A supplemented bus transportation from Reykjavik to Akureyri (about six hours) will be available but has to be booked before the start of the voyage. Embark in Akureyri in the afternoon (16:00) and meet the expedition team on the ship. Conditions allow you to sail to Dalvik (about three hours) or spend the night in the harbor of Akureyri. You may already see the magical northern lights shining overhead during this first night.

Plan A: In good weather conditions, you can hope to sail toward the island of Grimsey. The goal is a Zodiac landing and a guided walk across the Arctic Circle, the most northerly of Earth’s five major circles of latitude. A sign on the island marks the coordinates at 66:34° north. You may then stay the night at Grimsey, if conditions allow. If not, you may sail toward the small town of Húsavík, crossing Skjálfandi Bay, where you have a good chance of spotting whales.

Plan B: If Grimsey is not possible due to weather, the vessel must stay in Akureyri. A coach will be available for a day excursion to Mývatn, where you can see volcanoes, waterfalls, and geothermal areas. Hiking will be your focus here. The coach will then return to the vessel in the afternoon.

Plan A: You may enjoy the morning in Húsavík, with ample free time to explore the town and visit the local whale museum (entrance fee not included). Lunch is served on board. In the afternoon, you sail across Skjálfandi Bay, where humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises may appear.

Plan B: If the vessel has to stay in Húsavík for the day due to weather, a coach will be available in the afternoon for an excursion to Tjörnes Peninsula. There, you can observe the local birdlife and impressive geology. You may then move to Ásbyrgi, the unique horseshoe-shaped canyon in Iceland. Your focus will be hiking this ruggedly scenic area. The coach will return to the vessel in Húsavík, where there might be time for a relaxing spa session in outdoor pools heated with geothermal energy (admission fees not included).

Plan A: In good weather conditions, you may hope to sail around northeast Iceland and get to shore in the small town of Raufarhöfn. The Arctic Henge is within walking distance from town, a well-known Iceland attraction. Still under construction, this monument is intended to be a kind of sundial inspired by Völuspá, a poem from Edda, the medieval Norse mythological text by Snorri Sturluson.

Plan B: You may like to join a bus excursion that will take you to Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe: 200 cubic meters of water surge over its edge every second. Dettifoss is 45 meters (150 feet) high and 100 meters (330 feet) wide. As usual on this expedition, hiking will be your focus. The coach will return to the vessel in the evening.

Plan A: Sail from Raufarhöfn to Vopnafjörður. Visually stunning landscapes and small villages characterize Austurland (East Iceland). Nature is all around you, providing the opportunity for great hikes and other activities.

Plan B: A coach will be available to take you on an inland excursion if conditions do not allow for the above plan, and the expedition leader will determine which route to take. Reunite with the vessel in the evening.

Plan A: Today, sail from Vopnafjörður to Seyðisfjörður, and if conditions allow, you may halt at Borgarfjörður Eystri, a treasure of Austurland. This fjord gets its name from Álfaborg, the home of the Icelandic elf queen, so it is fitting that the area offers spectacular scenery. Iceland’s eastern fjords are still untouched by mass tourism. The nearby village of Bakkagerði has fewer than 100 inhabitants, and the harbor is mainly home to small boats for coastal fishing.

Plan B: A coach will be available to take you on an inland excursion. The expedition leader will decide the plan and reunite with the vessel in the evening.

Disembark in Seyðisfjörður in the morning, taking home memories that will last a lifetime. Bus transport to Egilsstaðir Airport (approx. 45 min.) is available at an extra charge but must be booked before the start of the voyage. You must book the flight from Egilsstaðir to Reykjavik yourself (flight time approx. 1 hour). Alternatively, you can choose your route back to Reykjavik, making stops along the south coast.