Iceland
Circumnavigating Iceland: A Small Ship Expedition
Program No. 24370RJ
Circumnavigate Iceland’s unique natural wonders on an expedition voyage that will bring you up close with glaciers, fjords, whales, puffins and so much more.
Enroll with Confidence
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Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
14 days
13 nights
34 meals
13B 10L 11D
1
In transit to program.
In flight
3
Golden Circle
Reykjavik
4
Embarkation
Reykjavik
5
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Snaefellsnes Peninsula
6
The Westfjords
Westfjords
7
Siglufjörður and Grímsey
Grimsey
8
Akureyri
Akureyri
9
Húsavík
Husavik
10
Seyðisfjörður
Seyoisfjorour
11
Southeast Iceland
Southeast Iceland
13
Disembarkation, Free time
Reykjavik
14
Program Concludes
Reykjavik
At a Glance
The most sparsely populated country in Europe, Iceland is filled with awe-inspiring natural beauty. Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime circumnavigation of Iceland on board the expedition ship, Ocean Endeavor. Explore dramatic fjords, medieval fishing villages and wildlife on land and sea. Via Zodiac, get up-close to dramatic fjords, hot springs and ice-filled lagoons as you search for seals, whales and puffins. Learn about volcanic activity and the unique and varied landscape from local experts. Along the way, enjoy a reenactment at the Herring Era Museum, take a field trip to the Akureyri Botanical Gardens and walk up to Tvisöngur Sound Sculpture.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
I like to spend much of the day exploring. Whether walking through historic neighborhoods at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I prefer to keep my days full. Stairs don’t bother me, and I love to keep up with the group.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
What You'll Learn
- Visit the Blue Lagoon, located in a lava field, to discover its rejuvenating, healing waters and geological history.
- Experience remote Arctic hamlets with their colorful houses, cheerful people and Icelandic folk music, bakeries and breweries.
- Get up close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ilulissat Ice Fjord at the mouth of one of the world’s most active glaciers.
Suggested Reading List
(20 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.
Circumnavigating Iceland: A Small Ship Expedition
Program Number: 24370
The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings
Twelve leading scholars draw on the latest research and archaeological evidence to provide the clearest picture yet of this fabled people. Painting a fascinating portrait of the influences that the "Northmen" had on foreign lands, the
contributors trace Viking excursions to the British Islands, Russia, Iceland, Greenland, and the northern tip of Newfoundland, which the Vikings called "Vinlund."
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.
The History of Iceland
Gunnar Karlsson, Icelands premier historian, chronicles the age of the Sagas, consulting them to describe an era without a monarch or central authority.
The Prose Edda: Tales from Norse Mythology
Written in Iceland a century after the close of the Viking Age, The Prose Edda is the source of most of what we know of Norse mythology.
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.
The Blue Fox: A Novel
Winner of the Nordic Council Literature Prize, Sjón is a celebrated Icelandic poet and novelist. Set in 1883 in Iceland, follow the priest, Skugga-Baldur, on his hunt for the enigmatic blue fox.
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.
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."
Beyond the Northlands: Viking Voyages and the Old Norse Sagas
Beyond the Northands explores this world through the stories that the Vikings told about themselves in their sagas.
The World of the Vikings
This book explores Viking life and culture in detail: their appearances, warfare, targets, crafts, and weapons, as well as their stunning pattern-welded swords and helmets.
Insight Guide Iceland
This guide emphasizes culture and history, with wonderful photographs, maps and essays from experts.
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.
Nordic Runes: Understanding, Casting, and Interpreting the Ancient Viking Oracle
A comprehensive and practical guide to the ancient oracle based on the runic alphabet of the Norse. Nordic runes are a potent and profoundly transformative magic system that gives contemporary readers access to the ancient wisdom tradition of Northern European cultures.
A Viking Voyage
An unforgettable adventure story that will take you to the heart of some of the most magnificent, unspoiled territory on earth, and even deeper, to the heart of a journey like no other.
Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings
The history of the Vikings told through a series of innovative maps and excellent photographs. This book traces the routes of the ninth-century Viking merchants and explorers throughout Europe and onto the New World.
A History of Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland
Scandinavia from prehistory to the present with chapters on the Viking and Lutheran kingdoms, medieval times, monarchies, the World Wars and modern period, emphasizing the common cultural, political and social backgrounds.
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 Reykjavik with her husband and two children.
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.
Letters from Iceland
Written with fellow poet Louis MacNiece, this quirky, under-appreciated masterpiece captures the spirit of Iceland, its people and landscapes.
Iceland: Land of the Sagas
Circumnavigating Iceland in summer and winter, Krakauer and Roberts encounter tales of monks and Vikings, outlaws and adventurers, trolls and witches. While touring and photographing, they discover the myths and legends of Iceland's stirring history.