Natural Iceland: More Than Fire and Ice

 

This young country, still being shaped by the forces of nature, has many fascinating features that make it strangely beautiful and unfamiliar. As we travel around the island, marvel at the unspoiled wilderness, jagged coastlines, vast rugged mountains, and hot spring areas with spouting geysers and towering glaciers.

Everywhere, the primeval fire and lava of foreboding black volcanoes contrast with the freezing white ice-glare of Europe’s greatest glaciers. While the moniker “land of fire and ice” is apt, it doesn’t begin to cover Iceland’s spectacular natural attractions, from sparkling waterfalls to the reforested woodland of Kjarnaskógur. There are unequalled opportunities to view and photograph ice-capped mountains, barren lava fields, montane rivers, steaming geothermal springs, and spouting geyser.

Our tour is also designed to let us view the vast numbers of raucous seabirds nesting on high rocky cliffs. Observe the largest concentrations of breeding ducks in Europe at Lake Mývatn and scan rocky coastlines for shorebirds. We also have a boat trip to the scenic Flatey Island, with colourful clapboard houses as well as abundant bird life, and a day trip to the enchanting Hrísey Island in the middle of the majestic Eyjafjörður. This tour coincides with the peak of Arctic and European boreal wildflowers blooming. During whale-watching excursion, there are opportunities to see various species at close range.

A warm niche in a cold corner of the planet, Iceland embodies the quintessential natural history experience.