stops on our way to Reykavik. Then it’s a free evening where you can explore this vibrant city and its many restaurants and nightlife options at leisure.
Up early this morning for our 8.40 am flight of a little over 2 hours to the historic port city of Bergen, on Norway’s west coast. The city occupies a sheltered position between a string of islands along the coast and steep sided mountains inland. With its distinctive brightly painted wooden houses and old fishing harbour, it is one of Norway’s most attractive cities.
After arrival at Bergen airport we board our charter coach and travel along a spectacular peninsula to the Oygarden Coastal Museum. Here we learn about the challenging environmental and economic conditions confronting the lives of the local coastal inhabitants dating back to the last Ice Age through to the present day.
We also visit a nearby floating fish farm. Trout and salmon farming are major industries in Norway. Aquaculture in Norway demands millions of tonnes of feedgrain every year – and most of it is imported. We enjoy a guided tour of this modern, full-scale commercial operation before heading to Bergen for the next two nights.
We enjoy a guided tour of Bergen including the World Heritage listed Bryggen (the wharf area), the Rosenkrantz Tower and Edvard Grieg’s House.
Bergen grew up around its colourful harbour – it was the hub of commerce, seafaring and craftsmanship. The city was member of the powerful Hanseatic League which dominated trade across northern Europe for centuries.
Free afternoon to do your own exploration of this fascinating and beautiful town.
This morning we board our coach and travel northeast out of Bergen and into the heartland of the magnificent Norwegian fjords. We arrive at Gudvangen to board our 2.30 pm ferry. We cruise through the narrow and spectacular Nærøyfjord on our journey to the village of Flam. Nærøyfjord is a branch of the large Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord which extends more than 200 km inland. Towering snow-capped mountains and U-shaped valleys surround large delta farming areas which result from the accumulation of sediment supplied by the glacier rivers.
We cruise by thundering waterfalls and picturesque villages dotted along the fjord’s shores. Named one of the most beautiful fjord landscapes in the world, Nærøyfjord is on the UNESCO world heritage list.
Lunch today is at your leisure either on the ferry or at Flam (time permitting) before our train departs.
After disembarking our ferry at the village of Flam we then join one of the world’s great train journeys – the Flam Railway. The line twists through tunnels spiralling in and out of the mountain. This 40 km return journey takes in more deep ravines, cascading waterfalls, snow-capped mountains and mountain farms clinging dizzily to sheer slopes.
On our return to Flam we rejoin our bus and travel to the nearby village of Laerdal via the world’s longest road tunnel (25 km). On arrival in Laerdal, time permitting, we will tour the Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre before overnight and dinner at our hotel.
We catch our nearby ferry this morning and cruise across an arm of Sognefjord to Kaupanger. After disembarking at Kaupanger we continue onto the spectacular farming village of Fjærland which is also home to the Norwegian Glacier Museum. We have another ferry to catch this afternoon, but if we have the time we will visit the museum and learn how flowing ice has sculpted the local landscape, the fjords and the mountains. There is also a fantastic multi-screen presentation on Jostedalsbreen glacier.
We continue on to the village of Hellesylt to catch our 3.30 pm ferry bound for Geiranger. This is an unforgettable cruise along Geirangerfjord – a jewel among the world’s fjords. Wild and dramatic, Geirangerfjord cuts inland between snow-clad peaks, precipitous rock walls and cascading waterfalls before arriving in Geiranger.
We board our coach again for an unforgettable ascent (and views) as we drive over the wild mountain to Grotli and into the Valley of Gudbrandsdalen. This was part of the Old King’s road to Trondheim. The valley is encircled by mountains up to 1800 metres high and contains many small mountain farms with sheep and other livestock. We arrive at Lom for overnight.
Today we leave the magnificent fjordlands behind and enter a region of productive farms and idyllic villages with their elaborately carved wooden stave churches. We visit farms on our way south travelling through Lillehammer (site of the 1994 Winter Olympics) and onto Hamar. On the outskirts of town we call in on an arable/livestock farm and meet with the local farmers.
Hamar is located on the east shores of Lake Mjøsa, Norway’s largest lake. The landscape is dominated by rolling agricultural areas – this is considered some of the most fertile land in Norway.
Early arrival into Oslo with a full day of guided touring. Sights include the magnificent Frogner Park where the world-famous Vigelandsparken is situated. The park contains amazing fountains and sculptures created by Gustav Vigeland who worked on the sculpture park from 1924 until his death in 1943. This is a ‘must-see’ for all visitors to Oslo. We also visit the world-famous Viking Ships, the Polar exploration ship Fram (the ‘strongest ship in the world’) and the Holmenkollen Ski Jump with a panoramic view over the city and fjord.
Free evening in Oslo.
Free time in Oslo this morning before we board our coach early afternoon and travel down the Oslo fjord to the town of Larvik. At 5.30 pm we board our vehicle ferry for a 4-hour crossing of the Skagerrak, the strait connecting the North and Baltic Seas. This waterway contains some of the busiest shipping routes in the world.
At a little after 9 pm we disembark on Denmark’s Yutland Peninsula and the town of Hirtshals. Our hotel tonight is 10 minutes from where we disembark.
Own arrangements for dinner this evening anytime during the ferry journey.
The Yutland Peninsula has some of Denmark’s best farming country. We visit the nearby farm of Borglum Kloster. Privately owned by the Rottboell family, this 436 hectare farming operation happens to have an 800+ year-old, 85 room abbey as its ‘homestead’. Crops grown include wheat, barley, oats, canola and grass seed. Old Danish species of Emmer wheat and spelt are grown.
After an early lunch at Borglum Kloster we continue further south into the Yutland with farm and scenic visits on the way. We cross onto the Island of Fyn and our overnight destination, the historic city of Odense – the birthplace and home of Hans Christian Andersen. This evening we enjoy a brief ‘fairy tale’ walking tour of the city centre.
This morning we visit the 450 years old Egeskov Castle and farming estate in its beautiful location in southern Fyn. Egeskov is famous for being the best preserved moat castle in Europe. For the past 130 years the Estate has been a model of agricultural innovation including the building of its own power station and railway track to nearby Kværndrup to deliver its produce. Innovations such as these over many years has formed the economic basis for the large, modern farm that Egeskov is to this day.
In 1967, the Veteran Car Museum was opened in the Castle grounds. Over the years, the museum has been extended to include several of the surrounding farm buildings and now showcases an amazing collection of vintage cars, motor bikes, aircraft and farm machinery – doesn’t every farm have these little extras?
Then we’re off eastwards to the beautiful island of Zealand – the biggest of Denmark’s 400 plus islands – via the The Great Belt Bridge linking the islands of Zealand and Fyn. The bridge consists of several structures – a road suspension bridge; a railway tunnel; and, a box girder bridge for both road and rail traffic.
Our destination this afternoon is Skaelskor, a small town on Zealand's west coast. Historically Skaelskor was an important harbour for maritime traffic between Zealand and Fyn. Today the town is home to one of Denmark's largest breweries – Harboe. Barley and other crops grow very well in this corner of Zealand.
We travel to Copenhagen this morning – the Danish capital regularly tops world ‘liveability’ lists. This is a vibrant, modern city whose fascinating past co-exists with the very latest trends in architecture, design and fashion. And it’s one of the globe’s greenest, cleanest and most sustainable urban centres with a beautiful and squeaky clean harbour. Urban planners over the centuries have maintained a compact and accessible design making it an easy place to explore.
We enjoy a guided city tour including the Queen’s Palace of Christiansborg, the Rosenborg Palace, the Amelienborg Palace and of course, the famous Little Mermaid sculpture.
Free evening in Copenhagen.
This is one of the world’s great capitals, reflected in its dynamic new buildings and stunning shops. There’s plenty of free time today for your own sightseeing, shopping or relaxation.
We enjoy a farewell dinner this evening.
Transfer to the airport today for our flight/s to Australia.
Plenty of options available for additional travel in Europe – or Asia – before heading home.
ARCTIC SMALL SHIP CRUISE OPTIONS ... but be quick!
Includes Svalbard (home of the Global Seed Vault), magnificent Arctic wilderness, stunning scenery and wildlife viewing (polar bears, whales etc).
As an example, there are currently 6 to 8-day Arctic/Svalbard small ship cruises offered which can link in both before and after our farm itinerary.
Be warned: These small ship cruises tend to fill up very rapidly so if you are interested, please contact Greenmount Travel as soon as possible.