Iceland's West Coast in Luxury

Embark between 4pm and 5pm for departure at 6pm.

This attractive harbour city is located just a few kilometres from the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik Arriving by sea, you'll see fishing boats moored in Hafnarfjörður's baysﾠ and volcanic rocks; ﾠHafnarfjörður is built on an ancient field of lava flow. In the town centre, basalt rocks point you in the direction of the historic houses of Sivertsen and Siggubær : their interiors and period furniture bring old Iceland back to life before your very eyes. Not far from here is a spectacular coastal walk and warm geothermal pools.

This secret boreal hideaway is located at the foot of the Kirkjufell, on Snaefellsnes peninsula. Arriving by boat means you’ll get a closer view of the lava-stone rock standing like a sentinel at the entrance to the bay; Grundarfjörður lies sheltered behind this cone-shaped rock. A stone’s throw from the jetty, crystal clear waters, tundra and beaches give onto the cerulean waters of Breiðafjörður. Scattered with its emerald-coloured lawns, this town, with its buildings that merge into the surrounding countryside, will most certainly win your favour.

Grímsey is a small island located 40 km North of mainland Iceland. It was formed by volcanic rock that has generated majestic basalt pillars. The island has been inhabited since the Vikings came to Iceland and legend has it that it is named after the colonial sailor Grìmur, who sailed from the region of Sogn in Norway. This site is home to fabulous wildlife, with many bird colonies having chosen to nest along the jagged cliffs, such as the ‘‘clowns of the sea’’ known as the Atlantic Puffins. While many travellers come here in order to cross the invisible line into the Arctic Circle, the island is also famed as a place to observe the midnight sun.

From Grímseyjarhreppur, the island’s only town located on the west coast, then heading due south, you can take in the beauty of the hillsides, lushly carpeted with moss and grass. On the rest of the coastline, imposing basalt cliffs inhabited by sea birds stand proud.

The elegant city of Akureyri is located very close to the Arctic circle, tucked away in the Eyjafjörður fjord. It displays a stunning palette of colours: blue waters in the harbour, bronze mountain ash on the squares and brightly-coloured houses in the historical centre. As you walk along the cobbled streets, you’ll come across rows of terraces with wooden furniture, where you can sit and try some scrumptious cream donuts with a cup of coffee. A vast stairway cut into the hillside leads you up to the emblematic feature of the town, namely the Akureyrarkirkja church. You’ll be amazed by the very beautiful botanical garden made possible by a microclimate.

Your ship will take you to the heart of the fjords of North-West Iceland, a wild land of lost valleys and steep cliffs, where man struggles to survive. In this very isolated region we find the Isafjörður fjord, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the country, mainly for its relief, forged by many very ancient basaltic flows. The town of Isafjörður, which nestles at the back of its fjord, between imposing mountains, is a delightful little town that lives exclusively from fishing. The capital of the Western fjords, its old wooden houses bear witness to its past as a major fishing port.

This land seated off the southern coast of Iceland is the largest of the Vestmann islands, and is the only inhabited island in the archipelago. The steep Edfell volcanoes and the green prairies of Herjólfsdalur offer rich contrast of nature. On the Stórhöfði road, look out over grey sand beaches and cliffs carved out by the Arctic ocean. From here, you can also see the bronze landscapes of the mountaintops. You could visit Eldheimar, an ultra-modern and interactive museum which traces the volcanic eruption has experienced Heimaey in 1973.

Enjoy a final day of sailing past the remarkable Icelandic landscapes before disembarking on day 8 in Reykjavik and transferring to the airport.