Compare Iceland Circumnavigation Cruise by Goway Travel vs Iceland: See & Experience it ALL in 9 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 10 days | 9 days |
| Price From | $ 3,669 | $ 3,675 |
| Price Per Day | $ 367 | $ 408 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Self-guided tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Luxury |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
9 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 9 Dinners |
Breakfast is included on Day 6. We do our best to ensure you are being offered healthy and tasty local cuisine. |
| Description |
Sailing from Reykjavik aboard the Ocean Diamond around Iceland will provide you with amazing sites, spectacular scenery and an excellent insight into this magical land. See majestic fjords, cascading waterfalls, mighty glaciers, remote fishing villages, abundant wildlife and active volcanoes. See the sidebar on the left, for full ship information. Iceland has long had a close relationship with its rugged coastline. This 10-day cruise lets you experience that shore in all its glory. |
You absolutely will not find another tour out there as packed with activities and attractions as this one, provided by CharlieTheTraveler. You will also not find another tour out there that offers it all ""FIRST CLASS,"" yet for a relatively low price. We have thousands of travelers taking this specific tour every year-and that's because no competitor can beat us on quality, price and substance. Below are just some examples of what you will see and do on this tour:
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Day 1: Reykjavik
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Ocean Diamond
On arrival into Reykjavik you have the choice of many day tour options (not included) before you board your vessel the Ocean Diamond. Explore the highlights of the world's northern most national capital city or relax at the Blue Lagoon. The ship will depart Reykjavik harbour at 8 p.m. The OCEAN DIAMOND docks in Old Reykjavik Harbour in the heart of the city, a five-minute stroll from the main squares, shopping and dining.
Day 2: Stykkisholmur
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Stykkisholmur is the starting point of your adventures on the Snaefellnes Peninsula. Often called "Iceland in Miniature" because of its it diverse landscapes, the area is home to bird-rich Breidafjördur Bay and Snaefellsjokull glacier, which sits atop a 700,000-year-old dormant volcano that was featured in the Jules Verne novel Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Day 3: Isafjordur
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today's destination is Isafjordur, an idyllic town in the Westfjords region. This secluded peninsula is connected to the Icelandic mainland by only a narrow strip of land and includes many road-less areas where cars have never been. The landscape includes jaw-dropping views of dramatic fjords carved by ancient glaciers, sheer table mountains that plunge into the sea and pristine North Atlantic vegetation.
Day 4: Siglufjordur and Grimsey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
By morning you will reach the fjord town of Siglufjordur, once the hub of the global herring industry and now enjoying a rebirth in popularity. Learn about the golden age of herring at the award-winning Herring Era Museum located on the vibrant harbour-front. In the early afternoon we head to uninhabited Grimsey Island. Located about 25 miles (40 km) off the mainland on the Artic Circle, the island harbours a variety of bird species including puffins, guillemots and gulls. Later, set sail for Akureyri, Iceland's lovable second largest city.
Day 5: Akureyri
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Ranging inland from Akureyri, you will visit the fascinating Lake Myvatn region, where the schizophrenic landscape looks as if "heaven and hell" have clashed. One side of the lake features rugged volcanic remnants, while the other side is blessed with lush vegetation and varied bird life. Summer shore excursion options (not included in the trip price) include a journey to Askja volcano via Super Jeep.
Day 6: Husavik
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
In the early morning hours the vessel steams into Skjalfandi Bay and Húsavík. Often called the "Whale watching capital" of Iceland, the town's offshore waters are home to 15 different whale species, as well as dolphins and 30 variety of bird. Watching these graceful ocean giants in their Arctic habitat is an unforgettable experience
Day 7: Seydisfjordur
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Iceland's East Fjords are best explored from the impossibly picturesque port of Seydisfjordur, nestled between the sea and steep mountains. Activities include seal spotting, horseback riding, kayaking and guided hikes of the Vestadalur area.
Day 8: Djupivogur
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today's port of call is Djupivogur fishing village in southeast Iceland, starting point for an optional excursion (not included in the trip price) to Vatnajokull glacier.
Day 9: Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Located off Iceland's south coast, the Westman Islands were formed by submarine volcanic eruptions around 10,000 years ago. Surtsey Island emerged from the sea in 1963 and is one the youngest land masses on earth. We go ashore on Heimaey, the only inhabited island, where half-buried houses remain from a violent 1973 eruption. During the shore landing there is time for bird watching and you might even spot whales.
Day 10: Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, bid farewell to the OCEAN DIAMOND as you sail back into Reykjavik. Fantastic add-ons (not included in the trip price) include trips to the inland areas like the Golden Circle and its famous Gullfoss waterfall, Thingvellir National Park or simply hang out in Reykjavik, a perfect city for those who want to refresh their spirit in a place that combines invigorating outdoor activities, great food and world-class entertainment.
Day 1: Whale Watching & Colorful Skies
From mid-May to mid-October, our tour starts in Iceland's second most visited city, Akureyri. Get ready to go on a whale watching tour. From late October to early May, whale watching is done instead in the capital that is Reykjavík. From September to early March, also included is a night tour to an area where we see the northern lights.
Day 2: A Lake Created by Lava & Geothermal Eruptions
As a land daytrip from Akureyri (mid-May to mid-October) or a flight daytrip from Reykjavík (late October to early May), we are taken on a tour to Goðafoss Waterfall, Lake Mývatn, a geothermal area called Hverir and Dettifoss Waterfall. Goðafoss waterfall has a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters. Lake Mývatn was created by a large basaltic lava which erupted 2,300 years ago. The surrounding landscape is dominated by volcanic landforms, including lava pillars. Dettifoss is reputed to be the second most powerful waterfall in Europe.
Day 3: Approaching a Caldera & Bathing in a Crater or Iceland’s Best Bar Lagoon Accompanied with a City Tour
Today’s destinations and activities depend on the season. From mid-May to mid-October, as a daytrip from Akureyri, we first hike Askja Caldera and then visit a crater called Viti, the latter of which offers a pond where we go bathing. From late October to early May, we go bathing at a ‘fashionable’ geothermal spa called Sky Lagoon, located near to the capital. We are also provided with a tour of the capital.
Day 4: Why They Call This Area the ‘Golden Circle’
From mid-May to mid-October, we relocate from Akureyri to Reykjavík. From late October to early May, we are not based in Akureyri. Instead, we are still based in Reykjavík. Either way, today we are doing the so-called ‘Golden Circle’ as a daytrip from Reykjavík. Destinations include Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir/Strokkur geyser and Þingvellir National Park (a.k.a. Thingvellir National Park). Gullfoss is 32 meters tall and features not 1 but 2 drops. Geysir’s eruptions can hurl boiling water up to 70 meters in the air. Þingvellir is notable for its unusual tectonic and volcanic environment in a rift valley.
Day 5: One of the Ten Most Beautiful Beaches on Earth & Thundering Waterfalls
We leave Reykjavík and start the journey along the southeast coast. Highlights for today include Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Skógafoss Waterfall and the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. We end up lodging in the Skaftafell area. The Seljalandsfoss Waterfall drops 60 meters. Visitors can walk behind the falls into a fascinating cave. Skógafoss is one of the biggest waterfalls in the country, with a width of 25 meters and a drop of 60 meters. Reynisfjara was ranked by National Geographic as one of the ten most beautiful non-tropical beaches on Earth.
Day 6: Huge Icebergs, Exploring an Ice Cave & a Surreal Shoreline
Although today we head to Thorsmork Valley, many destinations are visited en route. They include Skaftafell Nature Reserve, Jökulsárlón Glacial Lake, the natural ice cave at Vatnajökull National Park and Diamond Beach. Skaftafell’s landscape is similar to some of the Alps. The difference is Skaftafell has been formed over thousands of years by different influences of fire and water. Jökulsárlón Lake provides outstanding views of icebergs which rise to a height of 910 meters. Jökulsárlón has been a setting for four Hollywood movies: (1) A View to a Kill, (2) Die Another Day, (3) Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and (4) Batman Begins. Vatnajökull’s ice cave contains canals for water which run through or at the bottom of the glacier. Diamond Beach features icebergs which float onto the shore from Jökulsárlón.
*Note that the surreal looking Svartifoss Waterfall is sometimes-but not always-included on today’s tour. It depends on many factors, including the weather. Also, note that the ice cave is not open June through September. It is open only during the winter season.
Day 7: A Hiker's Paradise
Before returning to Reykjavík, we hike around Thorsmork Valley. The highlights are Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Stakkholtsgjá Canyon, Nauthúsagil Canyon and Gígjökull Glacier. This is arguably the best area in the country from where to go hiking.
Day 8: Mud Pools, Hot Springs & Blue Waters
From Reykjavík, we make a daytrip to the Reykjanes Peninsula: Lake Kleifarvatn, a geothermal area called Krýsuvík, Gunnuhver’s mud pools and hot springs and the Blue Lagoon. Krýsuvík consists of several geothermal fields. Here solfataras, fumaroles, mud pots and hot springs have formed. The soil is colored bright yellow, red and green. Nearby are several craters which were created by the explosions of overheated groundwater. The Blue Lagoon, one of the most visited attractions in Iceland, is a geothermal spa. There we enjoy bathing inside the warm water.
Day 9: Our Tour Ends Today
Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Reykjavík.
