Iceland Circumnavigation - M/V Greg Mortimer

Arrive into Reykjavik and make your own way to the group hotel. Your evening is at leisure.

After breakfast at the hotel, a transfer is included to the pier to board the Greg Mortimer. Sail into Hvalfjordur, a beautiful fjord just north of Reykjavik with wide areas of flat verdant land along majestic mountains and beaches cut with creeks. The fjord is approximately 30 kilometres long and five kilometres wide. The area is rich in bird life and is home to seals, perfect for zodiac cruising, kayaking and hikes. Historically, Hvalfjorour was home to one of the main whaling stations in Iceland, with ships heading out into Faxafloi Bay. It was one of the most important naval stations in the North Atlantic during World War II, when Iceland was occupied by the Allies after the Nazis conquered Denmark. The old whaling station and a war museum can be found in the fjord.

Stykkisholmur is the starting point of our adventures on the Snaefellnes Peninsula, gateway Snæfellsjokull National Park. Stykkishólmur is located by Breidafjordur Bay on the north of Snæfellsnes peninsula and is surrounded by wonderful views of the innumerable islands. One of the defining landmarks in Stykkisholmur are the old houses in the old city centre, some of which were owned by Danish traders, and every year in August there is a Danish town festival in Stykkisholmur called Danskirdagar or Danish days. The oldest house in Stykkisholmur is the Norwegian house, which dates back to 1832. The inhabitants take great pride in preserving the old houses and walking in the centre of town is like walking in another era. An area of diverse landscapes, characterised by lava fields and glistening fjords and home to bird-rich Breidafjordur Bay. The area is crowned by the magnificent, ice-capped Snæfellsjokull volcano, a 700,000-year-old dormant subglacial volcano, visible from Reykjavik on a clear day and immortalised in

Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Disembark the ship at approximately 8.30 am to commence today's full day excursion visiting the following areas :- Arnarstapi was an important trading post in the past and had a much bigger population than it has now. Columnar basalt, ravines and grottoes surround the Arnarstapi pier. There is a large arctic tern colony in the village itself, and a walk along the coastline is a great way to see birds such as kittiwake, Arctic tern and fulmar. You will also pass magnificent lava formations. The seaside and the cliffs between Arnastapi and Hellnar were made a Natural Reserve in 1979. A sculpture of Bardur Snaefellsas by Ragnar

Kjartansson stands by the beach at Arnarstapi. At Bjarnarhofn you will enjoy a guided tour of the shark museum. Although Grundarfjordu is not the most well-known town in Snæfellsnes, Mount Kirkjufell is certainly one of the most famous mountains in Iceland. It is not unusual for photographers from all over the world to make their way to Grundarfjordur for the sole purpose of photographing this unique landmark which has even starred in a number of films. Nature abounds here, with vibrant birdlife and spectacular waterfalls. En route to Isafjordur, we sail past the immense Látrabjarg cliffs, Iceland's westernmost point and home to a huge population of razorbills and puffins.

Over the next two days we will explore the Westfjords region, featuring outstanding landscapes with astounding views of dramatic fjords carved by ancient glaciers, sheer table mountains that plunge into the sea, and pristine North Atlantic vegetation. The region features attractive towns such as Isafjordur, the famous Dynjandi waterfall and spectacular fjords offer kayaking opportunities, hiking and birdwatching.

In true expeditionary style, we keep our itinerary flexible to allow for spontaneity based on weather and sea conditions. We plan to visit Hornstrandir peninsula, one of Iceland's most remote and pristine regions, filled with many deep and dramatic fjords, towering bird cliffs, stunning natural beauty and opportunities for wildlife encounters. Enjoy the bountiful silence and magnificent landscapes seen only by the few adventurers that make their way here.

Picturesque Akureyri is Iceland's second largest city outside the capital area, with a superb snow-capped mountain backdrop. Explore the old town, with its beautifully maintained period houses, before heading inland to the nearby Mývatn region - an area said to be the most geologically active area in Iceland. You will have the choice of two land excursions :-

Option 1 -

Visit the Goðafoss waterfall, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. In the year 1,000 theLawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði made Christianity the official religion of Iceland. After his conversion, Þorgeir threw his statues of the Norse gods into the waterfall earning the waterfall its name - waterfall of the gods. Visit Námaskarð, well-known for its sulphurous mud springs called solfataras and steam springs called fumaroles. Even though you won't find any pure spring water in this wonderful geothermal site of

Iceland, the beauty of the colourful minerals and the gigantic mud craters are truly impressive. Dettifoss is a waterfall in northeast Iceland and is reputed to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe. The falls are 100 metres wide and have a drop of 44 metres down to the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon. Travel onto \'c1sbyrgi, a forested horse-shoe shaped canyon in Oxarfjordur. Asbyrgi is a part of Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon, within the Vatnajökull National Park.

Option 2 -

Visit the Akureyri Public Park and Botanical Garden. The garden is one of the northern most botanical gardens in the world. The Public Park was opened in 1912 but the botanic gardens section was open in 1957. There are about 6,600 different species of plants grown in the garden, of which, 430 species are native to Iceland. This option also includes a visit to the Goðafoss waterfall, before moving onto Dimmuborgir, an area strewn with enormous lava rocks and cliffs. The formation of these extraordinary lava cliffs and pillars are the result of molten lava flowing over a pond in the eruption of Lúdentsborgir and Þrengslaborgir some 2,300 years ago. The most famous of these formations is The

Church, aptly named, as this is a cave open at both ends and with a dome-like ceiling. Námaskarð will be the next stop, before ending your excursion at Mývatn Nature Baths. Drawing on a centuries-old tradition, the tastefully designed complex offers bathers a completely natural experience that begins with a relaxing dip amidst clouds of steam, rising up from a fissure deep in the Earth's surface. It ends with a luxurious swim in a pool of geothermal water, drawn from depths of up to 2,500 metres. Both options will end with a transfer to Húsavik, where you can explore the small town at your own leisure, before re-boarding the ship to sail to Grímsey Island.

Located approximately 40 km off the mainland, Grímsey is a verdant grassy island, probably best known for its proximity to the Arctic Circle, which cuts across the island. Many people travel to Grímsey just to say they have stepped across the imaginary line. With a tiny population of approximately 100 inhabitants, it's a fantastic place for Zodiac cruising, kayaking, and photographing seabirds such as guillemots, gulls and puffins. Leaving Grímsey to return closer to the mainland, we spend time scanning the waters of Skjálfandi Bay around Húsavik, a town known as Iceland's whale watching capital, home to up to 24 different whale species, as well as dolphins and a variety of birds. The largest animal on earth, the blue whale, has also been spotted in Skjálfandi Bay, and if you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of this magnificent creature as well as orcas, fin whales and pilot whales.

Mjóifjördur, meaning narrow fjord, is an 18 km fjord on Iceland's east coast and is a little-known gem, cherished by locals. Hidden between Nordfjördur and Seydisfjördur mountains that provide shelter and pleasant weather, the fjord is an excellent place to soak up the peaceful surroundings and offers spectacular waterfalls, ideal for kayaking and Zodiac cruising. Mjóifjörður is an exceptionally beautiful, tranquil and remote area with spectacular cliffs. Because of the fjord's still weather, it has lush green hills and exceptionally rich flora lining its shores. It also has the impressive Prestagil -The Priest's Ravine - and the Hofsárgljúfur Canyon, with delightful rivers and waterfalls. At Asknes, you will find the remains of an old whaling station built by the Norwegians around 1900 and which previously, housed over 200 workers. Today, on the way to the tiny village, Brekku\'feorp, a shipwreck on its banks, marks a haunting reminder of the town's whaling past.

Höfn is a lively fishing town with a healthy population of 1,800 and is the gateway to Vatnajökull National Park. The park is one of the most spectacular and special parts of Iceland and is home to Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajökull. We'll visit Skaftafell National Park which was established in 1967, but became part of the larger Vatnajökull National Park in 2008. Inside the national park, you can find glacier tongues resting on the green fields of the lowland. The Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, a glacial lagoon open to the ocean, is filled with floating icebergs that wash up on shore and stand gleaming on the black beach, known today as Diamond beach. The park also boasts colourful mountains, with deep valleys and a variety of birdlife, as well as reindeer and seals.

Located off of Iceland's south coast, the Westman Islands were formed by volcanic eruptions around 10,000 years ago. Sail past Surtsey Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site that emerged from the sea in 1963, and is one the youngest land masses on earth. Westman Islands are surrounded by 15 other uninhabited islands and around 30 rocks and skerries, offering refuge for a rich array of seabirds. The islands are considered to have the largest Atlantic puffin colony in the world, and when sailing around the islands, it is not uncommon to see puffins but also whales and seals. Heimaey is the main island in the archipelago and it has the population of around 4,200. Ashore on Heimaey, the only inhabited island in the archipelago, we see half-buried houses that remain from a violent 1973 eruption and you will have the opportunity to visit the impressive Eldheimar Museum to learn about the volcanic eruption. Eruptions are a big part of the history of the Westman Islands and 2 volcanoes can be found here; one that erupted around 6,000 years ago, and the second, Eldfell, that erupted in 1973 and forced all of the island's inhabitants to evacuate for the mainland. Fortunately, due to bad weather the day before the eruption, all the fishing boats remained in the harbour and were able to help transport Heimaey's inhabitants to the mainland. You can learn more about the story of the eruption and the aftermath at the fascinating Eldheimar Museum.

After breakfast, bid farewell to the expedition team, crew and newfound friends as you disembark in Reykjavik, where the voyage ends. A transfer to downtown Reykjavik or to the airport is included.