MS Caledonian Sky - Noble Caledonia

Epic Iceland
An exploration of Iceland’s natural wonders
22nd August to 1st September 2012
Iceland’s otherworldly beauty and cinematic grandeur is formed
by an array of gurgling mud pools, spurting geysers, aquamarine
pools, towering glaciers and tumbling waterfalls. We start
our discovery of this unique island with a visit to the largely
untouched West Fjords and venture east discovering areas such
as Grimsey Island which is abundant in birdlife, the picturesque
town of Siglufjordur and the breathtaking Vatnajokull Glacier.
Geyser
A
journey by small ship is an
ideal way to get up close
to nature and explore areas
inaccessible to larger vessels. We will
look out for humpback whales, orcas
and white-beaked dolphins on our
voyage, taking advantage of weather
conditions and possible sightings to
achieve the maximum with our time.
The Itinerary
Day 1 - London to Reykjavik.
Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival
transfer to the MS Caledonian Sky
for embarkation.
Day 2 - West Fjords. Early this
morning we arrive at Stykkishólmur
with time to explore the town’s
traditional architecture. Back onboard
we cruise to Breidfjördur, more a bay
than a fjord, strewn with islands and
shallows that create a flourishing and
diverse ecosystem. See the basaltic
columns which provide a habitat for
thousands of sea birds and catch
glimpses of the majestic extinct
volcano that dominates this interior
sound. We plan to land at Flatey Island
to walk and explore the charming
but largely abandoned village with
its brightly coloured houses and
remarkable church murals. Late in the
day we cruise along Látrabjarg, the
largest bird cliffs in the world.
Day 3 - Isafjordur. Ísafjördur is
an interesting contrast of isolation
and worldliness set in a small fjord
with a mountainous backdrop.
The town of about 4000 features
historic houses and a worthwhile
heritage museum. Later we steam
out of the fjord with distant views of
Drangajökull Glacier, and along the
coast of Hornstrandir Peninsula with
Isafjordur
West Fjords
Reykjavik
Westmann
Islands
Husavik
ICELAND
Grimsey Island
Akureyi
Hofn
Langanes Peninsula
Seydisfjordur
mossy tundra, wildflower meadows,
sandy bays, abandoned houses and
rugged sea cliffs.
Day 4 - Grimsey Island &
Siglufjordur. The Arctic Circle bisects
Grímsey Island known for its tiny
community, basalt cliffs and large
variety of bird life. From Grímsey we
head to Siglufjördur. An unbelievably
picturesque town, Siglufjordur enjoys
an idyllic setting in a small fjord
backed by mountains. Here in the
early 1900s, a booming economy
due to the herring industry resulted
in a prosperous town with some
marvellous Icelandic architecture.
Stroll through the town and visit the
Herring Era Museum.
Day 5 - Akuyeri. This delightful
town on the north coast of Iceland
is not what you expect to find in
such a remote location. During the
summer the gardens and window
boxes are ablaze of colour and in the
botanic garden you find species from
Africa, China and the Mediterranean
growing alongside the Alaskan
and Greenlandic and indigenous
specimens, all outdoors. We will also
visit the beautifully situated fishing
village of Olafsfjordur and the nearby
lake where we will enjoy a picnic
lunch. For the walkers there will the
opportunity to take the old trail over
Drangaskaro, a difficult and strenuous
route, but scenically very rewarding.
Day 6 - Husavik. From Husavik we
travel by bus to Lake Mývatn-Krafla
area, a fine example of the volcanic
world with lava fields, boiling and
steaming mud pools, steam vents
of sulphur and craters. The area
illustrates the sheer magnitude of
24 www.noble-caledonia.co.uk