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HomeAdventure25 pictures to encourage you to go to Iceland by sea

25 pictures to encourage you to go to Iceland by sea


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It was precisely ten years since my first go to to Iceland once I returned final summer season with Journey Canada. And let me let you know, it couldn’t be extra totally different. To go to Iceland by sea is a rare and distinctive option to journey right here.

Iceland was solely starting to increase on the tourism map a decade in the past. It was nonetheless fairly chill. Instagram was nonetheless new, and Iceland had but to dominate it. I went with girlfriends, together with a buddy from Iceland, and we did a loop highway journey. It was a lot enjoyable. It was additionally one in every of my first jobs as a full-time journey blogger, so it meant a lot to me. 

This time round was utterly totally different. As a substitute of flying in, we sailed over on their Scotland, The Faroe Islands, & Iceland: North Atlantic Saga journey, arriving by sea. All up, I spent about two weeks there with Journey Canada on their Iceland Circumnavigation journey after which departing on their Iceland to Greenland: Within the Wake of the Vikings journey. 

Iceland was a little bit of a hub. And it was so thrilling to discover it in a totally totally different approach. 

visit iceland by sea

visit iceland by sea

There’s one thing particular about visiting a spot the old style approach, the best way it was initially settled. It’s thought that the Vikings settled in Iceland within the ninth century, nevertheless it may need been earlier.

Making their approach throughout the North Atlantic, doubtless looking for arable land, the Norse got here of their hundreds, settling throughout Iceland inside just a few a long time. What’s fascinating to study that a whole lot of the genetic proof consists of Irish and Scottish ancestry along with Scandinavia, notably, girls. Most individuals consider they got here as slaves. 

Following within the wake of the Vikings over a millennia later by ship is a spectacularly cool option to arrive in Iceland. 

Right here’s a style of what we go as much as with 25 of my favourite pictures from a few weeks exploring Iceland by sea – get pleasure from!

visit iceland by sea

visit iceland by sea

Arnarstapi

One in every of our first stops in Iceland was to a spot I had by no means been to earlier than – the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. Considerably off the overwhelmed path, it’s a surprising nook of Iceland value exploring. Arnarstapi is a cute little fishing village that sits because the gateway to the Snæfellsjökull Nationwide Park. 

I acknowledged the place we had been virtually as quickly as we stepped off the zodiacs within the harbor. With a cute white home perched on lava sea cliffs above turquoise water with an ideal volcano and glacier behind it, this was a view I had positively seen earlier than. It was on the duvet of the one e-book I purchased in Iceland (costly).

Arnarstapi felt otherworldly instantly. It didn’t assist that we had a few of the wildest lenticular clouds I’ve ever seen, making a moody ambiance that made it really feel all of the extra magical. I spent my time wandering the ocean cliffs, watching the hen colonies earlier than meandering out to the lava fields. It positively felt such as you had been on one other planet. 

visit iceland by sea

visit iceland by sea

Dynjandifoss

From there, we made our approach up alongside the coast into the Westfjords, an usually neglected place. One of many perks of touring by ship is that you may usually rock as much as locations which might be a lot more durable to achieve by automotive. 

Dynjandi is the biggest waterfall within the Westfjords, clocking in at 100 meters tall, with 5 waterfalls beneath it dropping down into the ocean. Whereas it’s distant, it could possibly nonetheless grow to be actually busy with tour buses trekking out to go to. We referred to as in early within the morning and had the entire place to ourselves for hours.

My first Iceland waterfall since 2013, I used to be struck by how a lot work has gone into creating infrastructure. I don’t bear in mind paths or indicators or blockades wherever once I was right here final. For those who had been dumb sufficient to take a seat on the sting of a waterfall, it was on you. And I sat on a whole lot of waterfall edges. 

visit iceland by sea

visit iceland by sea

Grímsey

The one place you possibly can really be inside the Arctic Circle in Iceland is on the tiny island of Grímsey, off the northern coast. Sitting fairly at 66° N, Grímsey is just about dominated by birds. 

If you wish to get your (visible) fill of puffins, Grímsey is the place to go. Considerably onerous to get to independently; it was nice to have the ability to arrive by boat as an alternative. Simply be careful for nesting Arctic terns – they’re my new hen enemy. 

visit iceland by sea

visit iceland by sea

Siglufjörður

The northernmost city in Iceland known as Siglufjörður, and I had by no means heard of it. It ended up being one in every of my favourite spots in Iceland.

Stepping into with zero expectations, it was the sunniest, most stunning climate after we arrived. The colourful, charming fishing city surrounded by mountains couldn’t have been extra picturesque. Mixed with an enchanting story and tremendous pleasant locals, Siglufjörður blew me away!

Within the Nineteen Forties and Fifties, Siglufjörður was the herring capital of the North Atlantic; it was like a gold rush with fish. It’s since declined, however now there is among the greatest museums I’ve ever been to, the Herring Period Museum, that shares the entire historical past. I do know, a museum about fishing? However belief me, it’s fucking superior, and it’s completely value coming only for that.   

visit iceland by sea

to visit Iceland by sea

Akureyri

To go to Iceland by sea means we are able to go to conventional port cities the old style approach, like Akureyri.

A wonderful little metropolis in northern Iceland, Akureyri is a good place to base your self out of, even for a day. It’s near so most of the nice wonders of the north, and it’s tremendous cute all by itself. A fantastic place for whale watching; one of many perks of touring round by ship with Journey Canada is the chance to look at for whales whereas onboard. After we left Akureyri and sailed out of the fiord at sundown, we had been accompanied by whales the entire time. 

In the course of the day, we explored exterior town, trying out Goðafoss, an excellent well-liked waterfall. I didn’t understand till we returned to the ship that I had been there earlier than. We additionally spent a while exploring Dimmuborgir, dwelling to some very cool lava fields, caves, and arches.

25 pictures to encourage you to go to Iceland by sea

visit iceland by sea

visit iceland by sea

Seyðisfjörður

As we continued our Iceland circumnavigation, heading east, we landed in Seyðisfjörður, one other off-the-beaten-track city. I’m undecided I might ever considered coming right here alone, nevertheless it was simply wonderful. One of many earliest settled areas in Iceland, Seyðisfjörður is dwelling to the little rainbow highway that leads as much as the church. 

We had one other day of good climate and spent the morning approach out on the fiord in Skálanes. Skálanes is a nature and heritage reserve. Fortunately, the Arctic terns had been solely nesting by the carpark, so that you solely needed to keep away from them for somewhat bit, haha!

The reserve at Skálanes is an space of nice biodiversity and is a middle for examine and analysis worldwide. There are almost 50 hen species right here, together with a ton of puffins. There are additionally tons of reindeer, arctic foxes, and greater than 80 archaeological websites.

visit iceland by sea

visit iceland by sea

visit iceland by sea

Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón

The most well-liked place we took in on our go to to Iceland by sea was out close to the Vatnajökull Nationwide Park, dwelling to the enduring Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoons. 

We spent the morning on a ship tour across the lesser-known Fjallsárlón, taking within the stunning icebergs and glaciers within the distance. It was one other good bluebird day, not a cloud in sight. 

We ended up having sufficient time that we additionally referred to as in Jökulsárlón too. En path to the ship, we noticed reindeer and arctic foxes, making it an ideal day. 

visit iceland by sea

visit iceland by sea

Heimaey

Wow, one other high contender for a brand new favourite spot in Iceland needed to be Heimaey. I had by no means heard of this little spot within the Westman Islands; I’m undecided I might have thought to come back out right here on a standard Iceland highway journey. However it was so nice we referred to as in by ship as a option to go to Iceland by sea.

The zodiac cruise into the harbor was wonderful, and we occurred to time it when the prime minister was on the town for the 50-year memorial of the ending of the Eldfell volcano eruption right here. In the course of the night time in the summertime of 1973, the native volcano erupted with out warning. Fortunately, unhealthy climate had stored the boats within the harbor in a single day, so everybody may escape. Finally, half the city was buried, and locals fought the spreading lava by spraying it with seawater, saving components of it, together with the harbor. 

Right this moment, you possibly can see components of homes rising within the lava discipline, and the views from the highest of the volcano are wonderful. Positively definitely worth the climb up. 

visit iceland by sea

visit iceland by sea

Reykjavík

I used to be so excited to return to Reykjavík. Wow, town has modified rather a lot within the decade since my final go to. It was so fashionable, with so many new spots and a whole lot of growth taking place.

I spent just a few hours whereas in port, wandering round and soaking all of it in. I went again to my favourite cafe from the final time I used to be right here, the Laundromat, in addition to lastly going to the notorious penis museum. As a long-time fan of the bizarre, gross, and morbid, even I used to be not into it. 

In all places else was wonderful, particularly the waterfront. I positively must spend extra time right here quickly. To go to Iceland by sea is an unforgettable approach to soak up this well-liked nation.

Have you ever been to Iceland? Would you take into account visiting by ship? Spill!

visit iceland by sea

Many because of Journey Canada for internet hosting me in Iceland – like all the time, I’m holding it actual – all opinions are my very own, like you might count on much less from me!



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