Day 1: Arrive Reykjavik / Embark ShipA transfer is included upon arrival at Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport to the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica where a day room has been reserved for you. Meet your fellow travelers at our welcome lunch high atop the city’s geothermal water towers at the glass-domed Perlan Restaurant, renowned for its cuisine and 360-degree revolving views of the city. An orientation tour of landmark sights includes Old Town and a guided visit to the National Museum. Embark Le Boreal in Hafnarfjördur this afternoon for the start of your small ship cruise in “the land of fire and ice.” Your handsomely appointed, outside-facing accommodations promise memorable views of Iceland’s mystical landscapes.
Overnight: Aboard Le Boreal
Meals Included: Lunch, dinner
Day 2: Fishing Villages and GrundarfjordurWith ice caps, glaciers, geysers and thundering waterfalls, along with vast open spaces that are home to a pristine wilderness teeming with volcanoes, Iceland welcomes nature enthusiasts with open arms. Dock today in Grundarfjordur, nestled on the banks of a fjord and ringed with mountains, for a scenic drive along the rugged coast. Pass through fishing villages bustling with daily life on the way to Djúpalónssandur. Strange rock formations tower over the Atlantic shores here and have become the basis for many of Iceland’s time-honored sagas; learn more about the traditional stories that tell tales of the country’s early settlers, trials and tribulations during your visit, including how these rocks were used in strength competitions between local fishermen. Your journey continues to Arnarstapi, a resting place for migrating birds, and to Budir, famed for its lava landscapes and uncommon golden-sand beach. Dine aboard ship as you cruise to the Arctic Circle.
Overnight: Aboard Le Boreal
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Explore Grímsey on the Arctic CircleRemote and weather beaten, the tiny island of Grímsey – just 2½ miles by 1¼ miles – guards the Arctic Circle with huge colonies of seabirds and a scant population of hardy islanders said to consistently number about 100 residents. Step ashore for a walking tour to see the arctic terns and whimsical puffins that live here and walk across the Arctic Circle line – a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll always remember.
Overnight: Aboard Le Boreal
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Attractions Around AkureyriCruise the Eyjarfjördur fjord to Akureyri. Despite its location just 60 miles from the Arctic Circle, the town boasts a spectacular setting in view of snow-tipped granite mountains and some of the warmest weather in the country. Spend the day exploring the countryside around Lake Myvatn, named a national conservation area in 1974 for its large waterfowl population and nesting areas for breeding ducks. Guided sightseeing takes you to the sulphur fields at Namaskard, the giant lava field at Dimmuborgir and the shorefront Skutustadir. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and follow the Ring Road to the powerful waterfall, Godafoss, known to locals as “the falls of the gods” and star of the Kristni Saga, banishing paganism and welcoming Christianity into the land in 1000 AD. Return to Akureyri, for a brief city tour, then reboard Le Boreal for an evening of sailing, Tauck Style.
Overnight: Aboard Le Boreal
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Cultural Gems & Island LifeMagnificent mountain scenery dominates the landscapes that surround Iceland’s western fjords, enriching your visit to Isafjordur. Dock in the town’s fishing center for a day of cultural discoveries. Go inside a turf-roofed fisherman’s hut at Osvor Museum for a glimpse into the life of an Icelandic fisherman. As a special treat, cruise to Vigur Island, home to the same family since 1884, for a close-up look at their unique lifestyle, passed from one generation to the next. Your hosts will be serving homemade island refreshments.
Overnight: Aboard Le Boreal
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6: Heimaey / Surtsey IslandWelcome to Westmann Islands, the “islands of the western men,” so named for a group of rebellious slaves whose daring, albeit short lived, escape from captivity in ancient Iceland is still the stuff of legends on these volcanic shores. Come ashore on Heimaey for a day of exploration that includes a visit to Sprangan cliff, where young islanders are taught the sport of rope-swinging and cliff-side egg-collecting, and a stop at Storhöfdi, home to the island’s largest colony of puffins and an incredible vantage point for breathtaking views of the island and the massive glaciers of the mainland (weather permitting). The volcanic eruption of Mt. Eldfell in 1973 spewed lava over the island landscapes, creating the youngest mountain in the world and the new “Pompeii” of the north. A walk around the crater rewards with spectacular views and a cruise to an island cliff may see puffins, weather permitting. This evening, Le Boreal circumnavigates one of the world’s newest islands, Surtsey Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight: Aboard Le Boreal
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7: Reykjavik's Golden CircleEmbark on a tour of the “Golden Circle,” encompassing the country’s “Big Three” landmark sights. Visit Thingvellir National Park – named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is also Iceland’s most important historic landmark as it is where the Vikings established the world’s first democratic parliament, the Alping, in 930 AD. View magnificent Gullfoss waterfalls, dropping down 96 feet in two roaring falls and arched with rainbows. Continue on to the spouting hot springs of Geysir, where many of its geysers erupt with clockwork precision in impressive flumes. Schedule permitting, stop at a power plant to learn how Iceland’s natural resources are put to work before arriving back at the ship for your last night aboard Le Boreal.
Overnight: Aboard Le Boreal
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8: Disembark Ship, visit Hafnarfjördur and Kleifarvatn Lake, and Journey HomeA parade of natural wonders awaits on this morning’s drive from the town of Hafnarfjördur, nestled atop a lava flow, and enchanting Kleifarvatn Lake to the geothermal fields of Krysuvik-Solfataras, the volcanic plateau of Reykjanes and the incomparable Blue Lagoon. Schedule permitting, you’ll be able to take a dip in the healing waters of the lagoon before joining us for a farewell lunch in the Lava Restaurant. Visit the newly built Viking Museum and the Viking ship, Islendingur, a full seaworthy replica of an ancient 70-crew Viking vessel, en route to the airport. Tour ends: 2:00 PM at Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport. You should allow 3 hours for your flight check-in at the airport.
Overnight: Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch