Iceland’s Westfjords & North Coast

Upon arrival in Reykjavik, an Aurora Expeditions representative will meet you and arrange your transfer to the group hotel. If you arrive before 4:00 PM, you may leave your luggage at the Aurora Expeditions hospitality area and enjoy refreshments. Here, you can collect luggage tags and speak with the ground operations team for pre-embarkation details or local recommendations, including dining options, cash withdrawals, or last-minute shopping at a pharmacy or supermarket. The rest of the day is yours to explore at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense.

This morning, ensure your cabin luggage has clearly labeled tags with your name and cabin number. Your luggage will be collected from the hotel, transferred to the port for clearance, and delivered to your cabin before you board. Keep valuables and personal items with you throughout the day.  

Today's excursion follows the Golden Circle, one of Reykjavik's most popular seismic routes. First, visit Thingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland's first parliament and the meeting point of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Next, stop at Gullfoss, a 34-meter waterfall plunging into the Hvita River, a prime photography spot. Continue to Iceland's renowned geothermal fields, where hot springs and erupting geysers showcase the immense power beneath the Earth's surface.  

In the late afternoon, return to Reykjavik to board the Sylvia Earle. After settling into your cabin, attend mandatory safety briefings before setting off on your Icelandic adventure. Meet your expedition team and crew in the evening at the Welcome Dinner.

Arnarstapi is the starting point of your adventures on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, the gateway to Snaefellsjokull National Park. Snaefellsnes Peninsula is an area of diverse landscapes characterized by lava fields, glistening fjords, and home to a vast array of birdlife. The area is crowned by the magnificent, ice-capped Snaefellsjokull volcano, a 700,000-year-old dormant subglacial volcano, visible from Reykjavik on a clear day and immortalized in Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth. 

You can choose from three shore excursion options that best suit your interests and level of fitness: 

Option 1 - Highlights of Snaefellsness (Duration: 8 hours including lunch / Level of difficulty: Easy-Moderate, dependent on fitness) 

Your first stop will be the dramatic black pebble beach of Djupalonssandur, where you can marvel at the black sands, colossal rock formations, volcanic landscapes, and remains of a 1948 shipwreck. Next, visit Budir, a picturesque hamlet surrounded by the stunning landscapes of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Stop to admire Budakirkja, the 19th-century church, and explore the area before enjoying lunch at Hotel Budir. The restaurant is renowned for its fresh and local food, sourcing fresh ingredients directly from local farmers and fishermen. After lunch, re-join the coach to travel to Snaefellsjokull National Park, encompassing a large area of Snaefellsnes Peninsula's western tip. For the more active, explore some incredible hiking trails, or enjoy your drive through the park and take in the beauty that surrounds you. Concluding your day, you continue to the iconic Mount Kirkjufell, a favorite among photographers and known to many as a filming location for the TV show "Game of Thrones." Not far from this majestic mountain is a waterfall that completes the picturesque scene.  

Option 2 - Natural Wonders of Snaefellsnes (Duration: 8 hours including lunch / Level of difficulty: Moderate) 

Upon disembarkation, hike the coastal trail connecting the two Arnarstapi and Hellnar villages (2 hours). Now a National Reserve, this easy-level hike encompasses geology, wildlife, amazing photo opportunities, folklore, and adventure. This old trail takes you along the wild shoreline with a view of the ocean, extraordinary columnar basalt and lava cliff formations on one side, and stunning mountains and Snaefellsjokull Glacier. The cliffs are alive with many bird species, such as the Arctic Tern, the kittiwakes, gulls, and fulmars. Next, step into the 8,000-year-old Vatnshellir Cave, replete with stunning geology, fascinating rock formations, and colorful volcanic rock. Meet your guide at the base near the cave to provide you with all the necessary equipment, including a helmet and headlamp (it is strongly recommended that you wear comfortable and sturdy footwear, as the volcanic rock can be quite difficult to traverse). Then, your friendly guide will give you a brief safety talk before you descend the spiral staircase into this subterranean wonderland. The tour meanders through the path of the lava flow around 200 meters into a large cave that lies around 35 meters beneath the surface of the Earth, where some rainbow-coloured volcanic rocks and incredible petrified lava formations will greet you. The cave is a fairly easy walk, although it will involve a degree of climbing (you must be able to participate in prolonged stair climbing). Following lunch, re-join the coach and travel to the iconic Mount Kirkjufell, a favorite among photographers and known to many as a filming location for the TV show "Game of Thrones." Not far from this majestic mountain is a waterfall that completes the picturesque scene.  

Option 3 - Snaefellsnes Adventure (Duration: 8 hours including lunch / Level of difficulty: Moderate-Difficult)  

The Land of Fire and Ice is well-known for its incredible landscapes and contrasting terrains, including several natural and geological wonders rarely found anywhere else on Earth. The unique geological history of Snaefellsnes will draw you in, where you can explore sites revealing Iceland's unique geological history up close. Your first stop is at the Pufubjarg bird cliff, home of nesting puffins and fulmars. From here, hike along the rugged coastline to witness the stunning Londrangar basalt cliffs, a geologic wonder that looks like a huge rock castle. Many local birds here are a noisy bunch—puffins, but especially fulmars, nest in the cavities in the two pillars. From here, you hike across a lava field covered in moss to Malarrif, where you can see the lighthouse and explore the beach. Following an early lunch, re-join the coach and head for Eldborg crater on a short volcanic rift 200 meters in diameter and 50 meters deep. It is the largest crater on this rift and was created in an eruption between 5000 and 6000 years ago. Unlike many of Iceland's volcanoes, it has a classic shape, smooth sloping sides, and a very definite crater. A marked hiking path leads through a shrub-covered lava field to the top of the crater, offering incredible views of Snaefellsnes National Park. Concluding your day, continue to the symmetrical, hexagonal-shaped basalt columns at Gerduberg Cliffs. Stand in awe at these impressive cliffs, a natural marvel that spans 500 meters. To enjoy the best view, take a walk by the structures. Climbing up the cliff is possible, but to enjoy the views of this geological structure, it's best to walk alongside the cliffs.

Over the next three days, explore the Westfjords region, featuring outstanding landscapes with jaw-dropping views of dramatic fjords carved by ancient glaciers, sheer table mountains that plunge into the sea, and pristine North Atlantic vegetation. 

At Patreksfjordur, a shore excursion by coach takes you to Latrabjarg cliffs. As Europe's largest bird cliff, Latrabjarg is home to millions of seabirds, such as puffin, razorbill, fulmar, and guillemot. Enjoy the impressive variety of natural wonders and unspoiled nature. Latrabjarg is the westernmost point in Europe, on the east coast of the North American continent on the other side of the Atlantic. 

Immerse yourself in the tranquillity of the afternoon as you cruise northward, taking in breathtaking landscapes and keeping a watchful eye for whales. Later, embark on a Zodiac landing to witness the awe-inspiring power of Dynjandi waterfall. 

Thingeyri, a quaint village on a slender strip of land, graces the shores of one of Iceland's most picturesque fjords, Dyrafjordur. Much like many other coastal settlements in Iceland, the village's culture and industry have been intricately woven with the influence of the sea over centuries. The surrounding landscape is adorned with towering mountains, lending a distinctive charm to the scenic expanse that envelops Thingeyri. This idyllic region is often hailed as the "Alps of the Westfjords," especially the highland area between the majestic fjords of Dyrafjordur and Arnarfjordur. The beauty of Thingeyri lies in its coastal simplicity and the dramatic backdrop of high mountains that paints a captivating portrait of this Icelandic village. 

Choose from one of two shore excursion options that best suit your interests and level of fitness: 

Option 1 - That Viking Thing Experience (Duration: 2 hours + free time / Level of difficulty: Easy)  

Today, you step back in time and learn about the Viking ways and how the hardy Norse people lived off the land. Walk through a recreated Viking area, learning about what is fact and what is fiction in the many stories you've heard about the famous Vikings. A short hike brings you to the old ruins of the Viking meeting place called a Thing - the closest translation in English is 'parliament.' Step inside the interactive Viking Museum for a chance to dress up in authentic hand-sewn Viking clothing, take photographs, drink Icelandic Viking beer, bake your own Viking bread, and explore the museum - all part of learning more about Viking ways.  

Option 2 - Sandafell Mountain Hike (Duration: 3 hours / Level of difficulty: Moderate-Difficult, dependent on fitness level)  

For avid explorers, Iceland is littered with hidden gems, and possibly the best-kept secret of all is the Westfjords. Lying in the most north-westerly area of the island, this sprawling area of natural beauty is truly a hiker's paradise. Rocky peaks, deep crevices, and charming Icelandic towns all add to the appeal of the Westfjords, not to mention the various hiking trails snaking across the unusual countryside. Today, hike Sandafell, which offers gorgeous views over the town, surrounding mountains, and the water below. 

Picturesque Akureyri is Iceland's second-largest city outside the capital area, blessed with a superb snow-capped mountain backdrop.

Choose from one of three shore excursion options that best suit your interests and level of fitness:

Option 1 - Godafoss, Lake Myvatn & Baths (Duration: 8 hours including lunch / Level of difficulty: Easy)

Your first stop will be the Godafoss waterfall, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. There is a 400-meter trail, easy and mostly flat, and it takes approximately 10 minutes to get to the main viewpoint. Next, visit Lake Myvatn and explore the area. After lunch, rejoin the coach to travel to Myvatn 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 from a fissure deep in the Earth's surface and ends with a luxurious swim in a pool of geothermal water drawn from depths of up to 2,500 meters / 8,200 feet.

Option 2 - Godafoss, Lake Myvatn & Dimmuborgir (Duration: 8 hours including lunch / Level of difficulty: Moderate)

Your first stop will be the Godafoss waterfall, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. There is a 400-meter trail, easy and mostly flat, approximately 10 minutes to get to the main viewpoint. Next, visit Lake Myvatn's Skutustadagigar pseudo craters. Wander the marked walking paths through the area. You can easily walk around the bowl-like landmasses or hike to reach the top for a magnificent view of the scenic surroundings. After lunch, rejoin the coach to travel to Dimmuborgir, an area strewn with enormous lava rocks and cliffs. These extraordinary lava cliffs and pillars formed from molten lava flowing over a pond in the eruption of Ludentsborgir 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.

Option 3 - Hverfjall Volcanic Crater Hike, Dimmuborgir & Dettifoss (Duration: 8 hours including lunch / Level of difficulty: Strenuous)

Your first stop will be Dimmuborgir, an area strewn with enormous lava rocks and cliffs. These extraordinary lava cliffs and pillars form from molten lava flowing over a pond in the eruption of Ludentsborgir 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. From here, walk up the steep slopes of Hverfjall Crater and around the crater's rim for otherworldly and awesome views of the surrounding landscape. This 9km loop trail takes approximately 3 or 3.5 hours to include walking around the rim. After lunch, rejoin the coach to travel to Dettifoss waterfall in northeast Iceland, which is reputed to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe. The falls are 100 meters / 328 feet wide and drop 44 meters / 144 feet down to the Jokulsargljufur canyon.

Enjoy a free evening in Akureyri. Discover the charm of this northern gem as you explore its vibrant streets. Unwind in cozy pubs, savor the taste of Iceland's finest craft beers at local breweries, or immerse yourself in the city's lively atmosphere.

Siglufjordur is the northernmost town on Iceland’s mainland and is a historic fishing town whose fortune has been closely linked to the success of the fishing industry. It’s an area of spectacular natural beauty surrounded by mountains and the fjord. In the morning, your expedition team will lead you on a guided hike suited to your fitness level. After lunch, have free time to explore this quaint town at your leisure, visiting the numerous galleries, museums, artisanal workshops, and local churches. If you are lucky, you might get to taste some local beer. 

On Vigur Island, birdwatchers can try to tick a few species on their list, while others can enjoy walks and hikes of varying difficulty levels, soaking in the stunning surroundings. The island's unique ecosystem is a haven for birdlife, making it a paradise for nature enthusiasts. Stroll along the coastline, watch for puffins and other seabirds, or venture deeper into the island to discover hidden gems. With its rolling hills, picturesque landscapes, and fresh sea air, Vigur offers an unforgettable experience.

During the early morning, cruise into Reykjavik and disembark at approximately 8.00 am. Farewell to your Expedition Team and fellow passengers as you continue your journeys. Transfer options are as follows:  

1. Direct to Keflavik Airport.

2. Direct to The Grand Reykjavik (this option is only available if Aurora Expeditions booked your hotel).

3. Bus Stop #12 Hofdatorg (outside the Fosshotel Reykjavik), where you can travel to city hotels.

4. For late afternoon and evening airport departures, Bus Stop #12 Hofdatorg (outside the Fosshotel Reykjavik), where the team can hold your luggage on the coach until your departure to the airport at 1 pm. 

Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, booking flights departing after 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation is recommended in case of delays.