Legendary Northern Isles: Scotland, Faroes, and Iceland

Days 1-2

U.S. / Bergen, Norway / Embark Ship

Bergen is one of the major cities of the powerful Hanseatic League. Hansa merchants operated in the historic Bryggen Wharf area, lined with wooden buildings from the Middle Ages. Meals are on your own, except for lunch on Day 2.

Day 3

Orkney Islands, Scotland

Enjoy a morning at sea, then see the standing stones at the Ring of Brodgar and the stone-slab village of Skara Brae. Step into the past at the red sandstone cathedral of St. Magnus, built in 1137.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

Shetland Islands

Our ship glides past the towering bird cliffs of Noss to look for murres and kittiwakes. Visit the Jarlshof archaeological site, a prehistoric and Norse settlement continuously inhabited for more than 4,000 years, and keep an eye out for the famous Shetland ponies.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 5-7

Faroe Islands Archipelago, Denmark

The rugged Faroese are proud of their Viking ancestry, reflected in their ancient language and love of the sea. We explore the Faroe Islands with stops in Streymoy, the largest of the 18 islands that make up the archipelago. At Streymoy we visit Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroes, where wooden boats bob at anchor in the harbor and harken back to Viking times. Places of interest include the natural history museum and the nearby Kirkjubøur archaeological site, a medieval farming and religious center. The scenic landscapes of northern Streymoy are home to the incredible bird cliffs of Vestmanna, offering the chance to watch forpuffins, gannets, and northern fulmars.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8

Djúpivogur, Iceland

Our ship docks in Djúpivogur and we drive down the coast to explore the vast Vatnajökull ice cap and the deep blue icebergs of the large ice lagoon of Jökulsárlón. Alternatively, go by 4x4 vehicle to visit some of the secluded valleys and remote waterfalls in the countryside around Djúpivogur or visit a local farm to meet the families living in rural Iceland.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9

At Sea / Grimsey

Enjoy a morning at sea as we sail northward around the land of fire and ice, going ashore in the evening at the tiny island of Grímsey. Home to nesting sea birds, it lies exactly on the Arctic Circle.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10

Lake Mývatn / Akureyri

Drive to Lake Mývatn, the most geologically active area in Iceland. See the mud pools at Hverarönd and the unforgettable sight of Goðafoss, the waterfall of the gods. Visit the explosion crater at Viti. Drive to Akureyri with its beautiful period houses, backed by snowcapped mountains.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 11-12

Westfjords

Ísafjördur is surrounded by water on three sides, sculpted by glaciers. Explore the town and taste some Icelandic culinary delicacies, or enjoy a hike into the backcountry of Iceland. Learn about the fishing industry that was the mainstay of this town for generations. Continue to charming Flatey Island, a trading post for centuries, for walks around the 19th-century hamlet and opportunities to see and photograph numerous species of birds. Zodiac cruise the coast and see where Erik the Red sailed from in the year A.D. 982, bound for Greenland.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13

Surtsey and Heimaey, Westman Islands

The Westman Islands were formed by undersea volcanoes and are among the youngest of the world’s archipelagos. Surtsey, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was created in 1963 and 10 years later, Heimaey was threatened by lava flows that nearly closed off its harbor. Visit the crater where the earth is still hot and see areas that were engulfed by lava.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14

Reykjavík / Disembark Ship

Disembark in Reykjavík with options to visit the Sky Lagoon, an intimate, luxurious thermal bath that looks over the North Atlantic Ocean, or the Reykjanes Peninsula to view the Mid-Atlantic ridge, prior to the flight home.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch