Iceland, Jan Mayen, Spitsbergen – Arctic Islands D

Reykjavik, on the coast of Iceland, is the country’s capital and largest city. It’s home to the National and Saga museums, tracing Iceland’s Viking history. The striking concrete Hallgrimskirkja church and rotating Perlan glass dome offer sweeping views of the sea and nearby hills. Exemplifying the island’s volcanic activity is the geothermal Blue Lagoon spa, near the village of Grindavik.

Discover remote fishing villages, spectacular bird colonies and the picturesque fjords, lakes and mountain peaks of Iceland, the land of ice and fire.

Smoky Bay
Your expedition starts in Reykjavik, Iceland’s quirky and laidback capital. Known as ‘Smoky Bay’ due to the rising steam from the surrounding geothermal features, you’ll be just hours away from geysers, glaciers, hot springs and waterfalls. Sail on to the colourful and well-preserved houses of Stykkishólmur, your ticket to natural wonders in the Breidafjordur bay and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula National Park. After, discover the peace and silence of a tranquil fishing village in Patreksfjördur.

Iceland’s northern capital
Explore a lovingly repurposed Herring factory in Djupavik nestled in the stunning beauty of northwest Iceland, with its deep blue water, crisp, clear air, and verdant green hills. At the base of Iceland’s longest fjord lies Akureyri. This youthful ‘Northern Capital,’ stands out from the more rural destinations on your journey with plenty of top-notch eateries and museums to enjoy.

Whale watching and historic volcanoes
Husavik looks out over the Skjálfandi Bay which enjoys regular visits from whales. You’ll have the chance to scan for various species including humpback, minke, white-beaked dolphin, harbour porpoise and the elusive blue whale. In Heimaey, you’ll discover the fascinating history of a people who fought against a volcano and won, before ending your epic expedition right where it started in Reykjavik.

Akureyri is a city at the base of Eyjafjörður Fjord in northern Iceland. In the center, the 1940 Akureyri Church has stained-glass windows portraying scenes from Icelandic Christian history. There are views of the fjord from the forecourt. Nearby, the Akureyri Art Museum displays contemporary art from Iceland and farther afield. To the south are the Botanical Gardens, with specimens from across Iceland

Grímsey is a small Icelandic island, 40 kilometres off the north coast of the main island of Iceland, straddling the Arctic Circle. In January 2018 Grímsey had 61 inhabitants. Before 2009, Grimsey constituted the hreppur of Grímseyjarhreppur. In that year, island residents voted to join the municipality with Akureyri.

Jan Mayen is a Norwegian volcanic island in the Arctic Ocean, with no permanent population. It is 55 km long and 373 km² in area, partly covered by glaciers. It has two parts: larger northeast Nord-Jan and smaller Sør-Jan, linked by a 2.5 km wide isthmus.

Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. One of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas, it’s known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers and frozen tundra sheltering polar bears, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes. The Northern Lights are visible during winter, and summer brings the “midnight sun”—sunlight 24 hours a day.

Longyearbyen is a small coal-mining town on Spitsbergen Island, in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. This Arctic town is known for its views of the Northern Lights. The modern Svalbard Museum chronicles the region’s natural and cultural history. It includes a stuffed polar bear. Live bears can occasionally be seen in the area. The North Pole Expeditions Museum recounts early efforts to reach the pole by air.