Circumnavigation of Iceland

Resting on the edge of the Arctic Circle, Iceland is a realm of astonishing beauty where nature reigns supreme. Travel with alumni and friends from June 25 to July 3, 2024 on an exploration of Iceland’s magnificent scenery and fascinating cultural heritage. During this specially designed circumnavigation, experience close encounters with Iceland’s primal landscapes and unique wildlife when the midnight sun of the summer solstice melds into lingering twilight.

Cruise aboard the five‑star World navigator, able to glide into small ports inaccessible to larger vessels and to alter course as ethereal waterways, rugged fjords, and magisterial glaciers unfold before you. From cosmopolitan Reykjavík to traditional villages and ancient landscapes, encounter endless splendors and connect with Iceland’s history and Viking heritage. Plus, enjoy a special visit to Vigur Island, a wildlife sanctuary to rare Arctic birdlife. The Land of Fire and Ice will take your breath away!

Shared with participants from cosponsoring associations, space is sure to fill quickly. Request a reservation today, or please contact the Georgetown Travel Society at 866-525-8664 or GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu for more details.

 Dates and Rates:

Date Range: June 25 – July 3, 2024

Countries: Iceland

Price Range: $6,385 – $16,195 per person based on double occupancy. Taxes are an additional $395 per person.

Traveling solo? Any available cabin may be reserved by single travelers at 160% of the per person double price (per person rate x 1.6),  or please contact us to inquire about any possible roommate options

Deposit: $1,000 per person (https://www.gohagantravel.com/terms for complete terms and conditions)

Trip Type: Cruise

Trip Status: Confirmed & Open for Reservations.

Please Click for PDF Brochure

Request a reservation today, or please contact the Georgetown Travel Society at 866-525-8664 or GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu for more details.

 

Itinerary*:

Day 1 – Departure

Depart on independently arranged flights from your home airport to Reykjavík, Iceland

Day 2 – Reykjavík, Iceland

Arrive in Reykjavík, Iceland’s vibrant Nordic capital. Following lunch on your own, join your group for a panoramic tour of Laugardalur Park, home to colorful botanical gardens, recreational facilities, and Iceland’s only zoo. Continue to the National Museum, where over 2,000 artifacts provide a window to Iceland’s rich history, culture, and heritage. Step into the impressive Hallgrímskirkja Church and visit the Perlan to take in panoramic city views. Cap off your tour in Reykjavík’s old town center before embarking the five‑star Le Bellot.

Day 3 – Vigur Island/Ísafjörður/Bolungarvík

Uncover fascinating Icelandic heritage on Vigur Island, a private wildlife sanctuary owned by Felicity Aston and her husband Gísli. Embrace the opportunity to get close to arctic terns, eider ducks, puffins, and black guillemots. See Iceland’s only windmill and a vintage working boat used for ferrying goods and sheep. Relax over coffee and traditional cake with the Aston family and mail a postcard from Europe’s smallest post office. Return to the ship for a cruise to Ísafjörður; then set off to explore the astonishing Westfjords. Witness Ósvör, a replica of a 19th-century fishing station. Continue to friendly Bolungarvík and enjoy a music program inside a small church. Upon your return to Ísafjörður, take a guided walk to view the colorful architecture and 18th‑century, timber‑framed houses. A visit to the lauded Westfjords Heritage Museum provides insight into the rich maritime heritage of the Westfjords. This evening, attend the Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner.

Day 4 – Siglufjörður / Grímsey Island / Arctic Circle

Welcome to Siglufjörður, one of Iceland’s most dramatically sited towns. Visit the Herring Era Museum, Iceland’s largest maritime museum. This praised museum recreates the history of fish salting and oil processing during the early 20th century and offers visitors insight into the lives of fishermen that once lived in the area. Return to the ship for lunch and cruise to Grímsey Island, which straddles the top of the world at 66 degrees north. Enjoy a special opportunity to walk across the Arctic Circle.

Day 5 – Húsavík for Lake Mývatn

Explore northern Iceland’s extraordinary natural landscapes, stopping at Námaskarð 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 Lake Mývatn. Continue to Goðafoss, or the “Waterfall of the Gods,” and gaze at this scenic wonder.

Day 6 – Seyðisfjörður

Visit the picturesque Blue Church on the 11-mile-long fjords of Seyðisfjörður and enjoy a specially arranged cultural and musical performance.

Day 7 – Djúpivogur for Jökulsárlón

Depart on a full‑day scenic excursion along Iceland’s eastern coast. During your drive, take in stunning mountain views and landscapes peppered with unique land formations and charming villages. Board a specially designed small boat for a private cruise amid the luminous icebergs of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in the UNESCO World Heritage‑designated Vatnajoküll National Park and touch the ice that has calved off the outlet tidewater glacier.

Day 8 – Heimaey, Westman Islands / Cruise by Surtsey Island

Arrive at Heimaey Island, part of the Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands) archipelago, and drive past Sprangan, where locals train for the island sport 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. This evening, cruise along the coast of Surtsey Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the youngest and most fragile islands on Earth. Tonight, toast to your fellow travelers during the Captain’s Farewell Reception.

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

Following breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

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

Highlights:

• Visit Hallgrímskirkja church, whose distinct silhouette rises above Reykjavík’s skyline.
• Discover Iceland’s past in the village of Grundarfjörður and travel onward to Djúpalónssandur to explore the cove that once housed roughly 70 fishing stations.
• Explore Siglufjörður, one of Iceland’s most dramatically sited towns, and visit its Herring Era Museum, which recreates the history of fish salting and oil processing during the early 20th century.
• Savor northern Iceland’s extraordinary natural landscapes, stopping at Námaskarð and the pseudo craters 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 Lake Mývatn.
• Board a specially designed small boat for a private cruise amid the luminous blue icebergs of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in UNESCO World Heritage‑designated Vatnajökull National Park.
• See the imposing Eldfell volcano and tour the Eldheimar Museum, which chronicles its fateful activity of 1973.

Enhanced Travel Services

• Transfers and luggage handling abroad if you made your air arrangements through  Gohagan & Company. (If you made your own air arrangements, transfers and luggage  handling are not included.)
• Experienced, English-speaking local guides for included excursions.
• Gratuities to local guides and drivers on included excursions and transfers.
• Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions.
• Hospitality desk.
• Experienced Travel Directors at your service.

Not included:
Airfare; Taxes; passport fees; visas and fees for obtaining visas if applicable; personal expenses such as laundry, internet access and telephone calls; accident/sickness, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance; gratuities to ship and hotel personnel; optional sightseeing excursions; excess baggage charges on aircraft; local departure air taxes; airfare and associated local taxes*, airport facility taxes and federal inspection fees not listed in the “included features” section of the program brochure; transfers and baggage handling to/from airport/hotel  if you are arriving earlier or later and/or departing earlier or later that scheduled group transfer(s); meals and and alcoholic beverages not listed in the “Included Features” section of the program brochure; and all other services not specifically mentioned in the “Terms and Conditions” (https://www.gohagantravel.com/terms for complete terms and conditions).