Enjoy the silence and tranquility of Iceland on this 7-day trip that offers you the opportunity to admire the famous and incredible northern lights and unique whale watching. Begin your explorations with a 3-day cruise with shore excursions and interesting lectures before an exciting bus tour along the northwest coast and back to Reyjkavik.
Highlights
Visit the picturesque Snaefellnes Peninsula, called “Iceland in Miniature”
Discover Isafjördur, an idyllic town in the Westfjords region
Hike along a black sandy beach to sea cliffs where many seabirds nest
Watch graceful whales and dolphins in offshore waters
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Use your leisure time in Reykjavik to uncover the unique charms of the world’s northernmost capital. The Ocean Diamond docks in Old Reykjavik Harbor in the heart of the city, a five-minute stroll to the main squares, shopping and dining. In the evening the ship sets course for the Snaefellsnes peninsula. In the evening comes your first opportunity to see the northern lights.
In the morning the ship reaches Stykkisholmur, the jumping off point of your adventures on the picturesque Snaefellnes Peninsula. Often called “Iceland in Miniature” since this region contains nearly all different kind of Icelandic scenery. By nightfall set sail for Westfjords with good opportunities to observe the mystical northern lights.
Optional Activities (not included in your cruise fare - please contact us for details):
Boat Tour - Viking Sushi Adventure - Look forward to a bird and nature watching tour. Experience a huge variety of birds and fantastic basalt rock formations. And if you have never tasted a fresh scallops straight from the sea you‘ll get the chance to do so on this tour.
Bus Tour around the Snaefellsnes Peninsula - This excursion includes views on the Snaefellsjökull Glacier, the dramatic rock formations of Snaefellsnes, as well as the Londrangar Rock pinnacles, which are remnants of a large volcanic crater. En route you also visit the small fishing village of Arnarstapi and the Shark Museum in Bjarnarhöfn.
Snaefellsjokull Glacier - By Snowcat your experienced guide takes you up to 4,600 feet (1,400 m) on Snaefellsjökull Glacier! In good weather you can enjoy a fantastic view over Hellissandur and Breidafjördur Bay. On especially clear days you can even spot the far-off Westfjords. The famous novelist Jules Verne once chose Snaefelljokull Glacier as entrance on his “Journey to the Center of the Earth”.
Today‘s destination is the idyllic town of Isafjordur, capital of the Westfjords region. This secluded peninsula is connected to the rest of Iceland by only a narrow strip of land. Even by Icelandic standards, the area can be described as unusually isolated. The landscape is characterized by mesas and dramatic fjords that cut deep into the landscape.
Optional Activities:
Sea Angling from Flateyri/Sudureyri - The waters along the Westfjords are extremely rich in marine life due to special current conditions and sustainable fisheries policy. This sea angling tour allows you to benefit from these factors to catch cod, haddock, and halibut of stately size. The boat trip starts in either Sudureyri or Flateyri fishing village, 25 min. drive from Ísafjördur, and takes you out to a sandbank off the coast.
Boat Tour to Vigur - Enjoy a short trip to Vigur. This serene little island, which boasts only five inhabitants, is a perfect location to observe an array of birds in their natural surroundings including puffins, eider ducks, arctic terns, and black guillemot. While on the island, you can also visit Iceland‘s only extant windmill which dates from the 19th century. The boat tour takes about 35 minutes each way.
Bus Tour - Thingeyri and Dynjandi Waterfall - This tour leads to Iceland’s most sparsely populated areas. On this daytrip you will explore the Westfjords, a historic village and a magnificent waterfall. With a population of about 260 inhabitants Thingeyri is both the area‘s first trading post and one of the oldest settlements. At the end we stop at the thunderous Dynjandi, the highest and most impressive waterfall in the Westfjord region.
Kayak in Flateyri - Enjoy kayaking between the mountains and birdwatching from a different angle amid wonderful scenery. Flateyri is a 25 min drive from Isafjördur.
Day 4: Husavik | Disembark | Myvatn
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In the early morning hours steam into Skjalfandi Bay and Husavik. After disembarkation explore the natural beauty of the Lake Myvatn area, including the peculiar lava formations at Dimmuborgir and the pseudo craters at Skutustadir. The pseudo craters were formed by gas explosions when boiling lava flowed over the wetlands. Last but not least visit Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, in the northern part of Vatnajokull National Park. Lunch is provided on the way. Dinner and overnight in the Husavik area.
Day 5: Akureyri | West Iceland
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Husavik is often called the “whale watching capital” of Iceland. The town’s offshore waters are home to 15 different whale species, as well as dolphins. Watching these graceful ocean giants in their Arctic habitat is an unforgettable experience. An exciting trip with RIB boats (Rigid Inflatable Boat) to search for the gentle giants awaits you. On your way to Akureyri visit the impressive Godafoss, “the waterfall of the Gods”. In the year 1000, the Icelandic parliament (Althing) decided to give up their pagan religion in favor of Christianity. The story goes that the idols of the ancient Nordic religion (godars) were then thrown from the top of the waterfall (foss). The cascade retains its name, Godafoss in memory of this event. Lunch is provided on the way. Dinner and overnight in West Iceland.
On the way back to Reykjavik pass Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in the world. A stop is made to admire the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfalls, before continuing to Thingvellir National Park, the ancient site of the world’s first parliament. Your journey ends after a city tour in Reykjavik. Lunch is provided along the way.
Overnight in Reykjavik.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$2,405
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T - Triple Cabin
204-sq. ft., Deck 4, 2 twin beds and 1 upper bed, private bathroom with shower and bathtub, TV with DVD-player, wardrobe, safe, refrigerator, individual temperature controls, satellite telephone access, hairdryer, and two portholes
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P - Outside Cabin with Porthole
204-sq. ft., Deck 3 - Outside cabins in this category feature a double bed or two twin beds and a private bathroom with a shower. They are roomy and feature a TV, wardrobe, refrigerator, individual temperature controls, satellite telephone access and hairdryer. All cabins of this category were redecorated in 2018.
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O - Outside Cabin - Obstructed View
204-sq. ft., Deck 5 & 6, Outside cabins in Category O feature a double bed or two twin beds as well as a private bathroom with a shower. Each cabin is equipped with a TV, wardrobe, refrigerator, individual temperature controls, hairdryer and satellite telephone access. The view through the picture window is obstructed by the ship’s lifeboats. All cabins of this category were redecorated in 2017.
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D - Outside Cabin
183 - 204-sq. ft., Deck 5 & 6, Outside cabins in Category D with double bed or two twin beds as well as a private bathroom with shower. The cabin also includes a TV, wardrobe and refrigerator. Further amenities include individual temperature controls, hairdryer and satellite telephone access. A picture window provides great unrestricted views of the ocean and landscapes. All cabins of this category were redecorated in 2017 and 2018.
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A - Balcony Suite
323-sq. ft., Deck 7, double bed or 2 twin beds, private bathroom with shower and bathtub, sitting area, TV with DVD-player, wardrobe, safe, refrigerator, individual temperature controls, satellite telephone access, hairdryer, and a full-size window. Enjoy the view from floor-to-ceiling windows or a balcony that can be accessed via a sliding door.
Notes
The minimum age requirement is 8 years on the Iceland Circumnavigation cruise and 10 years of age for cruises that combine Greenland and Iceland. The age restrictions are in place to ensure the safety and well being of the child.
Single supplement is 75% of published double-occupancy rate
Please note: only one shore excursion per port of call is bookable in advance. If conditions allow for excursions to be combined, staff will announce this on board. Shore excursions are not included in cruise fare. Please contact us for details.
Initial deposit is 20%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or AmEx. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
Lindsay Gompf
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.