villages line the coast. Iceland's biggest rhyolite (volcanic) formations—those easily accessible from an inhabited area—are found around the village of Borgarfjörður Eystri, while impressive magma chambers filled with colorful mineral deposits can be visited along the eastern coast. In the summer months, the east of Iceland becomes a creative hub for artists and young people from Iceland and abroad. You’ll have opportunities on these two days to view some of this stunning scenery during a heli flightseeing adventure (weather permitting, of course), and during a coach excursion to Vatnajökull National Park, with its abundance of glaciers (notably Vatnajökull), volcanoes, waterfalls and geothermal springs. Plentiful activities await us in the park: we’ll travel to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, a stunning glacial lake; explore the spectacular icebergs at Jökulsárlón; spend time at black sand Diamond Beach; and take a guided glacier hike in Skaftafell area.
DAY 11 | THE WESTMAN ISLANDS (VESTMANNAEYJAR): NATURE-RICH ARCHIPELAGO Today we journey to The Westman Islands by ship and Zodiac. The archipelago of 15 islands, and surrounding sea cliffs, are teeming with birdlife. In fact, The Westman Islands group is home to one of the largest puffin colonies in the world, and is also renowned for its rich fishing grounds and whale population. Formed by below- sea-level eruptions, the islands’ soil is shallow and not suitable for agriculture. You’ll see large stretches of rocky soil and lava. However, some rare plants grow in Herjólfsdalur valley. We’ll also visit Heimaey, the only inhabited island, to see the puffins at Stórhöfði. There’s also a beluga sanctuary and an oceanarium. DAY 12 | DISEMBARK REYKYAVIK You’ll disembark in Reykjavik, Iceland’s bustling capital, at the end of your journey. If you have booked post- expedition accommodation, we provide a transfer to a central downtown location.
EXPEDITION SPIRIT Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your Expedition Team must consider the sea, ice, wildlife, and weather to guide the route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed. By the same token, wildlife encounters as described are expected but not guaranteed. Your Expedition Team will use their considerable experience to seek out wildlife in known habitats, but the presence of any particular species of bird or marine wildlife is not a guarantee.
Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details
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