Iceland Voyage: Land of Fire and Ice aEUR" with Smithsonian Journeys
In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.
Â
This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.
Â
Discover the most beautiful and rugged landscapes on the Icelandic west coast during this spectacular 8-day voyage.
On the edge of the Arctic, between vast glaciers, vertiginous fjords, volcanoes, and boiling geysers, Iceland offers a kaleidoscope of wild landscapes.
You will board Le Bellot just outside ReykjavÃk, the worldâs northernmost capital city. With its houses with colorful roofs and its lake that is home to countless ducks, the city offers a picture-perfect setting.
At your first port of call, Isafjördur, explore Icelandâs seafaring history at the Maritime Museum and enjoy a performance of traditional Icelandic folk songs performed by a group of local singers. Or visit the abandoned village of Hesteyri, a 19th-centurty whaling community located along some of the most rugged landscape in the country.
Your ship will then reach GrÃmsey, a small, hard-to-reach island where, in certain places, the volcanic rock forms magnificent basalt columns. Sea birds such as guillemots and puffins reign here.
Le Bellot sails next for Akureyri, where an excursion to the otherworldly Lake Myvatn area offers the opportunity to explore the geothermal field of Namaskard to see mudpots, steam vents, sulfur deposits, boiling springs, and fumeroles. Also see the spectacular Godafoss, the âWaterfall of the Gods.â Alternatively, choose to relax in the thermal baths at HúsavÃk.
You will then discover the bay of Grundarfjördur, from where you may choose to explore the villages along the SnÊfellsjökull glacier-capped volcano or embark on a whale watching excursion in search of orcas and humpback, minke, sperm, and pilot whales.
Call next on Heimaey, the only inhabited island in the Westman archipelago. Choose to explore the volcanic island, which is summer home to millions of seabirds. Or enjoy an exclusive visit the worldâs first Beluga Whale Sanctuary where you can view its two residents from a safe distance by boat.
End on the outskirts of ReykjavÃk, where youâll have the opportunity to travel the Golden Circle, consisting of three spectacular sights: Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, and the Geysir Geothermal Area. Another option offers a second opportunity to go whale watching in search of humpback, minke, and sei whales.
The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.
When searching for a luxury yacht expedition cruise, there’s one name above all else that you need to know – Ponant Cruises. Founded in 1988 by former French Merchant Navy officers, Ponant combines succulent luxury with authentic adventures on all seven continents.
From classic Mediterranean itineraries and Caribbean sailings, to bucket-list expeditions around Greenland and Antarctica, Ponant cruises proudly counteract the banality of mainstream voyages with a unique take on the concept of small-ship cruising. It’s the absolute trip of a lifetime.
Like the other ships in the PONANT EXPLORERS series, Le Bellot has been designed to provide absolute comfort for its passengers, even at the heart of the world's most remote and isolated regions.
