Ring Of Fire And Ice – Summer Circumnavigation Of Iceland

Discover Iceland's modern capital 

Your Iceland expedition cruise starts in Reykjavík, a city full of art, culture and history. Visit Laugavegur, the main shopping street and head towards the striking Hallgrímskirkja church. Or why not explore the galleries and museums dotted around the city. 

Once aboard MS Maud – a smaller ship built for more personal exploration – it's time to settle in, meet your Expedition Team, and enjoy a relaxed welcome dinner. 

Pre-Programme 

With so much to explore, you may want to arrive early to join one of our Pre-Programmes and explore the Golden Circle or Icelandic Highlands. 

Gateway to spectacular Snæfellsnes 

It's as though time has stood still at Stykkishólmur, the small fishing town in Breiðafjörður bay, where colourful houses stand out in contrast to distant mountains.  

Nearby, you’ll find Snæfellsnes Peninsula National Park, with the striking, ice-capped Snæfellsjökull volcano at the peninsula’s western tip. It’snicknamed 'Little Iceland' for its array of volcanic landscapes. 

At the national park you can visit Djúpalónssandur's black sand beach and the Lóndrangar basalt cliffs. Or why not ride a snowcat to the top of the Snæfellsjökull glacier, or take a guided coastal hike with a glacial cave tour. 

Visit a stunning beach, waterfalls and go birdwatching 

Patreksfjörður is unforgettably beautiful. Here, you’ll learn about the fishing traditions in Europe's most westerly village. You can enjoy a dip in the town's outdoor pool, with wonderful fjord views. 

Explore the surrounding area on a hike through the fjords or visit Rauðasandur beach and see seals. You can also join a tour to Dynjandi waterfalls – six falls combined that together make the largest and most spectacular falls in the Westfjords.  

Birdwatchers shouldn’t miss a visit to Látrabjarg, where puffins, Northern Gannets, guillemots and razorbills live on Europe’s largest bird cliff. 

Explore northwest Iceland, expedition-style 

One of the best things about expedition cruising is the feeling of freedom. We plan to spend the day in Iceland’s Northwestern Region, but as conditions can vary we won't know exactly what's in store until the day itself. Rest assured, your Captain and Expedition Team will find the best opportunities for adventure.  

We may take you ashore in our small expedition boats for a hike, swim or beach clean-up. Or perhaps we’ll launch our kayaks to explore a pretty cove. Be ready for anything! 

Don’t forget, you can also join onboard lectures, visit the Science Center, get tips from our professional photographer, or soak in a hot tub. 

Explore a ghostly factory and hike in magical surroundings 

The remote village of Djúpavík,at the edge of the Westfjords, has an eerie charm. A vast abandoned herring factory contrasts with a stunning rural setting, and a guided tour of the old building will reveal all. Inside its cavernous interior, huge machines rust away quietly, and the everyday objects of the workers sit on desks untouched. 

Explore the magical surroundings here on foot and take a short, invigorating hike to the waterfall just above the old factory. Looking down onto the shore, you may spot the old rusting ship from a previous era – this really is a place of contrasts. 

Explore Akureyri and see volcanic moonscapes

Today we cruise along Eyjafjörður, Iceland's longest fjord, to Akureyri, Iceland's northern capital. It's a prime area to see humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises. 

Stroll around the interesting streets of Akureyri, which feature charming, colourful houses. You can also learn about the history of the city at the Akureyri Museum, and visit Into the Arctic – Norðurslóð  –a museum dedicated to Iceland’s settlement, culture and life in the north. 

Further afield you can visit the picturesque Goðafoss – ‘God’s Waterfall’ – where turquoise waters pound against black rocks. Seek out Eider and Harlequin Ducks at Lake Mývatn, one of Iceland's more active volcanic areas.  

Cross the Arctic Circle and see Atlantic Puffins

Grímsey is steeped in folklore, including tales of the island’s first settler, Grímur. This remote and windswept island, home to just 60 people, is associated with its Atlantic Puffin colonies.  

But Grímsey is probably best known for its proximity to the Arctic Circle, which cuts across the island – the only part of Iceland where it does so. You’ll have the opportunity to step across that line, hopping over to the Arctic and back!    

Hike to the Orbis et Globus sculpture, a huge concrete sphere that’s repositioned each year to fit the northward movement of the Arctic Circle. In fact, by 2050, Grímsey will lie outside the Arctic! 

Iceland's best whale watching spot 

Today you’ll explore Húsavík, a fascinating small town that's one of the best places in the world from which to see whales.  

Húsavík looks out over Skjálfandi bay, which enjoys visits from humpback and minke whales, as well as white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoise and even the elusive blue whale. Learn more about them at Húsavík’s Whale Museum.  

 You can also enjoy the geothermal waters at Geosea, which overlooks Skjálfandi bay, and refresh with a beer at the local microbrewery. 

Local folklore and natural beauty 

Your Iceland cruise continues to Bakkagerði, a tiny settlement a bit off the beaten track. According to folklore, Bakkagerði is inhabited by a large population of local land spirits or elves, known as huldufólk, meaning 'hidden people'. 

A popular hiking area, you can walk through lush, green valleys and gorgeous scenery among colourful rhyolite rocks. The coastal cliffs are home to fulmars, kittiwakes, eiders and puffins. We may also visit the Atlantic Puffin colony on Hafnarhólmi – a true gem for nature lovers and wildlife photographers.  

Discover the town that defied a volcano 

Heimaey is the only inhabited island in the Westman Islands, found off the south coast of Iceland. It has a fascinating history and still bears the scars of the powerful 1973 volcanic eruption that nearly destroyed the island.  

Visit Eldheimar, a museum that features an excavated home frozen in time, and learn more about the eruption and its aftermath. Or why not take a hike to seek out puffins at Stórhöfði, where around eight million nest every summer. Don’t miss climbing Mount Eldfell –at the volcano’s summit you’ll have incredible views of the town below. 

Explore Reykjavík at your leisure 

Your Iceland expedition cruise concludes back in fascinating Reykjavík. Now is a great chance to see the places you missed when you first arrived.  

Relaxing with friends in heittur pottur, geothermal waters, is part of Icelandic culture. Before you leave, why not visit Iceland’s most famous place for doing just that – the Blue Lagoon –one of the true natural wonders of the world. Here, you’llexperience the blend of silica, algae and minerals in its geothermal waters.  

Post-Programme 

You can also join our Post-Programme and explore Iceland's beautiful south coast, with waterfalls, black sand beaches, geothermal springs and majestic mountains.