Iceland & Greenland Places on the Verge ~ Butterfield and Robinson Biking and walking Since 1966

Activity Level: E-M
Start / Finish: Reykjavik / Reykjavik

The Big Melt

Places on the Verge (POV) trips are travel experiences that were created with the goal of bringing interested travellers to regions of the world under environmental strain. We get you in deep and up close, examining the challenges facing our planet, their roots and their myriad complexities.

When Erik the Red settled Greenland in 982 AD, he gave his new home its pleasant-sounding moniker in hope of attracting more settlers. What these settlers discovered was perhaps less verdant than they imagined. Yet the very feature they struggled against daily—ice—has paradoxically become a symbol of survival in the modern world. (If Greenland’s ice-fields melted completely, global sea-levels would rise a full 7 metres!). For residents of temperate zones, global warming remains an abstraction; to fully understand the effects we must head north. On this POV trip—which explores salient regions of both Iceland and Greenland via guided glacier walks, boat excursions, expert roundtables, and visits to power and research facilities—we delve deep into the icy heart of the issue, and see some of the creative solutions to the challenges ahead.

Read more about this unique trip in our newsletter The Slow Road.

Day 1 Visit the Hekla Highlands between two of Iceland’s largest glaciers, followed by an evening of lively talks on Iceland’s economic future
Day 2 Glacier walk on the Sólheimajökull glacier with a resident glaciologist
Day 3 A morning hot river hike along the Reyjdalur, and an afternoon visit to Iceland’s premiere source of green power: the Hengill Geothermal facility
Day 4 Morning flight to Greenland, afternoon fjord hike, and dinner with a local expert on Greenlandic ecology
Day 5 A full day boat excursion to witness icebergs calving off the Eqi Glacier
Day 6 Visit to the water-access-only whaling village of Rodebay, now cut off from overland access due to global warming
Day 7 A free morning for exploration and shopping, an afternoon flight back to Reykjavik, and a final night dinner roundtable with experts.
Day 8 Breakfast and farewell in Reykjavik


		Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur With a noticeable lack of timber in the country, Rangá was entirely constructed from imported Canadian lumber, from the walls to the furniture to the remarkable bar stools (watch out for them). With just 38 rooms, it is intimate and comfortable. The location sits at the mouth of the highlands with spectacular access to Hekla, one of the country’s most impressive volcanoes. This is remote Iceland at its best.
		Frost and Fire Guesthouse, Hveragerði This small hotel sits right on the banks of the steaming Varma River. The rooms, though simple, are functional and the amenities perfect for post-walking relaxation: a 12-metre pool, a hot pot on the river and a sauna with an outdoor shower to cool off. Nature abounds both in the architecture and in the cuisine; organic farm produce is on the menu for breakfast and dinner.
		Hotel Icefjord, Ilulissat Hotel Icefjord is the perfect blend of traditional Greenland and a more contemporary Arctic charm. The views are simply spectacular.
		Hotel Borg, Reykjavik The Hotel Borg dates back to 1930 and is a Reykjavík art deco landmark. Its recently renovated facilities are certainly up to 21stC standards, and it upholds its reputation for modern luxury. The building is quite lovely and very central.

Need more details? Download a detailed copy of the itinerary of this trip, which includes a day-by-day breakdown, activity level descriptions and other helpful information.

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