HIGHLIGHTS
- Explore
Iceland’s rarely visited Westfjords region
- Lookout
for an incredible variety of seabirds including Arctic tern, puffins
and eiders
- Visit
Ittoqqortoormiit, one of the world’s most remote settlements
- Glide
through the pristine waters of world’s largest fjord network
in east Greenland
- Learn
about Heimaey’s dark history and its recent volcanic past
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | Oceanview D4 | Oceanview M4 | Balcony D5 | Balcony M5 | Balcony D6 | Suite | Premium Suite |
|---|
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Oceanview D4 | (Mid-range)
Balcony M5 | (High-end)
Premium Suite |
|---|
ITINERARY
Reykjavik
Day 1
In
the centre of Iceland’s sprawling capital city, the modern
organ-pipe-shaped Hallgrimskirkja church dominates the top of town.
Cosy bars, cafes and shops line the surrounding streets heated by
geothermal waters. The regenerated harbour is home to a striking modern
concert hall. Popular trips include to the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal
spa near the village of Grindavik, and the Golden Circle tour taking in
Gullfoss Waterfall and the mighty Strokkur geyser in Thingvellir
National Park.
Isafjordur
& Vigur Island Day 2
Arrive
today in the charming, tiny fishing harbour of
Ísafjördur. The village’s touristic
highlights include the Westfjord Heritage Museum and The Museum House
(Old Hospital). Located at the heart of the Westfjords peninsula,
it’s a great jumping-off point for exploration so journey by
Zodiac to the island of Vigur – the pearl of the Western
Fjords. The second-largest island in the fjord, measuring two
kilometres by 400 metres, it’s a significant seabird colony,
which is home to arctic terns, puffins, black guillemots and eider
ducks. As one of only two inhabited islands in the fjord, Vigur is also
the site of a single farm, which has been in the same family for
generations. During your time on the island, you might see
Iceland’s only windmill, the country’s smallest
post office and oldest boat, which was built more than 200 years ago
and in regular use until relatively recently.
At
Sea Day 3
As
we cruise to our next destination, spend your day at sea exploring and
enjoying the ship’s facilities. You can also spend some time
learning about your destination from our knowledgeable onboard experts.
Attend an informative lecture, indulge in a relaxing spa treatment, or
get in a workout at the onboard gym.
Ittoqqortoormiit
Day 4
One
of the most remote towns in the world, thick sea ice makes
Ittoqqortoormiit inaccessible by ship for nine months of the year.
Founded in 1925 by Danish explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen and a group of 80 or
so Inuit, the town’s 450 present-day residents are largely
self-sufficient. Hunting and fishing at sea are the only ways that this
community can survive. Although a small number of residents now also
work service industry. Ittoqqortoormiit is also the gateway to the
Scoresbysund fjord system; the world’s largest fjord network
with an area of just under 40,000 square kilometres.
Scoresbysund
Day 5-6
Over
the next few days, we’ll explore the vast Scorebysund fjord
network. The imposing basalt mountains create a striking backdrop
against the brilliant white ice floating in the mirror-like waters. The
mountains offer protection from the Arctic winds, providing excellent
shelter for an abundance of Greenland’s iconic wildlife.
We’ll be hoping to spot muskoxen, Arctic foxes and mountain
hares along the frozen shores. Birds also thrive in this delicate
ecosystem. With the help of our expedition team, we’ll be
looking out for little auks, Atlantic puffins, fulmars, snowy owls, the
Greenlandic gyrfalcon and great black-backed gulls. Seals and whales
are also common sightings in the fjord waters.
Kong
Oscar Fjord Day 7-8
King
Oscar Fjord forms the northern border of the Scoresby Sound. This
seemingly endless maze of valleys eventually gives way to the open sea.
The imposing mountains, deep waters and sparkling ice create the kind
of dramatic and emotive landscape that photos just can’t
emulate. This other-worldly place is beautiful and imposingly hostile
all at once. Whilst cruising through King Oscar Fjord, we’ll
observe the fascinating Berzelius Bjerg, a mountain with clear bands of
coloured strata – formed millions of years ago when the
mountains here were once part of the seabed.
At
Sea Day 9
As
we cruise to our next destination, spend your day at sea exploring and
enjoying the ship’s facilities. You can also spend some time
learning about your destination from our knowledgeable onboard experts.
Attend an informative lecture, indulge in a relaxing spa treatment, or
get in a workout at the onboard gym.
Seydisfjordur
Day 10
Regarded
as east Island’s cultural hub, brightly painted wooden houses
line Seyðisfjörður’s port. With a
lively arts scene disproportionate to its small size,
Seyðisfjörður has attracted many writers and
artists over the years and also hosts an annual summer arts festival.
Surrounded by incredible nature, the Skálanes nature reserve
is a short distance from the town. The area covered by the reserve is
known for its diverse wildlife with over 47 species of bird and over
150 plant species. Reindeer are also seen here, with seals and
porpoises frequently spotted along the shores.
Hofn
Day 11
Southeast
Iceland’s staging post, Höfn is a small town perched
on a narrow neck of land, and an ideal base for exploring the nearby
Vatnajökull National Park. The town itself is well known for
its lobster catch, particularly high-value species such as the Norway
Lobster. The town hosts an annual Lobster Festival in celebration of
its reputation as Iceland’s Lobster capital.
Vatnajökull National Park is Europe’s largest and
covers 14% of Iceland. This vast area encompasses massive ice caps,
thundering waterfalls, glaciers, canyons, craters and volcanoes. The
park’s Jökulsárlón Lagoon is
within easy reach of Höfn and is Iceland’s deepest
lake. Icebergs float on the surface of the water all year long,
offering resting spots for passing seals.
Heimaey
Day 12
A
small 13-kilometre square island off the south coast of Iceland,
Heimaey’s history has been surprisingly eventful. From the
escapee 16th century Irish slaves to the reaches of the Ottoman Empire
and subsequent pirate invasion, the island was a place of danger and
terror until the mid 18th century. Once these events subsided, for 300
years the people of Heimaey assumed that their days of action were a
thing of the past. That was until 1973 when residents awoke to a
devastating volcanic eruption. Fissures over a kilometre wide snaked
through the town, the lava engulfing over 400 homes. Remarkably, only
one person is thought to have died as a result of the eruption, with a
quick rescue response ensuring that the 5,300 residents were swiftly
evacuated to the safety of the mainland. Evidence of this recent
geological activity can be seen just about everywhere on Heimaey and is
the focus of the fascinating Eldheimar museum.
Reykjavik
Day 13
In
the centre of Iceland’s sprawling capital city, the modern
organ-pipe-shaped Hallgrimskirkja church dominates the top of town.
Cosy bars, cafes and shops line the surrounding streets heated by
geothermal waters. The regenerated harbour is home to a striking modern
concert hall. Popular trips include to the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal
spa near the village of Grindavik, and the Golden Circle tour taking in
Gullfoss Waterfall and the mighty Strokkur geyser in Thingvellir
National Park.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Return
regional flights to the port of embarkation and/or disembarkation
(where specified)
- Group
return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included
accommodation where applicable)
- One
night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or
onboard
- All
meals onboard
- 24-hour
room service
- Coffee,
tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours
per day
- Lecture
programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
- Standard
WiFi
- Onboard
gratuities and port taxes
- One
selected shore excursion/expedition activity per port of call
- Branded
Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions
- Itineraries
are correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change
