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Iceland and Northeast Greenland

14 Days / 11 locations in Iceland

Join one of the most spectacular tours in the arctic - travel to places where most people never go. Explore a country of fire and ice and take an expedition cruise to Northeast Greenland, far above the Arctic Circle.

The focus on this tour is northern lights, nature, history and wild life. Mountains, rivers, fjords, lava fields, hot springs and volcanoes will unfold as we take you exploring in Iceland. There are also opportunities for some walking in the beautiful countryside. The Greenland Expedition Cruise takes you to one of the world's most remote locations and to a place of astonishing natural beauty. High mountains, deep fjords, giant icebergs and glaciers, Inuit settlements and arctic wild life are just a few of the attractions of this unique voyage. We take you to tundra hikes and zodiac trips to pure wilderness and untouched Arctic as it was thousands of years ago. This is truly a classic and comfortable Iceland & Northeast Greenland discovery. On the best of nights, the northern lights come out to dance as well.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Reykjavik
Accommodation: Fosshotel Lind
Meals: Breakfast

WELCOME TO ICELAND

Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from Keflavik airport to your accommodation in Reykjavík where you spend the night. We provide you with some ideas how to explore Iceland's capital on your own.

 
Day 2     Geysir - Gullfoss Waterfall - Thingvellir - Reykholt
Accommodation: Hamar Icelandair Hotel
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

GOLDEN CIRCLE & NORTHERN LIGHTS LECTURE (280 km/174 miles)

Meet your tour guide and start with a short Reykjavík city tour where you see some highlights of Iceland’s capital. Then you head east and join a presentation about geothermal energy at one of the geothermal power stations in South Iceland. Around noon, you learn about the Icelandic horse and its history and special qualities, and also visit a geothermal greenhouse. You see steam from the Geysir geothermal fields as you arrive. Here there are a variety of hot springs and bubbling pools. The original geyser is now dormant but has been replaced by Strokkur "the Churn", which erupts at 5-10 minute intervals. You continue to Gullfoss "the golden falls", a double waterfall that tumbles 34 meters into the Hvítá river, and attracts tourists and travelers in summer and winter. We travel inland to Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We continue over the highland track "Kaldidalur" along Langjökull glacier north to the Saga valley of Borgarfjörður where we spend two nights in Reykholt, West Iceland. After dinner join a lecture about Northern Lights and a guided walk in search of the Northern Lights followed by a hot cup of chocolate or tea.

 
Day 3     Snaefellsnes Peninsula - Stykkisholmur
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

SNÆFELLSNES PENINSULA & FJORD CRUISE (300 km/186 mls)

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula “the peninsula of the snowy mountain“ juts out from Iceland’s west coast, like a long arm with a clenched fist at its tip, and is in many ways a microcosm of the whole island. A rugged mountain chain runs its length. We travel to the charming fishing town of Stykkishólmur for a bird watching and nature tour in the Breiðafjörður fjord where we cruise between uncountable islands. Afterwards we get to stroll around the sheltered harbor which provides a good place for fishing vessels to anchor, and to explore this charming town with its many old wooden houses. A uniquely Icelandic “treat" awaits us at Bjarnarhöfn where they make fermented shark. As you head back to Reykholt you travel through lava fields and along the ocean where you have classic Icelandic photo opportunities. On the way we stop in Borgarnes where you have the opportunity for an optional visit to the Icelandic Settlement Center museum, or to the local geothermal swimming pool. Naturally, once darkness falls, you are out and about chasing the Northern Lights and soaking in the hotel’s outdoor hot tubs.

 
Day 4     Borgarfjordur - Lake Myvatn
Accommodation: Kea Gigur Hotel
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

SAGA VALLEY, WATERFALLS, HOT SPRINGS AND VOLCANO HIKE (410 km/254 miles)

The Borgarfjörður valley is known as the Saga valley of West Iceland because many important historical events took place there. Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls pouring from beneath a one kilometer wide lava field. Barnafoss – the Children’s falls, is nearby with it‘s own tragic tale. You get warmed at Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring which produces 180 liters per second of water that is nearly boiling -- 97° Celsius. Next you get a chance to climb the Grábrók volcano crater. In the afternoon we have a long drive from West Iceland to Lake Mývatn in North East Iceland, travelling through the fertile farmlands and fjord landscapes of Northwest Iceland. We stay two nights at Keahotel Gígur at Lake Mývatn, an ideal location to search for the Northern Lights.

 
Day 5     Lake Myvatn
Accommodation: Kea Gigur Hotel
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

GEOLOGICAL WONDERS & NORTHERN LIGHTS HUNT (70 km/44 miles)

We tour the Lake Mývatn area, considered one of the most fertile areas in the world so close to the Arctic Circle. The lake’s unique features are shaped by nature - strange lava formations, pseudo craters, attractive bays filled with thousands of birds. There we stroll through the lava field of Dimmuborgir and we have a walk to the rim of the ash crater Hverfjall. As a reward for all that walking, we take a relaxing soak after dinner at Lake Mývatn Nature Baths that contains a unique blend of minerals, silicates and geothermal micro-organisms and whose warm soothing waters benefit both skin and spirit alike. This will get us revived to be ready to chase the elusive Northern Lights. We also invite you to an educational movie about Aurora Borealis - the Northern Lights.

 
Day 6     Lake Myvatn - Akureyri
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

BIRDS, CHRISTMAS GARDEN AND CAPITAL OF NORTH ICELAND (120 km/75 mls)

We start the day with a visit at the Lake Mývatn bird museum, where the owner, Mr Sigurgeir has a passionate interest in Icelandic birds and his museum now has over 80 species, all in a well organized exhibit which is interesting to people of all age. Then we travel to Goðafoss, the waterfalls of the Gods, an important spot in Iceland's history. Next stop is the Christmas Garden, a small museum and shop where you will find countless items connected to the festive season from all parts of the world. Of course, Icelandic Christmas traditions are given priority, such as legs of smoked lamb hanging from a beam and the decorative “leaf bread” in many patterns, as well as the Yuletide Lads and their parents, who play such an important role in the Icelandic Christmas celebrations. Quality handwork, crafted by many artists from all parts of the country deck the shelves, making this a place which appeals to all the family. We reach Akureyri around noon time. The afternoon is free at leisure to explore the capital of North Iceland on your own. There are some excellent local museums, a beautiful botanical garden and a great geothermal swimming pool. In the later afternoon we board the ice-strengthened ship Ortelius which is an excellent vessel for Polar expedition cruises in the Arctic. We leave Iceland in the early evening and sail north towards the Denmark Strait.

 
Day 7     At Sea
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

AT SEA

Sailing north through the Denmark Strait. We are almost certain to see Fulmar, Kittiwake, Gannet and rafts of Common Guillemot. We cross the Arctic Circle and continue north, perhaps seeing whales. In the evening we will spot our first icebergs appear as we approach the east coast of Greenland near Kap Brewster. Take a walk on deck and check if the Northern Lights dance across the Arctic sky.

 
Day 8     At Sea
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

VOLQUART BOONS COAST

In the morning we sail along the ragged and glaciated Volquart Boons Coast. Here we may organise a zodiac cruise along one of the glacier fronts of this coast, and have our first landing near a glacier, like Maanegletsjer or in Vikingebugt. Later we land on Danmarksø where there are the remains of an Inuit settlement abandoned around 200 years ago. The circular ‘tent rings’ of stones indicate the summer houses, while the winter houses can be seen closer to a small cape. The sites are well preserved, allowing entrances and even bear-proof meat caches to be identified. There are also grave sites. In the evening we continue our sailing through the beautiful fjords to the west, choked with icebergs. If the Northern Lights are visible, it will be picture perfect!

 
Day 9     At Sea
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

CAPE HOFMANN HALVO

We go ashore at Cape Hofmann Halvø, a reliable spot for viewing Musk Oxen. We may also spot Rock Ptarmigan and at sea Great Northern Diver. The landscape here is particularly beautiful, especially during autumn when the Dwarf Willow and Dwarf Birch change colour. Arctic Blueberry and Crowberry add their own colourful touch - the berries are tasty too! In the evening we sail through the fjord towards Scoresby Land enjoying the contrast between the warm autumnal colours of the vegetation on shore, backed by huge dark mountains, and the cold blue of the icebergs.

 
Day 10     At Sea
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

SYDKAP IN SCORESBY LAND

On our way to Sydkap in Scoresby Land in the morning, we encounter huge icebergs, some over 100 m high and more than a kilometre in length. Most of the bergs are grounded as the fjord is only about 400 m deep here. We land near Sydkap to view the remains of the Thule culture winter houses. As many as 20 people lived in these tiny houses, hunting Greenland Whale and using their vertebrae to build the houses. The landscape here is gently undulating. Musk Oxen and Collared Lemming - survive on the meager vegetation.

 
Day 11     At Sea
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ITTOQQORTOORMIIT

In the morning we land at a lagoon at the south coast of Jameson Land, an area with waders and geese collecting for the autumn migration. The landscape here is gently undulating. Musk Oxen and Collared Lemming - survive on the meagre vegetation. In the afternoon we visit Ittoqqortoormiit, the biggest settlement near Scoresby Sund with about 400 inhabitants. At the post office you can buy stamps for your postcards, or just wander around to see the sledge dogs and the drying skins of seals, Musk Oxen and Polar Bear. Be careful not to go to bed too soon in this remote and quite location or you may miss out one more chance seeing the Northern Lights shimmer and dance across the night sky.

 
Day 12     At Sea
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

The whole day at sea offers excellent opportunities to see large whales and seabird migration and, at night the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) if weather conditions are right.

 
Day 13     Akureyri - Reykjavik
Accommodation: Borgartun Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast

ARRIVAL IN AKUREYRI, NORTH ICELAND (390 km/242 miles)

Arrive at Akureyri, and transfer by chartered bus to your accommodation in Reykjavik.

 
Day 14     Reykjavik

Individual transfer by Flybus airport shuttle from your accommodation in Reykjavík to Keflavík airport.

 

Notes

Northern Lights

During this tour we spend 4 evenings in the countryside to maximize the chances of seeing the elusive Northern Lights, still the tour is dependent on weather and therefore sightings are not guaranteed. The Northern Lights are in the northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone (it is not a TV show that you can just turn on and off). But it’s worth the patience required. In early September Northern Lights search begins after 22:00 when it gets dark. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good and warm footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly outstanding event. We also recommend bringing a torch for your night excursions and operating your photo camera in the darkness. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod.

Price Includes
Comprehensive Pre-Departure Material
Aeco Fees and Governmental Taxes.
All Miscellaneous Service Taxes and Port Charges Throughout the Program.
Free Use of Rubber Boots and Snow Shoes on Ortelius
Transfer and Baggage Handling Between Hotels in Reykjavik and Ship in Akure
Program of Lectures by Noted Naturalists and Leadership by Experienced Expe
All Meals Throughout the Voyage Aboard the Ship Including Snacks, Coffee an
Voyage Aboard the Designated Vessel As Indicated in the Itinerary.
Excursions and Entrances As Per Itinerary
Fully Escorted 3 Day Coach Tour With English Speaking Guide
First Class Hotel Accommodation With Daily Breakfast
Arrival and Departure Transfers Keflavik by Bus
Price Does Not Include
 Possible Fuel Surcharges; It Is Agreed That if World Fuel Prices Will Reach
 The Customary Gratuity at the End of the Voyages for Stewards and Other Ser
 Government Arrival and Departure Taxes.
 Baggage, Cancellation and Personal Insurance (which Is Mandatory).
 Meals Ashore.
 Any Airfare Whether on Scheduled or Charter Flights.
GJT-1269
1.28.15.WP26