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A thousand years ago, the Norse sailed west: from the fjords of Norway to Shetland and Orkney, then on to the Faroe Islands, further to Iceland, and beyond — to Greenland and Vinland. Each new island marked the edge of the known world, until it ceased to be.

We will follow that route in reverse — from the farthest colony back to the mainland.
Eleven days from Reykjavík to Amsterdam, tracing the spine of the North Atlantic. Heimaey, home to the world’s largest colony of Atlantic puffins — and a volcano that, in a single night in 1973, nearly erased the town from the island. A Faroese village of just seventy people, where, according to legend, the first Norse settlers came ashore. Tinganes in Tórshavn, site of one of the oldest parliaments in the world. Orkney’s Skara Brae, older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. St. Magnus Cathedral, built of red sandstone and founded in 1137. And Edinburgh at the height of August, when the city becomes the world’s largest stage.

Our vessel is SH Diana, an expedition-class ship: PC6 ice class, 96 cabins, fifteen Zodiacs, a lecture hall, and a scientific team on board. This is not a cruise liner carrying four thousand passengers, but a small expedition ship capable of reaching places the big ships cannot.

Antarctica in elegance of a brand-new luxury polar-class expedition cruise ship

SСHEDULE AND COST:
Dates: 15–25 August 2027

Duration: 11 days / 10 nights

Route: Reykjavík, Iceland → IJmuiden (Amsterdam), Netherlands

Vessel: SH Diana, Swan Hellenic

Price per person (based on double occupancy):

Cabin Category

Size

Balcony

Price per Person

Oceanview — panoramic window

20 m²

from €7,200

Balcony — private balcony

25 m²

5 m²

from €7,925

Junior Suite

32–36 m²

6 m²

from €10,800

Suite

41 m²

5–10 m²

from €12,600

Premium Suite

41 m²

8–12 m²

from €14,400



TRAVEL PROGRAM: tour antarctica


Day 1 · 15 August, Sunday · Reykjavík, Iceland

The world’s northernmost capital and a city that can be explored in a single day. Hallgrímskirkja rises 74.5 metres above the city, its concrete façade echoing the basalt columns of Iceland’s coastline; from the observation deck, Reykjavík stretches all the way to Faxaflói Bay. Harpa Concert Hall, with its Ólafur Elíasson-designed glass façade, resembles a honeycomb that changes colour with the sky. The Old Harbour is the departure point for whale-watching safaris, while the Sun Voyager sculpture on the waterfront — contrary to popular belief — is not a Viking ship, but an ode to the sun.
Board SH Diana in the afternoon. Welcome dinner and introduction to the expedition team.

Meals: dinner.
Accommodation: SH Diana.


Day 2 · 16 August, Monday · Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar

Thirteen square kilometres containing two stories of global significance.
The first is a volcano. On the night of 23 January 1973, a fissure opened on the outskirts of town. Five thousand residents were evacuated overnight on fishing boats — the entire fleet happened to be in harbour because of a storm, and that saved the island. Lava crept towards the harbour and nearly sealed it off; for months, crews pumped seawater onto the advancing lava in an attempt to stop it. Eldheimar Museum was built directly over a house excavated from the ash: visitors walk around the ruins beneath a glass roof.

The second is wildlife. Heimaey is home to the world’s largest Atlantic puffin colony. By mid-August, adult birds have already headed out to sea, but the annual puffin patrol begins: fledglings disoriented by the town’s lights land on the streets, where local children collect them in boxes and release them into the ocean the following morning. The tradition has been going on for more than half a century, and this is the very time of year to witness it.

Meals: full board.
Accommodation: SH Diana.


Day 3 · 17 August, Tuesday · Djúpivogur, Iceland

A fishing village on Iceland’s east coast with fewer than 500 inhabitants and the country’s first member of the Cittaslow movement — a network of “slow cities.”
At Gleðivík harbour stands Eggin í Gleðivík — 34 granite eggs created by artist Sigurður Guðmundsson, one for each bird species that nests in the area. The largest represents the red-throated diver, the symbolic bird of the village. Towering above it all is Búlandstindur, a 1,069-metre pyramid of layered basalt; local folklore says that on the summer solstice, it grants wishes.
From here, the road leads towards Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap by volume, beneath which active volcanoes continue to rumble.

Meals: full board.
Accommodation: SH Diana.

Day 4 · 18 August, Wednesday · Funningur, Faroe Islands

Seventy inhabitants. According to legend, this is where Grímur Kamban, the first Norse settler in the Faroe Islands, came ashore around 825. In other words, this tiny settlement marks the beginning of 1,200 years of Faroese history.

A wooden church with a turf roof, colourful houses, and waterfalls cascading directly from the mountains into Funningsfjørður. Above the village rises Slættaratindur, the highest point in the Faroe Islands at 880 metres — an almost sheer wall of rock that seems to fill half the sky.
This is one of those places where calling it “the most beautiful village in the country” is less a figure of speech than a consensus.

Meals: full board.
Accommodation: SH Diana.

Day 5 · 19 August, Thursday · Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

One of the world’s smallest capitals: just 14,000 people in the city itself. Eighteen islands, 50,000 inhabitants — and noticeably more sheep.
The heart of the city is Tinganes, a rocky peninsula between two harbours. Since the 9th century, the Løgting — one of the world’s oldest continuously functioning parliaments — has gathered here. The Faroese government still occupies the site today, in low red buildings with turf roofs, without fences or security gates. Nearby lies the old Reyn district: black tarred walls, white-framed windows, and grass-covered roofs.

Ten years ago, the Faroe Islands were still a geographical curiosity. Today, they are one of the North Atlantic’s most recognisable destinations. We arrive at a moment of transition.

Meals: full board.
Accommodation: SH Diana.

Day 6 · 20 August, Friday · Lerwick, Shetland Islands

The Shetland Islands are closer to Bergen than to Edinburgh, and it shows — in everything from place names to festivals. Even the name Lerwick comes from the Old Norse Leirvík, meaning “muddy bay.”
The town grew in the 17th century around the Dutch herring trade: stone streets descend towards a natural harbour, with warehouses right on the waterfront. On the outskirts stands the Clickimin Broch, a stone tower dating from the Iron Age. Further across the island lies Jarlshof, where 4,000 years of continuous settlement occupy a single site: Neolithic remains, Bronze Age structures, Pictish buildings, a Norse farmstead and a 16th-century laird’s house. Beyond the town, heather-covered moorlands lead to dramatic cliffs crowded with seabirds — gannets, kittiwakes and guillemots.

Meals: full board.
Accommodation: SH Diana.

Day 7 · 21 August, Saturday · Kirkwall, Orkney Islands

Orkney is a place where European antiquity is considerably older than most people imagine.
St Magnus Cathedral was founded in 1137 by Rognvald Kali in memory of his uncle, the murdered Earl Magnus. Built from red and yellow sandstone in the Norse tradition, it is the northernmost cathedral in Britain and remains an active place of worship.

Half an hour away lies the UNESCO-listed Heart of Neolithic Orkney. Skara Brae is a settlement dating to around 3180 BC, with stone furniture, hearths and drainage systems — older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids. The Ring of Brodgar, the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Maeshowe chambered tomb complete the prehistoric landscape. Inside Maeshowe, 12th-century Vikings left the largest collection of runic inscriptions outside Scandinavia — essentially, graffiti from a thousand years ago.

And then there is Scapa Flow. On 21 June 1919, 74 ships of the interned German High Seas Fleet were deliberately scuttled here on the orders of their own commanders — all in a single day.

Meals: full board.
Accommodation: SH Diana.

Days 8–9 · 22–23 August, Sunday–Monday · Edinburgh, Scotland

Two full days in a city built on a volcano — and one that never lets you forget it.
Edinburgh Castle stands atop the plug of an extinct volcano. From there, the Royal Mile descends along the tail of a glacial ridge towards the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Between them lies a layered maze of hidden courtyards, underground streets and churches. Below, the New Town preserves its elegant Georgian layout from the late 18th century. Together with the Old Town, it forms an extensive UNESCO World Heritage Site. Calton Hill, with its unfinished “Scottish Parthenon”, and Arthur’s Seat — a genuine mountain in the middle of the capital — complete the cityscape.

Meals: full board.
Accommodation: SH Diana.

Day 10 · 24 August, Tuesday · At Sea, North Sea

A day on board. Lectures by the expedition team, the Observation Lounge with panoramic glazing, sauna, heated swimming pool and spa. Beyond the ship lies Europe’s busiest shipping corridor, accompanied by seabirds following in its wake.

Meals: full board.
Accommodation: SH Diana.

Day 11 · 25 August, Wednesday · IJmuiden (Amsterdam), Netherlands

Arrival in IJmuiden, the maritime gateway to Amsterdam. The town is home to the world’s largest sea lock: 500 metres long, 70 metres wide and 18 metres deep, opened in 2022. Central Amsterdam is approximately 30 minutes away.

Disembarkation, transfer to the airport, or an optional extension of the programme in Amsterdam.

Meals: breakfast.

* Please do not purchase your tickets before consulting with us.
SH Diana
A new-generation polar-class ice-strengthened expedition cruise ship
SH Diana is a true luxury floating boutique hotel amidst the Antarctic Ocean.
Amenities offered on board include an open-air infinity pool overlooking the ocean and icebergs, fine dining restaurants offering specials from acclaimed chefs, an open observation deck, SPA
Available in all cabins:
  • Interactive TV
  • Mini bar
  • Safe
  • Air conditioning system
  • Pillow Menu
  • Hair dryer Babyliss
  • Bathrobes and slippers
  • Coffee machine
  • Service 24/7
  • 24-hour self-service laundry on deck
  • Oceanview Staterooms
    Measure 20m2 (215ft2) and can accommodate two guests.
    They feature two single beds or a double bed, bedroom with living room area, a flame-effect fireplace and a luxurious bathroom.
  • Balcony Staterooms
    Measure 25m2 (269ft2) – including a 5m2 (54ft2) private balcony – and can accommodate two or three guests.
    They feature two single beds or a double bed, bedroom with living room area, a flame-effect fireplace and a luxurious bathroom.
  • Suite
    Measure 41m2 (441ft2) – including a 5m2 (54ft2) private balcony – and can accommodate up to four guests.
    They feature a king size bed, and have a separate living room, with a flame-effect fireplace. There’s also a luxurious ensuite bathroom with separate bath tub and a walk-in shower.
Cost includes:
  • Accommodation in the selected cabin category for the entire voyage
  • Full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner at all onboard restaurants
  • 24-hour in-cabin service
  • Beverages
  • Crew gratuities
  • Wi-Fi on board
  • Expedition team services: lectures, briefings and assistance during shore landings
  • Shore excursions at ports of call
  • Zodiac excursions where included in the itinerary
  • Use of the sauna, swimming pool, fitness centre, library and Observation Lounge
  • Port charges and taxes
  • Port-to-airport transfer on the day of disembarkation
  • Welcome and farewell cocktails
  • Onboard medical centre and doctor

Cost excludes (to be additionally paid):

  • International flights to Reykjavík and from Amsterdam
  • Travel medical insurance (mandatory) and trip cancellation insurance
  • Accommodation before and after the voyage
  • Visa, if required
  • Spa treatments and hairdressing services
  • Laundry services
  • Personal expenses and purchases
  • Optional excursions purchased separately

To take with:

August in the North Atlantic is not the Arctic, but it is not summer as you may know it either: +8 to +14°C (46–57°F), wind, sideways rain and four different kinds of weather in a single day. The key principle is layering, not bulk.

Outerwear
  • Waterproof shell jacket with a hood, genuinely waterproof (10,000 mm+)
  • Waterproof shell trousers or bib trousers
  • Fleece or lightweight down jacket — mid layer
  • Windproof hat, gloves, buff or scarf
Base & Mid Layers
  • Thermal underwear, 2 sets (merino wool or synthetic, not cotton)
  • Sweater or hoodie
  • T-shirts and long-sleeve tops
  • Comfortable, quick-drying walking trousers
Footwear
  • Waterproof hiking boots with a grippy sole — your main footwear for shore landings
  • Sneakers or loafers for the ship
  • Wool socks, 4–5 pairs
Onboard Clothing
  • Casual attire for the restaurants; smart casual is appropriate for the welcome and farewell dinners
  • Swimsuit — for the pool, sauna and spa
  • Robe and slippers are provided
Electronics & Optics
  • Binoculars (available for use on board, but your own pair is more convenient)
  • Camera with a 200 mm+ telephoto lens — seabird colonies and marine mammals are best photographed with a long lens
  • Spare batteries: cold weather can drain them twice as fast
  • UK Type G plug adapter — for Shetland, Orkney and Edinburgh
  • Power bank and plenty of spare memory cards
First Aid & Essentials
  • Personal medication, with a sufficient supply and prescriptions
  • Motion-sickness medication — there will be open-sea crossings
  • Sunscreen and sunglasses: light reflected off the water can be stronger than expected
  • Lip balm and hand cream
  • 20–30 L daypack for shore landings, preferably with a waterproof cover
  • Dry bag or zip-lock bags for electronics
KEY FEATURES:
The Viking route in reverse. Iceland → the Faroe Islands → Shetland → Orkney → Scotland → the mainland. The exact chain of islands along which the Norse travelled west a thousand years ago, only followed in reverse — from the edge of the known world back to its centre.

The world’s largest Atlantic puffin colony on Heimaey — and the Puffin Patrol, when local children spend the night collecting fledglings that have become disoriented by the town’s lights, releasing them into the ocean the following morning. This happens specifically in the second half of August.

The island that nearly disappeared. Eldheimar Museum was built over a house excavated from beneath the ash of the 1973 eruption. Five thousand people were evacuated in a single night.

Skara Brae — older than the pyramids. A Neolithic settlement dating to around 3180 BC, with stone furniture and drainage systems, plus Viking runic graffiti inside the Maeshowe chambered tomb.

Tinganes in Tórshavn — one of the world’s oldest functioning parliamentary sites, still operating from red buildings beneath turf roofs.

Funningur — seventy residents beneath the 880-metre wall of Slættaratindur, and, according to tradition, the landing place of the first Norse settler in the Faroe Islands.

Scapa Flow — the bay where an entire German fleet was sunk in a single day in 1919.

Edinburgh in August, when the entire city becomes a festival stage. Two full days in port, rather than a rushed half-day visit.

SH Diana: PC6 ice class, 96 cabins, an infinity pool on the open deck and a scientific expedition team giving lectures during the crossings. Not a liner — an expedition ship.
Why with MZUNGU EXPEDITIONS?
  • UNIQUENESS
    We find the most astonishing places on Earth and speed up to reach them. Our motto is to go ahead of road roller, touch the unique and unknown, before it disappears.
  • ADVENTURISM
    Wherever we go, we look for challenging activities and adventures, filling the journey with absolutely different spirit and emotions. That is why people join us over and over again.
  • SAFETY
    In our trips we pay special attention to safety. All our travels are based on personal experience, equipped with the best gear, involving proved providers and experienced local guides who perfectly know local features.
  • EXPERIENCE
    We have a unique experience of the most offbeat expeditions and ascents, deep knowledge of countries and peoples, and are ready to share it with you. All the expeditions and climbs are tested by Mzungu himself and guided by seasoned team-leaders, guaranteeing exciting traveling and your comfort.
  • REASONABLE PRICE
    All our trips are reach in adventures, with high quality accommodation, transportation and meals included. We do not save on it. Thanks to solid contacts with reliable providers we offer really good prices and high quality.

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