It was simply off the coast of Grímsey, a tiny Icelandic island about 25 miles north of the nation’s mainland, that I noticed my first puffin. Straightforward to determine by its giant head and orange beak, the cute avian stood, partially hidden, among the many island’s tufted greenery and rocky soil. I used to be beaming. Although I’d been to Iceland as soon as earlier than within the fall, these lovable birds who take up residence on the nation’s cliffsides throughout summer season months had already flown out to sea, the place they stay for a lot of the 12 months. However right here in mid-August, a couple of puffin stragglers remained. This was very true on Grímsey, Iceland’s northernmost level and the one a part of the nation that crosses the Arctic Circle.
One in all Europe’s most sparsely populated nations, Iceland is excessive on pure wonders, from thundering waterfalls and extraordinary black sand seashores to energetic volcanoes and bright-billed puffins. Touring with Pure Habitat Adventures, you’ve obtained an excellent probability at seeing all of them. Listed here are 3 ways to get up near the nation’s exceptional wildlife and otherworldly nature wonders.
Atlantic puffins © Nat Hab Expedition Chief Sabina Moll
Iceland: Circling the Land of Hearth & Ice
Nat Hab’s Iceland: Circling the Land of Hearth & Ice is an 11-day loop round this Nordic nation that mixes a number of modes of transport, together with personal mini bus, chartered planes, 4×4 autos and boats. Whether or not it’s in search of out eider geese, puffins and guillemots alongside rugged Aedey Island or navigating by fjords searching for humpback and minke whales, there’s loads of native wildlife to absorb alongside the way in which. Tour highlights vary from an award-winning lava present in Vik to an exciting big-tire SUV tour to Askja caldera, recognized for its dramatic eruptions and a go to to the fascinating lava formations round Lake Myvatn on horseback.
Nat Hab Friends glacier trekking © Andrew Ackerman
Final Iceland Picture Expedition
Nat Hab’s 13-day Final Iceland Picture Expedition takes benefit of the nation’s spectacular summer season mild and big selection of gorgeous pure options, reminiscent of monumental waterfalls, energetic volcanoes, and black sand seashores, for a visit worthy of each novice and extremely expert photographers alike. Spend a half-day photographing one of many world’s largest Atlantic puffin colonies in Borgarfjordur Eystri, and have your digital camera on the prepared for Lake Myvatn, a shallow waterbody that’s seen greater than 115 migrating fowl species, together with whooper swans, nice northern divers and red-throated loons.
Diamond Seaside © Nat Hab Expedition Chief Eddy Savage
Circling Iceland by Ship
My very own Iceland encircling started with a day exploring Reykjavik, the nation’s bustling capital, by myself, taking in sights like the town’s distinctly curved Hallgrímskirkja church and eating on sizzling canine topped with candy mustard and remoulade earlier than boarding the 148-guest Nationwide Geographic Explorer for our 10-day expedition. The ship—which obtained its begin as a ferry vessel serving Norway’s coastal fords, and since repurposed for polar passages and temperate waters with a completely stabilized, ice-strengthened hull—was well-equipped with facilities like a fitness center and a sauna, and comfortable nooks for studying and sizzling chocolate whereas out to sea.
Reykjavik
Nonetheless, it was within the “expedition” itself that this journey actually sprung to life. Every of our seven or so stops en route round Iceland included a collection of energetic off-ship adventures—ranging in exercise ranges from simple to troublesome—for passengers to select from. For instance, within the nation’s far-flung Westfjords, we had the choice of taking a scenic Zodiac experience alongside the coast or setting out on a prolonged hike, each ending on the base of Dynjandi, a shocking waterfall that cascades down the mountain like a bridal veil. As soon as there, we might climb up the mountainside for close-up views of this exceptional pure magnificence or take all of it in from beneath. The selection was ours.
Dynjandi
In Húsavík, a northern fishing city that performed a starring function within the 2020 comedy movie Eurovision Tune Contest: The Story of Hearth Saga, on-shore choices ran the gamut from visits to spectacular wonders like Iceland’s aptly dubbed “Waterfall of the Gods,” Goðafoss, and the volcanic Lake Mývatn to some in-town forest bathing and a soak in geothermal sea baths. I chosen the latter, together with an impromptu go to to Húsavík’s pleasant Eurovision Museum—a straightforward cease on my stroll again to the ship.
Lake Mývatn
As a result of a mixture of tough climate and heavy marine visitors, our journey included a couple of unscheduled highlights. One night, excessive winds prevented us from going ashore on the Westfjords’ personal Vigur Island, a fragile wildlife sanctuary that’s residence to 1000’s of birds, together with puffins, eider geese and black guillemots. So as a substitute, Felicity Aston, who co-owns the island along with her husband, joined us aboard the Explorer. Aston is an creator and local weather scientist who, in 2012, turned the primary lady in historical past to cross Antarctica solo. Within the ship’s lounge, she regaled us with tales so inspiring I couldn’t maintain again my tears.
Westman Islands
Wild seas additionally saved us from making a secure touchdown on the Westman Islands of Surtsey and Heimaey, two younger islands shaped by underwater volcanic eruptions off Iceland’s south coast. Nevertheless, the crew’s fast considering took us straight again to Reykjavík, the place we hopped on buses to catch the most recent eruption of Iceland’s Sundhnúkur crater. Snapping pics of the boiling pink lava because it lit up the sky, I used to be in absolute awe. It was an unforgettable expertise and one that we wouldn’t have had with out the itinerary’s built-in flexibility.
Again onboard every night, we’d collectively within the ship’s lounge for a recap of the day and shows by the ship’s expedition workforce, which included subjects reminiscent of Icelandic folklore and the lifetime of avians like Arctic terns, which migrate from the Arctic to the Antarctic yearly—the longest commute within the animal kingdom. Sometimes, somebody would spot a humpback whale diving for meals within the distance. “Wherever you see lots of birds feeding in a single space,” stated an expedition workforce member, “you’ll usually additionally discover whales.”
Humpback whale breaches with Mt. Kirkjufell within the distance. Humpbacks are one of the crucial frequent species to identify when whale watching in Iceland on account of their playfulness, curiosity and inclination to swim nearer to shore. © Nat Hab Expedition Chief Lianne Thompson
Mornings and afternoons at sea usually included a presentation by Nationwide Geographic’s onboard photographer (Lindblad Expeditions all the time have a Nat Geo photographer onboard, on this case, Paulo Verzone), although at some point particularly included one thing even a little bit extra additional: the journey’s polar plunge. As I leaped from the deck of the Expedition’s mud room into the 45-degree sea, I felt invigorated. Afterward, a bunch of us poured into the ship’s sauna for heat and camaraderie, sharing tales of previous travels and journey highlights. Whereas I didn’t but realize it, mine would come with using an e-bike by one of many largest calderas within the nation, simply outdoors of Bakkagerdi in Iceland’s wild northeast nook. That, and making new mates over shared meals, lakeside hikes and midnight card video games.
Actually, by the top of the 10-day expedition, I’d not solely scored my first puffin sighting within the wild however had a complete new onboard “household” to name my very own.
