Iceland
Fire and Ice: A Circumnavigation of Mystical Iceland
Program No. 21877RJ
On an expedition cruise ship, discover Iceland’s natural fjords, geysers, glaciers and fascinating human history during a voyage around this dramatic country.
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At a Glance
Turquoise thermal pools. Otherworldly waterfalls. Towering blue icebergs. Iceland is an astonishing package of the planet’s natural wonders. Discover them on colorful display — fjords, geysers, glaciers, volcanoes — during an extraordinary learning voyage around this dramatic country. From Reykjavik on the southwest coast, sail clockwise around the island and navigate pristine fjords, setting foot on a glacier and soaking in soothing hot springs.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles daily over rough, rocky and uneven terrain. This program includes an excursion by Zodiac; the final step to board this vessel is 14 to 18 inches.
What You'll Learn
- Have opportunities to observe birds and whales up close.
- See "Pompeii of the North" — a volcanic crater
- Soak in the geothermal heated waters of the Sky Lagoon where you can relax with a view of the sea.
Suggested Reading List
(16 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Fire and Ice: A Circumnavigation of Mystical Iceland
Program Number: 21877
The Arctic, A Guide to Coastal Wildlife
An essential handbook for the ship-based traveler, this compact guide to the plants, marine mammals and birds of the Circumpolar North features handsome watercolor illustrations and lively text. This new edition includes a section on the Bering Sea.
Insight Guide Iceland
This guide emphasizes culture and history, with wonderful photographs, maps and essays from experts.
Ring of Seasons, Iceland, Its Culture and History
A longtime resident of Reykjavik, Lacy weaves tales of family life, anecdote, lore and history into this illuminating personal portrait of Iceland.
Letters from Iceland
Written with fellow poet Louis MacNiece, this quirky, under-appreciated masterpiece captures the spirit of Iceland, its people and landscapes.
Hrafnkel's Saga and Other Icelandic Stories
This collection of the most famous of Icelandic sagas includes stories with titles like Thorstein the Staff-Struck and Ale Hood. Dating from the 12th century, these tales vividly recreate the society of medieval Iceland.
The Sagas of Icelanders
Nine sagas and six tales composed between the years 1000 and 1500, including an account of Leif Eriksson's voyage to North America, all newly translated.
Burial Rites
Setting her story against Iceland's stark landscape, Hannah Kent reimagines the final days of a young woman who was accused of murder in Iceland in 1829.
Names for the Sea, Strangers in Iceland
A stranger in a strange land, British novelist Sarah Moss captures the spirit of Iceland in this tale of a year in the Reykjavik with her husband and two children.
A Naturalist's Guide to the Arctic
A primer on Arctic climate, geography, plants, birds, mammals and insects in a single nicely written book. It's a highly recommended, enthusiastic guide to natural history throughout the Circumpolar North.
Birds of Europe
Featuring 3,500 glorious paintings by Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterstrom, the second edition of this exquisite guide features updated text and maps.
Independent People, An Epic
Rich in local color, this great mock-epic by the Icelandic Nobel Prize-winner features the indelible Bjartur of Summerhouses, a hard-headed, independent-minded sheep farmer.
Iceland Adventure Map
A detailed map at a scale of 1:465,000, printed on handy tear- and water-resistant paper.
North: The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland
Catering to a rising interest in Nordic cuisine, this cookbook celebrates Iceland’s food alongside its haunting landscapes, portrayed in starkly beautiful, full-color photos.
The Almost Nearly Perfect People, Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia
Guardian journalist Booth writes with laugh-out-loud humor and brutal candor about the Scandinavians, mixing history and his own experiences in Nordic regions in this searing cultural portrait.
Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings
This history of the Vikings tells their story through a series of innovative maps and excellent photographs. It traces the routes of 9th-century Viking merchants and explorers throughout Europe and the New World.
Song of the Vikings, Snorri and the Making of Norse Myths
Brown brings to life not just the great Norse tales of medieval Iceland but also the life and times of the worldly Icelandic chieftain, known as the "Homer of the North."
Meals
29 Meals
11 Breakfasts
9 Lunches
9 Dinners
The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Salt, Vegetarian
Lodging
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Display
- Jul 08, 2024 - Jul 19, 2024
- Jun 14, 2024 - Jun 25, 2024 (Reykjavik to At Sea)
- Jun 22, 2024 - Jul 03, 2024 (Reykjavik to At Sea)
- Jun 30, 2024 - Jul 11, 2024 (Reykjavik to At Sea)
- Jul 08, 2024 - Jul 19, 2024 (Reykjavik to At Sea)
2 nights
Reykjavik
The Berjaya Reykjavik Marina Hotel is a stylish hotel in the old downtown harbor district of Reykjavik. The hotel combines colorful and modern design with old relics of the harbor and shipyard to create a bright and authentic maritime atmosphere. Its located next to the historical, and still fully functioning dry-dock called Slippur.
8 nights
Reykjavik
Iceland Pro's MV Seaventure is an expedition ship that has been assigned the highest ice class for passenger ships. It's fourteen Zodiacs are ready and waiting to get you up close and personal with the most breathtaking natural wonders of Iceland and explore otherwise inaccessible areas by land and sea. A greater density of steel plates in the hull and a massive stem are just two of the many elements that allow the expedition ship to glide safely through the sparkling arctic waters. Built in 1990 and most recently renovated in 2019, it can accommodate 164 guests in 82 cabins.
2 nights
Reykjavik
The Berjaya Reykjavik Marina Hotel is a stylish hotel in the old downtown harbor district of Reykjavik. The hotel combines colorful and modern design with old relics of the harbor and shipyard to create a bright and authentic maritime atmosphere. Its located next to the historical, and still fully functioning dry-dock called Slippur.
8 nights
Reykjavik
Iceland Pro's MV Seaventure is an expedition ship that has been assigned the highest ice class for passenger ships. It's fourteen Zodiacs are ready and waiting to get you up close and personal with the most breathtaking natural wonders of Iceland and explore otherwise inaccessible areas by land and sea. A greater density of steel plates in the hull and a massive stem are just two of the many elements that allow the expedition ship to glide safely through the sparkling arctic waters. Built in 1990 and most recently renovated in 2019, it can accommodate 164 guests in 82 cabins.
2 nights
Reykjavik
The Berjaya Reykjavik Marina Hotel is a stylish hotel in the old downtown harbor district of Reykjavik. The hotel combines colorful and modern design with old relics of the harbor and shipyard to create a bright and authentic maritime atmosphere. Its located next to the historical, and still fully functioning dry-dock called Slippur.
8 nights
Reykjavik
Iceland Pro's MV Seaventure is an expedition ship that has been assigned the highest ice class for passenger ships. It's fourteen Zodiacs are ready and waiting to get you up close and personal with the most breathtaking natural wonders of Iceland and explore otherwise inaccessible areas by land and sea. A greater density of steel plates in the hull and a massive stem are just two of the many elements that allow the expedition ship to glide safely through the sparkling arctic waters. Built in 1990 and most recently renovated in 2019, it can accommodate 164 guests in 82 cabins.
2 nights
Reykjavik
The Berjaya Reykjavik Marina Hotel is a stylish hotel in the old downtown harbor district of Reykjavik. The hotel combines colorful and modern design with old relics of the harbor and shipyard to create a bright and authentic maritime atmosphere. Its located next to the historical, and still fully functioning dry-dock called Slippur.
8 nights
Reykjavik
Iceland Pro's MV Seaventure is an expedition ship that has been assigned the highest ice class for passenger ships. It's fourteen Zodiacs are ready and waiting to get you up close and personal with the most breathtaking natural wonders of Iceland and explore otherwise inaccessible areas by land and sea. A greater density of steel plates in the hull and a massive stem are just two of the many elements that allow the expedition ship to glide safely through the sparkling arctic waters. Built in 1990 and most recently renovated in 2019, it can accommodate 164 guests in 82 cabins.
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