03 Jun 2027
Twin share
£7,119pp
Escorted tour
Iceland Expedition Cruise: Westfjords to Westman Islands – 8 Days
Iceland's Westfjords, north coast and Westman Islands by polar-class expedition ship, with Zodiac landings and full board.
8 days
From £7,119
Tour overview
This 8-day expedition cruise circles Iceland aboard the Ocean Victory, a modern polar-class ship built for stability with an X-Bow, taking you to fjords, fishing towns and islands that road trips rarely reach. You spend seven nights on board in a stateroom with generous views, most with private balconies, with observation decks, two outdoor hot tubs and a heated mudroom for easy Zodiac landings. An expedition team guides shore visits and walks, and all meals are included on board, from a welcome dinner to breakfast on the last day, with a transfer to downtown Reykjavik or the airport at the end. The voyage is open to travellers aged 12 and over.
After boarding in Reykjavik, the northernmost capital in the world, you sail to Ísafjörður in the heart of the Westfjords, a former trading hub surrounded by dramatic basalt mountains. Siglufjörður, Iceland's northernmost mainland town, tells the story of the herring boom, and on the tiny island of Grímsey you take a guided walk across the Arctic Circle.
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Sailing into Eyjafjörður, Iceland's longest fjord, you reach Akureyri, the Capital of the North, with its cathedral, botanical gardens and geothermal pools. Húsavík, one of Iceland's oldest settlements, is the country's whale-watching capital, with a whale museum to explore and, at the right time of year, whales on the horizon. On the south-east coast, Djúpivogur is a harbour town of steep fjords and rich birdlife, known for its granite egg sculptures.
The final stop is Heimaey, the largest of the volcanic Westman Islands, where lava from the 1973 Eldfell eruption buried part of the town and islanders saved the harbour by cooling the flow with seawater. You then sail past Surtsey, an island born from the sea in the 1960s, before returning to Reykjavik.
The physical rating is low. This cruise suits travellers who want to see Iceland's remote coast and wildlife in comfort, with expert guides and no packing between stops. Kayaking and a photography programme can be added on selected voyages. Summer brings long daylight hours, so there is plenty of time on deck to watch for seabirds, seals and whales between ports.
Trip highlights
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Ísafjörður in the Westfjords (Day 2)
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Crossing the Arctic Circle on Grímsey (Day 3)
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Akureyri, the Capital of the North (Day 4)
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Húsavík, Iceland's whale-watching capital (Day 5)
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Djúpivogur on the south-east coast (Day 6)
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Heimaey and Surtsey in the Westman Islands (Day 7)
Your route
8 stops from Reykjavik to Heimaey
- Reykjavik Days 1 & 8
- Isafjordur Day 2
- Siglufjordur Day 3
- Grimsey Day 3
- Akureyri Day 4
- Husavik Day 5
- Djupivogur Day 6
- Heimaey Day 7
Why choose this tour
Remote fjords and islands that are hard to reach by road, in one comfortable voyage. Full board, Zodiac landings and an expedition team on a modern polar-class ship.
Best suited to
- Nature and wildlife lovers
- Travellers who want to see Iceland without driving
- Couples and families with children aged 12 and over
- First-time expedition cruisers
Day-by-day itinerary
8 days from Reykjavik, Iceland to Reykjavik, Iceland
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Day 1 · Reykjavik Board in Reykjavik
Board the ship for a safety briefing and welcome dinner.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory expedition ship, full board
- Meals
- Dinner
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Day 2 · Ísafjörður, Westfjords Ísafjörður
Explore the main town of the Westfjords.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory expedition ship, full board
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 3 · Siglufjörður, Grímsey Siglufjörður and Grímsey
Learn about the herring boom, then walk across the Arctic Circle.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory expedition ship, full board
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 4 · Eyjafjörður, Akureyri Akureyri
Sail Iceland's longest fjord to the Capital of the North.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory expedition ship, full board
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5 · Húsavík Húsavík
Visit Iceland's whale-watching capital.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory expedition ship, full board
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 6 · Djúpivogur Djúpivogur
Explore a fjord-side harbour town rich in birdlife.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory expedition ship, full board
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 7 · Heimaey, Surtsey Heimaey and Surtsey
See the Eldfell lava fields and sail past Surtsey.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory expedition ship, full board
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 8 · Reykjavik Reykjavik
Leave the ship and transfer to downtown or the airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Around Iceland (7 nights) Ocean Victory expedition ship, full board
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 7 nights aboard a polar-class expedition ship
- Meals 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners on board
- Zodiac landings and guided shore visits
- Guided Arctic Circle walk on Grímsey
- Expedition team throughout
- Transfer to downtown Reykjavik or the airport at the end
Not included
- Flights to Reykjavik
- Optional kayaking and photography programme
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want to see Iceland's interior — this voyage follows the coast
- You suffer badly from seasickness — open-sea crossings can be rough
- You want many departures — this voyage sails once in 2027
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Iceland
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £7,119 per person, twin share, tour only. 1 upcoming departure.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
What is an expedition cruise?
A small-ship voyage with an expert team, Zodiac landings and guided walks, focused on nature and remote places.
What is the ship like?
Ocean Victory is a modern polar-class ship with staterooms that mostly have balconies, observation decks and two outdoor hot tubs.
Are all meals included?
Yes, all meals on board from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8.
Will we see whales?
Húsavík is Iceland's best whale-watching area, but sightings are never guaranteed.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 12.
When does it sail?
In early June 2027.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary