Iceland to Greenland: Total Solar Eclipse in Depth (Ocean Explorer) Tour by Intrepid Travel

17 daysDuration

Group TourJoin a group of travelers

138 peopleMaximum group size

8 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Starts

Reykjavik, Iceland

Ends

Reykjavik, Iceland

Highlights

Witness a total solar eclipse from a polar ship in the High Arctic for a truly exceptional once in a lifetime experience like no other.

Learn about the science of solar eclipses with guest expert Michael Zeiler – a world-leading Geographer turned eclipse cartographer who became obsessed with the study of eclipses after witnessing his first in 1991.

Explore the seldom-visited Westfjords – the hidden gem of west Iceland – then sail across the Denmark Strait past icebergs, wilderness areas and fishing villages. You’ll make shore landings by Zodiac and maybe get the opportunity to kayak in the Arctic waters.

Cruise the 110–km-long Kong Oscar Fjord and witness the wildlife of Northeast Greenland – look out for penguins, whales, seals, foxes, hares, muskoxen and lots of birdlife!

Start and end your incredible experience in Iceland’s Reykjavik – one of the world’s northernmost capital cities.

Itinerary

Opportunities to witness a total solar eclipse are rare and your chances of experiencing one in the Arctic, from the deck of a polar ship no less, are even more so (considering the last total solar eclipse north of the Arctic Circle occurred in 2015). The next will take place on August 12, 2026. This voyage aboard the Ocean Explorer features your bucket-list eclipse adventure, time to explore Northeast and South Greenland, and two of the world’s northernmost capital cities – the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik and Nuuk, Greenland. World-renowned eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler will also be onboard to deepen your understanding of eclipse-viewing, observational astronomy and celestial mechanics. Of course, you’ll also get to witness waterfalls, towering cliffs and remote fishing villages in the Westfjords – a hidden gem of Iceland – as well as icebergs, wilderness areas, glaciers and the deep fjords of Greenland.

day 1 - Reykjavik, Iceland

Welcome to Iceland! When you arrive in Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, make your way to your hotel for a free afternoon and evening. You can arrive at any time, as you have the full day at leisure to settle in and explore the city at your own pace.

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

day 2 - Embark in Reykjavik & Explore the Westfjords, Iceland

After breakfast this morning, you'll have time to explore on your own before your afternoon transfer to Ocean Explorer – your home for the next 15 nights. After you embark, set sail for ‘Iceland’s best-kept secret,’ the Westfjords. This rugged peninsula sits on the remote northwestern tip of Iceland and is dominated by mountains, volcanic rock and fjords, providing plenty of opportunities for incredible landscape photography. Spend the day exploring by Zodiac on guided shore landings (weather permitting) and soak up views of dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, beaches, rolling hills, high moorlands dotted with rocky outcrops and tiny lakes. You’ll likely spot Icelandic ponies and shaggy sheep grazing the hillsides, as well as the small fishing communities at the fjord edges and along the shores of the Denmark Strait.

You may also visit Vigur – a private island where you can delve into Icelandic culture and heritage as far back as the 11th century. One of the island's co-owners is polar explorer Felicity Aston – the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica. You’ll learn about the Icelandic tradition of eiderdown harvesting and the wide array of Arctic birdlife and seals – the island is home to over 7000 breeding ducks, 100,000 puffins, Europe’s largest colony of black guillemots and huge flocks of Arctic terns. You can also indulge in local cuisine, go cruising, sea kayaking, take a paddle excursion and, potentially, a guided shore hike. Right across the bay is Mongufoss – one of Iceland’s most remote and beautiful waterfalls, which you’ll visit by ship. You may also visit Flatey – a small 1.5 km-long island in Breidafjordur Bay.