HIGHLIGHTS
- Keep
watch for blows, breaching and tail flukes as we whale watch in
Húsavík
- Explore
Látrabjarg bird cliffs, the largest seabird cliffs in Europe
- Visit
Vatnajökull National Park, featuring Europe’s
largest glacier, iceberg-speckled glacial lakes, black sand beaches,
reindeer and rich birdlife
- Discover
Mjóifjördur, a hidden gem of a fjord cherished by
locals
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Stateroom Triple | Stateroom Twin | Balcony Stateroom C | Balcony Stateroom B | Balcony Stateroom A | Superior Balcony Stateroom | Junior Suite | Captain's Suite |
|---|
| Aug 01, 2022 | Aug 11, 2022 | 9,295 | 9,495 | 10,295 | 10,795 | 11,595 | 12,695 | 15,995 | 18,895 |
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Stateroom Triple | (Mid-range)
Balcony Stateroom A | (High-end)
Captain's Suite |
|---|
| Aug 01, 2022 | Aug 11, 2022 | 9,295 | 11,595 | 18,895 |
ITINERARY
Day
1: Reykjavik
Arrive
in Reykjavik and make your own way to our group hotel.
Accommodation:
Fosshotel (or similar)
Day
2: Embark the Greg Mortimer / Hvalfjördur
After
breakfast at the hotel, a transfer is included to the pier to board our
ship, the Greg Mortimer. Sail into Hvalfjördur, 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 km / 19 mi long and 5 km / 3 miles wide. The area is
rich in bird life and is home to seals, perfect for zodiac cruising,
kayaking and hikes.
Historically,
Hvalfjörður was home to one of the main whaling
stations in Iceland, with ships heading out into Faxaflói
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.
Days
3: Stykkisholmur / Snaefellsnes Peninsula / Látrabjarg cliffs
Stykkisholmur
is the starting point of our adventures on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula,
gateway Snæfellsjökull National Park.
Stykkishólmur is located by
Breiðafjörður Bay on the north of
Snæfellsnes peninsula and is surrounded by wonderful views of
the innumerable islands. One of the defining landmarks in
Stykkishólmur 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 Stykkishólmur called
Danskir dagar or Danish days. The oldest house in
Stykkishólmur 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 Snæfellsjökull 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 (7 hours) 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
Bjarnarhöfn you will enjoy a guided tour of the shark museum
and have the opportunity to taste the famed cured shark.
Though
Grundarfjörður is not the most well-known town in
Snæfellsnes, Mount Kirkjufell is certainly one of the most
famous mountains in Iceland, if not the world. It is not unusual for
photographers from all over the world to make their way to
Grundarfjörður for the sole purpose of photographing
this unique landmark which has even starred in a number of films.
However, there is a lot more on offer in
Grundarfjörður than just Mount Kirkjufell. Nature
abounds, 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.
Days
4 & 5: Westfjords
Over
the next two 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. The region features attractive towns such as
Isafjordur, the famous Dynjandi waterfall, and spectacular fjords
offering kayaking excursions, hiking trails, and bird-watching.
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 remotest and most
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.
Day
6: Akureyri & Lake Myvatn
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
nearby Mývatn region – an area said to be the most
geologically active area in Iceland.
Shore
Excursions (choose one of the following)
Option
One (up to 9 hours)
The
Goðafoss waterfall is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in
Iceland. In the year 1,000 the Lawspeaker 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.
Námaskarð
is 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 / 328 feet wide
and have a drop of 44 metres / 144 feet down to the
Jökulsárgljúfur canyon.
Ásbyrgi
is a forested horse-shoe shaped canyon in Oxarfjordur. Asbyrgi is a
part of Jökulsárgljúfur, within the
Vatnajökull National Park.
Option
two (up to 7-8 hours)
Akureyri
Public Parkand Botanic 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.
The
Goðafoss waterfall is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in
Iceland. In the year 1,000 the Lawspeaker 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.
Dimmuborgir
is an area of 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
earns its 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 is impressive and the
gigantic mud craters are truly impressive.
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, and ends with a
luxurious swim in a pool of geothermal water drawn from depths of up to
2,500 metres / 8,200 feet.
Both
options will end with a transfer to Húsavik, where you can
explore the small town at your own leisure before reboarding the ship
to sail to Grímsey Island.
Day
7: Húsavik & Grimsey Island
Located
approximately 40 km (25 miles) 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 the Iceland’s
‘whale watching capital’, home to up to 24
different whale species, as well as dolphins and 30 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 others, such as orcas,
fin whales and pilot whales.
Day
8: Mjóifjördur
Mjóifjördur
(meaning narrow fjord) is an 18 km (11 mile) fjord on
Iceland’s east coast length is a little-known gem cherished
by locals. Hidden between Nordfjördur and
Seydisfjördur mountains that provide shelter and pleasant
weather, the fjord is known by locals as an excellent place to soak in
the peaceful surroundings and for its spectacular waterfalls
– ideal for kayaking and Zodiac cruising.
Mjóifjörður
is an exceptionally beautiful, tranquil and remote area with
spectacular cliffs, and 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. If it weren’t for the weekly ferry that comes
here once a week in the winter, the local people would be completely
isolated. At Asknes are the remains of an old whaling station, the
largest in the world at the time, built by the Norwegians around 1900,
with over 200 hundred workers. Today, on the way to the tiny village,
Brekkuþorp, where only about 20 people live, a shipwreck on
the shore acts as a haunting reminder of the town’s whaling
past.
Day
9: Hofn & Vatnajökull National Park
Höfn
is a lively fishing town with a healthy population of 1,800, and
gateway to Vatnajökull National Park – one of the
most spectacular and special parts of Iceland, home to
Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull - our shore
excursion for the day. We’ll also hike in Skaftafell National
Park, which was established in 1967, but from 2008 it became part of
the larger Vatnajökull National Park, Europe’s
second largest after Yugyd Va in Russia. The park also boasts colourful
mountains and deep valleys, as well as rich birdlife, reindeers and
seals.
Inside
the national park you can find glacier tongues resting on the green
fields of the lowland, Jökulsárlón
glacier lagoon, a glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs that
wash up on shore and stand gleaming on the nearby black-sand beach,
dubbed Diamond beach. Enjoy an amphibian boat excursion on the lagoon
to photograph the icebergs.
Day
10: Westman Islands
Located
off Iceland’s south coast, the Westman Islands
(Vestmannaeyjar) 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 rich array of
seabirds. Westman 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 of Eldfell volcano, which you can hike up if you wish. A visit
to the weather station offers bird-watching opportunities and splendid
views of the surrounding islands.
Eruptions
are a big part of the history of Westman Islands where there are two
volcanoes – one that erupted around 6,000 years ago and of
course, Eldfell that erupted in 1973, forcing all of the
island’s inhabitants to evacuate for the mainland.
Serendipitously, due to bad weather the day prior to 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, which includes a display of a house that
was buried in ash during the eruption.
Day
11: Reykjavik
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 Keflavik airport is included.
Greg Mortimer (Luxury Expedition, 120-guests)
Capable of negotiating the strongest winds and waves, the Greg Mortimer is built to world-class polar standards. It is designed in close consultation with expedition specialists, taking advantage of Auroras more than 25 years of experience.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- One
night hotel accommodation with breakfast in Reykjavik on day 1
- Transfer
from the hotel to pier on day 2
- Transfer
from the pier to downtown Reykjavik or to the airport on day 11
- On-board
accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service
- All
meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage
- Beer,
house wine and soft drinks with dinner
- Captain’s
Welcome and Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house
cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages
- All
shore excursions and Zodiac cruises
- Educational
lectures and guiding services from expedition team
- Complimentary
access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consult)
- 3-in-1
waterproof polar expedition jacket
- Complimentary
use of muck boots during the voyage
- Comprehensive
pre-departure information
- Port
surcharges, permits and landing fees
Not
Included
- International
or domestic flights to or within Iceland, unless specified
- Transfers
not mentioned in the itinerary
- Airport
arrival or departure taxes
- Passport,
visa, reciprocity and vaccination charges
- Travel
insurance or emergency evacuation charges
- Hotels
and meals not included in itinerary
- Optional
excursions not included in the itinerary
- Optional
activity surcharges
- All
items of a personal nature including but not limited to: alcoholic
beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry
services, personal clothing, additional medical expenses such as
medication, gratuities, Wi-Fi, email or phone charges.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Sea
Kayaking: USD 900
- Bird
watching: Free
- Lectures
on wildlife, our environment, history and destinations: Free
- Photography:
Free
- Polar
plunge: Free
- Trips
ashore: Free
- Walking:
Free
- Whale
and mammal spotting: Free
- Zodiac
cruises: Free
