Discover the Wilds of Iceland Onboard the Ocean Albatros
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At a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Spend two nights in Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavik before your voyage begins to explore landmarks like the National Museum, Höfði House and the Blue Lagoon.
- Add to your birding life lists as you sail along the coasts of Grimsey Island and Westford, known for their vast populations of seabirds.
- Explore Westman Island, known for its volcanic activity and as the home of the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in the world.
- Enjoy the camaraderie of other Road Scholars as you take in private lectures, unique field trips and take part in educational onboard activities on this exclusive Floating Campus voyage.
General Notes
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m.
Breakfast: Coffee/Tea and pastries/cookies near the Keflavik airport.
Morning: Once all participants have joined us at the hotel near the Keflavik airport, we will board our coaches and drive to Perlan-Wonders of Iceland Exhibition Center, where we will have Free Time to explore the various exhibits on our own. This iconic building is a one of a kind nature exploratorium. Discover this learning laboratory and learn about Icelandic nature through science and human perception. Enjoy the views from the Observation Deck or just relax in the cafe.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: We will reboard the motorcoach and ride to central Reykjavik to check in to our hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: Orientation. Your Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. The remainder of the evening is at leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 60 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 2 miles; uneven, hilly terrain.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We’ll set out from the hotel by bus for a full-day field trip around the Golden Circle. Our field trip will begin with an exploration of Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. It was here that the Althing, an open-air representative assembly, was established in 930 CE. It is the world’s oldest existing parliament. Thingvellir is considered the most sacred place in Iceland due its historical significance and for the fact that this is also the meeting point of the American and European continental plates.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Moving on, we’ll reach Gullfoss — golden falls — the most famous waterfall in Iceland. Water from the Langjökull glacier flows into the HvÃtá (White) River. When it reaches the great Gullfossgljúfur canyon, it falls in two stages more than 100 feet (32 meters). We’ll then continue our ride to Geysir, where the active Strokkur geyser bursts forth every few minutes in a cloud of steam. Returning to our hotel in the late afternoon, we’ll have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 60 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 2 miles; uneven, hilly terrain.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will check out of the hotel and board a bus and ride to the National Museum of Iceland. The charming museum traces the history of this remote island nation from the Settlement era to the modern day. Our field trip will continue with riding and walking in Reykjavik. We will see sites such as the historic Höfði House, site of the 1986 summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev that precipitated the end of the Cold War. We will also drive by Lake Tjornin, a small lake in downtown Reykjavik known for its birdlife, as well as walking through the Parliament House and City Hall with its large topographic map of Iceland.
Lunch: On your own.
Afternoon: Transfer to the port and board the Ocean Albatros. After completing boarding procedures and getting your cabin, take some time to unpack, freshen up, and relax and start becoming familiar with the ship. There will be a mandatory passenger briefing and safety drill. Expedition ships — more rugged than traditional sailing vessels — are designed to venture into remote landscapes, enabling us to seek opportunities for getting up close to nature and wildlife. These educational adventures have flexible schedules. The itinerary may change daily based on weather, sailing conditions, and potential wildlife sightings. There may also be serendipitous occasions to experience something unexpected.
Dinner: Aboard ship. Dinners always include a meat option, fish option and vegetarian option. Water, tea, & coffee is available 24 hours a day. Any other beverages will be charged to your cabin. The ship has a fully equipped onboard bar & offers a wide variety of cocktails, beers, non-alcoholic beverages and bottled water.
Evening: At leisure. You might like to check out the library or the jacuzzis or swimming pool.
Activity note: Zodiac landing: possibility of rough seas; bumpy sailing; splashing water; may get wet; getting in/out of Zodiac with assistance from staff. Walking distances up to 2 miles on uneven and hilly terrain.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: We will board Zodiacs for the ride to the pier. Once we disembark from the Zodiacs, we will board our coaches and head out to explore the remote rural Westfjords, with a visit to the thunderous Dynjadi waterfalls, the highest and most impressive waterfall of the area. On the way back to the ship we will have the chance to enjoy the magnificent landscapes of the Westfjords.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.
Activity note: Zodiac landing: possibility of rough seas; bumpy sailing; splashing water; may get wet; getting in/out of Zodiac with assistance from staff. Walking distances up to 2 miles on uneven and hilly terrain.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we’ll visit Siglufjördur, sometimes referred to as the "Klondike of Iceland", and enjoy a walking discovery of the town. We will also visit the award-winning Herring Museum and learn the rich and important history of this small unassuming fishing village of Iceland‘s economic progress in the 19th century.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: This afternoon we’ll travel to the island of Grimsey via Zodiac. This island just barely sits on the Arctic Circle making it one of the world’s eight Arctic nations. Search for wildlife living on the island including gulls, puffins, and guillemots.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.
Activity note: Getting on/off a coach; driving about 150 miles throughout the day, approximately 3.5 hours riding time. Walking distances up to 2 miles; uneven, hilly terrain. Bring bathing suit and towel (from ship) for Mývátn Nature Baths; lockers are available for rent.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board our coaches and ride to one of the most beautiful spots in northern Iceland, the Lake Mývátn area. Today’s field trip will take us through an area of extreme contrasts, teeming with fauna, We'll ride to the pseudocraters of SkútustaðagÃgar, and the impressive lava formations of Dimmuborgir, said to resemble a collapsed citadel. In Icelandic folklore, Dimmuborgir is said to connect the earth to the infernal. The mineral-rich water of the lake is an ideal habitat for fish and birds.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: To complete our field trip, we’ll visit the Mývátn Nature Baths in the Lake Mývátn geothermal area with an opportunity for a relaxing geothermal bath in the quiet of the countryside. We’ll return by motorcoach to our ship in Akureyri.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.
Activity note: Walking distances up to 2 miles on uneven and hilly terrain.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will explore HúsavÃk, considered the capital of whale watching in Iceland due to it‘s wide open bay, rich marine life and excellent spotting rates. We will visit the world renowned Whale Museum.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: As we sail away from Husavik, keep your eyes peeled for whales, dolphins and birds and enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.
Activity note: Zodiac landing: possibility of rough seas; bumpy sailing; splashing water; may get wet; getting in/out of Zodiac with assistance from staff. Getting on/off a bus; driving about 220 miles, approximately 5 hours riding time. Getting in/out of amphibian boats. Wear warm waterproof clothing; boats are not enclosed. Walking up to 1 mile; uneven terrain.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Today’s field trip from Djupivogur will take us to the magnificent Glacier Lagoon of Jökulsárlon. Huge blocks of ice constantly break off the Breidamerkurjokull glacier, and these large icebergs float on the lagoon. The lagoon itself is not very wide, but it is up to 750 feet deep which makes it the deepest lake in Iceland. Breidamerkurjokull is an outlet of the Vatnajokull glacier. We’ll board a specially-equipped boat and ride amid the huge icebergs in the picturesque scenery of Jökulsárlon.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Our field trip will continue. We’ll then ride back to the ship. Later in the afternoon enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.
Activity note: Zodiac landing: possibility of rough seas; bumpy sailing; splashing water; may get wet; getting in/out of Zodiac with assistance from staff. Getting on/off a bus; driving about 13 miles approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking up to 1 mile; uneven, little hilly terrain.Wear warm waterproof clothing; boats are not enclosed.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: We will board Zodiacs for the ride to the pier. Once we step ashore at Heimaey, board our coaches for a panoramic exploration of this unique and fascinating landscape. The effects of the 1973 volcanic eruption are still visible, with half-buried houses and a dramatic crater. Heimaey is also known for its diversity of birdlife. We’ll finish our field trip at Eldheimar Volcano Museum. This unique museum tells the story of the 1973 Heimaey eruption, the emergence of Surtsey island in 1963, and the geology of the Vestmannaeyjar Islands.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.
Activity note: Ship scheduled to arrive in Reykjavik at 6:00 a.m. For those who purchased airfare through Road Scholar, there will be transfers to KeflavÃk International Airport (KEF) based on final flight times
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!