Northern Lights and Whales Tour One

Overview

Discover this mystical land steeped in Viking traditions and volcanic landscapes rarely seen anywhere else on earth. Witness the amazing spectacle of the northern lights and get up close to a variety of whales with a visit to Husavik, Iceland’s best whale watching spot which is home to 15 different species.

Sprawling Reykjavík, the nation’s nerve center and government seat, is home to half the island’s population. On a bay overlooked by proud Mt. Esja (pronounced eh-shyuh) Reykjavík presents a colourful sight-its concrete houses painted in light colours and topped by vibrant red, blue, and green roofs. In contrast to the almost treeless countryside, Reykjavík has many tall, native birches, rowans, and willows, as well as imported aspen, pines, and spruces. Reykjavík’s name comes from the Icelandic words for smoke, reykur, and bay, vík. Embark Ocean Diamond. Tonight you may already have a first opportunity to see the Northern Lights.

Stykkisholmur is the starting point of your adventure on the Snaefellnes Peninsula, gateway to Snæfellsjökull National Park. Stykkishólmur is located by Breiðafjörður Bay on the north of Snæfellsnes Peninsula and is surrounded by wonderful views of the innumerable islands. One of the defining landmarks in Stykkishólmur are the old houses in the old city centre, some of which were owned by Danish traders, and every year in August there is a Danish town festival in Stykkishólmur called Danskir dagar or Danish days. The oldest house in Stykkishólmur is the Norwegian house, which dates back to 1832. The inhabitants take great pride in preserving the old houses and walking in the centre of town is like walking in another era.

An area of diverse landscapes, characterised by lava fields and glistening fjords and home to bird-rich Breidafjordur Bay. The area is crowned by the magnificent, ice-capped Snæfellsjökull volcano, a 700,000-year-old dormant subglacial volcano, visible from Reykjavik on a clear day and immortalised in Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Again dark clear skies might offer great opportunities for the Northern Lights.

Today‘s destination is Isafjordur, an idyllic town in the Westfjords region. This secluded peninsula is connected to the Icelandic mainland by only a narrow strip of land and includes many roadless areas where cars have never been. The landscape includes jaw-dropping views of dramatic fjords carved by ancient glaciers, sheer table mountains that plunge into the sea and pristine North Atlantic vegetation.

Today you head into Skjalfandi Bay and Husavik. Husavik is often called the “Whale watching capital” of Iceland. The town’s offshore waters are home to 15 different whale species, as well as dolphins. Watching these graceful ocean giants in their Arctic habitat is an unforgettable experience.

After disembarkation you will explore the natural beauty of the Lake Myvatn area, including the peculiar lava formations at Dimmuborgir and the pseudo craters at Skutustadir. The pseudo craters were formed by gas explosions when boiling lava flowed over the wetlands.

On the way back to Reykjavik you will pass Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in the world. A stop will be made to admire the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfalls, before continuing to Thingvellir National Park, the ancient site of the world’s first parliament.  Once back in Reykjavik you can participate in a tour of the city.

After breakfast on day seven you will disembark the Ocean Diamond and continue on your onward journey.