Discussion: Q&A

Please post your questions and suggestions here. Thank you for your interest!

Early bird registration is now open: https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=16922&lan=1&a...

Would it be possible to do part of this tour on my way to WMOC in Copenhagen? (WMOC Sprint qualifiers start on July 7th.)

Brooke, yes. I will calculate you registration fee and your share of the motor coach lease fee accordingly. You might end up needing your own ride to the airport on the way to Copenhagen if it does not fit the collective schedule, or you could rent a car on your own and be completely independent but less relaxed!

OK, thank you for the information! I will contact you if I decide to attend both events. :-)

I’ve got quite a few cost break-down questions. Here is how it works: early bird fee (until midnight of December 31, 2017) -- $75 per participant, regular fee (until midnight of April 30, 2018) -- $95 per participant, late fee (until midnight of June 24, 2018) -- $115 per participant.
The registration fees will be used to purchase and print the maps, and for the courses design and logistics. Everything else will be on the cost-sharing basis. The price for the 53-seater motor coach per day comes to about 2, 000 CAD (40-50 CAD per person depending on how many we are).
I highly recommend getting the plane tickets with WOW air: there are direct flights from Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Washington, Cleveland, Pittsburg, Miami, Cincinnati, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, LA, San Francisco, Copenhagen, London, Paris …and many more. The company also offers group reservations matching the best on-line prices, I have booked 12 tickets from Montreal (please let me know if you’d like to join the group). For lodging, I recommend booking with Airbnb, ASAP. There will be 2 pick-up locations, at the parking lots of 2 public swimming pools: Laugardalsaug and Árbæjarlaug.
The advantage of renting an apartment is avoiding eating out: one of the major expenses in Iceland. Alternative to Airbnb: Rejkyavik Campsite: http://www.reykjavikcampsite.is/
Cost calculation example: my family of 4. Registration 75$ x 4 = 300, Air fare (seats reserved, 1 checked luggage bag per person): 660$ x 4= 2640$, bus fare share assuming we are 40 in total: 50$ x 7 x 4 = 1400$, food 25$ x7 x4 = 700$, lodging 6 nights 1,500$. Total 6,540$ or 1,635 $ (Canadian) per person. Most of the attractions are free, public pools maximum 10$ per adult. Do not plan to purchase any gifts: the prices are scary, but the last time I brought a whole bag of lava rocks and other minerals and everybody was happy.
So if you have more questions, ask away! If not, give your Orienteering-loving self the best Xmas gift ever: register! http://azimutoc.ca/

---To be clear, your flight arrives the morning of 6/30 and departs 7/6? We would basically just need to pay you the registration fee plus our share of the daily cost of the group bus, and then make our own arrangements for flight and lodging (thanks for the links on that)?

---Yes for our arrival/ departure 6/30 and 7/6. Yes for paying the registration and share of the bus fare.

For the transfers, if we have a larger group arriving on the 29th, another airport transfer could be arranged with Reykjavik Excursions for a smaller bus and less $. Taxi prices are ridiculous. Car rental for a day would be another option. Flybus is a good option too.

For your rental apartment, I suggest looking for "superhosts", some of them actually offer the airport pickup, flexible check-in time is always great when you arrive early.

For the airlines, I made an extensive search last year. WOW is indeed the cheapest option. They have mixed reviews, but mostly because of the winter weather: it is famously bad in Iceland, so the layoffs are a nightmare. But summer should be just fine. The long stop in Keflavik is great for a Blue Lagoon tour: needs to be booked beforehand. I did not include it in our program because it is quite expensive, but looking at the prices today: Icelandic crona is super-low so if booked now, prices are great.

When booking with WOW, pay attention that check-in and carry-on are not included. I chose to pre-book the check-in to have my hands free, and one can still have a small "personal item" like a computer or even your bathing suit if planning to go to the Blue Lagoon. I also pre-booked the regular seats if the front section to be sure to travel with my friends. We flew with WOW last year, and it was worry-free. Their fleet is brand-new.

Take care

Map and terrain galleries now online:
http://azimutoc.ca/

Two messages:
5 spots left with WOW air from Montreal: QC,Ottawa, and UNO folks: hurry!

Second: detailed schedule is here:

June 30, Saturday
5:00 Arrival at Keflavik airport, breakfast at the airport
6:30 Pick-up by the coach
7:00 Bridge between continents 30 min stop
7:40 Reykjanes Lighthouse and Gunnuhver Hot Springs 60 min stop
9:00 Grindavik public pool or free time at Grindavik for 2 hours
11:15 Leaving Grindavik
11:30 Selatangar ruins 30 min stop
12:30 Krysuvik geothermal area 60 min stop
14:00 Kleifarvatn lake 20 min stop
15:00 Costco/Bonus stop for groceries 60 min stop
16:00-17:00 Drop-off to the exact addresses


July 1, Sunday
9:00 Pick-up by the coach at Laugardaslaug parking lot
9:15 Pick-up by the coach at Arbaejarlaug parking lot
10:00 Training at Vifilsstadahlid
12:00 Lunch at the training location
14:00 Leaving training location
14:10 Visit Mariuhellar caves 30 min stop
15:00 Training at Galgahraun
17:15 Leaving training location
17:45 Drop-off by the coach at Laugardaslaug parking lot
18:00 Drop-off by the coach at Arbaejarlaug parking lot


July 2, Monday
9:00 Pick-up by the coach at Laugardaslaug parking lot
9:15 Pick-up by the coach at Arbaejarlaug parking lot
9:30 Training at Raudavatn
12:00 Lunch at the training location
12:30 Leaving training location
12:50 Photo stop at Sun Voyager 10 min stop
13:10 Harpa Concert Hall 10 min stop
13:30 Hallgrimskirkja 90 min free time
15:30 Training at Perlan map, parking and swimming at Nautholsvik Beach
17:30 Leaving training location
17:45 Drop-off by the coach at Laugardaslaug parking lot
18:00 Drop-off by the coach at Arbaejarlaug parking lot


July 3, Tuesday
9:00 Pick-up by the coach at Laugardaslaug parking lot
9:15 Pick-up by the coach at Arbaejarlaug parking lot
10:00 Thingvellir site visit: drop-off at the lookout parking and pick-up 60 min later at the Peningagja parking
11:45 Lunch and training at Úlfljótsvatn
14:00 Leaving training location
14:30 Hiking and bathing at Hveragerdi Hot Spring Thermal river
17:00 Leaving Hveragerdi
17:45 Drop-off by the coach at Laugardaslaug parking lot
18:00 Drop-off by the coach at Arbaejarlaug parking lot


July 4, South Coast Adventure day (Wednesday)
8:00 Pick-up by the coach at Laugardaslaug parking lot
8:15 Pick-up by the coach at Arbaejarlaug parking lot
9:30 Lava Centre 30 min stop: visit exposition, coffee shop, gift shop
10:20 Seljalandsfoss 30 min stop: path behind falls (be prepared to get wet)
11:30 Solheimajokull Glacier: 60 min stop: hiking + lunch (bring lunch)
13:00 Black sand beach Vik: 60 min stop: walk the sand dunes and look for puffins on the cliffs
14:15 Reynisfjara beach: 30 min stop: a few surprises await
15:15 Skogafoss: 45 min stop: hike up 370 steps (optional)
17:00 Icelandic HorseWorld 90 min stop: visit Icelandic horse farm
19:45 Drop-off by the coach at Laugardaslaug parking lot
20:00 Drop-off by the coach at Arbaejarlaug parking lot


July 5, Thursday
9:00 Pick-up by the coach at Laugardaslaug parking lot
9:15 Pick-up by the coach at Arbaejarlaug parking lot
9:30 Training at Heidmork
12:00 Lunch at the training location
13:30 Leaving training location
13:40 Training at Raudholar
16:30 Leaving training location
16:45 Drop-off by the coach at Laugardaslaug parking lot
17:00 Drop-off by the coach at Arbaejarlaug parking lot


July 6, Friday
10:00 Pick-up by the coach at Laugardaslaug parking lot
10:15 Pick-up by the coach at Arbaejarlaug parking lot
10:30 Training at Ellidaardalur and visiting the Arbaer Open Air Museum
12:00 Lunch at the training location
13:30 Leaving training location
14:00 Airport transfer

Take a break from ticks, mosquitoes and black flies! Enjoy 8 gorgeous maps and 2 full days of visiting waterfalls, lava fields, glaciers and black sand beaches. 2 days left to register. 5 seats left on the coach.
http://azimutoc.ca/news/kingdom-ice-fire-iceland/