Natural Wonders of Iceland – 11 Day Cruise

Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky and enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we moor overnight.

A full day tour will head inland to the famous ‘Golden Circle’ with three of Iceland’s most iconic landmarks. We will start at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is situated in a rift valley that offers incredible views of the Reykjanes Ridge. This is the only place in the world where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which separates the Eurasian and North American plates, is above sea level. Not only is Thingvellir of tremendous geological interest, it is where the legislative parliament, the Althing, was founded in the year 930 AD. Also see the Gullfoss Waterfall, the most famous of the country’s numerous waterfalls. Here, a huge amount of water rushes down a stone cascade into a deep ravine with incredible force, creating a powerful spectacle. Our last stop is the Geysir geothermal area, the place where the word ‘geyser’ originates and where Strokkur, an explosive geyser, erupts every few minutes. Return to the ship in Reykjavik and sail this evening.

Sail this morning into Stykkisholmur, located in Breidafjordur Bay and surrounded by an archipelago of islands. The town is famed for its beautiful and well preserved old houses and is also the gateway to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula which is dominated by the Snaefellsjokull volcano, regarded as one of the symbols of Iceland and known as the setting for Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”. Our tour will include a drive through the lava landscape to the glacier visiting pretty fishing ports and beaches along the way. Afterwards, there will be the opportunity to spend some time at leisure in the town.

This morning we enter the Western Fjords, an isolated but spectacular area of Iceland. We will explore Isafjardardjup and depending on local weather conditions, we hope to land on Vigur, a serene little island with only five residents but home to many more puffins, eider ducks, black guillemots and Arctic terns. We will also visit Iceland’s only extant windmill dating from the 19th century. Sail over lunch and maybe join a lecture as we spend a leisurely afternoon at sea.

Spend the morning on Grimsey Island. The Arctic Circle bisects this island which is known for its tiny community, basalt cliffs and large variety of birdlife. Join our expedition team members for a morning nature walk on the island. In the early afternoon we sail into Siglufjordur, a picturesque town that enjoys an idyllic setting in a small fjord backed by mountains. Here in the early 1900s, a booming economy due to the herring industry resulted in a prosperous town with some marvellous Icelandic architecture. Stroll through the town and visit the Herring Era Museum.

Akureyri is a delightful town on the north coast of Iceland. On a morning tour we will visit the spectacular Godafoss Waterfall where water from the Skjalfandafljot River falls from a height of 12 metres over a width of 30 metres. From Godafoss we return to the charming town of Akureyri and visit the botanical garden which was founded in 1912 and grows examples of every species indigenous to Iceland as well as an extensive collection of high-latitude and high-altitude plants from around the world. Our tour ends at the Art Alley where artisans keep their workshops and galleries. Return to the ship for lunch and sail to Hrisey Island this afternoon where you can join nature walks. The island is known for its rich and diverse birdlife and approximately 40 species of birds nest on the island.

From our berth in Husavik we will head inland to visit the Lake Myvatn-Krafla area, a fine example of the volcanic world with lava fields, boiling and steaming mud pools and steam vents of sulphur and craters. The area illustrates the sheer magnitude of Iceland’s forces at work. The lake itself, with beautiful natural rock formations and hot springs, is also a unique ecosystem and the largest migratory bird sanctuary in Europe. There will be the opportunity to spend some time in the natural baths before returning to the ship. After lunch on board we have the afternoon to explore the pretty town of Husavik including time at the excellent whale museum, the exploration museum and quaint local church. Be on deck in the early evening as we sail from Husavik whilst our expedition team keep an eye out for whales.

Today we will enjoy the benefits of our small ship as we spend the day exploring the lesser known fjords in the east of Iceland. We hope to land at the small town of Neskaupstadur for a chance to visit the excellent museum which features the local art gallery, the Museum of Natural History and the Maritime Museum. Those that are feeling active can hike to the avalanche barriers behind the town, offering great views of the surrounding areas. We will also cruise through Mjoifjordur where we can enjoy the wilderness of this remote area.

As we approach Hofn we will see the shimmering white Vatnajokull Glacier, Europe’s largest glacier, sometimes called an icecap. The 600 metre thick ice surmounts active volcanoes, one of which erupted in 1996 creating a crater on the surface of the glacier, a most unusual phenomenon. From our berth we will drive to the otherworldly glacial lagoon of Jokulsarlon, a dramatic drive through some of the finest scenery that Iceland offers. Once we reach Jokulsarlon, the 100 metre deep glacial river lagoon which is full of large icebergs carved from the glacier Breioamerkurjokull, we will embark on a cruise on the pristine water.

Our morning is spent at the Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands). Islanders here live with a dramatic volcanic history. In 1973 the island of Heimaey experienced an eruption which created a new mountain, Eldfell, known as Mount Fire. Explore the only community, Heimaey, where half buried houses can be partially seen peeking out through the lava and ash. We will also use the Zodiacs to explore the cliffs and coves. If time permits, we will also use our ship to circumnavigate Surtsey Island which was created volcanically in 1963 and is a closed nature reserve. Few places in the world illustrate more dramatically the powerful forces of nature.

Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

Itineraries are subject to change.