Arriving on day 5 in Húsavík, a pretty town overlooking Skjálfandi Bay, step ashore to wander the marina and timber church while keeping one eye on the water. From the breakwater and piers, watch for humpbacks, porpoises and white-beaked dolphins patrolling the bay in search of capelin and krill.

Skjálfandi—“the shaking bay”—takes its name from tremors along the Tjornes Fracture Zone, a reminder that Iceland’s landscapes are alive beneath your feet. Enjoy the easygoing rhythm of cafes and fishing boats, and pause for photos across painted rooftops to the snow-streaked peaks beyond.

Later on day 5, gather on deck as your captain steers a course along Grímsey’s sea cliffs and the ship’s GPS ticks past 66°33′ N. With the island to starboard and waves riffling the basalt ledges, mark the moment you cross the Arctic Circle where Iceland truly meets the High North.

Watch clouds of seabirds wheel over the cliffs and listen to your Expedition Team share stories of life on this remote outpost. It’s a crisp, elemental scene—steel-blue ocean, wind in the rigging—and a milestone many travelers celebrate with a photo and a warm drink in hand.

On day 6, land in the tiny settlement of Bakkagerði and join a guided village walk threaded with tales of the huldufólk—the “hidden people.” See the low knoll of Álfaborg (the Elves’ Rock), coastal turf and driftwood, and pastel houses tucked between rhyolite hills that glow in muted greens and reds.

Continue to Hafnarhólmi, where boardwalks bring you respectfully close to Atlantic puffins (late spring to early August), kittiwakes and fulmars nesting on wave-washed cliffs. Your guide shares tips on patient observation and ethical wildlife photography as the sea murmurs below and the air fills with wingbeat and salt.

Arriving on day 7 in the Westman Islands, visit Eldheimar Museum to step inside a home excavated from ash and lava, a time capsule from the 1973 Eldfell eruption that reshaped Heimaey overnight. Exhibits trace the drama as residents fought fire with seawater and saved their harbor.

Afterward, a short volcanic walk reveals fresh scarps, clinker lava and views over the colorful town and fishing fleet. Hear how this hardy community rebuilt in the eruption’s wake, and pause for photos where black lava meets wind-bright Atlantic.

On day 2, venture into Snæfellsnes Peninsula National Park to walk the wave-lashed Djúpalónssandur black beach, strewn with jet pebbles and the famous fishermen’s “lifting stones.” Continue to Saxhóll crater and climb the metal steps for sweeping views over mossy lava fields toward the sea.

Your guide explains how eruptions sculpted this stark coastline and how fishermen once tested their strength on the beach. This is Iceland in microcosm—lava, ocean and wind in dialogue. Optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Ascend by snowcat toward the ice cap of Snæfellsjokull, the glacier-capped stratovolcano that crowned Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth. From high on the mountain, survey misty ocean horizons and ragged lava plains that spill to the peninsula’s rim.

Guides share the glacier’s folklore and the science behind its shrinking ice, while you savor the crystalline wind and wide-open views. Weather-dependent; specialized vehicles and safety equipment provided. Optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Don a helmet and lamp to explore a volcanic lava tube beneath the Snæfellsnes peninsula, following a guide along rippled basalt walls and glossy stalactites formed by once-molten rock. Step into the earth’s cooled arteries to read the story of Iceland’s fiery past.

Learn how flowing lava creates side passages, skylights and ropey pahoehoe textures, and hear how early settlers navigated this elemental landscape. Moderate walking over uneven ground. Optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.

On day 3, discover Ísafjorður’s wooden merchant houses and narrow lanes on a guided heritage stroll, culminating at the Westfjords Heritage Museum. Exhibits trace salt-cod trade routes, winter fishing and the hardy boats that once braved Ísafjarðardjúp.

As you walk the harborfront, pause for photos beneath steep-sided peaks that cradle one of Iceland’s best natural harbors. It’s a window into maritime traditions that shaped this remote corner of the North Atlantic. Optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Tackle the short, steep trail to Naustahvilft, nicknamed the “Troll’s Throne”, for a balcony view over Ísafjorður and its mirror-still waters. The path climbs a grassy slope cut by snowmelt rivulets to a natural bowl scooped from the mountainside.

Your guide shares local legends and the glacial processes that carved the Westfjords’ distinctive amphitheaters. Expect uneven footing and a brisk pace; the reward is a panoramic sweep of fjord and sea. Optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.

From day 4’s call at Akureyri, head inland to the Goðafoss (“Waterfall of the Gods”), where blue-green water plunges over basalt. Continue to Lake Mývatn, an active volcanic zone with steaming vents, lava pillars and pseudocraters that bring tectonics vividly to life.

Hear how the Mid-Atlantic Ridge shapes northern Iceland and why Mývatn teems with birdlife each summer. Time permitting, explore Dimmuborgir’s fantastical lava formations. Optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Stroll Akureyri’s compact center to the modernist church and riverside lanes before ambling the paths of the Akureyri Botanical Garden, a cool-climate sanctuary where Arctic and alpine species flourish against the odds.

Learn how a sheltered microclimate and dedicated horticulturists turned a northern fjord town into a living museum of hardy flora. Pause for photos of colorful houses and harbor views along the way. Optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Board a traditional oak boat or speedy RIB in Húsavík to scan Skjálfandi Bay for humpbacks, minkes and porpoises with a marine guide. Binoculars up as blows hang in the air and tail flukes lift in slow arcs against the mountains.

Along the way, hear about feeding patterns, migration and conservation in Icelandic waters, and feel the tang of sea spray and guillemot cries around you. Warm overalls provided on RIB departures. Optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Delve into cetacean science at the Húsavík Whale Museum, where full skeletons and hands-on displays illuminate the lives of Iceland’s great whales. Then pivot to pop culture at the playful Eurovision Song Contest Exhibition, with costumes, props and sets linked to the 2020 film set in town.

It’s a charming mix of marine natural history and local fun that captures Húsavík’s personality. Enjoy time to browse exhibits and chat with staff before returning to the harbor. Optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Travel from Húsavík into the north’s raw heart at Ásbyrgi, a horseshoe canyon of birch scrub and towering cliffs tied in legend to Odin’s eight-legged horse. Continue to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, where glacial torrents thunder through Jokulsárgljúfur.

Guides unpack the canyon’s glacial-flood origins and the basalt columns framing the falls. Trails can be rocky and spray drifts on the breeze—bring sturdy shoes and a sense of awe. Optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Join a brisk hike to Stórhofði, a windswept headland where millions of puffins nest in summer among thrift and heather. From the cliff-edge hides, watch orange bills flash and wings whirr as birds commute between burrows and the bright Atlantic.

Your guide shares tips for quiet observation and responsible photography, and points out storm-petrels, kittiwakes and razorbills working the updrafts. Expect steady climbs and strong, fresh breezes. Optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Trace cinder paths to the summit of Eldfell, the 1973 cone that rose above Heimaey in a single night. Underfoot, warm rust-red scoria crunches as sweeping views open across town, harbor and the ragged Westman archipelago.

Guides recount the eruption that buried streets, the pumps that saved the port, and the resilience that followed. A rewarding climb with uneven footing and unforgettable vistas. Optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.

After disembarkation on day 8, slip into a classic Icelandic heittur pottur (hot pot) at a Reykjavík geothermal pool. Soak in the lakeside atmosphere alongside locals as steam rises into cool air and conversation drifts between lanes and hot tubs.

Your host explains bathing etiquette and how geothermal energy powers daily life here—from heating homes to warming sidewalks in winter. A gentle, culturally rooted way to unwind before your onward journey. Optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.

On day 2, step ashore in the snug harbor of Grundarfjorður and join a short guided orientation along the waterfront. The town opens onto Breiðafjorður’s island-studded bay, while just west the distinctive cone of Kirkjufell rises from the sea. Stroll the pier, pause for photos and reflection, and breathe the briny air tinged with kelp and fresh-caught cod.

Locals call nearby Snæfellsnes the “Little Iceland” for its compressed drama—lava fields, black shores, and glacier-topped peaks. Your guide points out how Kirkjufell’s sculpted profile was carved by Ice Age glaciers, setting the scene for deeper explorations of the peninsula’s wild geology later in the day.

Glide into Eyjafjorður on day 4, a long, glacier-carved fjord shouldered by snow-dusted ridges. From the outer decks, scan for humpbacks and minke whales as they surface in glassy water, and follow birds arcing over the bow. Your Expedition Team helps identify species and points out telltale blows and flukes.

The fjord funnels toward Akureyri, Iceland’s “Northern Capital,” whose colorful houses and harbor cranes signal the blend of fishing tradition and modern culture. Learn how cold currents and summer plankton blooms attract marine life here, and pause for photos as the fjord narrows and the light plays on snowfields above.

On day 1, board your expedition vessel in Reykjavík Harbour, where you’re greeted and welcomed aboard by the crew. Settle into your cabin, collect your expedition jacket and take a first stroll on deck as the skyline frames the basalt-inspired Hallgrímskirkja Church and the silvery waters of Faxaflói Bay.

As evening gathers, meet fellow travellers over a first dinner on board shaped by Nordic flavors—think Icelandic lamb, Arctic char and rye breads—while your Tour Director outlines the journey ahead. It’s an unhurried start that blends modern Reykjavík’s creative spirit with the seafaring heritage you’ll explore in the days to come.