21-Day North Iceland & Norwegian Fjords

ITINERARY

Day 0 : Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavík, established by Viking settler Ingólfur Arnarson around 870 C.E, is the location of the first permanent settlement in Iceland. The census of 1703 recorded that Reykjavík had 69 residents and consisted of a farm and a church. The impressive statue of Leif Erikson, in the center of town, reminds all of Iceland’s Viking heritage. Its name translates to ‘smoky bay’, due to the geothermal nature of the surrounding area.

Today about 200.000 people live in the Icelandic capital, roughly 60% of the country’s population. It has evolved into a sophisticated city. The northernmost national capital in the world is also one of the cleanest, greenest, and safest on Earth.  Walking Reykjavik streets one will find rich culture, history, music, shopping and in the late hours vibrant night-life. Colorful rooftops and the elegant spire of Hallgrímskirkja Church dominate Reykjavik’s skyline. Known for its arts, Reykjavik hosts a number of internationally recognized festivals, notably the Iceland Air music festival, Reykjavik Arts Festival and the Reykjavik International Film Festival.

Day 1 : Isafjordur, Iceland
The Westfjords in northwest Iceland is a remote and sparsely populated peninsula of steep, tall mountains cut by dozens of fjords. The lack of flat lowlands suitable for farming played a key role in keeping this region wild and sparsely populated. The raw and untamed natural landscape around Ísafjörður is characterized by a subarctic environment. A colorful show of blooming tundra wildflowers carpets the mountain slopes and valleys during the short, cool summer.
Vigur Island, second largest island in the Westfjords region, is one of the most renowned areas in Iceland for viewing nesting birds en masse. The area’s cliffs host an astonishing wealth of nesting birdlife, while the occasional arctic fox can be spotted patrolling the edges of the bird colonies in hope of an easy meal.
According to Icelandic history, Ísafjörður was first settled in the 9th century by a man called Helgi Magri Hrólfsson. The oldest house in Iceland, built in 1734, can be found in Ísafjörður and is now a part of a local museum.

Day 2  : Akureyri, Iceland
Akureyri is the second largest urban area in Iceland with a population of around 18,000. Nicknamed ‘The Capital of the North,’ it is situated at the head of Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland, only 62 miles (100 km) from the Arctic Circle. Surrounded by snow-streaked mountains, the Akureyri hills flourish in summer with a profusion of arctic wildflowers. Mt. Kerling is the highest peak visible from town, at 5,064’ (1,538 m). Often cloudy, with a mild climate, Akureyri has much less precipitation than its southern counterpart Reykjavik. It is a cultured city, with a university, numerous galleries, museums, art exhibitions, and live theater performances.
Nearby Hrísey Island is a spectacularly beautiful and peaceful island often called ‘The Pearl of Eyjafjörður,’ with an atmosphere of calm and settled tranquility. Numerous Atlantic puffins fly overhead, and the occasional whale is seen traversing the fjord.

Day 3 : Vopnafjorour, Iceland
The bay of Vopnafjörður was first settled by Vikings in the late 9th century. The first record of it is in the Vopnfirðinga saga, one of the classic Family Sagas, a series of epic family histories written in the 13th century. Little is known about the history of Vopnafjörður after Iceland lost its independence to Norway in 1264.
This is an area of truly rugged, natural beauty. Devoid of trees and carpeted in thick mosses, the landscape surrounding Vopnafjörður is typical of the extreme east coast of Iceland. Gljúfursárfoss, a graceful, cascading waterfall plunges into a very dramatic gorge. It is one of the best known waterfalls in this part of the country. A highlight of Icelandic culture and lifestyle is the Bustarfell Folk Museum. Bustarfell is a quaint group of six houses, many centuries old, constructed in the traditional Icelandic farm style. The brown wooden houses, gabled in red with grass-grown roofs, is one of the oldest and best preserved farms of its kind in Iceland.

Day 4 : Days At Sea

Day 5 : Kirkwall, Scotland, United Kingdom
The Orkney Archipelago, a collection of stark, treeless islands off Scotland's northern coast, is steeped in history dating back over 5,000 years. Here you'll find Europe’s densest concentration of ancient Neolithic sites, and rugged coastlines framed by towering cliffs of Old Red Sandstone from the Devonian period.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS:
Option 1: Heart of Neolithic Orkney
Journey through a landscape of rich farmland, rolling hills, and moorland to explore the heart of Neolithic Orkney. Marvel at the ceremonial Standing Stones of Stenness, and visit the eerily beautiful Ring of Brodgar on a windswept plain. Discover Skara Brae, Orkney's most exciting Neolithic village and the best-preserved of its kind in Northern Europe. This 5,000-year-old settlement was buried under sand until a storm in 1850 revealed its secrets.

Option 2: Highlights of Orkney with Guided tour of Stromness
Head into Mainland, Orkney’s largest island, passing through the Neolithic Heartland of Orkney. Stop at the Ring of Brodgar, a massive ceremonial circle of stones dating back nearly 5,000 years. Continue to Stromness, a charming fishing village, for a guided tour along the picturesque harbor and flag-stoned high street. Your circular tour follows Scapa Flow's coastline, a famous British Naval Base in both World Wars.

Day 6 : Days At Sea

Day 7 : Dover (London), England, UK
Approaching the coast, ships are greeted by the ethereal White Cliffs of Dover. This iconic strip of milky-white land serves as England's welcoming beacon, its stark beauty becoming more apparent as you draw closer. The coastline unfurls like a grand tapestry, its white chalk cliffs streaked with black flint, rising majestically 350 feet straight from the sea's embrace.
The echoes of ancient times resonate from every corner of Dover. Archaeological treasures hint at the presence of human life during the Stone Age, painting a vivid picture of the region's rich history. However, it was the Romans who first recorded Dover's significance, drawn by its strategic location just 21 miles from the French mainland. Dover is home to remarkable Roman remnants, including the tallest Roman-built lighthouse still standing in Britain, as well as the only preserved Roman wall mural outside Italy.

Day 8-9 : Days At Sea

Day 10 : Trondheim, Norway
Founded in 997, Trondheim is one of Norway's oldest cities, situated midway between southern and northern Norway. Dominated by the massive Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim is often referred to as the Royal City. Traditionally, the kings of Norway have been crowned in the cathedral, which is considered a National Shrine. Straddling both sides of the River Nid, on Trondheimfjord, much of the town was rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 1681 destroyed the majority of its original wooden structures. Some of the oldest buildings, dating to the 1700s, have survived along the river, while the wide streets of the city center boast picturesque and brightly painted houses.

Day 11 : Bronnoysund, Norway
A coastal city, Brønnøysund’s origin dates back to its 13th century Viking heritage. In the intervening centuries, it has been settled by immigrants from southern Norway and Sweden, and its local Swedish-like dialect still carries echoes of this past.
Brønnøysund sits on a narrow peninsula from the mainland, is surrounded by waterways dotted with a maze of small scenic islands. In this fairytale setting, picturesque, colorful houses are set amidst thick lush greenery, turquoise blue water and shallow bays. Towering above the town like a giant troll’s hat is the massive granitic monolith of Torghatten Mountain. Here can be found one of the great natural curiosities of the area, a 520’ (160 m) hole piercing completely through the center of the mountain. The Viking sagas surmised that it was the impact of a warrior horseman’s arrow that created the wound. However, it was actually formed during the last Ice Age by erosion from ice and water.

Day 12 : Svolvaer (Lofoten), Norway
Huddled together in what appears to be a wall of solid rock, the Lofotens are actually several islands. Their scenery, revealed when the ice disappeared from the last Ice Age, is held to be among the most dramatic in Norway. Svolvaer, located on the island of Austvaagoey, received town status in 1996, and is the Lofotens' most important city with about 4,500 residents. Dominating the town is the mountain peak called Svolvaergeita, a beacon for climbers. Fishermen flock here when the Norwegian Arctic cod enters the Vestfjord to spawn. Artists prize the picturesque setting and extraordinary light conditions.

Day 13 : Tromso, Norway
Tromsø is the largest city in northern Norway and the ninth most populous municipality in the country. It surprises visitors with its sophisticated art scene, its contrasting modern and historical architecture, international cuisine, multicultural events, and festivals throughout the year.
Situated 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is within the land of the midnight sun during summer months and the elusive northern lights in winter. However, thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, the sea doesn’t freeze here in winter, and there is no permafrost in the vicinity. Tromsø is noticeably milder than other towns at the same latitudes in other parts of the world.
Tromsø is also ‘The City of Explorers’ and has seen a number of expeditions set off from its shores to the probe the polar realm. Both Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen frequently recruited men in the city. Nowadays home to the Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø continues a tradition of being one of the key centers in explorations of the Arctic.

Day 14 : Honningsvag, Norway
The perpendicular cliffs of Nordkapp, or the North Cape, mark the very top of the European continent. This ultimate destination has long drawn adventurous royalty including Oscar II, King of Norway and Sweden, who visited in 1873, and followed by the King of Siam in 1907. The North Cape is located on the island of Mageroey, a name derived from a word that means 'meager.' While the landscape may have a lunar appearance, it is not really so isolated. Just 21 miles away, the main town, Honningsvåg, has some 4,000 inhabitants. In summer that number swells when the Sami people and their reindeer settle on the outskirts of town.

Day 14 : Scenic Cruising North Cape
The looming cliffs of Norway’s North Cape rise directly from the sea 1007 ft/307m to a plateau as flat as a table. This impressive headland has been selected to represent the northernmost point of Europe, even though it is technically located on an island, Magerøya, connected to the mainland by a bridge. At 71° 10’ 20” N latitude, it is just 1,306 mi/2012 km from the North Pole. At this point, the Norwegian Sea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean, meets the Barents Sea, part of the Arctic Ocean. Further north, the mountainous archipelagoes of Franz Josef Land and Svalbard are the last lands before the Polar Ice Pack. The Midnight Sun does not dip below the horizon here at any time between May 14 and July 31 each year. Sheer and formidable, the North Cape pays its role to the hilt, emphatically declaring itself the end of Europe’s landmass.

Day 15-16 : Days At Sea

Day 17 : Loen (Olden), Norway
The small village of Olden is located deep in the Nordfjord, cradled in a lush valley among snowcapped peaks. It has welcomed visitors arriving by ship since the end of the 19th century, as attested by the venerable Hotel Alexandria dating from 1884. There are some very old farms around Olden, including some believed to predate the Christian era here. Less than four miles away, the village of Loen is nestled at the base of Mt. Hoven, where a newly opened Skylift cable car can carry visitors from sea level to the mountaintop at 1,011 meters in about five minutes. There, they will enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers, and the fjords, farms and villages below. A strung cable Via Ferrata invites ambitious climbers to clip on and ascend the mountain on foot. The village is the popular gateway to the sprawling Jostedalsbreen National Park, with its system of glaciers feeding waterfalls including the Ramnefjellsfossen, whose three free-falling cascades tumble nearly 2,700 feet, making it the world’s third-highest waterfall. Mt. Skala is another popular attraction, boasting twin peaks of over 7,000 feet in altitude.

Day 17 : Scenic Cruising Nordfjord
Cruise Norway’s sixth-longest fjord, which arises from the mighty Jostedalsbreen Glacier, Europe’s largest, high in the mountains and empties into the sea  at Husevågøy island south of the Stadlandet Peninsula. The fjord is 66 miles/106 km long, with six main branches. It is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, some of which are capable of offering year-round skiing on their highest slopes. There are a number of fishing communities along the fjord which date from pre-Viking days, including Stryn, Gloppen, Eid, Utvik, Olden and Loen. Enjoy the passing panorama of shining water, steep mountainsides and tiny villages glowing in the endless sun of Norway’s summer.

Day 18 : Bergen, Norway
Stunningly beautiful Bergen is the ideal combination of nature, culture and exciting urban life, and is also the gateway to Norway’s fjords. Since King Olav Kyrre founded the city in 1070, Bergen has attracted people from all over the world. The city's history has been marked by numerous great fires, and what remains of the Bryggen, its old inner harbor, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the colorful setting for one of Norway’s most popular postcard views.
Bergen is a cultural melting pot, with concerts, international festivals and museums of all kinds. The renowned Hanseatic Museum and Gamlehaugen Mansion, the residence of the Norwegian Royal Family, are two of the many highlights. Den Nationale Scene Theater is one of the oldest in Norway, while beautiful Christ Church Cathedral, built by King Olav Kyrre in 1066, has been the site of numerous royal coronations and burials. The Bergenhus fortress, built in 1240, is situated at the harbor entrance and is one of the oldest and best-preserved stone fortifications in Norway.

Day 19 : Days At Sea

Day 20 : Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Rotterdam’s skyline includes some of the most eclectic and daring architecture in Europe, resulting from the fact that most of the city was destroyed during Allied bombing in World War II during its Nazi occupation. Today it is Europe’s largest port. Only three buildings in the city center survived, the Art Deco City Hall, the Great St. Laurence church from 1499, and the 10-storey, Art Nouveau style White House from 1898. Delfshaven is the oldest existing neighborhood of Rotterdam, dating mostly from the 17th century. The city is rich in museums, with the Boymans van Beuningen being the most extensive art collection, from the 14th century forward. The striking Kunsthal designed by architect Rem Koolhaas, is a work of art in itself. Rotterdam has only seven windmills remaining, but a short trip to nearby Kinderdijk takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage Site containing 19 classic Dutch windmills. Other options for excursions from Rotterdam include half- or full-day tours to Amsterdam or to the 17th century charms of Gouda.

Day 21 : Dover (London), England, UK
Approaching the coast, ships are greeted by the ethereal White Cliffs of Dover. This iconic strip of milky-white land serves as England's welcoming beacon, its stark beauty becoming more apparent as you draw closer. The coastline unfurls like a grand tapestry, its white chalk cliffs streaked with black flint, rising majestically 350 feet straight from the sea's embrace.
The echoes of ancient times resonate from every corner of Dover. Archaeological treasures hint at the presence of human life during the Stone Age, painting a vivid picture of the region's rich history. However, it was the Romans who first recorded Dover's significance, drawn by its strategic location just 21 miles from the French mainland. Dover is home to remarkable Roman remnants, including the tallest Roman-built lighthouse still standing in Britain, as well as the only preserved Roman wall mural outside Italy.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

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