The Polar Travel Company

Sail from Iceland toward the Arctic Circle on a solstice expedition. Explore the Westfjords, visit eider duck farms, and search for seals, whales, and polar bears along the fringes of the Greenland sea ice.

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Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Starts: Keflavik, Iceland
Ends: Akureyri, Iceland
Language: English speaking voyage

The itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather and ice conditions. Your Captain and Expedition Leader will make the necessary adjustments to ensure the best possible experience.

Included

This expedition travels the spectacular coasts of Northwest Iceland to reach the fringes of the Greenland sea ice. Starting in Keflavik, the journey explores Faxafl�i Bay and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, where volcanic landscapes and glaciers like Snaefellsj�kull evoke the legends of Jules Verne. The voyage stands out for its ornithological richness, allowing for the observation of thousands of Atlantic puffins, razorbills, and eiders on remote islands and monumental cliffs like L�trabjarg.

Upon crossing the Arctic Circle, the vessel enters the wild environment of the sea ice, where currents move ice floes southward. This is a productive habitat ideal for spotting harp and hooded seals, humpback whales, and occasionally polar bears drifting from Greenland. The journey combines the exploration of traditional fishing villages with the unique experience of the midnight sun, culminating in the cultural capital of the north, Akureyri.

Highlights:
Experience of the midnight sun phenomenon during the summer solstice.
Sightings of humpback whales and seals at the fringes of the Greenland sea ice.
Visit to massive seabird colonies, including puffins and razorbills in Gr�msey and L�trabjarg.
Exploration of eider duck farms and traditional fishing communities.

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Day 1: The start of an Arctic adventure
Setting sail from Keflavik
Board the ship in the late afternoon in Keflavik. We sail north into Faxafl�i Bay toward the Snaefellsnes Peninsula while looking for whales in the large bay.

Day 2: Ice caps and volcanoes
Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Land in Breidavik to walk along cliffs with seabirds to Hellnar, with Snaefellsj�kull volcano in the background. We explore the area where Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth" began.

Day 3: A land of islands and Norse legends
Breidafjordur and Flatey
Sailing in the shallow bay of Breidafjordur, peppered with hundreds of islands. Explore the traditional fishing village on Flatey and spot white-tailed eagles and vast puffin colonies.

Day 4: Monumental cliffs and lighthouses
Klofningur and L�trabjarg
Visit the diminutive island of Klofningur and its lighthouse, home to shags and fulmars. In the evening, sail by the impressive L�trabjarg, featuring Iceland's biggest seabird colonies.

Day 5: On the lookout for whales and eider ducks
Isafjordur and Aedey
Visit Aedey in Skutulsfj�r�ur, where an Icelandic family keeps an eider duck farm to collect down. In the afternoon, sail northwest and pass the Arctic Circle.

Day 6 - 7: At the fringes of the sea ice
Greenland Sea and Gr�msey
Sailing north of Iceland in the fringes of the sea ice looking for harp and hooded seals, and potentially polar bears. Later, land on Grimsey, a small island that straddles the Arctic Circle, to visit its fishing village and Arctic tern colonies.

Day 8: Journey ends in Akureyri
Final disembarkation
Arrival in Akureyri and disembarkation. Optional 6-hour charter bus transfer to Reykjavik for those with pre-booked reservations.