Iceland Itineraries: 10-Day and 14-Day Sample Routes

Iceland’s coastline is shaped by weather, tides and volcanic unpredictability. Your captain and expedition leader will adjust the route daily to deliver the best conditions and wildlife sightings. The itineraries below are designed as flexible starting points – your Boatcrowd charter specialist and onboard team will tailor every stop and activity to your group’s interests.

10-Day Iceland Yacht Charter: Reykjavik to the North Coast

Day 1: Reykjavik

Board your yacht at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. Explore the waterfront Harpa Concert Hall, sample Icelandic langoustine at one of the harbour restaurants, and walk the colourful streets of the old town. Welcome dinner on deck with views across Faxaflói Bay.

Day 2: Reykjavik to Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Cruise north to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula (roughly 85 nautical miles). Pass the Snæfellsjökull glacier-capped volcano (1,446 metres), anchor near Grundarfjörður and photograph Kirkjufell, Iceland’s most iconic mountain.

Day 3: Brðeiðafjörður Bay

Explore the island-scattered Brðeiðafjörður Bay (125 km long, 50 km wide). Watch for white-tailed eagles and seals among the thousands of small islands. Visit the charming harbour town of Stykkishólmur before continuing north.

Day 4: Westfjords – Ísafjörður

Enter the Westfjords, Iceland’s most remote and dramatic region. Anchor at Ísafjörður, the largest town in the Westfjords (population 2,600), surrounded by steep mountain walls and flat-topped peaks. Explore the Maritime Museum and the old town.

Day 5: Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

Cruise to Hornstrandir, accessible only by boat. Hike the coastal trails past Arctic fox dens, nesting seabirds and abandoned farmsteads. The Arctic foxes here are fully protected and notably unafraid of humans. Return to the yacht for dinner in a silent, uninhabited fjord.

Day 6: Westfjords to Siglufjörður

Depart the Westfjords and cruise east along the northern coast (roughly 120 nautical miles). Anchor at Siglufjörður, once the herring capital of the North Atlantic. Visit the award-winning Herring Era Museum and sample local craft beer.

Day 7: Grímsey – Arctic Circle Crossing

Sail north to Grímsey, Iceland’s northernmost island, and cross the Arctic Circle (66°33’N). Explore the small community of 60 residents, watch puffins and Arctic terns on the sea cliffs, and mark the occasion with champagne on deck.

Day 8: Húsavík – Whale Watching

Cruise to Húsavík on Skjálfandi Bay, Europe’s whale-watching capital. Spend the day watching humpback whales surface and dive around the yacht. Visit the Whale Museum ashore and dine on fresh Arctic char in the village.

Day 9: Eyðafjörður and Akureyri

Enter Eyðafjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords at 60 kilometres. Anchor at Akureyri, the ‘Capital of the North,’ and explore its botanical gardens (remarkably lush at 65°N), bookshops and restaurants.

Day 10: Akureyri and Departure

Final morning exploring Akureyri or the nearby Hrísey Island (‘Pearl of Eyðafjörður’) for birdwatching. Disembark in Akureyri for a flight to Reykjavik or onward international connections. Alternatively, transfer by domestic flight.

14-Day Iceland Yacht Charter: Full Circumnavigation

Day 1: Reykjavik

Board your yacht at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. Explore the Harpa Concert Hall, sample Icelandic cuisine, and stroll the old town. Welcome dinner on the aft deck.

Day 2: Reykjavik to Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands)

Cruise south-east to the Vestmannaeyjar (roughly 75 nautical miles). Enter Heimaey’s dramatic harbour through the narrow volcanic channel. Visit the 1973 Eldfell lava fields and the Eldheimar Volcano Museum.

Day 3: Vestmannaeyjar – Puffins and Volcanoes

A full day among the Westman Islands. Visit Stórhöfði’s puffin observation point (1.1 million breeding pairs), hike the volcanic ridges, and explore by zodiac around the uninhabited outer islands.

Day 4: South Coast – Jökulsárlón Approach

Cruise east along Iceland’s dramatic south coast, passing black-sand beaches and glacier tongues descending from Vatnajökull. Anchor off the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon area for zodiac excursions among electric-blue icebergs.

Day 5: East Fjords

Continue around Iceland’s eastern coast, a seldom-visited stretch of deep fjords, fishing villages and dramatic headlands. Anchor in a quiet eastern fjord surrounded by steep mountains and cascading waterfalls.

Day 6: East Fjords to Seyðisfjörður

Cruise to the picturesque village of Seyðisfjörður, set at the head of a long fjord surrounded by waterfalls and steep green mountains. The rainbow-painted main street, art galleries and creative community make it one of Iceland’s hidden gems.

Day 7: North-East Coast to Húsavík

Round the north-eastern headlands and set course for Húsavík (roughly 120 nautical miles). Pass remote bays, sea stacks and seabird colonies. Anchor in Skjálfandi Bay by evening.

Day 8: Húsavík – Whale Watching

A dedicated whale-watching day in Skjálfandi Bay. Humpback whales surface and dive around the yacht with 95–99% sighting rates. Blue whales, minke whales and white-beaked dolphins may also appear. Visit the Whale Museum ashore.

Day 9: Grímsey – Arctic Circle

Sail north to Grímsey Island and cross the Arctic Circle (66°33’N). Puffins, Arctic terns and the island’s tiny community of 60 residents. Champagne on deck to mark the crossing.

Day 10: Eyðafjörður and Akureyri

Enter Eyðafjörður (60 km long) and cruise to Akureyri. Explore the botanical gardens, the Akureyri Art Museum, and the local restaurant scene. Visit Hrísey Island for birdwatching if time permits.

Day 11: Siglufjörður and the Northern Coast

Cruise west to Siglufjörður, the historic herring capital. Visit the Herring Era Museum, then continue along the mountainous northern coastline toward the Westfjords. Anchor in a sheltered fjord for the night.

Day 12: Westfjords – Hornstrandir

Enter the Westfjords and cruise to Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. Hike among Arctic foxes and seabird colonies on this uninhabited peninsula. The silence and solitude are profound.

Day 13: Ísafjörður and Snæfellsnes

Visit Ísafjörður before departing south along the western coast. Pass the Snæfellsnes Peninsula with its glacier-capped volcano and anchor near Kirkjufell mountain as the evening light paints the peak gold.

Day 14: Return to Reykjavik

A final morning cruise south to Reykjavik (roughly 85 nautical miles from Snæfellsnes). Arrive by early afternoon. Farewell lunch on the aft deck or a final dinner at Dill, Iceland’s Michelin-starred restaurant. Disembark