Learn about Iceland’s hardy fishermen at the Osvor Maritime Museum; take a swim in the thermally heated Blue Lagoon; see powerful Gullfoss waterfalls, often arched with rainbows, and explore Grímsey Island near the Arctic Circle
the basis for many of Iceland’s time-honored sagas; learn more about the traditional stories that tell tales of the country’s early settlers, trials and tribulations during your visit, including how these rocks were used in strength competitions between local fishermen. Your journey continues to Arnarstapi, a resting place for migrating birds, and to Budir, famed for its lava landscapes and uncommon golden-sand beach. Dine aboard ship as you cruise to the Arctic Circle. Meals BLD
3. EXPLORE GRÍMSEY ON THE ARCTIC CIRCLE Remote and weather beaten, the tiny island of Grímsey – just 2½ miles by 1¼ miles – guards the Arctic Circle with huge colonies of seabirds and a scant population of hardy islanders said to consistently number about 100 residents. Step ashore for a walking tour to see the arctic terns and whimsical puffins that live here and walk across the Arctic Circle line – a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll always remember. Meals BLD
4. ATTRACTION AROUND AKUREYRI Cruise the Eyjarfjördur fjord to Akureyri. Despite its location just 60 miles from the Arctic Circle, the town boasts a spectacular setting in view of snow-tipped granite mountains and some of the warmest weather in the country. Spend the day exploring the countryside around Lake Myvatn, named a national conservation area in 1974 for its large waterfowl population and nesting areas for breeding ducks. Guided sightseeing takes you to the sulphur fields at Namaskard, the giant lava field at Dimmuborgir and the shorefront Skutustadir. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and follow the Ring
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Road to the powerful waterfall, Godafoss, known to locals as “the falls of the gods” and star of the Kristni Saga, banishing paganism and welcoming Christianity into the land in 1000 AD. Return to Akureyri, for a brief city tour, then reboard Le Boreal for an evening of sailing, Tauck Style. Meals BLD
5. CULTURAL GEMS & ISLAND LIFE Magnificent mountain scenery dominates the landscapes that surround Iceland’s western fjords, enriching your visit to Isafjordur. Dock in the town’s fishing center for a day of cultural discoveries. Go inside a turf-roofed fisherman’s hut at Osvor Museum for a glimpse into the life of an Icelandic fisherman. As a special treat, cruise to Vigur Island, home to the same family since 1884, for a close-up look at their unique lifestyle, passed from one generation to the next. Your hosts will be serving homemade island refreshments. Meals BLD
6. HEIMAEY / SURTSEY ISLAND Welcome to Westmann Islands, the “islands of the western men,” so named for a group of rebellious slaves whose daring, albeit short lived, escape from captivity in ancient Iceland is still the stuff of legends on these volcanic shores. Come ashore on Heimaey for a day of exploration that includes a visit to Sprangan cliff, where young islanders are taught the sport of rope-swinging and cliff-side egg-collecting, and a stop at Storhöfdi, home to the island’s largest colony of puffins and an incredible vantage point for breathtaking views of the island and the massive glaciers of the mainland (weather permitting). The volcanic eruption of Mt. Eldfell in 1973 spewed lava over the island landscapes, creating the youngest mountain in the world and the new “Pompeii” of the north. A walk around the crater rewards with spectacular views and a cruise to
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