Ullarvika 2021 South Iceland Wool Week

​October 2 - 13, 2021
You must be fully vaccinated for Covid to enter Iceland

space is limited - call now!

Meet Cynthia Yanok

Having earned the reputation in the yarn industry for the past 25 years as a designer, author, and yarn shop owner, Cynthia Yanok​ has gone on to attain certification as an Icelandic Specialist. Her company, Travelin’ Along, combines her love of knitting, travel, and food, to provide specialty tours around the world. 
 
Cynthia’s patterns have been published in Vogue Knitting Magazine, Sixth and Spring books, Knit Simple, Knitter’s Magazine, Knit ‘N Style, Noro Magazine, Creative Knitting, and also by major yarn companies. She is the author of Knit It Your Way, published by Martingale and Co., and her designs appear in countless books. She has studied fashion in Italy, Germany, and France and brings these experiences to her designs and teaching. 
 
Cynthia has personally experienced Iceland and its wonderful places, people, and New Nordic Cuisine. She has partnered with her knowledgeable tour guide in designing a unique experience specifically with knitters and foodies in mind. Cynthia knows first-hand how exciting and fulfilling it is to be Travelin’ Along the Golden Circle of Iceland and she is excited to share this unique experience - 9 days of laughs, leisure, learning and a lifetime of memories. 

2021

Wool Week Itinerary

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​You must be fully vaccinated for Covid to enter Iceland
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September 27, Monday
Today is the day you board your flight to Iceland. We will book your flight for prompt arrival time at Keflavik Airport. Iceland is only a 5 hour flight from the eastern United States.​

September 28, Tuesday
On our way to Reykjavik, we will stop to boost our energy with a hot cup of coffee or tea in the cafe at Viking World. Here we will view the magnificent Viking ship, the Icelander (I’slendingur) which was sailed to New York in the year 2000 to commemorate Leifur Eiri’ksson’s journey to the New World a thousand years earlier.  https://www.vikingworld.is/  We will continue to our hotel and stay for 3 nights in the heart of the city at Hotel Óðinsvé (just around the corner is one of the stores of the Handknitting Association of Iceland!). The rest of the day is yours for rest or for exploring Reykjavik. We will meet for a reception and optional dinner in the hotel, energy permitting!
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Icelander Viking ship

September 29, Wednesday
Reykjavik has many museums, activities, and of course, plenty of shopping. The City Card is available for discounts at many of the attractions, restaurants, shops, and gives you unlimited rides on the local city bus. In the afternoon, we will meet our tour guide, Tyffi. Tyffi will chat with us about Iceland, share many stories, and tell us his own “saga” of how he turned from restaurant chef to the founder of his tour company. You will get​ to know the food and life of the locals with this customized tour around Reykjavik. The highlight of Chef Tyffi's tour is dinner in his ​own home! And it is fabulous! This dinner does not appear in the itinerary.

Tyffi with appetizers

September 30, Thursday
In the morning, we will go on a “shop hop” around the Reykjavik area. We will go to the second shop of the Handknitting Association of Iceland, as well as our other favorite stops. For the rest of the day, enjoy free time. We will guide you to the best of the best in the city and beyond!

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October 1, Friday
Check out of Hotel Óðinsvé. Enjoy the morning and early afternoon exploring the many opportunities that abound in Reykjavik! At 3:00 pm, we will travel to Guesthouse Lambastadir. We shall stop for dinner and an opportunity to shop for groceries, snacks, and beverages in Selfoss.

Guesthouse Lambastadir is a new, quiet and modern farm holiday guesthouse. It is located in the center of South Iceland, a 45-minute drive from Reykjavik. The guesthouse is family owned. They have thirteen sheep, four horses, geese, ducks, chickens and a cat. You are welcome to walk around and communicate with the animals. Breakfast is included, as well as free wireless internet. I am always asked if there are hairdryers. Yes! You are welcome to sit in the dining room during your stay. Tea and coffee are available during the day. There is a kitchen to use so you may bring whatever you’d like to eat and cook, if desired, and there is a geothermal hot tub and sauna at the property. The hot tub is always open!

October 2, Saturday
Let Wool Week begin!
Breakfast is the first order of the day. After breakfast, take some time to explore the farm and visit with the animals. In the afternoon, we will attend the opening of Wool Week! “Let’s Cast On” at Thingborg, just across the street, 550 yds from our guesthouse! We will all enjoy meeting new friends, having a coffee, and entertainment. You cannot get any closer to the event than this!

As we get closer to Wool Week, the program of classes, talks, and exhibitions will be set. Below are the activities listed for each day.

The fee to Thingborg Wool Workshop for the week is approximately US$8–10. Classes will also be extra and are based on 3-hour or 6-hour sessions. The price range will be US$50–75. Participation in the event and workshops of the wool week is not included, as all participants choose different classes. 

​In the evening hours… hot tub and sauna, Northern Lights opportunities out in nature, and of course, social knitting at Lambastadir in the evening.

October 3, Sunday
We will attend the open house at the mini-mill, Uppspuni. There will be sheep shearing, and the opportunity to pick a sheep’s fleece “on the hoof” and order your yarn from the farm at the mill! How exciting!
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A visit to Iceland is not complete without a visit to an original turf house with a food sampling from the Viking days. Islenski Bærinn is an original family farm, with the direct descendant having lived in the turf house in his youth. It is an example of the houses built of natural material, a subtle and almost seamless extension of nature itself.

Uppspuni Mini-mill

Turf house as it stands today

October 4, Monday
We have something different planned for today. Tyffi will guide us to Borgarfjörður, learning all about the Vikings on the way. Borgarfjörður is a fjord in the west of Iceland near the town of Borgarnes. We will experience a drive under the Whale Bay, then on to Deildartunguhver hot springs, Hraunfossar, Barnafossar, Reykholt, Snorri's pool, Húsafell, Hvalfjörður, and Réttarfoss.

Off the beaten path is the village of Hvanneyri. Among fjordside homes we'll find this fantastic shop, the Ullarselið Wool Center. Handmade sweaters, scarves, hats and blankets share space with skeins of beautiful hand-spun yarn, and interesting bone and shell buttons.
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On our route will also be the Istex Mill, where we will be given a private tour, and the Alafoss wool store next to it. 

October 5, Tuesday
We will spend time with Tyffi again today as he takes us on the famous Golden Circle Tour. Along this route we will visit Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, and Strokkur Geysir, just to mention a few places. When we arrive back at Lambstadir, Tyffi will teach us how to make his famous Icelandic soup!
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October 6, Wednesday
From 9 am to 4 pm, there will be workshops. At 7 pm, there will be a spinning and knitting meeting and a presentation on “feldfé”, a breed of Icelandic sheep with specially bred wool. There will be a show and tell of feldfé products from breeders and makers.

October 7, Thursday
Workshops are offered from 9 am to 4 pm. In the evening, there will be a yarn exchange and a presentation on wool as a natural and sustainable material.​

October 8, Friday
Workshops are in the morning, and the Makers’ Market is on all day. In mid-afternoon, there is “Ull Í Fat”, a spinning competition. Thingborg has scheduled dinner and a party this evening.

October 9, Saturday
Workshops are 9 am to 12 pm. Soon afterward, we will leave for Reykjavik, and say a sad goodbye to our hosts at Lambastdir. Upon arriving in Reykjavik, we will check in to Hotel Óðinsvé once again. We will have an early dinner in the hotel or other place of your choice. We will say farewell to our new-found fiber friends, pack up the extra bag with yarn, and prepare for our flights home.

October 10, Sunday
We will be transported to Keflavik for our flights home.
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THE DETAILS
Since I am a travel agent, I can customize this tour based on the individual needs of each traveler! I have included just about everything that I can think of, and have calculated the price based on the full 12 nights.

Flight guesstimates: the average of east, west, and midwest flights is currently approximately $575/pp. You will pay the actual fare that is incurred at the time that the flight is booked. I will make arrangements for each person’s flight from chosen point of departure so we will all arrive in a timely manner close together for arrival pick-up and also for the transfer to the airport on the last day.

Transfers: All touring transfers are included. Keflavik airport to Reykjavik, shop hop, all tours, transfer to Lambastadir and back, Reykjavik to Keflavik. While at the guesthouse, I will have a van so we can go into Selfoss for desired meals and shopping (both optional and additional). It is only 10 minutes away.

Hotel in Reykjavik: Hotel Óðinsvé is included. Breakfast is included daily with your stay. You may choose a single or double accommodation.

Guesthouse Lambastadir: Breakfast is included with your stay. Each person will have their own single room! I will be taking only 10 people on this itinerary.

Farewell dinner: Included.
For this package, the price is approximately $3,600, inclusive of the above. Your choices will affect your fare. It will be less if you opt for fewer days.

Please note! You must be able to walk at least 550 yards (1/3 of a mile) with your luggage. Reykjavik has closed off downtown to bus traffic, including large passenger vans.

For additional information and questions, please contact me at [email protected] or 860.689.3308. Please leave a message if I cannot answer the phone at the time of your call.
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Terms and Conditions apply and will be emailed to you before you make your deposit.
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Call Me Today and Let's Book Your Trip to Iceland!

860-689-3308