Highlights of Iceland

The rock-like columns of Hallgrímskirkja Church loom over the city of Reykjavík, a hip Scandinavian capital which needs little introduction. With new Nordic cuisine, excellent shopping, fantastic excursions and an easy relaxed vibe, Reykjavik is one of Scandinavia's most welcoming and exciting cities. Situated in the centre of the North Atlantic, Reykjavík is the perfect place to start Arctic adventures!

Our purpose-built expedition vessel awaits in the city's bustling harbour, awaiting to welcome our guests. After the madatory safety drill, enjoy dinner and a glass of champagne as we follow the thousand-year-old Norse sea route towards the Westfjords.

Perched on the northwestern tip of the country, Ísafjörður is the largest town in the Westfjords. This staggeringly beautiful region comprises a peninsula of rugged layered basalt mountains, indented by deep fjords. Ísafjörður itself sits on a branch of the large Ísafjarðardjúp, the largest fjord in the region.

Ísafjörður was a sleepy backwater until the 16th century, when increased trade with Europe, combined with the rich fisheries of the area made it an important hub for international trade. In recent years however, population has declined as the fishing industry has become increasingly automated, however the town's popularity with visitors means it is now growing again. Surrounded by the swanky new buildings downtown, this little town feels surprisingly cosmopolitan and urban, with residents and visitors from all around the world. However, the colourfully painted houses, chilly breezes and sweeping mountains around town remind visitors of the remoteness of Ísafjörður, and the miles of untouched nature waiting to be discovered!

In the morning, Ocean Albatros will arrive in the small town of Siglufjörður, the northernmost town on the Icelandic mainland. Like almost every town in Iceland, the harbour is the heart of the town, which grew from a tiny hamlet to a true town in the 1940s and 50s during the herring boom. This little fish has been the mainstay of the town's economy since time immemorial, and made Siglufjörður one of Iceland's largest towns in the 1950s.

Siglufjörður is a town that has fully embraced its history and identity - everywhere in town, the herring reigns supreme! The Herring Era Museum, a series of period buildings shows the traditional processing of these fish, which continues to this day. The town occupies one of the most stunning fjords (bearing the same name) in Iceland; up to 18 species of birds can be found in the area, making it a hugely popular spot for visitors driving the ring road of Iceland.

Over lunch, we will re-embark Ocean Albatros and reposition from Siglufjörður to Grimsey, a small island off Iceland's northern coast. This tiny emerald island is the only part of Iceland which crosses the Arctic Circle - indeed, it runs directly through the northern half of the island. The spot is marked by a massive concrete sphere "Orbus et Globus", a sculpture which is moved annually to account for tiny changes in Earth's orbit (and therefore in the position of the Arctic Circle). The island is home to only around 70 hardy locals, but also to thousands of seabirds. Watch out for curious puffins peeking out of their burrows, and beware the territorial Arctic terns overhead! The island holds a huge tern population, and workers often have to clear the runway of these elegant yet feisty little birds to allow planes to land. The visit to Grimsey includes a guided walk of the island with local guides.

The jewel of northern Iceland, the city of Akureyri is the country's second city. Akureyri occupies the perfect spot, situated at the head of Eyjafjörður, a long calm fjord, sheltering the town from the worst of the Arctic weather. Rich volcanic soils nourish the surrounding hills and fields, which drip with emerald greenery.

Akureyri has less than a tenth of the population of Reykjavik, being home to around 20,000 souls. The city can be reached from the international airport in Reykjavik either via a 40-minute flight, or a 6 hour drive. Nonetheless, Akureyri holds everything you would expect from a much larger city, and locals are justifiably proud of their home. The city has its own cathedral (designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, the creator of Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavik), a botanical garden (Iceland's first public park) showcasing cold-hardy plants from around the world, a bustling high street lined with traditonal buildings, cosy cafes, restaurants and shops, fascinating museums, and a huge geothermally-heated swimming pool.

The length of the Eyjafjörður makes an excellent natural harbour; subsequently the city is situated further inland than most in Iceland, and typically experiences stable weather, with warmer summers and cooler winters than much of the country. The local microclimate and rich soils make this one of the most agriculturally productive regions in the country, and gourmands here are spoiled for choice, from the excellent locally-raised meat and dairy, to the delectable local seafood harvested from the icy waters nearby.

Around the headland from Akureyri lies the town of Húsavík - in many ways a contrast to the neighbouring city of Akureyri. Instead of a deep long fjord, Húsavík sits in a wide open bay, facing the open North Atlantic. While Akureyri is a relatively modern city, Húsavík was the first site ever settled by the Norse in Iceland, when a man called Náttfari established a farm there - probably constructing the first building in Iceland.

While Akureyri remains an important hub of fishing and agriculture, Húsavík is a town which has fully embraced tourism. Although the harbour firmly remains the heart of the town's economy, Húsavík has reinvented itself from its fishing roots as Iceland's premier whale-watching destination. Where harpoon-laden whaling ships once moored, today visitors will see a fleet of whale-watching boats, from refurbished sailing vessels to sleek modern watercraft, waiting to take visitors out to see the gentle giants of the deep.

Húsavík has several other options for visitors wishing to stay on land. Despite its tiny size, the town holds several museums, including the Húsavík Whale Museum, a must-visit for those who want to learn more about these majestic animals, which is an important part of local conservation research. The Town Museum detailed life in Húsavík in the old days, while The Exploration Museum covers everything from the early Viking explorers to the Apollo astronauts (who trained near Húsavík in the 1960s). For music fans, the newly opened Eurovision Museum details Iceland's outsized role in the beloved song competition. Of course no trip to Iceland would be complete without a soak in a hot spring - take a stroll out of town to the Geosea Spa for a dose of wellness and relaxation with stunning sea views.

Sitting on the southeastern coast of Iceland, Djúpivogur is a small port town, and the closest port in the country to the Faroe Islands, Scandinavia and mainland Europe. It is therefore a very popular port of call for vessels exploring the North Atlantic, despite its small size. Like most towns in Iceland, the village is clustered around the harbour, which has been the center of town life since the town’s founding in the late 1500s as a trading post. Off the coast is the small island of Papey, which may have been home to hermit Irish monks even before the Norse settlement of Iceland. Fishing has been the main industry in the town since it’s founding, recently supplanted in importance by tourism.

Djúpivogur sits on the Búlandsnes Peninsula, surrounded by fjords on two sides, and backed by rugged mountains including the pyramidal Búlandstindur, which is known throughout the country. The town contains several public artworks such as the Eggs of Merry Bay (Eggin í Gleðivík), 32 stone eggs representing the 32 species of birds which can be seen locally. Just above the harbour is Langabúð, one of the oldest buildings in Iceland – it has variously been used as a warehouse and slaughterhouse, and today houses an excellent café with a small museum. The cakes are excellent.

With vast areas of untouched wilderness just beyond the town, Djúpivogur is a popular location for hikers and adventure seekers. While the mountains outside town are challenging, there are several shorter routes closer to town which are more appropriate for casual hikers. The scenery and nature (especially the carpets of early summer flowers) are spectacular. The area is one of the best places in Iceland to birdwatch, with a huge variety of habitats, including cliffs, beaches, lagoons, grasslands and river deltas. Binoculars are essential!

Heimaey is the largest island of the Vestmannaeryjar (Westman Islands), a small archipelago which comprises Iceland’s southernmost point. Vestmannaeyjabær is the only town on the islands, situated around the harbour on the northern side of Heimaey. Irish and Scottish hermits may well have inhabited the islands prior to Norse settlement. These men were known as ‘Vestmann’ (‘Men from the West’) by the Norse. Indeed, archaeological evidence indicates human presence on Heimaey around the year 800, before the traditional settling date of Iceland.

Volcanic eruptions are never far away in Iceland, and on 23rd Jan 1973, a 1600m fissure opened on Heimaey, spewing lava. Through the night, residents of the island were evacuated (mostly on fishing boats), however ash began to cover the town and lava flowed through the streets. Even more catastrophically, lava began to flow toward the island’s perfect natural harbour (the hub of the islands’ economy and transport). Recognizing the risk, locals began a project to divert the lava by spraying it with cold seawater, which remains the most successful lava diversion ever attempted. The harbour was saved, and the island had grown by around 20%. These events were reported worldwide, and the island saw a boom in tourism after the eruption, which has continued to this day.

The island is today home to around 4500 people, but is famed worldwide for its seabird colonies – around eight million puffins can be found on the island in summer, which draws huge numbers of tourists. During spring and summer nights, local children arrange patrols to find chicks confused by the town lights, and release them from clifftops during daylight. The lava flows and the summit of Eldfell (meaning ‘Fire Mountain’ in Icelandic) can all be reached on a pleasant hike from the harbour. The views over the island, of partially-buried buildings from the eruption, and the volcanic vents themselves are all breathtaking.

In 1963, a submarine volcanic eruption began around 18km southwest of Heimaey. This eruption resulted in a new island being formed, one of the youngest in the world. Named Surtsey after Surtr, a fire-giant of Norse mythology, the island continues to be a magnet for volcanologists and biologists, who come to study the geology, and the colonization process of new islands by plant and animal species. Cruising past the island is permitted, but the island can only be visited by scientists, as it is not only dangerous, but is a vital scientific case study.

In the early morning of the eighth day of our voyage, Ocean Albatros will sail into the calm waters of Reykjavik Harbour. After a hearty breakfast, it is time to bid a fond farewell to the Crew and Expedition Team of Ocean Albatros, and descend the gangway back to dry land with memories of the voyage of a lifetime.