Iceland Fire & Ice Circumnavigation

After breakfast at the hotel, explore Iceland’s world-famous sightseeing route, the Golden Circle. Witness the raw power of Gullfoss, a truly epic two-tiered waterfall where 100,000 litres of glacial water from the Hvítá River plunge 31 metres into the Gullfossgljúfur Canyon every second. At the erupting geothermal hot springs of the Haukadalur region, the famous Great Geysir might have retired, but smaller geyser Strokkur still blasts fountains of boiling water up to 30 metres high every 8-10 minutes. Walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates at Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Almannagjá Canyon, and explore the site of the world’s oldest parliament, dating back to 930 AD. Almannagjá Canyon also featured in Game of Thrones as the entrance to the ancient castle Eyrie. This afternoon, board your expedition ship, where the captain and expedition team will welcome you on board, and you will have time to settle into your accommodations and familiarise yourself with the ship. You are invited to join the expedition team in the Observation Lounge. A superb start to any Golden Circle cruise.

The glacier-carved terrain of Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Peninsula, highlighted by the sparkling waterfalls and icebergs of Drangajökull Glacier, Iceland’s northernmost glacier. Enjoy exploring the many charms of fishing village Grundarfjörður, surrounded by spectacular mountains, including the town’s landmark Mount Kirkjufell, which stands solitary after being carved out of the main mountain range by two glaciers during the Ice Age. With its natural harbour, it is easy to see why this perfectly positioned town was a prominent trading post, with artefacts supporting its history dating back to Viking times. Grandiose views of the majestic glacier-capped Snæfellsjökull volcano and its otherworldly landscape can be enjoyed at the technically ‘active’ volcano, which last erupted some 1,800 years ago and is still closely monitored. Snæfellsjökull volcano provided the entry point in Jules Verne’s 1864 classic Journey to the Centre of the Earth and is a magical setting for the 12th-century Icelandic sagas. Grundarfjörður is also a sanctuary for the White-tailed Eagle, the largest predatory bird in Iceland. Options include exploring the Langjökull Glacier ice cap on Mount Kirkjufell, or a deep dive into local culture and history with a visit to a traditional farm. Try the local delicacy, fermented Icelandic Shark and encounter Iceland’s famous Icelandic Horses, one of the world’s oldest and purest horse breeds.

This morning, explore the small, family-owned private island and wildlife sanctuary of Vigur. Just two kilometres long and 400 metres wide, it was named for its spear-like shape but is also known as ‘Puffin Island’. More than 60 species of birds can be seen on the island, including 100,000 Atlantic Puffins, 1,500 Black Guillemots, 1,700 Arctic Terns and more than 7,000 Common Eiders. Discover Europe’s smallest post office and Iceland’s only windmill, dating back to the 1840s. Just a short distance away is the small fishing community of Ísafjörður, a 16th-century trading post and now cultural epicentre located in the heart of the famed Westfjords region. An afternoon visit to Ísafjörður is planned to explore the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve with naturalists, or the town’s museums, galleries, and artisan workshops.

Be sure to be out on deck or in the Observation Lounge sailing towards the picture postcard town of Siglufjörður, where rows of colourful houses sit nestled at the end of a narrow fjord framed by dramatic mountain scenery on the Trollaskagi Peninsula, and a stone’s throw from the Arctic Circle. This former tiny shark fishing village of the 1900s became the capital of the herring fishing boom in the Atlantic, resulting in Iceland’s northernmost town becoming one of its most prosperous, fuelling some marvellous examples of Icelandic architecture. Wander through the town exploring its quirky cafes, galleries, workshops, church, Folk Music Centre, and famous Herring Era Museum housed in an old herring factory. Enjoy lunch on board sailing to the remote and rugged island of Grímsey. This tiny island, just five square kilometres, is the northernmost inhabited point of Iceland, and where seabirds outnumber locals by 10,000 to one. The Arctic Circle bisects the island and is marked by the iconic photo op known as the Arctic Circle Monument – a 9-tonne, three metre stone sphere which is moved each year to align with the Arctic Circle. Zodiac ashore and join expedition team members for nature and photography walks among wandering sheep, incredible birdlife, and the iconic Grímseyjarviti lighthouse built in 1937 and perched above a sheer cliff on the northern coast.

Today, explore the many charms of Húsavík, a small town overlooking Skjálfandi Bay, known as the whale watching capital of Iceland and immortalised in the parody Eurovision song ‘Húsavík – My Home Town’ in the Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga film. Once the centre of the Icelandic whaling industry, today it enjoys a thriving whale watching industry where Humpback and Minke Whales can be observed alongside White-beaked Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises in the rich feeding grounds of Skjálfandi Bay. Explore Húsavík’s whaling history at the Whale Museum, where you will find an upside-down Blue Whale skeleton in the renovated former slaughterhouse. Eurovision fans will want to visit the Eurovision Museum and bar Jaja Ding Dong, or venture inland to discover the spectacular sight of Goðafoss waterfall, or ‘waterfall of the gods’, where Skjálfandafljót River crashes 12 metres down volcanic basalt, resulting in a 30-metre-wide horseshoe-shaped cascade. Explorations continue at Mývatn, a stunning volcanic lake rich in wildlife formed around 2,300 years ago and surrounded by hot springs, lava fields, bubbling mud pools, sulphur vents and striking geological formations revealing the activity which continues to shape Iceland’s landscape.

Located on Iceland’s eastern coastline, the small town of Borgarfjörður Eystri is a renowned puffin viewing site, outdoor adventure playground and Elfin hot spot with what is believed to be one of the most populated ‘hidden people’ settlements in Iceland. Indeed, the fjord is named after the residency of the Icelandic Elf-queen – Álfaborg, a rocky hill next to the village. Explore the surrounding countryside with your expedition guides or join a local guide touring the small village, including a stop at the local eiderdown shop and an exhibit of Johannes Kjarval, one of Iceland’s greatest painters, who grew up in the area. There will also be time to enjoy observing the puffins, beaks filled with fish to feed their young, at their bustling island colony, providing never-ending photographic opportunities.

This morning, sail into the sheltered waters of Djúpivogur, famed for its outdoor lifestyle, fascinating geology and birding, on the Búlandsnes peninsula. Nestled between the Hamarsfjörður and Berufjörður fjords, it is also home to Iceland’s iconic glacier-carved 1,069-metre basalt mountain Búlandstindur, believed to be 8 million years old. Travelling southward, make your way to Vatnajökull National Park, one of Iceland’s most celebrated natural wonders and largest national park covering 13% of the island. This incredible UNESCO World Heritage site was uniquely shaped by the combined forces of rivers, glacial ice, and volcanic and geothermal activity. Start the exploration with a visit to the breathtaking Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, one of Iceland’s premier natural wonders, where you will enjoy the unforgettable experience of navigating immense, startlingly blue icebergs, calved from the Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier as they serenely float across the still turquoise water towards the Atlantic Ocean. Follow their passage to Diamond Beach, where chunks of the crystal-clear ice litter the black volcanic sand sparkling like scattered diamonds.

What is considered Iceland’s best-kept secret – the otherworldly, unrestrained rugged beauty of the Westman Islands or Vestmannaeyjar. Resembling the islands featured in Jurassic Park, this archipelago of 15 islands and 30 rock stacks, off the South Coast of Iceland, formed by undersea volcanoes between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago, is among the youngest of the world’s archipelagos – and the location of the world’s youngest island, Surtsey. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, it was formed during a three-year underwater eruption starting in 1963. As the location of the world’s largest population of nesting puffin, mixed with fascinating geology, stunning natural scenery, the opportunity to walk to the summit of Eldfell, and the resilient culture of the remarkable locals, all makes for an exceptional expedition day.

Early this morning, arrive back in Reykjavík. After a final breakfast, bid farewell to fellow voyagers and take a complimentary coach transfer to a central city location or Keflavík International Airport. In case of unexpected delays due to weather and/or port operations, please do not book any onward travel until after 12 noon.

Note: During the voyage, circumstances may make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. This can include poor weather and opportunities for making unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed. This tour offers a variety of activities and excursions. Your personal interests will determine which of these you wish to join. Please note that some activities and excursions will run at similar times, and it will not be possible to participate in both. Accordingly, refunds for excursions and missed landings are not available. Voyages are planned and scheduled pending final regulatory approval.