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Iceland Travel offers flightseeing tours over volcanic eruption

Iceland Travel offers flightseeing tours over volcanic eruption
Iceland Travel’s cruise team received permission Wednesday to run private flightseeing tours to witness Iceland’s most recent volcanic eruption at Holuhraun located at the edge of Iceland’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull.

‘We have been extremely busy over the last few days to see if it was possible to arrange this and are excited to hear the news that we can actually do it,’ said Iceland Travel’s Liz Gammon, manager of shore excursions and cruise services.

It is impossible to tell how long the eruption will last, or how long the lava will continue to flow, but on September 3, the day permission was granted for the private flightseeing tours, the volcano was still spewing lava,’ she added.

A 40 minute flight from Reykjavik’s domestic airport takes passengers directly to the eruption site where the aircraft will circle and offer aerial views to witness a live volcanic eruption. 12 passengers (all with window seats) will spend 20 minutes circling the site before taking the 40 minute return to Reykjavik airport, remarks Gammon.

Gammon told Seatrade Insider the tour has been offered to Royal Caribbean International for upcoming Reykjavik overnight stays on Brilliance of the Seas(September 7/8) and Legend of the Seas (September 15/16). The line is waiting for confirmation of protocols in place for flightseeing over the site before putting it on sale, she said. Gammon has also offered it to Silversea for a call in two weeks time. 'It can run evening’s too as the eruption is more spectacular then,' she added.

The tours will run as long as the eruption lasts and safety permits.