Day 1 Reykjavik, Iceland | Embark
Sprawling Reykjavík, the nation's nerve center, and government seat is home to half the island's population. On a bay overlooked by proud Mt. Esja (pronounced eh-shyuh), with its ever-changing hues, Reykjavík presents a colorful sight, its concrete houses painted in light colors and topped by vibrant red, blue, and green roofs. In contrast to the almost treeless countryside, Reykjavík has many tall, native birches, rowans, and willows, as well as imported aspen, pines, and spruces.
Day 2 Vestmannaeyjar | Surtsey, Iceland
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The name Vestmannaeyjar refers to both a town and an archipelago off the south coast of Iceland. The largest Vestmannaeyjar island is called Heimaey. It is the only inhabited island in the group and is home to over 4000 people. The eruption of the Eldfell Volcano put Vestmannaeyjar into the international limelight in 1973. The volcano’s eruption destroyed many buildings and forced an evacuation of the residents to mainland Iceland.
On 14 November 1963, a trawler passing the southernmost point of Iceland spotted a column of smoke rising from the sea. Expecting to find a burning boat they were surprised to find instead, explosive volcanic eruptions. They were witnessing the birth of a new island. Columns of ash reached heights of almost 30,000 feet in the sky and could be seen on clear days as far away as Reykjavík.
Day 3 Djupivogur, Iceland
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Situated in the southeastern part of Iceland, the little town of Djupivogur is one of the easiest spots in Iceland to reach from northern Europe. Evidence of this is apparent in the presence of a trading post built here as early as the 16th century. In the modern era, fishing is still important, but tourism is increasing more and more. Nearby Bulandsnes has a renowned bird sanctuary, and Papey Island just slightly to the east is home to large colonies of Atlantic Puffins. Djupivogur is also not too far from Vatnajökull National Park.
Day 4 Langanes Peninsula, Iceland
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Located in northeast Iceland, Langanes Peninsula, whose name translates as, “long peak” and extends 25 miles out to sea, ending in a thin strip of land called Fontur. The mostly flat peninsula is verdant green in summer, covered by mossy meadows studded with crumbling remains of long-ago settlements. The coastline is fringed by seemingly endless beaches that are peppered with driftwood. In spring, the sea cliffs are full of guillemots, kittiwakes, gannets, and puffins.
Day 5 Husavik, Iceland
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The town of Húsavík sits below Húsavíkurfjall mountain on the eastern shore of Skjálfandi bay. Just above the town is lake Botnsvatn, a popular place for outings. The lake is just the right size for a nice hike around it. The lakes surroundings are rich in vegetation and bird life and trout are said to be abundant, though small. Húsavík harbor lies below the bank right in the heart of town. The harbor once boasted a large fishing fleet, bustling with the activity of fishermen.
Day 6 Akureyri, Iceland
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Akureyri called the Capital of the North is the second largest urban area in Iceland and a lively one at that. Hemmed by the 60-km (37-mile) long Eyjafjörður, Akureyri is sheltered from the ocean winds and embraced by mountains on three sides. Late 19th-century wooden houses impart a sense of history, and the twin spires of a modern Lutheran church rising on a green hill near the waterfront, provide a focal point. To the south of Akureyri is the pyramid-shape rhyolite mountain Súlur. Beyond it is Kerling, the highest peak in Eyjafjörður District.
Day 7 Vigur Island, Iceland
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Vigur Island is a little more than a mile (1.6 km) in length and about 450 yards (412 m) wide. This green oasis punctuates the waters of the Ísafjarðardjúp fjord east of the town of Isafjordur. The island is home to a single farming family and has some meticulously preserved historical landmarks including Iceland’s only windmill, built in 1840 and used until 1917 for grinding imported wheat from Denmark; and a 200-year-old rowing boat, which is still in use to ferry sheep to the mainland. Summer is the best time to see large numbers of Atlantic puffins, Arctic terns, and Black guillemots.
Day 8 Dynjandi | Latrabjarg Cliffs, Iceland
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Iceland is well-known for its spectacular waterfalls. The iconic Dynjandi waterfall, located in the Westfjords region, is regarded as one of Iceland’s most impressive and majestic waterfalls. At the top, the cascading water is roughly 100 feet wide and tumbles down about 330 feet into the fjord. Its name Dynjandi means, “the thundering one” and its vast size, enormous sound, and sheer force are overwhelming. It has also been nicknamed, ‘The Bridal Veil’ because of the way the water sprays and spreads over the rocks.
On Iceland’s north coast and close to the westernmost tip of the country are the impressive cliffs of Latrabjarg; Europe’s largest bird cliff. Millions of individual seabirds make their home along the promontory safe from the range of scavenging foxes on the steep ledges. Atlantic puffins, Northern gannets, razorbills, and guillemots have each selected their preferred areas in and above the cliff in which to roost and nest. The Latrabjarg cliffs reach heights of up to 440 meters along a staggering 14 kilometer stretch of the coast.
Day 9 Klakkeyar Islands | Stykkishólmur, Iceland
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The Klakkeyar Islands are a group of small low-lying remote islands in Breidha Fjord, in the western region of Iceland (Vesturland). The West part of a country has a magnetic charm discovered while navigating the ins and outs of the various fjords, peninsulas and islands groups like the Klakkeyar group in the chilly North Atlantic.
Stykkishólmur, located in western Iceland at the northern end of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, is the commerce center for the area. Its natural harbor allowed this town to become an important trading center early in Iceland’s history. The first trading post was established in the 1550s, and still, today fishing is the major industry. The town center boasts beautiful and well-preserved old houses from earlier times.
Day 10 Reykjavík, Iceland | Disembark
Disembark after breakfast and continue your independent journey back home.
Plan My Trip