Itinerary
- Day 1
Reykjavik
You'll arrive in Reykjavik and connect with your group, then head to the hotel to check in. Stop by the AE Expeditions hospitality desk to pick up your cabin tags and get briefed on what happens before you board. After that, the rest of your day is open, so you can explore the city on your own schedule.
- Day 2
Golden Circle & Geothermal Tour
After breakfast and checking out, you'll join a guided tour of Iceland's Golden Circle route. The tour hits Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir geothermal area, and Thingvellir National Park where you'll learn how Iceland harnesses sustainable energy. You'll also tour the Ljósafossvirkjun geothermal power station and walk through Sólheimar eco-village to see the thermal greenhouses and workshops. Back in Reykjavik by late afternoon, then you'll board the ship for the evening and meet the crew and other passengers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Golden Circle tour
- Visit Gullfoss waterfall
- Visit Geysir geothermal area
- Thingvellir National Park exploration
- Ljósafossvirkjun Geothermal Power Station tour
- Sólheimar eco-village visit
Landmarks/POIs Gullfoss Geysir Thingvellir National Park Sólheimar - Day 3
Snaefellsnes Peninsula
A zodiac landing takes you to Arnarstapi on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula where you'll pick one of three excursions. Option one covers black pebble beaches and volcanic terrain including an old 1948 shipwreck. Option two visits the Búðir hamlet with lunch at Hotel Búðir, then Snæfellsjökull National Park and Mount Kirkjufell. Option three is a two-hour coastal hike between Arnarstapi and Hellnar with stops at Vatnshellir Cave and bird viewing. The day wraps up at Gerðuberg Cliffs with their distinctive hexagonal basalt columns.
Included Activities
- Zodiac landing at Arnarstapi
Optional Activities
- Option 1 - Highlights of Snaefellsness: Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach visit, 1948 shipwreck exploration, Búðir hamlet visit, Búðakirkja church viewing, lunch at Hotel Búðir with fresh local ingredients, Snæfellsjökull National Park exploration, hiking trails or scenic drive, Mount Kirkjufell and nearby waterfall visit
- Option 2 - Natural Wonders of Snaefellsnes: Coastal trail hike from Arnarstapi to Hellnar (2 hours, easy level), birdwatching with Arctic Terns and kittiwakes, Vatnshellir Cave exploration (8,000 years old, 35 meters below surface), spiral staircase descent, volcano rock formations viewing, lunch, Mount Kirkjufell and waterfall visit
- Option 3 - Snaefellsnes Adventure: Pufubjarg bird cliff and puffin viewing, coastal hiking to Londrangar basalt cliffs, Malarrif lighthouse and beach exploration, early lunch, Eldborg crater hike (created 5000-6000 years ago, 200 meters diameter, 50 meters deep), Gerðuberg Cliffs hexagonal basalt columns walk
Landmarks/POIs Snaefellsjökull Djúpalónssandur Búðakirkja Snæfellsjökull National Park Mount Kirkjufell Vatnshellir Cave Londrangar Eldborg Crater Gerðuberg Cliffs - Day 4
Látrabjarg Cliffs & Dynjandi Waterfall
You'll head into the Westfjords by coach to Látrabjarg cliffs, Europe's largest bird cliff and the westernmost point in Europe, where millions of seabirds live including puffins, razorbills, fulmars, and guillemots. From there the ship cruises north through the fjords while you watch for whales. Later a zodiac landing brings you to the powerful Dynjandi waterfall.
Included Activities
- Látrabjarg cliffs visit and bird viewing
- Dynjandi waterfall Zodiac landing
Landmarks/POIs Látrabjarg Dynjandi Patrekfjörður - Day 5
Westfjords
The day takes you to Thingeyri, a small village on the shores of Dýrafördur fjord with mountains rising all around. You'll choose between two activities: step into a recreated Viking area where you can try on hand-sewn Viking clothing, taste Viking beer, and bake Viking bread, or hike Sandafell Mountain for views across the town, fjord, and surrounding peaks.
Optional Activities
- Option 1 - That Viking Thing Experience: Recreated Viking area exploration, Viking ways learning, Viking meeting place ('Thing') ruins hike, interactive Viking Museum visit, hand-sewn Viking clothing dress-up, Viking beer tasting, Viking bread baking
- Option 2 - Sandafell Mountain Hike: Mountain hike with views over Thingeyri town, surrounding mountains and water
Landmarks/POIs Thingeyri Dýrafjörður Sandafell - Day 6
Akureyri & Húsavík
You'll arrive in Akureyri, Iceland's second-largest city with snow-capped mountains in the background. Pick your excursion: visit Godafoss Falls and soak in Myvatn Nature baths, an outdoor hot spring with mountain vistas, or explore both Godafoss and Dettifoss waterfalls plus the Mývatn area and Krafla geothermal zone. You'll reboard in Húsavík, famous as Iceland's whale watching capital, in the late afternoon.
Optional Activities
- Visit Godafoss Falls
- Soak at Myvatn Nature baths outdoor hot spring complex
- Explore Godafoss waterfall
- Explore Dettifoss waterfall
- Explore Mývatn region
- Explore Krafla
Landmarks/POIs Akureyri Godafoss Myvatn Nature baths Dettifoss Mývatn Krafla Húsavík - Day 7
Grímsey & Whale Watching
You'll visit Grímsey, a grassy island about 40 km offshore that's known for sitting right on the Arctic Circle. The day includes zodiac cruising, kayaking, and seabird photography with chances to see guillemots, gulls, and puffins. After that you'll head back toward Skjálfandi Bay near Húsavík for whale watching where you might spot up to 24 different whale species, dolphins, and around 30 bird varieties including blue whales.
Included Activities
- Grímsey island visit and Arctic Circle crossing
- Zodiac cruising around Grímsey
- Whale watching in Skjálfandi Bay
- Seabird photography
Optional Activities
- Kayaking around Grímsey
Landmarks/POIs Grímsey Arctic Circle Skjálfandi Bay - Day 8
Seydisfjordur
You'll explore Seydisfjordur, a fishing village known for its colorful wooden buildings around a lagoon. Walk through town to see timber houses from the Norwegian settlement era between 1870 and 1900 when herring fishing was big here. You can visit the beautiful river cascades from the Fjardara river or tackle some hiking trails. The town also has an active cultural scene with an arts centre, the blue church that hosts music concerts, and the only two cinemas in east Iceland, plus local artisans selling handicrafts.
Included Activities
- Seydisfjordur village exploration
Optional Activities
- Hiking trail exploration
- Arts centre visit
- Blue church visit and music concerts
- Cinema visit
- Local handicraft shopping
Landmarks/POIs Seydisfjordur - Day 9
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Vatnajökull
You'll disembark in Djupivogur and drive to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, your entry point to Vatnajökull National Park where Europe's largest glacier sits. The lagoon fills with floating icebergs that drift to shore on the black-sand Diamond beach. Pick between a boat tour on the lagoon, a glacier hike, or a canyon hike past waterfalls.
Included Activities
- Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon visit
Optional Activities
- Boat excursion on Jökulsárlón lagoon
- Glacier hike
- Canyon hike with waterfall visits
Landmarks/POIs Djupivogur Vatnajökull National Park Jökulsárlón Diamond Beach - Day 10
Westman Islands
The ship sails past Surtsey Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site that popped up from the sea in 1963 and remains one of Earth's youngest land masses. You'll then explore the Westman Islands, born from volcanic eruptions about 10,000 years ago and surrounded by 15 uninhabited islands rich with seabirds. The islands host the world's largest Atlantic puffin colony. Choose between visiting the Eldheimar Volcano Museum to learn about the 1973 eruption and Surtsey's emergence, then Stórhöfði cape for puffin watching, or taking a two-hour volcano hike to feel the subterranean heat before visiting the museum.
Included Activities
- Surtsey Island viewing
Optional Activities
- Option 1 - Eldheimar Volcano Museum & Puffin Viewing: Eldheimar Volcano Museum visit, Stórhöfði cape puffin watching, free time exploration
- Option 2 - Eldheimar Volcano Climb & Museum: Two-hour volcano hike with summit warmth experience, Eldheimar Volcano Museum visit, free time exploration
Landmarks/POIs Westman Islands Surtsey Heimaey Eldheimar Stórhöfði - Day 11
Reykjavik Disembarkation
The ship sails into Reykjavik early in the morning and you'll disembark around 8:00 AM. Say goodbye to the crew and your fellow passengers. A transfer takes you to Keflavik airport or a hotel in central Reykjavik depending on your onward plans.
Landmarks/POIs Reykjavik
