Highland and Thingvallavatn – 5 days – General Information
This combination tour offers the cream of Iceland’s brown trout and Arctic char fishing. Getting a chance for the giant browns in Lake Thingvallavatn and to explore the wilderness of the Icelandic Highlands in search of big Arctic char, is just the foolproof recipe for the perfect fishing tour.
Lake Thingvallavatn
Lake Thingvallavatn is the largest lake in Iceland, located only 40 minutes from Reykjavík. Thingvellir, where the Althingi, the Icelandic parliament, was established around the year 930, is a place of historic significance. The lake lies along the North Atlantic Ridge, sitting where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates separate from each other. It is also the home of the ice-age brown trout.
The giant brown trout of Thingvallavatn has evolved there in isolation since the last ice age. This legendary fish is the most coveted catch of many a fisherman, Icelandic or otherwise. Tales of battling these mighty fish are akin to fairy tales and are never forgotten by those lucky enough to play a part in them. These extraordinary brown trout can grow to a weight of over 30 lbs, and specimens in excess of 20 lbs are frequently caught in peak fishing times. In Thingvallavatn, you never know what the next cast will bring.
This full-service tour gives you everything Lake Thingvallavatn has to offer and a little more. After having fished Fish Partner’s exclusive beats in Lake Thingvallavatn you can enjoy a world-class meal in the evening and relax at Grímsborgir Hotel. The beats offer a great variety – one day you may be searching for giant browns in the deep crevasses of Kárastaðir beat and the next day casting dry flies to those monsters in shallow water at Villingavatn beat. Learn more about the beats: Fish Partner Trout beats.
The Highlands
The Highlands are truly the heart of Iceland. With its uncanny beauty and epic scenery, the Highlands offer you an experience unlike any other. Here you can truly become one with nature as the Highlands are untouched and inhabited by men. The vast wilderness – mountains, deserts, canyons, lakes, and rivers – demonstrates the powerful forces of fire and ice which have shaped the landscape on this volcanic island over centuries. Amidst all of this beauty, there is the trout and the arctic char – peacefully cruising the gin-clear streams of the Highlands as it has done from the Ice age. The experience cannot be put into words – it has to be lived.
Fishermen will fish both river Kaldakvísl and river Tungnaá. The river Kaldakvísl is truly a hidden gem. Fished only by a select few, Kaldakvísl has now been made exclusively available only to the customers of Fish Partner. Diversity and contrasts are the river’s main characteristics. On the 12 km (16 miles) beat, one can find beautiful waterfalls, great canyons, fast water, slow water, rocks, sand and so much more. The river is full of arctic char, their size averaging at 3-4 lbs, although char weighing up to 7 lbs can be found there, as can big brown trout.
River Tungnaá is gin-clear spring water flowing into beautiful micro canyons area along with traditional fast and slow running pools, filled with big Arctic char. This smallish, south Iceland Highland trout stream is probably one of the best-kept trout secrets in global angling. It is a technical river where stealth, among other attributes, is needed. The quarry is native brown trout and monster chars. They are on average 2-5 pounds, with the monsters ranging to 10 pounds.
In the evenings, after having enjoyed the outstanding cuisine at our Highland Fishing Lodge, you can either relax at the Lodge or take a sightseeing trip to the numerous waterfalls, canyons, and glaciers in the Highlands and of course take an unforgettable thermal swim in the hot spring stream in Landmannalaugar, or just step outside the lodge and fish the reservoir and spring creeks around
Itinerary
Day 1 – Pick up at your hotel in Reykjavík or the airport early in the morning (or another preferred time). Drive to Lake Thingvallavatn and fish one of Fish Partner’s exclusive beats with the guide. Fishing hours are optional (12 hr limit per day). Check-in at the Hotel is available from 3:00 pm (earlier if possible). Lunch at the lake and dinner at the hotel.
Day 2 – After breakfast, fish one of Fish Partner’s exclusive beats in Lake Thingvallavatn with your guide. Lunch at the lake and dinner at the Hotel.
Day 3 – After breakfast, the guide will take you to the Highlands (1.5 hrs drive). Arrive in the Highlands and fish in one of the rivers in the Highland program. Lunch by the river. Back to Fish Partner’s Highland Fishing Lodge at 6 pm for dinner. .
Day 4 – Breakfast at the lodge. Fishing between 9 am – 6 pm. Lunch by the river. Back to the lodge at 6 pm for dinner. .
Day 5 – Breakfast at the lodge. Fishing between 9 am – 6 pm. Lunch by the river. Back to the lodge at 6 pm for dinner.
Day 6 – Check out of the lodge after breakfast and transport back to Reykjavík or the airport.
What’s Included
Transportation to and from Reykjavik
Five days of fully guided fishing, including licenses
Two nights at the Grímsborgir hotel (standard double)
Three nights at Fish Partner’s Highland Fishing Lodge (double room)
Full board, all meals, and light refreshments during the day
Excluded
Equipment (rod, waders, and flies)
Wine and alcoholic beverages
Gratuities
Time of Year
Available June-August
