Arrive at the airport and head to the hotel via the group transfer to your hotel. Relax, and spend the overnight here preparing for your adventure.

*Pre/Post hotels and flights are always subject to change until the Travel Documents are provided.

In the morning, join the group and transfer to the port. Afterward, embark on SH Diana for your adventure.

Despite its small size, you won’t be short of things to see and do in this diminutive but dramatic city. To get your bearings, take the elevator to the top of Hallgrimskirkja. This church, designed by famed Icelandic architect Gudjón Samuelsson, is one of the most distinctive buildings in town. When you return to earth, visit the city’s other renowned building, Harpa Concert Hall, located at the heart of Reykjavik's regenerated harbor and also the home of the Maritime Museum. Speaking of cultural spaces, tour the National Museum to learn the story of Iceland from past to present. The Reykjavik Art Museum houses an impressive contemporary collection, including eye-catching pieces by Erró. And, of course, just 50 kilometers outside the city lies Thingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland’s original Viking parliament.

Considered one of Iceland’s most impressive, this thunderous waterfall in the Westfjords region gives the impression of a bridal veil as it spreads its tumbling waters down a series of ever-growing cascades. Dynjandi is one of the most photographed sights in Iceland. Walking up to it takes 15 minutes, passing five smaller waterfalls. Nearby, Hrafnseyri is the birthplace of Jon Sigurdsson, the 19th-century leader of the Icelandic Independence movement. The museum includes an Icelandic turf house.

Included Activities

WALK TO DYNJANDI WATERFALL WITH SWAN HELLENIC EXPEDITION TEAM

• Your onboard expedition team, experts in all things Icelandic, will guide you along the path to this hidden treasure.
• Awaken your spirit of adventure as you witness nature's raw power firsthand
• Discover the secrets of Dynjandi and providing a deeper understanding of its geological significance and cultural importance.

Surrounded by fjords in the Westfjords region, Isafjordur is a bustling fishing town in northwest Iceland with colorful wooden 18th- and 19th-century houses in the old town of Neskaupstadur. Isafjordur was one of the largest fisheries in Iceland, but tourism has now taken over. Nearby is Sudavik, home to the Arctic Fox Center. Iceland’s only mammal, the arctic fox, lives on the lush tundra of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, the northernmost peninsula in the Westfjords with two of Europe’s largest bird cliffs.

Included Excursions

ARCTIC FOXES & AVALANCHES

• Get to know the history of Sudavík and the avalanche that struck the small village in 1995
• Your journey begins with breathtaking views over one of Iceland’s largest fjords, Ísafjardardjup, punctuated with the majestic Snæfjallaströnd mountain chain
• Enjoy an exciting live performance from a local musician during your visit to Súðavík’s church

WESTFJORDS LIFE AND CULTURE

• Discover the time-honored local methods of salting fishing
• Go back in time as you enter the turf-and-stone fishing shacks, greeted by a local dressed in a traditional sheepskin fisherman's outfit
• Visit the Maritime Museum, housed in some of Iceland's oldest buildings, to delve into the history of the fishing industry that has sustained the area for centuries

Grimsey is a remote island located 40 kilometers off Iceland’s north coast. Many people travel here for the purpose of setting foot in the Arctic Circle, the only place in Iceland where you can do so. The island is also home to fewer than 100 people but over one million seabirds. Birdlife thrives here thanks to the lack of egg predation (there are no rats or mice on the island) and the rich, well-stocked surrounding seas. Grimsey has one of Iceland’s largest tern nesting sites and largest puffin colonies.

Included Activities

LIFE IN ARCTIC CIRCLE

• Enjoy your stay on Iceland’s northernmost inhabited territory
• Be prepared for an exhilarating physical challenge that will take you across approx. 7.5km of invigorating nature walk with some inclines toward the Arctic Circle artwork
• Stop at the bird cliffs where, depending on the time of the season, you’ll be able to spot several species of birds including puffins, guillemots, and gulls

Hrisey Island is a small island in the Eyjafjordur fjord in northern Iceland. It is home to various wildlife, including puffins, seals, and whales. Hriseyjarfjall Mountain is the highest point and offers views of the surrounding landscape and the vast expanse of Eyjafjordur fjord. Despite its size, Hrisey Island possesses a rich cultural heritage. Traditional Icelandic crafts, such as hand-knitting and woodworking, preserve the island's identity.

 

Husavik, overlooking Skjalfandi Bay, is famed for whale watching, especially the endangered blue whale. The town's Whale and Exploration Museums focus on Viking history and Apollo astronaut training, taking place nearby. The town also marks Iceland's first house from 860 AD. Husavik is on the Arctic Coast Way and the start of the Diamond Circle route. Nearby, Kaldbakur Pond is a popular geothermal swimming spot oddly populated with goldfish.

Included Excursions

WHALE WATCHING & WHALE MUSEUM

Known for puffin encounters, hiking trails, and scenic beauty. Bakkagerdi is the largest settlement in the Borgarfjordur Eystri fjord and a base for exploring the rugged wilderness. A popular trail leads to the Giant Boulders at Storurd. The local church features a 1914 altarpiece depicting Christ on Alfaborg rock, aka the City of Elves, with the Dyrfjoll Mountains behind. Nearby Hafnarholmi rock is a sanctuary for kittiwakes and other seabirds.

Included Excursions

ZODIAC CRUISE AND LANDING WITH THE SWAN HELLENIC EXPEDITION TEAM

• Explore an off-the-beaten-track small Icelandic port with your Swan Hellenic Expedition Team
• A heaven for bird watching allowing close encounters with Atlantic puffins as they nest in burrows
• Enjoy a medium hike with steps leading to a beautiful viewpoint

Brightly painted wooden houses line Seydisfjordur’s port, regarded as East Island’s cultural hub with a lively arts scene disproportionate to its size. Seydisfjordur has attracted writers and artists and hosts a summer arts festival. Surrounded by incredible nature, the nearby Skalanes nature reserve is known for its diverse wildlife with over 47 bird species, as well as 150 plant species. Reindeer, seals, and porpoises often populate the area.

Included Excursions

SKALANES NATURE RESERVE - INCL

• Enjoy this guided tour of Skalanes nature reserve where your guide will point nesting seabirds, like the large colony of Eiders and Arctic Terns, as well as stunning cliffs reaching up to 640 m
• Explore the landscape that still holds remnants of farms and turf structures that demonstrate the relationship between humans and nature since the settlement of Iceland
• This tour also includes a stop at an archaeological dig site, called Thorarinsstadir, to see the stave church and graveyard discovered by a team in 1998

ARCHAEOLOGY, HISTORY AND HERITAGE WALK

• Fjordur archaeological excavation site under Mt. Bjolfur
• Explore the town of Seydisfjordur and enjoy refreshments at Skaftfell Bistro
• Visit the fascinating Technological Museum of East Iceland

Home to fewer than 500 residents, the quiet fishing village of Djupivogur dates back to the Viking era. Despite its formidable origins, the village is better known for its unhurried pace of life. Djupivogur’s most famous artistic offering may be the first thing you notice as you disembark. The 34 large granite eggs that line the road along the bay are not easy to miss. The art installation, named ‘The Eggs at Merry Bay’ (Eggin í Gledivík in Icelandic), represents the 34 species of birds that nest locally. Immerse yourself further into the wild on a trip to nearby Vatnajökull National Park. Covering 14% of Iceland’s land mass, this vast area is home to giant ice caps, thundering glacial rivers, grumbling active volcanoes, and other geological wonders. Take a guided tour out onto Vatnajokull Glacier, Europe’s largest ice cap, and experience the glory of true Icelandic wilderness for yourself.

Included Excursions

CULTURAL WALK IN DJUPIVOGUR

• Let your imagination soar as you discuss the symbolism behind the intriguing “Eggs” sculpture with your guide
• Uncover the hidden story behind the repurposed Tank and marvel at the ingenuity that has transformed it
• Your exploration wouldn't be complete without a visit to a local craft museum and store to admire the craftsmanship and artistry that have been passed down for generations

A small 13-kilometer square island off the south coast of Iceland, Heimaey’s history has been surprisingly eventful. From the escape of 16th-century Irish slaves to the reaches of the Ottoman Empire and subsequent pirate invasions, the island was a place of danger and terror until the mid-18th century. Once these events subsided, for hundreds of 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 kilometer wide snaked through the town, with the lava engulfing over 400 homes. Remarkably, only one person is thought to have died due to 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 everywhere on Heimaey and is the focus of the fascinating Eldheimar museum.

Included Excursions

POMPEII OF THE NORTH

• Visit a birdwatching house in Storhofdi, providing a wonderful opportunity to see the largest puffin colony
• Drive between two incredible volcanoes, the 5,000-year-old volcano Helgafell (Holy Mountain) and the considerably younger volcano Eldfell (Fire Mountain)
• Brace yourself for the untamed power of nature with a stop at the windiest place on Earth, where the average wind speed reaches 11 m/s

Your cruise ends in Reykjavik. Make sure there is sufficient time before you begin your journey home to explore this diminutive but dramatic capital city. Despite its small size, you won’t be short of things to see and do. To get your bearings, take the elevator to the top of Hallgrimskirkja. This church, designed by famed Icelandic architect Gudjón Samuelsson, is one of the most distinctive buildings in town. When you return to earth, visit the city’s other renowned building, Harpa Concert Hall, located at the heart of Reykjavik's regenerated harbor and also the home of the Maritime Museum. Speaking of cultural spaces, tour the National Museum to learn the story of Iceland from past to present. The Reykjavik Art Museum houses an impressive contemporary collection, including eye-catching pieces by Erro. And, of course, just 50 kilometers outside the city lies Thingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland’s original Viking parliament.

On this day, make your farewell to your fellow travelers and crew. Head to the airport via the group transfer provided and catch your flight home.