Where roaring waterfalls, volcanic peaks, glaciers and bursting geysers shape a world unlike anywhere else on the planet.
Iceland, the mystical island nation sculpted by fire and ice, is popular for its thunderously cascading waterfalls, towering cliffs, geysers spontaneously erupting in full furies of steam, stunning shorelines dotted with fishing villages, expansive glaciers, rarely visited wild places, and hard-to-reach coastal areas of breathtaking splendour.
Your unforgettable adventures await
Experience all of this (plus the opportunity to witness a total solar eclipse) on one of two Iceland itineraries curated by Quark Expeditions: the 12-day Iceland Circumnavigation: Helicopters, Glaciers and Volcanoes on Ultramarine, or the 17-day Iceland to Greenland: Total Solar Eclipse on Ocean Explorer.
Why Quark Expeditions?
We’ve been polar-obsessed since 1991, when we became the first operator to take commercial travellers to the North Pole. Polar is all we do, and no other operator can say that. Our expedition team is the most seasoned and respected in the industry—and the largest in polar travel—which means guests get off the ship faster and more often. From Zodiacs and kayaks to helicopters, hiking, camping, biking and cultural immersion, we offer more ways to explore than anyone else.
Iceland, Greenland and the Total Solar Eclipse
The 17-day Iceland to Greenland: Total Solar Eclipse (2,200 nautical miles in total) begins in Reykjavik, one of the world’s northernmost capitals, and quickly introduces you to the natural features that make Iceland so distinctive. In the remote Westfjords—a lesser-visited region on the island’s rugged northwestern edge—steep cliffs meet the sea, waterfalls cut through green valleys, and small fishing villages sit along deep, glacially carved fjords.
Volcanic rock formations, open moorlands, varied shorelines and grazing Icelandic horses define the scenery. Time here is spent exploring by Zodiac and during guided shore landings, with excellent opportunities for landscape photography and birdlife viewing.
Then we’ll cross the Denmark Strait to West Greenland, accompanied by world-renowned eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler, who will deepen your understanding of eclipse viewing, observational astronomy and celestial mechanics and prepare you for the once-in-a-lifetime eclipse experience on August 12, 2026. With the total eclipse of the sun lasting 2 minutes and 17.2 seconds, this region of the Arctic provides the longest duration of totality along the entire eclipse path.
Not only will you witness a total solar eclipse from the deck of a polar ship in the High Arctic, but you’ll also explore towering icebergs, vast wilderness, glaciers and Greenland’s dramatic deep fjords, visiting such places as Nuuk (the capital of Greenland), Scoresby Sund, Kong Oscar Fjord and the little settlement of Aappilattoq.
Included in this trip:
•Eclipse-viewing with eclipse expert Michael Zeiler
•Plus, Zodiac cruising, hiking, the Polar Plunge, educational presentations and community visits
Optional add-ons include sea kayaking and paddling.
Iceland to Greenland: Total Solar Eclipse on Ocean Explorer (August 3-19, 2026)
Iceland, Full Circle
How do you truly experience everything Iceland has to offer — not just the famous highlights, but the remote, rarely visited corners few travellers ever reach? The answer: a complete circumnavigation.
The 12-day Iceland Circumnavigation: Helicopters, Glaciers and Volcanoes on Ultramarine is a rare journey that takes you all the way around the island nation, beginning and ending in Reykjavík. Travelling by small expedition ship, you’ll explore Iceland by sea, land and air, with adventures by Zodiac, coach, kayak and even helicopter. Sail across the Arctic Circle, heli-flightsee above remote landscapes and step ashore in places most visitors never see.
Along the way, discover two of Iceland’s remarkable national parks, stand before the immense Vatnajökull glacier and photograph the iconic Kirkjufell Mountain and nearby Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall. Visit Látrabjarg, Europe’s tallest bird cliff, where puffins nest in dramatic numbers, and take in thundering waterfalls, volcanic coastlines and storybook fishing villages.
It’s the ultimate way to see Iceland in its entirety—a full-circle expedition through a land shaped by fire and ice.
Included in the trip:
• Heli-flightseeing over remote parts of Iceland
• Plus: hiking, Zodiac cruising, educational presentations, Polar Plunge and photography
Optional add-ons include: sea kayaking and paddling.
12-day Iceland Circumnavigation: Helicopters, Glaciers and Volcanoes (July 27 – August 7, 2026; July 25 – August 5, 2027)
This article was produced with content supplied by Quark Expeditions and is a Signature Luxury Travel & Style digital exclusive.
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