Explore the finest small ports in Scotland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands (Denmark) before circumnavigating Iceland on this 17-day summertime adventure from Edinburgh to Reykjavik. Your first 11 days cover the shorelines of Scotland and Norway, stopping off to see Denmark’s Faroe Islands. The following week explores Iceland’s majestic fjords, imposing volcanoes and remote rocky reaches. Discover the challenges faced by Iron Age communities near Kirkwall, Scotland, sample almond ring cake and other Norwegian culinary delights at a historic farm near Bergen, Norway, and kayak among sea birds and urban artistry in Alesund, Norway. Iceland excursions include flights above waterfalls and volcanoes on Heimaey Island, detailed archaeological examinations of a medieval farm near Seydisfjordur, and relaxing moments immersed in the natural geothermal waters of the Myvatn Nature Baths outside Akureyri.

This historic city of palaces, canals, and copper spires casts a sense of enchantment upon all who walk its cobbled streets. Little wonder that Copenhagen’s favorite son, Hans Christian Andersen, was inspired to write some of the world’s most beloved fairy tales here. Stroll the 17^th century Nyhavn waterfront where Andersen once lived, complete with colorful row houses and historic tall ships. Enjoy world-class shopping on Strøget, the world's longest pedestrian street. Or find your amusement at world-famous Tivoli Gardens where tree-lined pathways lead to theaters, open air stages, restaurants, cafes, and over 80 attractions.

Yellow and red houses, windswept beaches, a unique light that has drawn artists for centuries … this town at the juncture of the North Sea and Baltic is the apple of Denmark’s eye. Visit the Buried Church, shop for handmade white lace, explore Skagen’s maritime history at the open air museum, or learn about the shifting sands at the nature center.

Step off the ship into the center of Norway’s sparkling capital, just a short walk from the Nobel Peace Center, Radhuset (City Hall), and Aker Brygge (the colorful waterfront). Explore Viking history at the Viking Ship Museum or look up Edvard Munch’s The Scream at the National Gallery.

The pleasant small village of Olden is located at the inner end of the 66-mile long Nordfjord, the sixth longest fjord in Norway.   Long known for tourism and industry, it is now also famous for contemporary design.  With fewer than 500 inhabitants Olden is an ideal destination for people who enjoy spending time in the great outdoors, and is the gateway to Jostedal, the largest glacier on the European mainland. If you can, find a bottle of Olden Mineral Water, as close as you will get to a glacier on tap.

At the entrance to spectacular Geirangerfjord, Alesund has been voted the most beautiful town in Norway, and not only because of its location. The town burned to the ground in 1904 and was rebuilt in Art Nouveau style, with a few added elements from Nordic mythology – a longboat here, an image of Thor there.

Visit tiny goat villages to sample homemade cheese. Take a RIB boat out on the spectacular Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Buy yourself a mango ice cream cone and absorb all the beauty around you.

Cruise up 9-mile-long Geirangerfjord, one of the most famous fjords of Norway.  This UNESCO site has several impressive waterfalls and your ship will cruise by the most famous waterfall of the fjord – the characteristic Seven Sisters Waterfall.

The Shetland Islands may only have one town, and it’s small, but as you already know, good things come in small packages. There are seabird colonies and sea mammals galore, along with a windswept beauty that’s refreshing in its simplicity. History buffs can investigate 400-year-old castles or Iron Age ruins. Or meet the tiny ponies that share the islands’ name.

Everything about Orkney is olde, from the 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae (the “Scottish Pompeii”) to the peat-distilled whisky at Highland Park to the UNESCO site of the Ring of Brodgar, dating back to 2700 B.C. Even the local brogue hints at times past, accented by the area’s Viking legacy.

Dock within walking distance of Old Town and marvel at a place where people mow their roofs and 17th century buildings are considered young. Listen to echoes of Old Norse in the language of shopkeepers and passersby as you shop for warm knit sweaters made from the islands’ distinctive wool.

Take a boat tour to view Surtsey Island, which only rose from the sea in the 1960s and has been a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site since its birth. The other big attraction here is seabirds. Zodiac tours provide close up views of seabird populated sea cliffs including the largest colony of Atlantic puffins.

Witness a world still in transition. Circle Surtsey Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which rose from the sea in the 1960s. Next up, Heimaey, where a volcanic eruption created a modern-day Pompeii in 1973. 

Seydisfjord is 11 miles of long, narrow, beautiful waterway surrounded by high mountains that ends at the town of Seydisfjordur, known for its old multi-colored wooden buildings and cascading waterfalls even in the town.  This is home of the Skalanes Nature Reserve with its wide variety of wildlife including more than 45 bird species.  The first high-voltage electricity in Iceland was opened here in 1913 and is still in operation today. A popular hiking path starts at the town center, following the east bank of the Fjardara River that flows through the center of town. 

Seydisfjord is 11 miles of long, narrow, beautiful waterway surrounded by high mountains that ends at the town of Seydisfjordur, known for its old multi-colored wooden buildings and cascading waterfalls even in the town.  This is home of the Skalanes Nature Reserve with its wide variety of wildlife including more than 45 bird species.  The first high-voltage electricity in Iceland was opened here in 1913 and is still in operation today. A popular hiking path starts at the town center, following the east bank of the Fjardara River that flows through the center of town. 

Akureyri is an important port and fisheries center especially because of its ice-free harbor so close to the Arctic Circle.  It lies at the end of Iceland’s longest fjord, which is 37 miles long, at sits at the base of snowcapped peaks that offer some of Iceland’s best skiing during the winter.  Must-sees in Akureyri include the Listagil (art canyon) which is home to many arts and crafts galleries and shops, the beautiful church in the center of town, the botanical garden, and Hafnarstraeti, the main shopping street.This is also the perfect place to ride an Icelandic horse or soak in the sky-blue Myvatn Nature Baths.

Beautiful Grundarfjordur is located between a mountain range and the sea.  The road nearby crosses a lava field that is partially warm so snow does not always stick there. The main attraction of the area is Snæfellsjokull National Park full of regal glaciers, lava fields, waterfalls, caves, calderas, and basalt cliffs. The peninsula there received the EARTHCHECK Sustainable Community Award in 2010, the first area in Iceland to win such an award.