Waking up to partly blue skies and warm conditions by Arctic standards, we had an early start in the Westfjords. Nestled between steep slopes carved by glaciers we docked along a pier in Ísafjörður, the largest town in the region. Guests divided into three groups and enjoyed a myriad of animals, flora, and scenery through two tours of the area.
As our bus traveled through the foot of majestic snow-covered mountains, we listened to stories from our Icelandic guide about long winters, elves working hard to protect both people and the environment, and the upcoming national championship for swamp soccer, which is held yearly in Ísafjörður. If you plan to try out for the swamp soccer team, be prepared to get muddy. After a scenic drive, we arrived at the bottom of Valagil and hiked along an open valley filled with Nordic plant life, grazing horses, and playful sheep as we meandered our way along a footpath to a magical waterfall, hidden from sight. Hikers crossed a narrow bridge to take in the complete view of the cascading plumes of water.
Following our hike we visited the small community of Súðavík village. Situated in the town is a small research organization, the Arctic Fox Center, dedicated to the study and preservation of Iceland’s arctic fox. Upon arrival, guests observed two blue-morph arctic fox pups enjoying a morning of laziness and sleep, punctuated by some playful nibbling on some guests’ shoes. Arctic fox have been on the decline in Iceland since 2008, this center aims to research these animals and provide a safe haven for orphaned pups. The only native mammal to Iceland, the arctic fox’s brownish color provides an adaptation to life along the coastal ecosystem where they snack on berries, shorebirds, and their favorite delicacy, lemming. The center has been investigating the effect of the arctic fox on the sheep population.
After lunch aboard the ship, National Geographic Explorer set off through whale-rich seas, spotting over a half dozen humpback whales feeding and swimming nearby followed by a dramatic performance by a pod of about 15 killer whales, including a large male and at least one juvenile. Despite the cold, wet weather, everyone was captivated by these magnificent animals and rushed from port to starboard and back again to catch even a glimpse of the pod. The killer whales did not disappoint, and playfully swam alongside Explorer.
