9-night A Circumnavigation of Iceland Cruise

Arrive in Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital, which lies just below the Arctic Circle. Transfer from the airport and spend the day exploring the sights, sounds, and tastes of this Arctic capital before embarking the ship in the afternoon.

Explore Iceland’s western frontier, visiting Flatey Island, a trading post for many centuries. Walk around the charming little hamlet that grew here, keeping a lookout for the seasonal puffin population on the cliffs and in the surrounding bay.

Flatey Island is located in the Breidafjordur on the west coast of Iceland. Here you will find an abundance of birds - Arctic terns, red-throated divers, and black guillemots. Watch the seas for the minke, humpback, and orca whales that frequent these waters.

Explore the beautiful and peaceful Westfjords region of Iceland. Perhaps take a hike to a remote waterfall or a Zodiac cruise alongside stunning scenery. Enter Ísafjarðardjúp and land at Vigur Island to visit the Eider Farm and learn about the down cleaning process.

Located in the Westfjords, Ísafjördur is surrounded by water on three sides, sculpted by glaciers. Explore by biking, hiking, enjoying local tastes, or photographing flowering plants in the oldest botanical garden in Iceland.

The town of Isafjord is a bona fide hive of industry. This busy fishing port runs to sizable shipyards as well as shrimp and fish factories— all ready to handle the catch of the day from the icy waters of the Denmark Strait. Recreational activities around here include hiking, kayaking, and of course, fishing.

Siglufjördur was the center of Iceland’s once-thriving herring industry. We stop by the Herring Museum for a salting demonstration and a tasting.

Siglufjordur is a quiet fishing village located within an isolated narrow fjord in northern Iceland. The small town at one point was home to 3,000 inhabitants, however since the 1950’s has drastically shrunk. Siglufjordur as of the year 2011 reported a population of only 1,206 locals. Visitors can enjoy skiing, private tours of the area as well as the Herring Era Museum which is enjoyed by many.  During the aurora spring & autumn seasons, the sky shines with vibrant neon shades that light up the charming small town. 

Continue to picturesque Akureyri, backed by snow-capped mountains. Explore the old town, with its beautifully maintained period houses, or visit the botanical garden.

Begin the day by visiting an unforgettable sight: Goðafoss, the waterfall of the gods. Next, drive to Mývatn, the most geologically active area in Iceland to experience world-class field geology. See the bizarre mud pools at Hverarönd, so hot they actually bubble, and the explosion crater at Viti in the Krafla geothermal area.

After lunch ashore, meet the ship in Húsavík, and watch for whales as we sail north to the land of the midnight sun. Take Zodiacs ashore to the tiny island of Grimsey, which lies exactly on the Arctic Circle. Here we celebrate being officially in the Arctic, in the company of nesting arctic terns, fulmars, and puffins in burrows, all bathing, courting, and fishing—another wonderful photo op.

The most interesting places to visit in Iceland are Dettifoss, Myvatn, Goðafoss, Krafla, Ásbyrgi, the park in Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, the fossils at Tjörnes, the ghost valleys of the north. Húsavík is known for being the whale watching capital of Iceland. The bird life offers unique nature experience on sea for tourists. Lundey (also known as Puffin Island) is an island colony of 100.000 puffins and other cliff dwelling birds. The beautiful garden in the center of town and the river running through it provides life for many birds. The Folk Museum has one of the largest polar bears ever caught locally. The well-timbered church built in 1907 is open for visitors during summer. The town is a starting point for sightseeing tours and one-day excursions to many famous places found in the north, like Lake Myvatn, Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, Hljódaklettar, Hólmatungur, Ásbyrgi, Tjörnes peninsula, Adaldalur valley, Laxárdalur valley and the Grenjadarstadur Folk Museum. Húsavík is an environmental friendly town - where geothermal water heats all houses and heats or dries industrial products.

Spend the morning at sea as we round the rugged northeast corner of Iceland. This afternoon, visit Skálanes Nature Reserve outside of Seydisfjörður to observe the fascinating ongoing archaeological excavations, the peninsula’s bird cliffs, and abundant wildflowers.

Arrive in Djúpivogur and drive down the coast to explore the foot of the vast Vatnajökull icecap and the deep blue icebergs of the large ice lagoon of Jökulsárlón. Alternatively, go by 4x4 vehicle to visit some of the secluded valleys and remote waterfalls in the countryside around Djúpivogur or join a hike to the black sand beaches of southern Iceland.

This village at the head of the bay Berufiord developed around an important trading post in the past. In 1589 the German Hansa merchants were granted a trading license there by the Danish king. Later on the Danish introduced the trade monopoly and took over themselves. The oldest houses (1788-1818) date back to the Danish period. One of them, Langabud (1790), has been renovated and transformed into a nice restaurant and museums. Fishing, fish processing and commerce are the main trades. The scenic beauty of the surroundings is renowned and visitors are treated well in every respect.

The Westman Islands were formed by undersea volcanoes between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago and are among the youngest of the world’s archipelagos. In 1963, the world witnessed on film the birth of its newest island, Surtsey—a UNESCO World Heritage site—which we see as we cruise past the coast. In 1973, Heimaey was threatened by lava flows that nearly closed off its harbor. We visit the crater, where the earth is still hot, for amazing views of areas that had been engulfed by lava.

The Westman Islands were formed by undersea volcanoes between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago and are among the youngest of the world’s archipelagos. In 1963, the world witnessed on film the birth of its newest island, Surtsey—a UNESCO World Heritage site—which we see as we cruise past the coast. In 1973, Heimaey was threatened by lava flows that nearly closed off its harbor. We visit the crater, where the earth is still hot, for amazing views of areas that had been engulfed by lava.

Surtsey is a volcanic island belonging to the southern coast of Iceland’s archipelago. This island mysteriously came to be in 1963, when it was born from a huge undersea eruption. Surtsey  is reserved for research and many have said it is here to stay, fears of the island disappearing under the sea have been vanished and many people from all over the world come to experience the presence of this guarded natural gem..

Today, disembark in Reykjavík and take a morning excursion. After lunch, transfer to the airport for flights home.