Iceland to East Greenland with Lindblad Expeditions

DAY 1 – REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

Arrive in Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital, which lies just below the Arctic Circle. Transfer from the airport to the city and spend the day exploring at your own pace. Check in with the hospitality desk this afternoon before embarking the ship.

Meals Included: Dinner

DAY 2 – DJUPAVIK

Enjoy a leisurely morning at sea learning about Iceland and its incredible biodiversity. Join your expedition staff on the bow of the ship as you keep watch for the close to 20 different whale species that call the Westfjords home.

Spend the afternoon on the remote eastern side of the Westfjords, an area difficult to access but boasting spectacular beauty and rich history. The tiny town of Djúpavík held its place on the map because of the golden age of herring. During its heyday in the 1930s, its herring plant was the largest concrete structure in Iceland. The plant closed in 1954 but remains as a small museum and a memory of the rich productivity of the herring industry in Iceland. Visit the museum and learn about the significance of this resource to all of Iceland in the 20th century as well as choose from active options in the surrounding mountainsides.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3  – SKAGAFJÖRÐUR

Skagafjörður is the gateway to north Iceland, known for its glacial rivers, Icelandic horses and saga history. Take a float trip on the Jökulsá River or visit a historic rural turf farm to understand rural life in Iceland, including the iconic Icelandic horses. Finally, learn about Grettir the Strong, and the saga named after him, by exploring Drangey Island and spotting the multitudes of birds that call the island home like kittiwakes, shearwaters and possibly even ravens and gyrfalcons.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAYS 4 to 5 – CRUISING EAST COAST OF GREENLAND

Strike out across the Denmark Strait to the wild shores of Eastern Greenland. Known for its volume of calving tidewater glaciers stretching back to the ice sheet, this region offers incredible opportunities to explore multiple fjords aboard ship as well as on landings, where hiking, kayaking or Zodiac cruising might all be possible. While you navigate these waters as a modern-day explorer, spend time on the Bridge or at the ship’s railing, scouring the landscape and waterline for the unique wildlife that call this region home. Look out for humpbacks, beluga whales and seals as well as the elusive narwhal and polar bear.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAYS 6 to 7 – WESTFJORDS OF ICELAND

Explore the beautiful and peaceful Westfjords region of Iceland. Enter Ísafjarðardjúp and land at Vigur Island to visit an eider farm where you’ll learn about the traditional eiderdown collection and cleaning process as well as their prolific bird colonies. Walk over the boardwalks amongst their puffin colony, a shared project between Lindblad Expeditions and the island owners to develop a safer environment for the puffins along with a better infrastructure for local scientists to study the birds. As the ship transits back through the fjord, make your way out to the railings to spot some of the whales that call this region home. The next day explore yet another stunning, remote fjord with expedition activities, including hiking along fjord trails to a dramatic waterfall cascading down from the high plateaus above.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8 – REYKJAVIK

Disembark in Reykjavík and transfer to the airport for flights home.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Originally constructed to navigate Norway’s famed Hurtigruten, or Coastal Express, her high degree of maneuverability, ideal size, and platform for discovery made National Geographic Explorer a natural choice for addition to the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet. Her rebuild drew on 50 years of pioneering expedition history and expertise.

Today, National Geographic Explorer is a purpose-built expedition ship. She is a fully stabilized, ice-class vessel with an ice-reinforced hull, enabling her to navigate polar passages while providing comfort, elegance and a deep connection to the environment.

An authentic expedition ship, purpose-engineered for blue water and polar exploration
National Geographic Explorer is equipped with a roster of tools for exploration and a well-appointed interior with vast expanses of glass for an unprecedented connection to the environment.

The ship is devoted to exploration—from her open Bridge, and the Chart Room below it, to her high-perched observation deck with its aqueous light and compelling 24/7 views.

National Geographic Explorer recently debuted updated suites, enhanced with the sleek, Scandinavian design that has become the hallmark of our polar fleet.

Public spaces include three dining areas; global gallery; library, lounge with bar and state-of-the-art presentation facilities; observation lounge; mudroom with lockers for expedition gear; plus open access to the Bridge, the Captain, officers, and on-duty wildlife spotters. Meals are served in the dining room, Bistro bar, or the Observation lounge, at a single seating with unassigned tables for an informal atmosphere and easy mingling. Menus feature sustainable choices, local where possible.

Enjoy Exclusive Amenities When You Book a Suite

The suites aboard the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet are your elegant retreat at sea, featuring spacious living areas and incredible views that immerse you in the beauty of your marine surroundings. Now, booking one of these beautifully appointed accommodations comes with even more benefits. The Suite Exclusives package gives guests staying in eligible cabins* access to an array of amenities and perks designed to enhance your on-board experience and help make your voyage all the more memorable.