Day 1
Reykjavik - Embarkation
Your ship awaits embarkation at the capital of Iceland
Your adventure begins with your arrival in the exciting city of Reykjavik. Keflavik Airport is considered to be one of the most exciting hubs, which has been carved out of an Arctic desert. On the way to the city you will see lava stones covered in moss and gigantic mountains. You can also experience the city and its lively culture by visiting its top restaurants, interesting museums and quaint narrow streets before embarking the ship.
Once on board, explore the interiors of the ship and familiarise yourself with spots that promise beautiful sights in the coming days! With brief introductions, safety drills and welcome dinner, we set sail on our expedition!
Day 2
Stykkishólmur - Full Day
Experience varied scenery - lava and rock formations, glaciers, volcanic activity, cold and hot springs as we take you on walks across this beautiful town
Our exploration begins from the west side of Iceland, with our visit being to the beautiful town of Stykkishólmur. The friendly town contains well-preserved old houses in the centre and is surrounded by wonderful scenery - lava and rock formation, glaciers, volcanic activity, hot and cold springs.While our expedition team leads you all to walks across town, you can choose to join our optional excursion programs to visit the Snæfellsnes Peninsula where we will take you to interesting sites such as the Lóndrangar basalt cliffs or the black sandy beaches of Djúpalónssandur.
Day 3
Isafjörður - Full Day
Explore the Westfjords’ beautiful harbourside town
Flanked by towering mountains on all sides, Ísafjörður is a nearly perfect natural harbour and an excellent gateway to the Westfjords region. Stroll around to see the architecture, shop for a variety of local handicrafts and view some of the oldest houses in Iceland.
One of these historic 18th century buildings is home to Westfjords Heritage Museum, where you can learn about the maritime past of this fascinating port. Or if you prefer something more energetic, you could take the steep hike up to Naustahvilft – the Troll’s Throne. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts at the top by the stunning panoramic view.
Day 5
Akureyri - Full Day
Explore this lively culture town on your own or join for walk to Goðafoss waterfall
Our journey takes us to the town of Akureyri which is a lively cultural city in Northern Iceland. Located near the base of the longest fjord in Iceland, Eyjafjörður, as we cruise along the fjord, you’ll have incredible views of snow-capped peaks and a lush coastline. The fertile waters here make it one of the best places in the country to spot whales. Species including humpback, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises are regular visitors, although orcas, blue and fin whales have been seen here too. This town serves as a major centre of trade, culture and service outside Reykjavík. It is known for its botanical gardens and pretty street lights, waiting for you to be explored on foot. While outside the town you can visit the many must-see natural treasures of Akureyri which include highly active volcanic area of Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss waterfall on your own or join any optional excursions, as we stay here for the whole day.
Day 6
Husavik - Full Day
Take the opportunity to step across the arctic circle and go whale watching
Húsavík isa pleasant small town famous for its whale-watching opportunities, and we’ll be calling here in the morning. The town looks out over Skjálfandi bay, which enjoys visits from humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises and occasionally blue whales. If you’re lucky, you might see one or more of these giants at sea, and you can learn more about them at Húsavík’s Whale Museum.
Húsavík is also regarded as the gateway to many of the highlights of the north, including Jökulsárgljúfur National Park, the waterfall of Dettiffos, and the horseshoe-shaped valley of Ásbyrgi, that according to the Icelandic myths was made by the eight-legged horse of Odin. Later, we will sail along the coast of Grimsey island without landing, passing across the Arctic Circle as we do so, before continuing to our next destination.
Day 7
Bakkagerdi - Full Day
Feel the serenity of this off-the-beaten-track town, surrounded with many puffin colonies
As we turn toward east of Iceland, our first stop is Bakkagerdi, main settlement in the region of Borgarfjörður, and known for its natural beauty. Bakkagerdi is off the typical tourist track, with settlement of just about 100 people, and offers peace, quiet and lovely views. A short walk is all it will take to explore the town. You can sample freshly caught fish in one of the cafes; the tasty fish soup is a local favourite. For nature and bird lovers, this region is an absolute gem. The puffin colonies that abound the fjord. We’ll attempt to visit Hafnarhólmi, a fishing harbour home to a large Puffin colony, and some of the best bird watching in Iceland. A boardwalk and several platforms will allow you to get really close to the Puffins safely. Expect tranquility as you explore this island with our expedition team whole day on fantastic hiking trails. Shades of pink, blue, and yellow rhyolite rocks give way to lush green valleys. In any direction, you’ll be rewarded by a pristine wilderness and the sights and sounds of the prominent wildlife to be found here - birds. The coastal cliffs of Bakkagerdi are home to a wide variety of birds, including Fulmar and Kittiwake. This is also a good place to see Eider farming, which has been done for hundreds of years in Iceland.
Day 8
Heimaey - Full Day
Observe magnificent cliffs, puffins, kittiwakes, as we make landing inside the narrow harbour of this island
Heimaey, considered Iceland's Pompeii, is the largest of the Westman Islands, which are located off Iceland's south coast, and is dominated by magnificent cliffs. These form natural habitats for many different seabirds, including puffins and kittiwakes. You will notice them as our captain attempts to enter the narrow harbour of this island. The islands are also a great place for spotting whales.
In 1973, a huge volcanic eruption surprised their residents of Heimaey. It forced the entire population to evacuate and set sail to mainland Iceland. A large number of buildings were buried under lava and ash. Many were completely destroyed, but others were later unearthed and restored. An entire museum, Eldheimar, has been built around the remains of one of the homes. As our expedition team leads you on a hike over the lava, called Eldfell, or “Mt Fire, you will learn more about this volcanic history, experience beautiful views of the town below and have the winning feeling of conquering the volcano that almost wiped out the island.
A hike to Stórhöfði, south of the island, will provide you with excellent opportunities to observe nesting of approximately 8 million puffins. For those looking for some other activities, can join optional excursions in and around the island.
Day 9
Reykjavik - Disembarkation
We return back to the capital for disembarkation
We make our way back to Reykjavik, and reach the end of our journey. Its time to bid farewell to our amazing crew and the fell friends you made during your discovery travel. For those who couldn't get enough of Iceland yet, can join us on our post programs to discover the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon.