Wonders of Iceland

The world’s northernmost capital, Reykjavík, is full of places to visit before boarding your ship. Take a stroll along Laugavegur, the main shopping street, visit the architecturally striking Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral or learn about the country’s culture in one of the city’s many museums. In the evening, board the ship where you will receive a free expedition jacket. After the evening welcome dinner and the captain’s toast, you will be ready to begin your great Icelandic adventure.

Your first stop is Stykkishólmur, a small fishing village surrounded by small islands in the picturesque Breiöafjöröur Bay. The most defining feature of Stykkishólmur is surely the colourful houses in the old town centre, which contrast sharply with the distant mountain ranges. For a magnificent view of the town, you can go to the top of the cliff with the small orange lighthouse. This is the location of the fantastic Snæfellsnes Peninsula National Park, nicknamed ‘Little Iceland’, as all of the country’s natural beauties can be found here including fjords, mountains, waterfalls, volcanoes and lava fields.

Patreksfjördur, which means “St. Patrick’s Fjord”, is a settlement on the west coast of Iceland that is quite beautiful. You will discover the peace and quiet of a peaceful fishing village. There are many nearby attractions such as the village’s bustling harbour, Látrabjarg, Europe’s largest bird cliff with millions of birds including puffins, gannets and penguins, Raudisandur beach with its golden pink sands and Dynjandi Waterfalls where six different waterfalls combine to form the largest waterfall in the West Fjords with a combined height of 100 metres.

One of the most exciting possibilities about expedition cruising is the knowledge that anything can happen on any given day. The changing elements and conditions mean that nothing is ever quite set in stone. That’s why one of the days on your expedition is simply referred to as an ‘exploration day’. The weather conditions of the day will guide the schedule. You will be in the northwest region of Iceland, but the rest will be up to the captain and the expedition team. Activities may include hiking, beach cleaning or kayaking. If a group of whales breaches nearby while you are sailing, it is possible to linger and enjoy the view. Adapting to what nature has in store is what expedition cruising is all about.

You will sail along Iceland’s longest fjord, Eyjafjörou, giving you incredible views of snow-capped peaks and lush coastline. The fertile waters also make it one of the best places in the country for whale watching. Species such as humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises are regular visitors. You will then arrive in Akureyri, nicknamed “the capital of northern Iceland”. With a population of nearly 20,000, it is the largest metropolitan area outside the populated southwest. You can use your time here to explore this lively university town at your leisure. Whether it’s dining out, visiting a museum or touring the architecturally striking Church of Akureyri, there are plenty of choices.

A small, green, grassy island, Grímsey is the iconic image of a remote, windswept Icelandic island. With only 60 inhabitants located mainly around the small harbour, Grimsey is a serene, beautiful place steeped in folklore and legend. You can explore the island on foot and walk to Orbis and Globus, a nine-ton concrete sphere that marks the boundary of the Arctic Circle. Every year, people move around the globe a little as the Arctic Circle slowly moves north at a rate of about 15 metres a year. By 2050, the island of Grímsey will be outside the Arctic Circle.

With beautiful rhyolite peaks on one side and the majestic Dyrfjöll mountain range on the other, the coastal village of Bakkagerdi is a picturesque gem. With a population of about 100, the village is well off the typical tourist trail and offers peace, quiet and majestic views. You can enjoy fresh fish in one of the cafes or savour the famous fish soup, a local speciality. Whichever direction you look, you will be rewarded with the sight of pristine wilderness. Weather permitting, you can visit Hafnarhólmi, a fishing port with a large puffin colony.

You will then sail to Heimaey, the only inhabited island in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. Heimaey has a dark and fascinating past with many pirate stories. Then came the volcano that almost destroyed the island. The narrow harbour, the tephra airport runway and the loop of cooled lava in the town centre are reminders of the unexpected volcanic eruption on a January morning in 1973. You can climb the Eldfell ‘Mountain of Fire’ volcano for an incredible view of the city below and a sense of accomplishment as you walk through the volcano that almost wiped out the island. You can also hike to Stórhöfdi, claimed to be the windiest place in Europe, to watch puffins nesting. Observation facilities are available so that you can watch these lovely birds in their natural habitat in complete peace and quiet.

After lunch, disembark in Reykjavík where you can take the opportunity to shop for precious memories of your cruise in the land of fire and ice.