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Seaside town of Akureyri, Iceland in winter with beige & white buildings backed by tall, snowy mountains.
Lone harp seal with black & white-spotted skin sits atop an iceberg in calm water, seen on the Iceland Explorer cruise.
Secluded gravel road in Iceland leads past autumnal flatlands to tall volcanic mountains in the clouds.
Edge of pack ice in large & small chunks with cloud reflections on glassy water during a sunny day near Iceland.
Small flock of puffins with white chests, black backs & orange beaks stands atop a gray rock beside the sea, seen in Iceland.
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Polar Regions Arctic Cruise

Iceland Explorer Cruise

Enter a world of Norse mythology, wild and dramatic coastlines, and seabirds in their thousands as you voyage from Iceland, crossing the Arctic Circle and encountering the fringes of the sea ice, with good possibilities of viewing seals, whales and a lonely polar bear. Seabirds will be your constant companions as you visit islands, skerries and fjords before landfall in Akureyri, Iceland.

This Iceland itinerary offers a plethora of experiences. Lay eyes on a glacier-capped volcano and walk along cliffs with seabirds. Explore fishing villages, churches, a lighthouse and an eider duck farm. And sail past Iceland’s largest seabird colonies. Along the way, watch for white-tailed eagles, puffins, shags, whales, seals and even a possible polar bear.

Come aboard the 170-guest, purpose-built expedition ship Hondius for comfort and safety. Designed and built exclusively for polar cruises, this ship features an inviting atmosphere that fosters community among her guests, and offers excellent value for a newer ship. On board, find engaging and experienced guides, efficient ship-to-shore operations to get all guests out exploring at the same time, and a lecture series to enrich every day.

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Arctic cruises, Iceland cruises and Arctic trips.



Itinerary

Northwest Iceland Explorer - Into the Pack Ice Itinerary

The Northwest Iceland Explorer itinerary cruises from the port of Keflavik to Iceland’s rugged Westfjords, aiming to reach as far north as the pack ice before turning back and disembarking in Akureyri. On the way south, make a stop at Grimsey Island for its bird populations and fishing village.

Route map of Northwest Iceland Explorer - Into the Pack Ice cruise from Reykjavik to Akureyri, Iceland, with visits along the Westfjords, the ice edge and Grimsey Island.
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Day 1
Embark Keflavik, Iceland

In the late afternoon, board the ship in the port of Keflavik, a short distance from the international airport. With the port behind, sail north into the bay of Faxaflói and proceed to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula while looking for whales in this large bay.

Accommodations

Hondius

Meals

dinner

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Days 2 - 7
Ice Caps & Volcanoes

Ice Caps & Volcanoes
Land in Breidavik at Arnarstapi, with Snaefellsjökull, a glacier-capped volcano in the background. Walk southward, along cliffs with seabirds, to Hellnar, where you’ll embark the ship again. You may also proceed to Snaefellsjökull, where Jules Vernes’s Journey to the Center of the Earth began. In the evening, look again for whales northwest of the peninsula.

A Land of Islands, Skerries & Norse Legends
Sail in the broad and shallow bay of Breidafjordur, peppered with hundreds of islands and skerries, and possibly glimpse some white-tailed eagles. Then land on Flatey and explore its traditional fishing village and the church with paintings by the Spanish-Icelandic artist Baltasar. Black guillemots and vast colonies of puffins breed along the shores, and red-necked phalaropes are common in ponds just inland. Pay a visit to Klofningur, a diminutive island featuring a lighthouse and extensive breeding colonies of shags, fulmars and great black-backed gulls. In the evening, sail by the impressive Látrabjarg, featuring Iceland’s biggest seabird colonies.

On the Lookout for Whales & Eider Ducks
Sailing into impressive Skutulsfjörður, home to the town of Isafjordur, plan a visit to Aedey, where an Icelandic family keeps an eider duck farm where the many hundreds of birds can breed entirely protected and where, at the end of the breeding season, all eiderdown is collected for trade. At the shores of the island, also meet breeding puffins. In the afternoon, you may sail into Jökulfirdir or directly out of the fjord, looking again for whales while you sail northwest and pass the Arctic Circle.

At the Fringes of the Sea Ice
North of Iceland, in the fringes of the southward-moving sea ice, sail northeast with your ice-rated vessel. Spend 2 days looking for harp and hooded seals, which sometimes frequent the area in great numbers. The presence of a lonely polar bear can not be discounted, as they sometimes reach Iceland’s shores. Near and along the sea ice, you will see whales and seabirds as they migrate and forage along the productive edge of the sea ice. You will be in an impressive seascape with, to the west, sea ice as far as you see. This is a wild arctic environment, constantly in motion and always changing.

Crossing the Arctic Circle Once More
Find yourself sailing southward. In the early morning, pass Kolbeinsey, a tiny uninhabited islet rapidly being eroded by the fearsome surrounding ocean. Later, land on Grimsey, a small island that straddles the Arctic Circle. Grimsey features a small but friendly fishing village and is home to colonies of kittiwakes, razorbills, puffins, fulmars and arctic terns. In the evening, at the mouth of Eyafjordur, you may again see some whales.

Accommodations

Hondius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 8
Disembark Akureyri, Iceland, Transfer to Reykjavik & Depart

With your journey ending, you disembark in Akureyri where, on request, you can transfer by chartered bus (a six-hour drive that you must book in advance) to the bus stop Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre at Austurbakki, Reykjavík. While your time in the Arctic may be over, your memories and experiences will stay with you forever!

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Voyage aboard the indicated vessel in the itinerary; all meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea; all shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac; program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff; free use of rubber boots and snow shoes; all miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program; AECO fees and governmental taxes; comprehensive pre-departure material; basic WiFi up to 1.5GB per 24 hours (additional data available for purchase on board).

Exclusions

Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; pre- and post-cruise land arrangements; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage and cancellation insurance; personal insurance (mandatory); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; ground transfers between Reykjavik and Akureyri for embarkation and disembarkation; the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 20% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 90 days – 100% of deposit
89 to 60 days – 50% of total trip cost
59 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The Northwest Iceland Explorer – Into the Pack Ice cruise begins in Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF), and ends in Akureyri, Iceland (AEY), where you’ll be picked up and transferred by scenic bus through North Iceland to end back in Reykjavik. The ship disembarks in Akureyri, Iceland (AEY), with an optional transfer back to Reykjavik on the final day. Plan flights to arrive Reykjavik at least one day prior to embarkation. Plan flights to depart Reykjavik anytime on the day after disembarkation. The bus transfer is not included and must be pre-booked; 2026 USD cost is $150 per person. Contact AdventureSmith for more details. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.

Activities

Guided shore excursions, hiking, wildlife spotting and Zodiac cruises are included in the fare and will be offered to all passengers during each voyage. Every day there will be excursions on land, weather and ice permitting. The landings will take 3 to 6 hours per day over untracked area. According to circumstances (the weather, the ice-situation or the passengers’ wishes) the program can sometimes be adjusted. Ample time will be devoted to wildlife, vegetation, geography and history.

Room Configuration

Single travelers wishing to book a double-occupancy cabin may do so at 1.7x the per-person Twin or Superior listed rates. Single travelers wishing to book on a “sharing basis” may do so at no additional cost in Twin, Triple or Quadruple categories upon availability.

Families & Children

Upon request (some voyages may be excluded), children under 16 years old with parents may receive a 40% discount in the following cabins: Grand Suite, Superior, Triple (1 child sharing with 2 parents/adults) and Quadruple (1 child sharing with 3 parents/adults, or 2 children sharing with 2 parents/adults). Parents are entirely responsible for their children at all times, on land and on board; there is no onboard day care or nursery facility.

Travel Insurance

Emergency medical evacuation insurance is mandatory for this trip, with a minimum recommended coverage of $100,000 per person. Trip cancellation insurance is optional but highly recommended. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. For best value and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, consider purchasing a policy at time of booking. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Read this itinerary as a guide only; the exact route and program varies according to ice, weather conditionswildlife encountered and the captain’s discretion. Flexibility is the key to the success of any Arctic expedition.

Rates & Dates

Cruise Rates & Dates

May 29 - Jun 05, 2026
Hondius • 8 days
From $4450USD
Per Person
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Accommodation

Learn About the Small Ship on Your Itinerary

Expedition Ship
Hondius

The 170-guest M/V Hondius was built exclusively for cruises in Antarctica and the Arctic. She is one of the strongest ice-strengthened vessels currently cruising in the polar regions.

Expert Review

Reviews From Our Experts So You Know What To Expect

Lauren Pilholski • March 18th, 2025
Expert Aboard: MV Hondius Review 

Join our expert as she crosses the Drake Passage for her tenth time aboard Hondius. Learn what she thinks sets this ship apart from others in the polar regions, plus find more traveler reviews all on this page.

Our experts will save you hours.

A single conversation with us is worth hours of internet scrolling. Find your next best trip with ease, then book with the confidence of our 20+ year experience.

Extend Your Trip

Additional Travel Options Before or After Your Cruise

In 2026, the Iceland Explorer itinerary can be combined with the 9-day Arctic Ocean Voyage itinerary for the 16-day Arctic Ocean – Northwest Iceland – Pack Ice – Grimsey – Jan Mayen – Ice Edge – Spitsbergen operating from Reykjavik, Iceland to Longyearbyen, Svalbard with no repeated landing sites. Please inquire with an Adventure Specialist for further details.

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9 - 10 Day Cruise
Arctic Ocean Voyage: Jan Mayen, Ice Edge & Spitsbergen

Sail to Svalbard from Iceland or Scotland on a selection of small ships. Along the way, stop at the bird-rich Jan Mayen Island, cross the Arctic Circle, follow the ice edge and watch for whales, seals and polar bears.

From $2750USD
May Jun
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8 - 10 Day Cruise
North Spitsbergen

Explore North Spitsbergen and focus on spotting polar bears aboard the 170-guest Hondius, or 108-guest Ortelius or Plancius. Zodiac cruise and photograph rugged mountains, sweeping tundra, ice caps, glaciers, unspoiled wilderness and abundant wildlife.

From $4300USD
Jun Jul
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10 - 10 Day Cruise
Svalbard in Spring: Polar Bears, Arctic Light & Epic Ice

The 10-day National Geographic Svalbard in Spring cruise aboard 138-guest Nat Geo Resolution sails north at a time of year when Svalbard is even wilder, with emerging polar bears, walrus and reindeer awakening as the rising spring sun mounts higher in the Arctic sky.

Special Offer
From $14276USD
Apr May
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