Northwest Iceland Explorer into the Pack Ice 20% Advantage

This expedition cruise starts in Keflavik and follows the Snæfellsnes Peninsula into Breiðafjörður and onward to the Westfjords. Planned landings include small communities and remote islands where seabird colonies dominate the cliffs and shorelines, with chances to spot white tailed eagles, puffins and other species. North of Iceland the route reaches the productive boundary of south drifting sea ice, focusing on wildlife along the ice edge, especially seals, whales and seabirds. The journey ends in Akureyri in North Iceland.

Northwest Iceland Explorer into the Pack Ice: The itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and embarkation in Keflavik
In the late afternoon you embark in the harbour of Keflavik, close to the international airport. After settling in on board MS Hondius and receiving the first practical briefings, the ship departs and heads north into Faxaflói Bay. This wide bay is known for whale activity, so conditions permitting, the bridge team and guides keep watch as the coastline falls away behind you. The course continues toward the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, a region that marks the transition into Iceland’s more rugged western seascapes. The first evening is about getting oriented on board, understanding the rhythm of an expedition voyage, and watching the changing coastal profile as the ship continues north.

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Day 2: Snæfellsnes with Breiðavík, Arnarstapi and Hellnar
Today you land at Breiðavík near Arnarstapi, with Snæfellsjökull in the background, a glacier capped volcano that dominates the peninsula. From the landing site you walk south along the coastal cliffs, where seabirds occupy ledges and the air above the shoreline is often busy with flight activity. The route leads toward Hellnar, where you rejoin the ship after taking time to observe the geology and birdlife that characterise this stretch of coast. Depending on local conditions, there may also be an opportunity to drive toward Snæfellsjökull, known in literature as the starting point of Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth. In the evening the ship again searches for whales northwest of the peninsula while preparing for the next stage of the voyage.

Day 3: Breiðafjörður and Flatey, islands and birdlife
The voyage continues into Breiðafjörður, a broad, shallow bay scattered with hundreds of islands and skerries. During the transit you may see white tailed eagles, and the guides keep watch along shorelines and channels where birds concentrate. You then land on Flatey to explore the traditional fishing village and visit the church, noted for paintings by the Spanish Icelandic artist Baltasar. Along the coasts, black guillemots breed, and large puffin colonies occupy suitable slopes and edges. Inland, red necked phalaropes can be found on ponds, adding another dimension to the day’s wildlife focus. The combination of quiet island settlement and detailed nature observation sets the tone before you return to the ship and continue toward the Westfjords.

Day 4: Klofningur and an evening passage past Látrabjarg
A landing is planned at Klofningur, a very small island marked by a lighthouse. Despite its size it hosts extensive breeding colonies, including great cormorants, northern fulmars and great black backed gulls, making it a concentrated site for seabird observation. Time ashore is used to understand how these exposed islands function as nesting habitat and how the birds use the surrounding waters. In the evening you sail past the impressive cliffs of Látrabjarg, home to Iceland’s largest seabird colonies. From the ship you can take in the scale of the cliff line and the activity along the ledges as the voyage continues along the coast.

Day 5: Skutulsfjörður, Ísafjörður and Aedey with an eider farm visit
MS Hondius enters Skutulsfjörður, the fjord that holds the town of Ísafjörður. A visit is planned to Aedey, where an Icelandic family runs an eider duck farm. The birds are fully protected while nesting, and at the end of the breeding season the eiderdown is collected for trade. Along the island’s shores you may also encounter breeding puffins. In the afternoon, depending on conditions, you head into Jökulfirðir or continue directly from the fjord, again scanning for whales as the ship sails northwest. As you proceed, you pass the Arctic Circle, a clear geographic threshold on the route toward more distinctly arctic waters.

Day 6: At the sea ice edge, first day in the pack ice zone
North of Iceland the ship reaches the margin of south drifting sea ice and heads northeast. Over the day the focus is on searching for harp seals and hooded seals, which can occur in significant numbers in this area. A solitary polar bear is also a possibility, as individuals sometimes range as far as Iceland’s waters. Near and along the ice edge you may observe whales and seabirds that follow the productive boundary between open water and ice while feeding. The seascape is defined by ice to the west as far as visibility allows, and by constantly changing conditions that influence both navigation and the day’s observation strategy.

Day 7: At the sea ice edge, second observation day and turn south
The second day near the ice continues with dedicated wildlife watching along the pack ice margin. MS Hondius uses its ice capable design to operate at an appropriate distance from the ice while maximising opportunities to spot seals, whales and seabirds. The arctic environment here is dynamic, with ice structure and distribution shifting continuously, so the route is adjusted according to conditions and sightings. During the day the ship prepares to continue south, beginning the return toward Iceland. Even during transit, watch is kept, as encounters with marine mammals can occur unexpectedly in these waters.

Day 8: Disembarkation in Akureyri and departure
You arrive in Akureyri, where disembarkation takes place. The package ends after breakfast on board. If you wish, you can pre book a chartered bus transfer, approximately six hours, to the bus stop at Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre in Austurbakki, Reykjavík. After that you continue your onward journey independently.

Included Northwest Iceland Explorer into the Pack Ice

 
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes
- Complimentary Wi-Fi: each guest receives 1.5 GB of data per day, renewed every 24 hours
- Complimentary Dopper water bottle for use during and after your expedition
Selected departures (14.06. - 21.06.2027) of this voyage take place during the solar eclipse, offering the rare opportunity to witness this extraordinary natural phenomenon in a truly unique setting.
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