Travel by panoramic coach on a tour that offers fascinating insights on the lives of those who make the sometimes-harsh landscape of Iceland’s Westfjords their home. Beginning from the pier, you’ll drive through the streets of Isafjordur and out along the coastal road for a tour of wondrously remote Bolungarvik, a fishing village towered over by its surrounding mountains. Nearby, you’ll stop at the outdoor Ósvör Museum, where a century-old fisherman’s hut has been restored, complete with the tools of the trade – and the fisherman.

On another leg of the journey, you’ll find yourself up amidst breathtaking views of the magnificent mountains of the Djup, largest of the West Fjords and the Buna River. Not far from that spot, you’ll stop to admire a beautiful stepped waterfall in Tunguskogur and take an opportunity to taste the freshest, clearest mountain water you may ever have encountered. Back in Isafjordur, you’ll stop in at the Maritime and Folk Museum, which calls one of the town’s oldest and best-preserved houses its home. The museum presents an excellent collection of artifacts related to the region’s maritime history – as well as a sizable accordion collection. Gotta have something to do during those long winters.

Discover the fascinating world of whales by watching them off Iceland's northern coast and then visiting a unique whale museum. A stop at a legendary waterfall rounds out this tour.

Starting off from the pier, you'll first drive through northern Iceland's lush valleys to Husavik, the first Icelandic town to offer whale-watching cruises. It was a natural fit as the nutrient-rich waters of Skjálfandi Bay attract a diversity of species that include the Humpback, Minke and Orca.

Upon arriving in Husavik, you'll board a boat ideally designed for viewing marine life and cruise into the bay to look for whales feeding on krill, plankton and small fish. During the three hours aboard, you may see Humpbacks raising their uniquely patterned flukes above the surface before diving, slender Sei Whales spouting through their blowholes, or massive Blue Whales gorging, as they typically consume an astounding four tons of tiny krill daily. It's also likely that you will spot some other marine life, such as playful harbor porpoises and white-beaked dolphins.

Following this once-in-a-lifetime experience, you'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then visit the award winning Husavik Whale Museum. Here, you will have an excellent opportunity to learn even more about cetacean behavior.

Continuing on, you'll make your way to thundering Godafoss, an Icelandic word meaning "Waterfall of the Gods." The name refers to an event that supposedly occurred 1,000 years ago when an Icelandic chieftain threw statues of the Norse gods into the water to symbolically demonstrate Iceland's conversion to Christianity. Whether the legend is true or not, it's quite a sight to behold the Skjalfandafljot River cascade over the horseshoe-shaped cliff and plummet into the roiling tempest below. Afterwards, you'll transfer back to the pier where your tour concludes.

See the nature, meet some locals and catch a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes in small Icelandic fishing towns during this enlightening tour. Included is a breathtaking drive through the West Fjord mountain landscape, where farms and villages huddle on narrow strips of land isolated between rocky ridges and deep fjords. Appearing as if an apparition at one point will be tiny Skrudur, Iceland’s oldest botanical garden. You’ll go in and have a look around. Over 100 years old, this dot-sized green oasis in the midst of the badlands proves what can be grown this far north.

Another curio you’ll encounter is the old shark-fishing town of Flateyri, perched on a spit of land projecting out into Onundarfjordur fjord and boasting a current population of about 200. You’ll take a guided stroll along main street and into the life of this mountain-surrounded outpost, entering an intimate little church where you’ll be treated to an Icelandic music program, and visiting the old bookstore that doubles as the village museum and archive. You’ll also have a chance to observe some town women at work in their handcraft workshop and to share a coffee break and chat with the Flateyrites.

Travel by boat to the island of Vigur, famous for its huge colonies of sea birds and tiny colony of friendly locals. The journey is both scenic and swift; just about half an hour to traverse the Djupfjord to Vigur, where a cluster of red-roofed buildings sits tranquilly against a dramatic snow-capped backdrop. This sparsely populated islet is home to thousands of feathered citizens – comical puffins, eider ducks, guillemots and sometimes-overprotective arctic terns who love to swoop.

Upon arrival, you’ll have a chance to observe local life on the island, where the farmers make a living by harvesting the down of eider ducks – and provide essential protection for their nests and chicks. It’s hard not to feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you meet with the tiny band of welcoming inhabitants. Their relaxed, easy manner and unique lifestyle will certainly make an impression. Once you’ve seen how the humans live here, you’ll take a leisurely guided island walk to see how Vigur’s resident birds thrive in their own natural habitats. As your visit draws to a close, refreshments will be served by the farmer’s family before the boat ride back to Isafjordur.

Mix with the locals on a walking overview tour of the largest and liveliest town in the West Fjords. Surrounded by dramatic mountains and arcing into its namesake fjord on a curving spit of land, it’s tempting to envision Isafjordur as a remote and unworldly outpost. But on this survey of town, you’ll soon discover that there’s a surprisingly cosmopolitan vibe afoot here, blending seamlessly with an undeniable frontier character. The old town still has blocks lined with some of Iceland’s oldest wood-and-tin houses, built by the early fishing merchants who found prosperity here in the 18th and 19th centuries, but it’s also home to a thriving arts and emerging culture scene.

Though isolated, Isafjordur is the kind of place that independent and eccentric thinkers have always been drawn to. Your knowledgeable guide will relate some of that history and lead the way as you soak up the town’s relaxed ambiance and most interesting sights. One of those will surely be the Maritime Museum out at the tip of the spit. Set up inside one of the town’s oldest and best-preserved houses, the exhibits include an excellent collection of maritime artifacts – as well as a sizable accordion collection.

Travel from Isafjordur to the Jökulfirdir Fjord by boat to visit a remote village deserted by all its residents over 60 years ago. The only way to get to Hesteyri is from the water; it’s about a 70-minute ride. The tiny settlement never did have any roads leading to it, and no electricity or telephone links. What it did have – and still does – is an outstandingly picturesque setting amidst steep snow-dusted mountains and quiet, secluded coves. Notwithstanding the natural beauty, in the 1940s the 80 inhabitants decided they’d had enough, and by 1952 the last of them had moved away. Many of their structures still stand, little changed from how they were then. And since the village has been an ecologically protected area for decades, the native flora and fauna have had a field day.

Hikers here often encounter Arctic foxes, seals, and birds of many types. You’ll stroll around the eerily empty village with your guide, enjoying traditional Icelandic refreshments at a house where the doctor used to live. Don’t miss this chance for what will certainly be an excursion unlike any other you take this voyage.

Discover Akureyri’s intriguing history and culture as you stroll around this charming town with a knowledgeable and entertaining guide.

The walk begins with a leisurely stroll to Akureyri Culture house. We’ll continue our walk along the seaside to Laxdals house which is the oldest building in Akureyri built in 1795. We then visit Akureyri´s Botanical garden, one of the northern most botanical garden in the world. There you will find about 6.600 alien taxa growing in the garden in beds and nursery and around 430 species of the native taxa.

Next stop is Akureyri Church which was consecrated in 1940 and is now one of the town’s landmark buildings. It enjoys a prominent position at the edge of a hill where one can enjoy gorgeous views over the town and the surrounding fjord. The Church houses many interesting artifacts, including a stained-glass window that was part of a set from England’s Coventry Cathedral. The window was brought to Akureyri for safe-keeping during World War II.

After our church visit, we’ll continue exploring the old part of town. The guide will share stories of the town’s local history and culture as we wander past the older town houses. The architecture here is quite distinctive and bears witness to Akureyri’s past as a trading post for Danish merchants during the colonial age.

Our last stop will be at Akureyri Museum, which houses many interesting and unique artifacts related to the town’s history. Afterwards we walk back to the pier and our ship.

We reserve the right to reverse the itinerary if necessary.

The Hardanger Fjord is one of the favorites among the many Norwegian fjords. It’s the 3rd largest fjord in the world and the 2nd largest in Norway. A scenic drive takes you by the fortress of Bergenhus, King Hakon's Hall and the Rosenkrantz Tower. Pass by the buildings of the Hanseatic period and the fish market of Bergen. Continue to the Bjornefjord, where you’ll have a short drive along the fjord with lovely views of islands and snowcapped mountains in the distance. A short ferry ride takes you from Hatvik to Venjanesetand where you continue your scenic drive to the Hardanger Fjord – the queen of the fjords. Near the village of Norheimsund, you'll make a stop for lunch and continue to the Steinsdal Waterfall. Here, the water falls away from the cliff enabling you to walk underneath without getting wet. Climb up the Tokagjel gorge via several tunnels and reach Kvamskogen mountain plateau. Descend to the fjord once more before climbing up to Gulbotn, a recreation area with lit up skiing tracks. You’ll then travel down to the Sorfjord, where you’ll find Oster Island, Northern Europe’s largest inland island.

First, visit attractive Alesund, built on three islands with the spectacular Sunnmore Alps in the background. Pass by Borgund Fjord, with its charming suburbs and well-kept gardens and continue to the municipality of Stordal, well known for its furniture factories, an important export item. As you reach the fertile valley of Valldal, you’ll ascend up the valley to Trollstigen, reaching approximately 2,800 feet/850 meters above sea level, from here you will have majestic views of the Trolls Path with its hairpin bends, and the beauty of the Stigfossen Waterfall in the distance. Take in the quaint beauty as you pass by Romsdals Fjord with its many small villages known for its ship and boat building. and head for an inside visit to the Stordal 'Rose' Church built in 1789 with every inch of the inside covered in rose style artwork by travelling craftsmen. Get the chance to walk along the Skodje bridges, built in 1916 and completed in 1919, they are a beauty in nature and prime example of Norwegian architecture. Plus, if you can find a spot to photograph all three in one picture, it will be a great addition to your photo album. During the journey you will experience Norwegian food in a family run setting, where you can relax and take in the day. Before returning to your ship, cross over the Orskog Mountain Plateau, a popular skiing area.

Take in the natural beauty of the Westfjords peninsula, a rugged mountainous terrain prone to avalanches and teeming with wildlife such as the cherished arctic fox.

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy an immensely scenic drive with a backdrop of mountains on one side and the fjord on the other. In time, you will arrive in Súðavík, a small community founded in the late 19th century around whaling. You may notice that Súðavík has been divided into two distinct areas. The newer section was built following an avalanche in 1995 that destroyed much of the original town.

Nearby, you will find the Arctic Fox Center, a research facility and museum dedicated to the only indigenous land mammal in Iceland. While browsing the exhibits, you will discover that arctic foxes remained on the island after the last ice age and how they have become a protected species, no longer hunted for their fur. You may even see injured fox pups being rehabilitated in hopes of releasing them back into the wild.

You will next visit a small wooden church that was built in Norway in the late 19th century as a gift for the Icelandic village of Hesteyri. When the village was abandoned in 1952, the church was moved to its present location. After listening to a stirring performance of traditional Icelandic music at the church, you will continue to drive along the fjord, pausing at a memorial to the victims of the avalanche that struck Súðavík.

Stunning scenery and the highlights of Alesund are yours to discover in this tour that takes you to the top of Mount Stranda by bus, ferry and cable car. A buffet style lunch at the top allows you to enjoy the views as you dine.

Enjoy a short city sightseeing of some of the highlights of Alesund before heading for the fjords. Cross the fjord by ferry, and then drive up the mountain, with great views along the way.

Arriving at Mount Stranda’s cable car station, a gondola takes you to the top, 3418 feet above sea level. Here goats graze during summer, and there is even snow in some areas. The panoramic view from Mt. Stranda reaches far and wide. From this privileged view point, you can see Geiranger Fjord, UNESCCO World Heritage site, and Jostedal Glacier, the largest in Continental Europe. As order of sites may vary, lunch will be enjoyed either before or after the gondola ride. After crossing the fjord by ferry, the tour will take a different route back to the pier, making a short photo stop (time permitting) at Mt. Aksla, for an unrivaled view of Alesund from this vantage point.

Kayak the serene waters of the fjord that fronts Ísafjörður, a natural setting enhanced by the many seabirds that flock here to raise their young during the summer.

After walking from the pier, you will soon arrive at the kayak station, where you will enjoy a briefing on how to get the most out of your experience. Then, you will ease into a sleek kayak and paddle off into the clear, calm waters of the fjord.

Ísafjörður sits in a spectacularly scenic setting, so there will be plenty to see as you paddle between the majestic mountains that rise abruptly from both sides of the fjord. Because of the steep terrain, almost all of the buildings are at the water’s edge. Although Ísafjörður is the largest town on the Westfjords peninsula, its population is only a few thousand, and the town has remained remarkably quaint and well worth a photo.

You can also expect to see quite a bit of wildlife while kayaking, especially seals and seabirds. Oystercatchers are one of the most common and easily recognized birds because of their coloring. They are black and white with an orange bill and rose-colored legs.

You might also spot arctic terns, a bird that makes the world’s longest migration. They raise their young while summering in the arctic and then fly south all the way to Antarctica for the winter. They too are easily to identify because of their pointy wings and tails.