Iceland and Greenland
Experience the majesty of Arctic wildlife and culture. Travel by Zodiac through fjords, learn from local guides, and visit one of the most remote settlements on Earth.
Overview
An unforgettable journey through icy waters
Musk oxen, Arctic foxes, and huge colonies of auk await on this magical trip that takes travelers through the fjords of Iceland and Greenland. In addition to local guides, you’ll hear from experienced naturalists who specialize in the remarkable flora and fauna native to the region.
Summer is the perfect time of year to visit this spectacular part of the world: The puffins are in residence at Heimaey, the tundra vegetation is impressive, and the ice has cleared, which allows the fjords to be navigable by Zodiac. Get ready for a rugged, hearty adventure that celebrates both the nature and cultures of the remote regions of these two countries. The cruise ship Vega will be our luxury home on this epic journey.
Dates
August 16–30, 2024Duration
15 daysPrice
From $13,995 per person
Minimum age
18 yearsFaculty leader
A different kind of classroom
With renowned Stanford faculty and scholars leading the way, every Travel/Study trip is a one-of-a-kind educational experience.
Rob Dunbar
Earth Systems Science
The Keck Professor of Earth Sciences and a Bass University Fellow in Undergraduate Education, Rob is interested in global climate change and how we translate scientific knowledge into better policies and practices to promote the sustainable use of the Earth.
“The educational part of the trip was A++++. Wish I were Rob's Student!"
—MJ Lee
Itinerary
A voyage through pristine and dramatic landscapes
From Iceland, the land of ice and fire, we’ll journey to remote East Greenland—a wonderland of towering granite cliffs, massive and prolific icebergs, and deep fjords molded by glaciers. Explore by Zodiac to get closer to thousands of breeding seabirds, including kittiwakes, murres, and puffins. We’ll also visit colorfully painted villages and tiny fishing hamlets steeped in Viking history.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Upon arrival in Reykjavik, transfer to the hotel. Later this evening, gather with fellow travelers for a welcome orientation and dinner.
Accommodations:Midgardur by Center Hotels
Included meal: DinnerReykjavik, Iceland
Today we visit Hellisheidi Power Plant, which produces electricity for more than half of the population of Iceland. Learn how green, sustainable energy is produced at one of our planet's largest single-site geothermal power plants. After lunch together, the afternoon is free to explore Reykjavik independently.
Accommodations:Midgardur by Center Hotels
Included meals: Breakfast and lunchReykjavik / Embarkation
Begin the day with a drive through lava formations of all shapes and sizes to the geothermal fields of Krysuvik, where powerful jets of steam escaping from deep below the Earth’s crust share the landscape with multicolored pools of boiling mud. Continue to Njardvik on the northern coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula to visit to Viking World, a museum housing a fully seaworthy replica of a typical Viking ship. Return to Reykjavik for lunch and embarkation on Vega.
Accommodations:Vega
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerIsafjordur, Iceland
The enchanting town of Isafjordur sits at the foot of a volcanic plateau, where even the center of the town seems to be part of the natural environment. This morning, explore the tiny fishing village of brightly colored houses and visit the Westfjord Heritage Museum, whose collections focus on the town's maritime history. After lunch, enjoy a panoramic tour of the dramatic landscapes that define the Westfjord Peninsula.
Accommodations:Vega
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerAt Sea
Spend today at sea, crossing the Denmark Strait toward Greeland. Attend lectures and briefings from our faculty leader and expedition staff, relax, and enjoy some of Vega's many amenities.
Accommodations:Vega
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerIttoqqortoormitt, Greenland
One of the most remote towns in the world, Ittoqqortoormiit is inaccessible by ship for nine months of the year. The town’s 450 present-day residents are largely self-sufficient, hunting and fishing to keep the community alive. Ittoqqortoormiit is also our gateway to the Scoresbysund fjord system—the world’s largest fjord network with an area of over 15,000 square miles.
Accommodations:Vega
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner- to
Scoresby Sound, Greenland
These two days are spent exploring this vast system of fjords, where large basalt mountains create a striking backdrop to the brilliant white ice floating in mirror-like waters. The mountains offer protection from the Arctic winds, providing excellent shelter for Greenland’s iconic wildlife. Keep a lookout for Arctic foxes and mountain hares along the frozen shores. And with the help of our expedition team, we may see the little auks, fulmars, snowy owls, and great black-backed gulls that abound here. Whales, walrus, and seals are also common sightings.
Accommodations:Vega
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner - to
King Oscar Fjord, Greenland
King Oscar Fjord, which forms the northern border of the Scoresby Sound, is a seemingly endless maze of valleys, where mountains, deep water, and sparkling ice create an overwhelmingly dramatic landscape that photography simply cannot capture. It is an other-worldly place, seductively beautiful and hostile at the same time. One highlight of our time here is Berzelius Bjerg, a mountain of sharply striated bands of color that provide evidence that millions of years ago these mountains were part of a seabed.
Accommodations:Vega
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner At Sea
Our lecture program continues as we return to Iceland across the Denmark Strait. Relax and enjoy cruising the open sea.
Accommodations:Vega
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerSeydisfjordur, Iceland
Seydisfjordur is regarded by many as one of Iceland’s most picturesque towns, not only due to its impressive surroundings, but also because nowhere in Iceland has a community of old wooden buildings been preserved as well as here. Enjoy an easy walk around the old town with a local guide, including a visit to the beautiful Blue Church, an arts and crafts market, the Skaftfell Art center, and the Technical Museum, which houses the oldest mechanic shop and the first telegraph station in Iceland. In the afternoon, explore the Skálanes nature reserve with its high coastal cliffs that are home to more than 40 bird species.
Accommodations:Vega
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerDjupivogur, Iceland
A small town on a peninsula near the mouth of Berufjörður fjord, Djupivogur is framed by an awe-inspiring pyramid-shaped mountain. It serves as a gateway to Vatnajökull National Park, Europe’s largest, covering 14% of Iceland, including ice caps, waterfalls, glaciers, canyons, craters, and volcanoes. Travel to the park’s Jökulsárlón Lagoon, Iceland’s deepest lake, where icebergs float on the surface of the water all year long, offering resting spots for passing seals.
Accommodations:Vega
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerHeimaey, Iceland
Heimaey is the largest island of the Westman Islands Archipelago off the southern coast of Iceland and is the summer home to millions of puffins and other seabirds. Our tour of this rugged island includes incomparable landscapes of volcanoes, including Mt. Eldfell, whose eruption in 1973 required the evacuation of the entire population of the island. Visit the Eldheimar Museum, housing an interactive exhibition on the 1973 eruption. Toast our journey during a farewell dinner onboard Vega this evening.
Accommodations:Vega
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerReykjavik / Home
After breakfast aboard, disembark and transfer to the airport for flights homeward.
Included meal: Breakfast
Trip details
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Pricing
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The price of your trip covers a comprehensive educational program in addition to meals, accommodations, tours and excursions. Continue reading for a full list of what’s included.
Category E
Oceanview stateroom on Deck 4 with two large oval windows (206 sq. ft.)
Double: $13,995 per person
Category D
Oceanview stateroom on Deck 4 with two large oval windows (206 sq. ft.)
Double: $14,695 per person
Singe: $19,865 per person
Category C
Suites on Deck 5 with balcony and living room area (300 sq. ft.)
Double: $15,595 per person
Category B
Suites on Deck 5 with balcony and living room area (300 sq. ft.)
Double: $16,095 per person
Single: $21,765 per person
Category A
Suites on Deck 6 with balcony and living room area (300 sq. ft.)
Double: $17,195 per person
Category AA
Deluxe suites on Deck 5 and Deck 6 with separate living room and balcony (475 sq. ft.)
Double: $19,295 per person
Join us in Iceland and Greenland
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