Iceland Cruise: Circumnavigating the Land of Fire & Ice

Arrive in Reykjavik, Iceland’s northerly capital. Following a mandatory COVID-19 test upon border entry, transfer to ‘Le Champlain,’ your luxury mega yacht for the next ten nights, to await results. Later, join the welcome briefing and meet your Expedition Team. Enjoy dinner on board this evening.

Today, head toward the archipelago of the Westman Islands. Discover Heimaey Island’s unique geography and local farmhouse ruins. You may opt for a moderate or vigorous walk up to the island’s storied volcano before heading to the Eldheimar Museum, home to interactive exhibits that detail the crater’s powerful eruption in 1973. Later, conditions permitting, board your Zodiac for an up-close view of Surtsey Island. Considered Iceland’s southernmost point, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is also considerably young — it was created from volcanic eruptions occurring between 1963 and 1967. When the eruption first occurred, columns of ash were sent almost 30,000 feet into the sky and could be seen on clear days as far away as Reykjavík. This evening, attend the Captain’s Welcome Reception and get to know your fellow adventurers.

At the foot of the massive Vatnajokull ice cap lies an otherworldly, strikingly picturesque glacial lagoon. Conditions permitting, board a small craft and watch these masses of polished and sculpted blue ice float by in peaceful procession on their way to the Atlantic Ocean. Soaring mountains ring the lagoon, providing an inspiring backdrop for your cruise. Back on land, take in the rugged, spiky peaks of Vestrahorn Mountain before heading back to the ship.

Today, visit the quaint and colorful fishing village of Seydisfjordur. Explore the Vestadlur Valley, an amazingly scenic area where over 30 waterfalls of various shapes and sizes cascade down the valley’s mountainous walls. Alternatively, conditions permitting, visit Skalanes, a private nature reserve and heritage center set in the East Fjords region. Dramatic snowcapped mountains, waterfalls, vast sea cliffs and secluded sandy beaches make this a nature lover’s paradise. The area is home to 47 different species of birds, including eider ducks, black-tailed godwits, red-necked phalaropes and gyrfalcons.

Arrive in picturesque Husavik and visit the Husavik Whale Museum, supported by A&K Philanthropy. The museum is one of the world’s foremost centers for research of whales and their habitat. Afterward, choose to embark on a scenic whale-watching excursion followed by free time in Husavik, or else set off for Godafoss Falls and geothermal Lake Myvatn. This evening, ‘Le Champlain’ remains in port with free time to explore the quaint fishing village, or time to enjoy dinner on your own in town.

Though Grimsey Island sits astride the Arctic Circle, it enjoys a mild climate and is covered with rich vegetation. Weather permitting, go ashore to visit the Viking hamlet of Sandvik, home to about 100 permanent residents who earn their living from fishing and fish processing. A Zodiac cruise along Grimsey’s basaltic cliffs provides an exhilarating view of the incredible birdlife including kittiwakes, razorbills, and fulmars.

Today, explore the remote Strandir coastline. Among your excursion opportunities may include a visit to the small town of Djupavik, once home to one of the biggest herring processing factories in Europe in the early 20th century. Today the abandoned factory is a haunting reminder of a once-vibrant industry. Explore the plant’s abandoned silos, which provide a unique acoustic environment that has attracted and inspired some of Iceland’s most notable musicians. Explore the “ghost town” and surrounding area and hike to the waterfall overlooking the town for an extra touch of magic in this out-of-the-way place.

The Westfjords of Iceland are more remote and much less visited than other parts of the country. Settlements such as Isafjordur, today’s planned call, are small and interspersed among spectacular lava-formed mountains and coves. The largest town and the trading and cultural center of the Westfjords peninsula, it is framed by verdant fjords, which you explore on a leisurely tour of the countryside. Explore farms and fishing villages, or choose to kayak through its glacial bays. For the “young at heart,” uncover the history of trolls, elves and ghosts in Iceland with a fun guided walk around town.

This morning, continue to explore the Westfjords, and conditions permitting, cruise past the stunning bird cliffs at Latrabjarg, Europe’s westernmost point. You might make a visit to Dynjandi Falls, the grandest waterfall in the Westfjords. Dynjandi is a spectacular sight, with water cascading down tiered ridges flanked by a green and brown façade. Enjoy leisurely walks up to a viewing platform or opt for something more vigorous, like a hike all the way to the top of the falls. Another possible place you may visit is Red Sand Beach, one of the most beguiling shorelines in Iceland. Wander the reddish-hued sands as they subtly change color with the sunlight, shifting through a palette of reds, golds and greys.

Take in the glacier-carved terrain of Iceland’s Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and Grundarfjordur, one of the first villages in Iceland. Today, choose from various excursion options. You may visit the Snaefellsnes Peninsula with its fishing villages, stunning Snaefellsnes Glacier and views of the majestic, extinct Snaefellsjokull volcano — the site that inspired Jules Verne’s fictional Journey to the Center of the Earth. Alternately, you may hike well-known sites from the Icelandic Sagas, including the beautiful Berserkjahraun lava field; the 240-foot Mount Helgafell (“Holy Mountain”), with spectacular views over the Breidafjordur islands (weather permitting); and the old town of Stykkisholmur and Bjarnarhofn (“Bear Harbor”), where you explore a shark museum and wooden Dutch church.

This morning, disembark ‘Le Champlain’ in the port of Hafnarfjordur and transfer to the Reykjavik airport for your return flight home.