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Circumnavigating Iceland

Program Overview

Discover the enchanting “Land of Fire and Ice,” where glaciers cap active and dormant volcanoes and Viking ruins coexist with geothermal baths, mud pots, and geysers. Enjoy a city tour of Reykjavík, featuring visits to the lauded National Museum and Hallgrímskirkja Church. Cruise to Grundarfjörður and the Snaefellnes Peninsula, then on to Siglufjörður and Seyðisfjörður—dramatically-sited ports inaccessible to larger vessels. Enjoy views of the coast of UNESCO-designated Surtsey, one of Earth’s youngest islands on your way back to Reykjavík. Complement your expedition with the Reykjavík and the Golden Circle Pre-Program Option.

Program Details

July 17 to 25, 2022 (Le Bellot) July 24 to August 1, 2022 (Le Bellot)
From $6,395 plus air View Terms & Conditions
  • Unique, exclusively chartered, seven-night cruise circumnavigating Iceland aboard the five‑star, ice-class expedition ship Le Bellot.
  • Specially designed showcase of the enchanting “Land of Fire and Ice”—bubbling mud pots, picturesque waterfalls, powerful geysers, rugged coastlines, and pristine glaciers.
  • Le Bellot has only 92 suites and staterooms, each with a private balcony.
  • Cruise into ports unavailable to larger vessels—including Ísafjörður, Vigur Island, Siglufjörður, and Seyðisfjörður—with the flexibility to adjust course spontaneously to maximize your viewing of Iceland’s natural wonders.
  • Complimentary alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages throughout the cruise and complimentary Wi-Fi access (conditions permitting).
  • Cruise along Surtsey, one of Earth’s youngest islands and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Visit to Grímsey Island, located on the Arctic Circle.
  • Opportunities to view orcas, humpback whales, and rare migratory birds.
  • Private cruise of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in UNESCO World Heritage-designated Vatnajökull National Park.
  • Educational lectures aboard ship.
  • Music performances, a live demonstration of traditional herring salting, and opportunities to learn more about Icelandic culture.
  • Reykjavík and the Golden Circle Pre-Program Option.

Day 1 - Depart the U.S. or Canada

Day 2 - Reykjavík, Iceland / Embark Le Bellot

Day 3 - Grundarfjörður for Snaefellnes Peninsula

Day 4 - Siglufjörður / Grímsey Island for the Arctic Circle

Day 5 - Húsavík for Lake Mývatn

Day 6 - Seyðisfjörður

Day 7 - Djúpivogur for Jökulsárlón

Day 8 - Heimaey, Westman Islands / Cruise along Surtsey Island

Day 9 - Reykjavík / Disembark ship / Return to the U.S. or Canada

Please note that the ship’s cruising pattern and direction are dependent on weather and sea conditions and are subject to change.

View detailed program itinerary >

Le Bellot

Exclusively Chartered, Five-Star Luxury Small Ship

Le Bellot, launched in 2020, ushers in a new generation of five-star small ships, combining revolutionary design and a new standard of luxury for unparalleled cruising. Dock in smaller ports inaccessible to larger ships, where authentic cultural experiences and majestic scenery await you.

Learn more about the Le Bellot >

Reykjavík and the Golden Circle Pre-Program Option

The captivating city of Reykjavík and its surrounding natural wonders provide you with the perfect introduction to Iceland. Visit the famous Blue Lagoon and rejuvenate in the warmth of its mineral-rich geothermal  waters surrounded by black lava fields. Tour the legendary Golden Circle—UNESCO World Heritage-designated Þingvellir National Park, the thundering terraced cataract of Gullfoss and Strokkur, possibly the world’s most iconic fountain geyser. Take in the stunning panoramas from the futuristic glass dome of the Perlan Museum and discover its immersive exhibits on volcanoes, earthquakes, and geothermal zones. Accommodations are for two nights in the deluxe Hotel Borg.

The Pre-Program Option is available at additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.

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Program Itinerary

Day 1 Departure

Your trip will begin by departing the U.S. or Canada.

Day 2 Reykjavík, Iceland

Arrive in Reykjavík, a UNESCO Creative City of Literature. See the idyllic parks and botanical gardens of Laugardalur, where a geothermal, Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool speaks to Iceland’s seemingly endless supply of natural hot water. Continue to the impressive National Museum, where over 2,000 artifacts—including the priceless 13th-century Valþjófsstaður church door—provide a comprehensive account of Iceland’s history and culture. Visit Hallgrímskirkja church, whose distinct silhouette rises above Reykjavík’s skyline. Continue to Reykjavík’s old town center—a compact core of narrow streets lined with small, colorful houses—before embarking Le Bellot.

Please note that the ship’s cruising pattern and direction are dependent on weather and sea conditions and are subject to change.

Day 3 Grundarfjörður for Snaefellnes Peninsula

Travel into Iceland's heroic past in the village of Grundafjordur, one of the oldest settlements on the island. The imposing landscape with its austere mountains, volcanoes, and lava fields, provided the dramatic setting for one of Iceland's cultural treasures, the sagas, one of the oldest literary traditions in Western Europe.

Drive from Grundarfjordur to Djupalonssandur to explore the black-pebbled beach and see the four large boulders that were once used to test the strength of fishermen. Then onto Malarrif for a comfort stop and to see the Malariff lighthouse, which was built in 1917 and rebuilt in 1947.

Our next stop is to the tiny fishing community of Arnarstapi, passing the volcanic plug of Londrangar on the way. At Arnarstapi a refreshing walk takes the visitor along a pathway boasting many interesting geological phenomena and rich bird-life such as dramatic volcanic rock formations, including three blowholes and spectacular sweeping indented coastline, and cliffs that house thousands of kittiwakes, arctic tern, razorbills, and other seabirds.

From here a scenic drive takes us to the final stop at Budir famed not only for its dramatic, black lava surroundings but also for its yellow sand beach. The latter being quite a rarity in Iceland! Guests might be lucky enough to spot seals as they bask on the skerries out in the bay. From Arnarstapi, return to Grundarfjordur by driving over the strikingly scenic mountain pass.

Return to the ship for lunch onboard as the ship departs Grundafjordur. Later Attend Captain's Welcome Reception and enjoy dinner on board.

Day 4, Morning Siglufjörður

Clinging to the foot of steep mountain walls at the entrance to a gorgeous fjord, charming Siglufjörður is one of Iceland’s most dramatically sited towns. Multicolored houses lead to a bustling harbor, the hub of the town’s fishing  industry. Siglufjörður celebrates the glory days of herring fishing at the award-winning Herring Era Museum, which recreates the history of fish salting and oil processing during the early 20th century. Enjoy a music-filled performance illustrating síldarsöltun (the traditional herring salting process).

Day 4, Afternoon Grímsey Island

Return to the ship and cruise to Grímsey Island, which straddles the top of the world at 66 degrees North. Craggy coastal cliffs and basalt formations host dozens of species of seabirds, including puffins and auks. Walk across the Arctic Circle, where the island is lush with vegetation.

Day 5 Lake Mývatn

Explore northern Iceland’s extraordinary natural landscapes, stopping at Námaskarð—a geothermal wonder of boiling, sulfurous mud pots—and the pseudocraters at Skútustaðir, formed when hot lava flowed across the wetlands over 2,000 years ago. Walk among the surreal “dark castle” lava formations of Dimmuborgir and drive along the shores of cerulean Lake Mývatn, a birders’ paradise harboring many rare migratory birds and 14 species of Iceland’s bountiful wild ducks.

Continue to Goðafoss, or “Waterfall of the Gods.” According to legend, this waterfall earned its name when an Icelandic lawspeaker threw wooden statues of Norse gods into its waters, signifying his conversion to Christianity.

Day 6 Seyðisfjörður

Seyðisfjörður is a tranquil, 11-mile-long fjord that winds toward its eponymous town, a thriving artist community where colorful, chalet-style houses shelter beneath Mount Strandartindur and Mount Bjólfur (Beowulf).

Visit the sky-hued Blue Church and observe a specially arranged cultural and musical performance. Continue to the Technical Museum to learn more about the mechanical and architectural innovations that characterize this island nation and enjoy light refreshments.

Day 7 Jökulsárlón

Enjoy a full-day scenic excursion, with lunch, along Iceland’s eastern coast with stunning mountain views.

Board a specially designed small boat for a private cruise amid the luminous blue icebergs of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in UNESCO World Heritage-designated Vatnajoküll National Park and touch the ice that has calved off the outlet tidewater glacier (weather permitting). These mesmerizing ice sculptures can spend up to five years floating in the lagoon before moving out to sea via Iceland’s shortest river.

Day 8, Morning Heimaey, Westman Islands

Arrive at Heimaey Island, part of the Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands) archipelago, and stop at Sprangan, the craggy cliff where young islanders learn the local pastime of rope swinging. See the ruins of ancient Viking farmhouses dating from A.D. 650 in Herjólfsdalur Valley, observe Heimaey’s largest puffin colony from the headland of Stórhöfði, and view a timbered stave church in scenic Skansinn. See the imposing Eldfell volcano and tour the Eldheimar Museum, which chronicles its fateful activity of 1973 and the subsequent impact on the community.

Day 8, Afternoon Cruise around Surtsey Island

This evening, cruise along the coast of Surtsey Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Created by volcanic activity between 1963 and 1967, it is one of the youngest and most fragile islands on Earth; scientists continually study the evolution of flora and fauna. Be on the lookout for graceful orcas that frequent the region.

Join your traveling companions for the Captain’s Farewell Reception on board the ship this evening.

Day 9 Reykjavík / Return to U.S. or Canada

After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for your return flight to the U.S. or Canada.