Iceland Circumnavigation

Welcome to Iceland! Our driver will be waiting for you at Keflavik Airport to transfer you to your hotel. Upon arrival, you can collect your luggage tags from the expedition desk, before taking an evening to explore glorious Reykjavik (be sure to ask if you’d like any tips on where to eat or what to see). If you have the time, enjoy sights such as the intriguing Sun Voyager, the Hallgrimskirkja, Laugavegur Street, and the Blue Lagoon, trace Viking history in the city’s museums, or sample divine Nordic tasting menus in its restaurants. 

Having enjoyed breakfast and fitted your cabin tags to your luggage, you’ll check out and leave your bags at the hotel to be collected and delivered to your cabin aboard the Sylvia Earle ahead of your arrival. Afterward, you’ll have the option to join us in the hotel’s lobby for an informative walking tour of Reykjavik’s most notable sights with a knowledgeable local guide, or you can spend the morning as you wish. You’ll board the Sylvia Earle in the afternoon to embark on your circumnavigation of Iceland, an occasion marked by a convivial Captain’s dinner.

We’ll begin our Iceland Circumnavigation by sailing into the Snæfellsnes peninsula – often referred to as Iceland in miniature due to the wealth and diversity of its landscapes. Here, you’ll see the traditional houses in Stykkishólmur’s picturesque center, and journey through Snaefellsnes’s cinematic landscapes of lava fields, crystal clear waters, breathtaking fjords, and the 7000-year old, subglacial Snæfellsjökull volcano towering over verdant fields full of sheep. But nature abounds here with seabirds and glistening waterfalls, as well as the phenomenal peak of Mount Kirkjufell.

The next three days are perhaps the most exciting of the cruise, spent sailing the astounding Westfojords, where mountains make sheer plunges into crystal clear waters and dramatic fjords sculpted by long dead glaciers form narrow passages to some of the North Atlantic’s sublimest scenery. You’ll sail into the remote beauty of the Hornstrandir peninsula, viewing the vertical cliffs animated by birdlife, but otherwise silent and still. You’ll go to shore at Patreksfjordur – Europe’s westernmost point, to see puffins, razorbills, and guillemots. The remote towns of Isafjordur and Djupavik, surrounded by an immeasurable expanse of mountains are ideal for kayaking and hiking, while small cultural attractions and restaurants fill out the day with opportunities to see local art and sample the raw flavors of provincial Icelandic cuisine.

Reaching the mainland the Sylvia Earle will drop anchor at peaceful Hjalteyri, a former fishing village close to Akureyri, Iceland’s second-largest town. Once renowned as a center for the Herring trade, the village now boasts a slightly different personality. Modernized and with a focus on the arts, the former Herring factory acts as a cultural  center for the small local population and hosts art exhibitions in the summer. In the north of Iceland, it’s second only to Husavík as a base for whale watching, but it’s an attractive destination for sea angling and diving too.

Located 40km from the mainland, Iceland’s northernmost island, Grímsey is a verdant slice of land partially within the Arctic Circle. Its mossy southern side topples as a hilly landslide into the water, while elsewhere, imposing basalt cliffs are brought to life by cheery puffins and gulls. Its small size makes it an ideal spot for a Zodiac or kayak tour, though it’s as equally beautiful when viewed from the Sylvia Earle. After Grímsey, we’ll sail back to the mainland, keeping watch for Orcas, pilot whales, and if we’re lucky, Blue Whales in Skjálfandi Bay.

This charming little town in the Eastfjords is home to attractive multicolored wooden houses built around a beautiful lagoon. It’s flanked by snow-capped mountains and has cascading waterfalls along the idyllic river Fjardara. The area is stunning, ideal for hikers with trails leading off into the hills and along the river, and it’s ideal for sailing in the summer and skiing in the winter. But it’s just as good for anyone hoping to snag a piece of local art from its community of artists and craftspeople, or for music lovers hoping to experience live music in the unique Blue Church during its summer concert series.

Formed of underwater volcanoes that erupted 10,000 years ago, the Westman Islands are a beguiling chain of 15 islands off the southern shore of Iceland. Here, we’ll sail rugged rocks and skerries, home to numerous seabirds, and look out for seals and whales as the water breaks. The main island is Heimaey, with a population of a little over 4000, and it has an intriguing collection of half-buried houses, the remnants of an eruption of the Eldfell Volcano – a popular peak to hike. The archipelago is home to the UNESCO-listed Surtsey Island, one of the world’s youngest islands – formed in 1963 and best viewed from the Sylvia Earle’s observation decks.

The Sylvia Earle will cruise slowly back into port at Reykjavik as you sleep, allowing you time, after breakfast, to say a final farewell to the ship’s brilliant crew and your fellow travelers. After you leave your cabin and disembark for the final time, we will transfer you to the Keflavik airport for your onward journey or if you intend to stay in Iceland, to a hotel in gorgeous Reykjavik.