Midnight Sun & Arctic Foxes

What's Included

 · Boat ride to and from Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
· All food
· Accommodation at Kvíar Farmhouse
· Professional guide  

What's Not Included

 · Travel to and from Ísafjorður prior to and after the trip
· Food on the first day until the trip departs
· Personal medical insurance
· Personal equipment and clothing

Requirements

• Warm outdoor clothing including hiking pants and warm upper layers. Please avoid cotton as it keeps you cold when wet and takes a very long time to dry.
• Waterproof jacket and pants.
• Hiking boots. Please use waterproof high-top hiking boots, which provide ankle support.
• Hat and gloves.
• Small backpack.
• Personal medical kit i.e. band aids, throat lozenges, lip salves, seasickness tablets etc. Don't forget your personal medication, which you may need (e.g. Asthma inhaler, even if you don’t always need it).
• Sun glasses.
• Sunscreen and after sun cream.
• Binoculars are nice to have for watching wildlife. (Optional).
• Water bottle.
• Towel and bathing suit for the sauna.
• Personal items e.g. toiletries, spare clothing etc
• Don't forget your camera!

Text on ticket

MIDNIGHT SUN AND ARCTIC FOXES

FACT SHEET

THANK YOU FOR BOOKING WITH BOREA ADVENTURES ICELAND

A sparsely populated North Atlantic island, Iceland is famous for its waterfalls, hot springs, geysers and active volcanoes. An island of untamed natural forces, proud people, stunning nature and dramatic scenery, Iceland offers an abundance of outdoor activities for all. 

Iceland’s history began eleven hundred years ago when Norse settlers arrived to discover an island of mysterious highlands, fire spouting mountains, ice caps and endless fjords. Such landscapes invited a rich folklore, whilst the great Sagas record the stories of gods, kings and a Viking’s way of life. At the turn of last century, little had changed, the people worked the lands and seas much the same as their forefathers. 600 years of Danish rule, natural disasters, diseases and famine made the Icelanders' way of living very hard. With improvements to their fishing techniques and trade, the Icelanders have now come to enjoy some of the highest living standards in the world. 

The Westfjords of Iceland are one of the most remote parts of the country with endless outdoor pursuits available whether in the mountains, sheltered fjords or bays. The Westfjords are geologically the oldest part of Iceland, around 16 million years old but still very young compared to most parts of the world. Borea’s favorite areas are the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve with its rich history and unspoilt landscapes. There are no roads in the nature reserve and the only way venture there is by boat. Due to its remote location, it is very possible to stay there for days without meeting a single soul.

TRIP PROFILE

The bright Icelandic summer nights are the right time to see Arctic Foxes. During the daytime, they stay in and around their dens. But at night, the foxes are more active and visible. The young pups play outside the dens while their parents hunt in the mountains or along the beach.

Kvíar Lodge is an old farmhouse in the Hornstrandir nature reserve. When people abandoned the area in 1948 with their livestock, arctic foxes became the only remaining land mammals. For 65 years they have roamed the fjords and bays, free from human disturbance, making them rather tame and playful.

Kvíar is the only house for many kilometers, reachable only by boat. During the summer, we welcome guests to spend a night in the historical house and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, where nature has ruled for 65 years. 

It's a unique opportunity to visit Hornstrandir in a relatively short time frame, experience the midnight sun, learn about and feel the history of the area and see Arctic Foxes in their natural environment. 

We respect the Arctic Foxes and realize that summer is their breeding time. Therefore, we walk carefully, keep our distance and follow guidelines and rules given by wildlife specialists.

This trip is very flexible and we have various activities available. The hiking in the mountains surrounding the farmhouse is spectacular, with panoramic views guaranteed. We also have kayaks available, and a guided kayak tour is a great way to explore the untouched coastline of this remote area. However, if you prefer to curl up in the long grass with a great book while keeping an eye out for the foxes, then that is fine too!

ITINERARY

Day 1
We meet at our office in Aðalstræti 17  (downtown ma in street) at 8am for a briefing, where we will answer any questions and make final preparations. We depart from the harbour in Ísafjorður on our passenger ferry at 9am and sail to the head of Veiðileysufjorður Fjord where we´ll be dropped off. En route there is a very good chance that we’ll see humpback whales, puffins and other sea birds. Our extra luggage will be delivered to Kvíar.

After a short briefing about the history of Hornstrandir, we start our beautiful hike up the valley en route to our renovated farmhouse in Kvíar. The hike gives us a great chance to experience the lush landscape of the lowlands and the barren terrain and lakes higher up, once carved out by glaciers.

The views get better and better as we make our way up to the mountain ridges above the fjords. When we reach our high point, we slowly start our descent down the valley floor of Kvíadalur, mainly following the river and enjoy the lakes and waterfalls along the way. After a couple of hours, the house in Kvíar appears in its beautiful setting just above the beach.

We enjoy a relaxing evening with a nice home cooked meal and the wood heated sauna!

Day 2
After a hearty breakfast, we will head out for an adventure in the surrounding mountains and fjords. We normally split the day into a good hike in the morning and a sea kayaking tour into Lonafjorður fjord in the afternoon.

We will take a short walk up the valley to the mountains edge where we get a panoramic view over the magnificent Lónafjorður fjord. While keeping a close lookout for Arctic Foxes, guests can enjoy the rich birdlife around the area; from common species such as eider ducks, swans, oystercatchers and snipes to more rare birds, such as the white-tailed eagle.

After lunch, we head to the shore where we can try our skills on the water, if conditions are good. Sea kayaking is very easy and we use stable and seaworthy kayaks for a comfortable paddle. Back to Kvíar for a nice dinner and another session in the sauna.

The plan is very flexible. We can do a full day of hiking or a full day of kayaking if you would prefer. Please tell us what you’d like to do!

Day 3
On the last day, we can take a ride on our RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat). This is a small speedboat which we can use to explore the surrounding fjords. It is a great way to visit secluded spots further away from Kvíar. It’s really nice to pack a picnic and head to a beautiful spot, turn the engine off and keep an eye out for the curious seals which populate our shores.

We then head back to Kvíar and await the passenger ferry which will transport us back to Ísafjorður. The boat arrives around 6-7pm. We arrive back in town at approximately 7-8pm.

Please note that sometimes the RIB may not always be available.

This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change depending on the weather, sea conditions and the ability of the group.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Included:
· Boat ride to and from Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
· All food
· Accommodation at Kvíar Farmhouse
· Professional guide

Not included:
· Travel to and from Ísafjorður prior to and after the trip
· Food on the first day until the trip departs
· Personal medical insurance
· Personal equipment and clothing

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
· Warm outdoor clothing including hiking pants and warm upper layers. Please avoid cotton as it keeps you cold when wet and takes a very long time to dry.
· Waterproof jacket and pants.
· Hiking boots. Please use waterproof high-top hiking boots, which provide ankle support.
· Hat and gloves.
· Small backpack.
· Personal medical kit i.e. band aids, throat lozenges, lip salves, seasickness tablets etc. Don't forget your personal medication, which you may need (e.g. Asthma inhaler, even if you don’t always need it).
· Sun glasses.
· Sunscreen and after sun cream.
· Binoculars are nice to have for watching wildlife. (Optional).
· Water bottle.
· Towel and bathing suit for the sauna.
· Personal items e.g. toiletries, spare clothing
· Don't forget your camera!

TRAVELING TO ÍSAFJORÐUR
Ísafjorður is much closer than you'd think, and it's not even that expensive to get here!
Now there are many airlines with scheduled flights into Iceland. As far as we can see there are direct flights to Iceland from the following cities during the summer months and many of them the whole year: Alicante, Amsterdam, Baltimore, Barcelona, Basel, Bergen, Berlin, Boston, Copenhagen, Eindhoven, Frankfurt, Friedrichshafen, Glasgow, Gothenburg, Halifax, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Munchen, Denver, New York, Orlando, Oslo, Paris, Stockholm, Zurich.
There are a few websites that may help you search for cheap airfares into the country. Check the Travelsupermarket and the Icelandic search engine Dohop. You arrive in Keflavik International Airport about 40 minutes away from the capital city of Reykjavik. From the domestic airport in Reykjavik there are 2-3 daily 40 minute flights to Isafjordur. You can take the Fly-Bus between the airports and most of the time you can continue same day. Check out Air Iceland for schedules and special offers.
You can also rent a car and drive to Isafjordur. The drive, over mountain passes and through fjords is an adventure itself. It´s about 440-500 km depending on which route you take. A new road via Arnkotludalur opened in 2009 which completes the asphalted pathway the whole way, and kills the old myth of bad roads in the Westfjords! The drive will normally take you 5-6 hours.
For accommodation in Reykjavik there are many options of hotels and guesthouses that we can book for groups. Please ask us for individual bookings. 

We strongly recommend that you spend a few extra days visiting the West Fjords and other parts of Iceland. We're happy to help you arranging few days in the area or give you good tips about exciting things to do while in Iceland.

ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSFER
Borea can help you sort out accommodation in Reykjavík and Ísafjorður before or after the trip. We only cooperate with guesthouses and hotels with good reputation. We can also book a transfer for you from/to Keflavik international airport if you are traveling in a group. Otherwise Flybus is the best option.

YOUR FELLOW TRAVELERS
When you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely be a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone’s travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be somewhere at a certain time, ensure that you don’t keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part.

Please note that due to privacy reasons we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travellers booked on your trip prior to departure.

GROUP LEADER
From your arrival in Ísafjorður you are accompanied by knowledgeable outdoor adventure specialists. Borea only hires qualified and experienced staff with a passion for adventure and a good knowledge of the area we travel in.

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
We believe strongly in low impact or even positive impact tourism. Broadly speaking this means that we try to minimise the negative aspects of tourism on local cultures and environments that we visit, and highlight the positive aspects.

OUR PHILOSOPHY
Borea Adventures is a small company, owned and operated by people who love being outdoors and enjoy the nature and culture of the North Atlantic. We like to share our experience by giving people access to these areas through safe and fun filled adventure holidays.
Borea Adventures adheres to the principles of low impact, sustainable tourism. Our trips are “silent”, as we try not to use any motorized vehicles. We like to encourage physical activity to suit any level of ability from easy sailing and hiking through to exhilarating action sports. 
We rely on local knowledge and respect local culture. We take great pride in using only guides with a thorough knowledge of the local nature and history. For our mouth watering cuisine we use primarily ingredients from the areas we travel in.
Our priority is to guarantee our guests enjoyable wilderness experiences in perfect harmony with the environment that supports us.

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Welcome to Iceland!

Borea Adventures  ::  Aðalstræti 17  ::  400 Ísafjorður  ::  ICELAND

www.boreaadventures.com