Itineraries on some departure dates may differ, please select the itinerary that you wish to explore.
Your adventure begins in Iceland's vibrant capital, Reykjavik. Famous for its modern Nordic culture, excellent food scene, and relaxed atmosphere, Reykjavik is the ideal starting point for our Arctic adventure. After boarding your expedition ship, Ocean Victory, guests will enjoy dinner and champagne as we set sail out of Faxafloi Bay, following ancient Norse sea routes towards the wild Westfjords.
M/V Ocean Victory
Grade: Premium Boat
Tucked in the heart of the Westfjords, Ísafjordur is surrounded by dramatic basalt mountains and deep fjords. Once a quiet fishing settlement, it became an international trade hub in the 16th century, with its rich waters attracting traders and ships from across the Atlantic. Today, the colourful houses, swanky downtown buildings, and visitors from around the world make a surprisingly cosmopolitan town centre. Chilly breezes and sweeping landscapes welcome visitors to explore the remoteness and beauty of this northern gem.
Siglufjordur, Iceland's northernmost mainland town, thrived during the herring boom of the mid-20th century, growing from a sleepy village to the hub of the country's fishing industry. Today, the herring still reigns supreme; the charming streets and Herring Era Museum showcase this proud heritage, while its jaw-dropping fjord setting offers rich bird-watching opportunities. Later, we sail to Grímsey Island, the only part of Iceland crossing the Arctic Circle. A guided walk reveals its rugged beauty, curious unafraid seabirds, and the symbolic Arctic Circle marker, 'Orbus et Globus', which is shifted annually to account for tiny changes to Earth's orbit.
Nestled at the end of Eyjafjordur, Iceland's longest fjord, Akureyri is known as the - Capital of the North. Despite its small size, the city boasts a unique cathedral, the first botanical gardens in Iceland, massive geothermally heated swimming pools, and a lively cultural scene. Sheltered by surrounding hills from the worst of the Arctic weather, its rich volcanic soils support abundant agriculture, and the frigid waters of the fjord hold rich fish stocks - a treat for the discerning palate!
Just beyond Akureyri lies Husavík, Iceland's oldest settlement, founded by the Viking pioneer Náttfari in the late 9th century. Small but bustling, Húsavík has fully embraced tourism and is the undisputed whale-watching capital of Iceland. Where whalers once hunted, conservation and tourism now shelter these gentle giants. The town also offers museums, including one dedicated to whale conservation, and another celebrating Iceland's contributions to exploration in the Arctic, Antarctic, and even into space. No trip to Husavik is complete without a soak at the nearby Geosea Spa with sweeping views over Skjalfandi Bay.
Situated on Iceland's scenic southeast coast, Djupivogur is framed by fjords, mountains, and rich bird habitats. It is the closest port in the country to the Faroe Islands, Scandinavia, and mainland Europe, and is a popular port of call for vessels exploring the North Atlantic. Centered around the harbor, the town dates back to the 16th century and is known for its unique public art, including the Eggin i Gledivik - Eggs of Merry Bay - sculpture. Hikers and birdwatchers are spoiled for choice, with mile upon mile of nature waiting to be explored. One of Iceland's most beautiful black sand beaches is just a short stroll from town and features a huge variety of bird species.
Next, we visit Heimaey, the largest of the volcanic Westman Islands. Visitors can explore the dramatic lava fields of Eldfell volcano and the world-renowned bird colonies of the island. The residents of Heimaey were severely tested in 1973, when Eldfell volcano began to spew lava, threatening the town and its vital harbour. Heroic locals fought back, cooling the lava with seawater jets to save their community. Weather permitting, we will cruise past Surtsey on departure, a newly formed volcanic island strictly reserved for scientific research.
Returning to Reykjavik, we conclude our voyage with lasting memories of Iceland's wild landscapes, vibrant communities, and extraordinary wildlife.
GMT+00:00
Type E/F (European Schuko) - Two round pins + ground contacts
Christianity (Lutheran)
Type B (North American) - Two flat prongs + ground pin
The lead-in prices on our website are based on triple outward facing, Stateroom cabins. All staterooms have private bathrooms, ample storage, with twin beds. Many of the stateroom categories, have floor to ceiling windows that offer prime observation opportunities around the clock. Additionally, there are private balconies in most of the staterooms, allowing you to watch the world float past and take in the salty air of the open ocean. A full layout of the deck plan can be found under the Polar Ships section on our website. Your confirmed cabin type will appear on your Booking Confirmation, which will be sent on receipt of your deposit payment.
Meals are served in the large, spacious dining room with an open seating arrangement, perfect for swapping stories with your extended expedition family. A range of courses is offered at each meal time and you can enjoy a variety of house wines, beers and soft drinks which are included with your evening meal. Complimentary coffee, tea and snacks are available throughout the day and any additional drinks can be purchased at the fully-stocked bar.
All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
USA (If flights transit): you will need to apply for an ESTA if you are transiting the USA as you will have to disembark and clear immigration before re-boarding for the onward flight.
Citizens of the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and passport holders from several EU countries can enter the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) - where you apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), which applies if you enter the country by sea or by air. This must be done on line - https://esta. cbp. dhs. gov no later than 72 hours prior to travel.
Travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely be refused boarding. When completing an application for transit you should enter the words 'In Transit' with your final destination location in the address line You must have an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport owner. UK passports which are biometric feature a small gold symbol (camera) at the bottom of the front cover.
If you have visited Iraq, Syria, Iran or Sudan in the past five years or are dual nationals of these countries, you cannot travel under the Visa Waiver Programme. Instead you will need to apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. If you are unable to provide a valid visa before boarding flights to the US, or entering via another method, you may not be permitted to travel.
For further information please check out the US embassy website. Visa applications - http://london. usembassy. gov/niv/apply. html
Find out more about Trip Transfer Terms and Conditions before you book.
Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found below in the dates and prices information. You may also be eligible for the Free Explore Transfer.
Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The complimentary transfers will be arranged from the Explore designated airport or train station to your trips joining point, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. Generally the airport or station that Explore have selected will be the one that is closest to the town or city where the trip starts, or the one nearest to the joining point. It will be either an airport or train station but not both. The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station.
Free transfers are not available for Polar customers.
If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking. For more information regarding the Explore Free Transfer click here
Explore can arrange your flights for you, to make joining and leaving our trips easy. Read more about them here.
You are able to book this tour on a 'land only' basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme.
We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport.
On our website we display the price of the tour only. Please call us or select the flight option during the online checkout to receive a quote for a flight inclusive package. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.