Lindblad Expeditions will be reactivating National Geographic Explorer for a series of voyages in Iceland this summer. Plans call for the 148-guest polar vessel to explore the “land of the midnight sun” on two alternating itineraries, “Wild Island Escape” and “The Circumnavigation of Iceland.” On both expeditions, guests will discover why Iceland is known as the “land of fire and ice” as they journey through the country’s fjords, tundra, waterfalls and geothermal hot springs.
The Iceland season will kick off on July 7, 2021, with the six-day “Wild Island Escape,” a compact adventure to the remote fjords and volcanic isles along the country's western coast. Guests will soak in geothermal hot springs, hike over cooled lava fields and view Iceland's newest isle, Surtsey. They will also set out by Zodiac to view towering cliffs teeming with nesting puffins and snow-capped plateaus, watching for humpback and minke whales in the surrounding waters.
The 11-day “A Circumnavigation of Iceland” will showcase the magnitude of the country’s geological manifestations: Glaciers, geysers, waterfalls, cliffs, geothermal springs, boiling mud pots and lava-scapes. Set to begin departures on July 11, 2021, the expedition will voyage Iceland’s western coast; Grimsey in the north; the rarely visited rugged east coast; and the Westman islands in the south—among the planet’s youngest archipelagos. Guests will cruise into the remote Westfjords and spend time on the Arctic Circle spotting nesting seabirds, and hike on remote stretches of the coast.
Rates for both itineraries include all meals, drinks, and excursions, plus complimentary bar tab and crew gratuities
In addition, both itineraries will provide guests opportunities for active adventure via Zodiac cruise, kayak, hikes and walks daily, under the guidance and expertise of Lindblad’s team of naturalists, a National Geographic photographer, Lindblad-certified photo instructors and an undersea specialist.
Pretty cool: Lindblad's ethnomusicologist, Jacob Edgar, has invited renowned Icelandic musicians to perform on select departures throughout the summer, providing guests a front-row seat to the sounds of some of the musicians leading Iceland’s musical eruption.
Note that all guests 16 years of age and over will be required to be vaccinated prior to traveling onboard for July voyages. On voyages departing August 1, 2021, or later, all guests 12 years of age and over will be required to be vaccinated.
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