Our cruise to the legendary ‘Land
of Ice and Fire’ and the rarely visited Northern Isles
is a unique voyage of discovery traversing the Arctic
Circle and circumnavigating Iceland, a remote island
of vast ice caps, geothermal pools and bubbling hot
springs, steaming geysers, lava fields and active
volcanoes. Spectacular scenery, diverse natural wonders
and abundant wildlife combine to make this wonderful
cruising holiday a memorable experience to savour
visiting four enthralling Icelandic ports of call
First stop is a full day in Kirkwall in the Orkney
Islands and home to the ancient Stone Age village of
Skara Brae and the famous British naval base at Scapa
Flow. Marco Polo then heads northbound en-route to the
island of Heimaey in the Westmann Islands, scene of an
immense volcanic eruption in 1973 followed by an evening
circumnavigation of Surtsey named after the ‘giant of
fire’ in Icelandic mythology. An extended full day visit
to Reykjavik, the world’s northernmost capitals affords
the chance to visit the amazing Blue Lagoon and the
stunning Gulfoss Falls. Next stop is Isafjordur, gateway
to a dramatic region including the cliff of Latrabjarg,
one of the world’s largest seabird colonies and a wonderful
place to spot puffins. Akureyri is situated at the head of
the country’s longest fjord and a snowball’s throw from the
‘Waterfall of the Gods’ at Godafoss and the Botanical Gardens.
Our final Icelandic stop is Seydhisfjordur with its nearby
‘reindeer territory’ and Lagarfljot lake, home to a mythical
monster. Marco Polo’s homeward leg of the cruise also provides
rare opportunities for full day visits to the Torshavn in the
Faroe Islands and then Lerwick in the Shetland Islands, both
with striking Norse influences, en-route back to Tilbury.
Day 1:
London Tilbury
The M/S Marco Polo departs at 1800hrs. At Sea.
Day 2:
Cruising at Sea
Cruising the North Sea en route to the Orkney Islands.
Day 3: Kirkwall (Orkney Islands)
The capital and administrative centre of the Orkney Islands,
set on the principal island known as Mainland. The Orkneys
comprise 70 or so islands, rocks and skerries that cover an
area of 376 square miles. You can still detect the Norse
influence and the Stone Age settlement at Skara Brae, older
than either the Pyramids or Stonehenge, is fascinating.
Day 4: At Sea
Cruising the Atlantic Ocean en route to Iceland.
Day 5: Heimaey
Your first port in the 'Land of Ice & Fire' is in the Westmann
Islands, a collection of 15 islands and 30 reefs off the southern
coast of the mainland. Heimaey has about 5,000 inhabitants and was
the scene of an immense volcanic eruption by Mt Helgafell in 1973.
A new landscape was created and the resultant lava mountain is still
warm to the touch.
In the early evening, Marco Polo will sail around the volcanic
island of Surtsey, named after the 'giant of fire' in Icelandic mythology,
which emerged spectacularly following a series of explosive eruptions
between 1963 and 1966. The island is now a nature reserve.
Day 6: Reykjavik
Welcome to the world’s most northerly capital! A modern, smokeless
city with an old town, lovingly preserved, Reykjavik lies close to
an astonishing region of lava fields, spectacular geysers and steaming
geothermal springs. Attractions abound, but the Blue Lagoon, with its
warm mineral rich waters, and the magnificent Gulfoss Falls should not
be missed.
Day 7: Isafjordur
The main city on Iceland’s north west coast, known as the Westfjords
region, provides the starting point for a number of fascinating excursions
into this sparsely populated area, which, geologically, is the oldest part
of Iceland. Here, land meets the sea in the most dramatic way imaginable.
The sheer basalt cliff of Latrabjarg is home to one of the largest seabird
colonies in the world and a wonderful place to go puffin spotting. Elsewhere,
the rugged beauty of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve hides all manner of unusual
vegetation, scenic walking trails and wildlife that includes seals and Arctic
foxes.
Day 8: Akureyri
The second largest town in Iceland, at the head of the country’s longest fjord,
the thriving Botanical Gardens and the fascinating museum are well worth seeing,
but the real attraction is the awesome landscape of volcanoes, waterfalls,
canyons and geysers. Take a polar flight across to Grimsey, watch for whales or
visit Godafoss - the ‘Waterfall of the Gods’.
Day 9: Seydisfjordur
This period piece, late 19th century town on Iceland’s East Coast nestles in a
bowl of mountains in the Seydhisfjord and is one of the country’s finest natural
harbours. Nearby attractions are the ‘reindeer territory’ of the eastern interior,
the Vatnajökull glacier and the Lagarfljot lake, said to be home to a mythical
monster that guards treasure thrown into the water in Viking times.
Day 10: Torshavn (Faroe Islands, Denmark)
Capital city of the Faroe Islands, “The harbour of the god Thor”, is a modern town
that retains a unique character; although the islands - a green home to birds, sheep
and about 46,000 people - would still be recognisable to the early Viking settlers
who arrived on their transatlantic trail from Scandinavia to North America.
Day 11: Lerwick (Shetland Islands)
Capital and county town of the Shetland Islands, Lerwick was settled by the Norsemen
in the 9th century but has prehistoric sites going back thousands of years. Jarlshof,
with its remains of Bronze Age, Viking and Medieval settlements is believed by some
to be the most remarkable archaeological discovery in Britain.
Day 12: At Sea
Cruising the North Sea on a southerly course towards Tilbury.
Day 13: London Tilbury
Disembark after breakfast on board.
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