Compare All about Iceland by Hurtigruten vs Arctic Sights and Northern Lights: East Greenland by Poseidon Expeditions

Day 1: Reykjavik

A lot of visitors are puzzled when landing in Iceland, because the airport is located in a part of the country that looks like an arctic desert with lava rocks, moss and mountains. 45 minutes later you find yourself in Reykjavik, a charming and vibrant town with lots of restaurants, museums and shops on narrow streets.

Embarkation from 16:00 hours.

Day 2: Circumnavigation Iceland

The West region of Iceland is often named “The Sagaland”. Here you can enjoy Stykkishólmur and Grundarfjörður‘s diversity with lava and rock formations, glaciers, volcanic activity, hot and cold springs. Snæfellsnes shelters tiny fishing harbours with dark cliffs of columnar basalt protecting them. All the colours of the northern summer seem to be caught between the ocean and the pristine slopes of the Snæfellsjökull glacier. Our wide range of excursions will surely enhance the experience of being here.

Stykkishólmur

Stykkishólmur has beautiful and well-preserved old houses in the town centre. Here you can find various interesting museums, as well as Iceland’s oldest meteorological station, dating back to 1845. The church in Stykkishólmur makes a beautiful landmark both from land and sea. The view from the church over Breidarfjordur is spectacular. When we land in Stykkisholmur we have several optional excursions, like boat tour with stunning views, or if you wish to be more active both kayaking, hiking and horseback riding is available.

Bjargtanger/Latrabjarg bird cliff

Látrabjarg, is a promontory and the westernmost point in Iceland. The cliffs are home to millions of birds, including puffins, northern gannets, guillemots and razorbills. It is vital for their survival as it hosts up to 40% of the world population for some species e.g. the Razorbill. It is Europe's largest bird cliff, 14km long and up to 440m high.

Day 3: Circumnavigation Iceland

One of Iceland’s best-kept secrets is the Westfjords. Ísafjörður is the largest town, with a centuries-old history as a major centre of commerce and trading, all based on fish. We invite you to take a stroll around to see its architecture or join our wide range of optional excursions.

Day 4: Circumnavigation Iceland

The Hornbjarg cliff is one of the greatest seafowl habitats, and we will take a closer look, and hopefully make a landing.

Day 5: Circumnavigation Iceland

Siglufjörður offers facilities for both recreation and sightseeing. A few hours in the rugged landscape give you the chance to savour the peace and tranquillity. Grímsey is where the Arctic Circle touches Iceland, and we will use our Polarcirkel boats to reach this island.

Day 6: Circumnavigation Iceland

Akureyri is a lively and energetic town. It is the most populated community outside the Reykjavík area and the centre of trade, culture and services for the north of Iceland. Akureyri is close to many of Iceland’s most renowned natural beauty spots and the town itself is a popular destination. Enjoy an optional hike or join an excursion to the impressive Goðafoss waterfall.

Day 7: Circumnavigation Iceland

Today we visit Husavik, and sail by the Langanes peninsula in the evening. Húsavík is the oldest settlement in Iceland. The Museum House at Húsavík houses a maritime museum, natural history museum, folk museum, district archives, photograph archives, and an art gallery. And of course Húsavík is also home to the Whale Museum. Cultural life is flourishing, the active and enthusiastic drama society being among the best amateur theatre groups in Iceland. Husavik has many optional tours to offer for those interested in a deeper understanding of the area.

Day 8: Circumnavigation Iceland

Bakkagerdi is the main settlement in Borgarfjörður. This area is known for its natural beauty and is “the land of the elves”. There are a lot of puffin colonies in the fjord, so it is a popular place for bird watching. Bakkagerdi is off the typical tourist track, and offers peace, quiet and nice views. If you prefer more action, you can join us for an optional tour to the natural forest of Hallormstadur. Seyðisfjörður is distinguished by its Norwegian heritage. The colourful Norwegian-style wooden houses date from the early 20th century and render this village unique in Iceland. Explore the town, join a hike or take an optional excursion out to Skálanes.

Day 9: Circumnavigation Iceland

On the east coast you will find pine forests, lush farmlands and a variety of colourful fishing villages and vibrant seaside communities. The Vatnajökull glacier is the largest glacier of Europe and a spectacular sight. From Djúpivogur you can join our optional excursion to Vatnajökull lagoon, or stay and hike in the beautiful surroundings of town.

Day 10: Circumnavigation Iceland

Surtsey is a volcanic island, formed by an eruption starting 130 meters below sea level and reaching the surface in 1963. Heimaey is the largest of the Westman Islands and is dominated by magnificent bird cliffs. The Vestmannaeyjar is located off Iceland’s south coast. Most of the islands have steep sea cliffs and is a habitat for extreme amounts of birds, including puffin. This is also a great place for spotting whales.

Day 11: Reykjavik

Our voyage of discovery and adventure ends in Reykjavik. If you have the time, join our exciting post programme Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon.

Day 1: Arrival in Reykjavík, Iceland (hotel night)

Welcome to Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland and starting point of our Arctic expedition! The drive from the Keflavik International Airport to the city center takes around 45 minutes by airport shuttle or taxi. After checking into your hotel, which has been arranged by us and is included in the price of the itinerary, you will be free to explore this attractive, friendly and quintessentially Nordic city.

For an excellent overview of Iceland’s history and culture, we recommend starting at the superb National Museum and Culture House. You will also want to visit the iconic Hallgrímskirkja church, Reykjavík’s most famous landmark. For those interested in natural history, we recommend the Whales of Iceland museum, which houses full-sized models of the 23 species of whale found around Iceland. For dinner, Reykjavík offers countless options for an authentic Icelandic meal.

Day 2: Welcome Aboard!

After breakfast at your hotel, the morning is yours to enjoy Reykjavík. Take a leisurely stroll through a peaceful garden or a relaxing soak in a thermal bath. Nature lovers will appreciate the abundant birdlife at Tjörnin, a placid lake in the heart of the city. You can also take advantage of shopping for souvenirs or some last-minute necessities such as cold-weather gear. Just remember, you will soon receive your very own parka to keep and waterproof boots to borrow on board the ship.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the pier where we will warmly welcome you aboard the deluxe expedition vessel M/V Sea Spirit. Get settled in your spacious suite and explore the ship that will be your comfortable home during the extraordinary adventure to come. After getting underway, a full schedule of events kicks off with informative briefings and introductions from your expedition staff. After the first of many delicious dinners on board, step out onto the open decks to admire the views as we sail through Faxaflói, where it is possible to encounter our first whales.

Day 3: Across Denmark Strait

As we sail north across the Denmark Strait to East Greenland, we celebrate our crossing of the Arctic Circle. We keep a continuous lookout for great whales and flocks of seabirds feeding in the productive waters near the sharp rise of Greenland’s continental shelf. After nightfall, we have our first of many opportunities to see the aurora borealis overhead.

Day 4-8: Scoresby Sund, East Greenland

The itinerary for this part of our voyage focuses on the spectacular fjords, coasts and islands of Scoresby Sund, also known as Kangertittivaq in the Greenlandic language. This area contains some of the world’s most impressive scenery and Greenland’s best wildlife viewing. As with any true polar expedition, our exact schedule and route will be shaped by weather and ice. At this late stage of the season, we expect our explorations will be minimally affected by sea ice. However, we will be alert for icebergs from surging glaciers, which can present interesting navigational challenges. Our experienced captain and expedition leader will continually adjust plans as conditions and opportunities warrant in this wild and remote corner of the Arctic.

Scoresby Sund is one of the longest and most visually stunning fjord systems in the world. Almost totally devoid of human habitation, it is also one of the most pristine natural environments on Earth. In this epic wilderness, the forces of nature have shaped a landscape of incomparable grandeur. Deep fjords and narrow passages are framed by sheer rock walls up to 2,000 meters high. Colossal icebergs—calved by immense glaciers and sculpted by wind and water into fantastic shapes—drift throughout the intricate fjord system in striking contrast to sparkling blue waters and polychromatic mountains capped with fresh snow. From verdant coastal plains to ice-clad peaks all the way to the glaciated heart of Greenland, a trip through Scoresby Sund sets a new standard for “scenic”.

Our area of exploration includes part of Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest and most northerly national park in the world. This vast Arctic landscape is a paradise for hikers who appreciate astounding views of untouched tundra wilderness. Across hillsides emblazoned with autumnal red and yellow, a flash of white reveals the flight of a snowy owl or a startled mountain hare. Tufts of the finest fleece ensnared in polar willows underfoot point the way to a nearby herd of shaggy musk oxen. You may hear the crack of horns colliding as bulls engage in fearsome battles of strength. Boreal fowl of every description are preparing to migrate south with their newly fledged chicks. All throughout the waterways of Scoresby Sund, we are on constant watch for polar bears and other marine mammals, including a variety of seals, walrus and narwhal, which can be spotted at any time.

Ancient Thule archeological sites remind us of humankind’s age-old relationship with this austere yet life-sustaining environment. For a look at how this tradition has been carried forward, we plan to visit the modern Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit, the only permanent settlement in the region and one of the most remote communities in the world. The village boasts a wonderful museum, a bookstore, handmade crafts for sale, a post office, and an abundance of Greenlandic sled dogs.

In September, at the equinox, day and night are given equal opportunities to astound you. As night falls, the darkening sky becomes a stage for nature’s greatest celestial performance: the Northern Lights. East Greenland is one of the very best places in the Arctic to view this otherworldly natural phenomenon. In addition to being at the perfect latitude for strong aurora displays, the skies above Scoresby Sund are often cleared by katabatic winds rolling down from the nearby Greenland Ice Sheet. Lights dancing from horizon to horizon are mirrored in calm waters while the silhouettes of gigantic icebergs and serrated mountains add to the romantic splendor of the experience.

This itinerary offers a deep dive into one of the Arctic’s most scenic and soulful environments. From dawn to dusk and beyond, your days will be filled with incredible shore excursions, world-class Zodiac cruising, and enough stunning scenery to fill your camera and overwhelm your emotions. Hikers will live their wilderness dreams and sea kayakers will be rewarded with some of the finest paddling on the planet.

Day 9: Back to Iceland

After our amazing time in Scoresby Sund, we head back across the Denmark Strait toward Iceland. Presentations and workshops by our expert staff, as well as our range of onboard recreation facilities, ensure that this day at sea is not idly spent. Seabird viewing and whale sightings can be enjoyed from panoramic open decks and balconies.

Day 10: Westfjords, Iceland

Our last expedition day is spent in the beautiful Vestfirðir (Westfjords) of Iceland. This remote and sparsely populated region of crenulated coastlines, voluminous waterfalls and rugged mountains sees only 10% of Iceland’s visitors. Deep fjords are home to whales while estuaries abound with seals and birdlife.

Day 11: Disembarkation in Reykjavík, Iceland

After filling up with one last buffet breakfast on board, we bid you a fond farewell in Reykjavík. We provide transfers to Keflavik international airport or to the city center in case you plan to extend your stay in Iceland.