Wild Iceland: Puffins, Whales & Arctic Wonders
Trip Overview
From the horse country of the Troll Peninsula to the Arctic Circle itself, this seven-day trip is timed for the weeks when the puffins are back on Grímsey and the light stays long into the night. It’s built for women who want their travel to mean something: for themselves, for each other, and for the place they’re visiting.
You’ll travel by private van with Syrago, your guide and driver throughout. Our time on the road stays easy. The long drives are Day 1 and Day 7, and every other day is short and broken up by stops: turf houses, black sand beaches, harbors, waterfalls, and the occasional pool.
What sets Her Wild Life guides apart isn’t just their knowledge of this landscape. It’s knowing when to share it and when to simply let the moment land. It’s the difference between a guide who can answer your questions and one who knows which ones you didn’t think to ask.
Along the way, you’ll meet the women who shape this corner of Iceland. This trip is built with local expertise and guiding experience, and on Grímsey we’re joined by a local woman biologist who knows these cliffs and their puffins far better than any guidebook. This isn’t incidental to the trip; it’s the point. Every Her Wild Life expedition is built to put real recognition behind the women shaping the places we visit.
Whether you’re arriving solo or with a friend, this is a week built around community: the community you’ll build with the women in your group, and the community of Icelandic women you’ll meet, learn from, and support along the way.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Reykjavík to Fljót
We head north on the Ring Road into horse country, stopping at the turf houses of Glaumbær and the tiny turf church at Gröf. At Hofsós, we take a swim where the pool meets the sea. By evening, we arrive at Sóti Lodge, our country base on the Troll Peninsula, for our first dinner together. Plan on about 4½ to 5 hours of driving, spread across the day.
Plan to arrive to Keflavik International Airport (KEF) by 8 am today.
Accommodations: Sóti Lodge
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 | Horses and Herring
This morning, we ride with the family at Langhús farm, and beginners are welcome. In the afternoon, we head to Siglufjörður, once the herring capital of the North Atlantic, to visit the Herring Era Museum. Back at Sóti Lodge, there’s the Barðslaug geothermal pool, hot tub, and sauna to settle into before a three-course dinner made from local produce. Optional: a guided flotation session in Barðslaug.
Accommodations: Sóti Lodge
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 3 | Grímsey
This is the day the trip is built around. We catch the ferry from Dalvík with our biologist on deck, then spend about four hours among the puffins on Grímsey. We’ll take a step across the Arctic Circle and enjoy the long June light on the way home. It’s an early start and a full day, and we’ll be back at Sóti Lodge for a late dinner.
Accommodations: Sóti Lodge
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 4 | The Arctic Coast Road
After breakfast, we say goodbye to Sóti Lodge and follow the coast road north and east: black sand at Héðinsfjörður, Ólafsfjörður tucked between steep peaks, and the tiny harbor at Hauganes. Then we settle into Akureyri with a free afternoon to wander the harbor and cafés. If the sea or fog kept us off Grímsey on Day 3, this is our second chance to go.
Accommodations: Skáld Akureyri
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 | Goðafoss and Mývatn
Today, we visit the waterfall of the gods, then one of Europe’s great duck lakes. Look for harlequins on the Laxá, Barrow’s goldeneye, and grebes nesting in the reeds. If we still need a Grímsey day, this is our last backup chance to go.
Accommodations: Skáld Akureyri
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 | Whales of Skjálfandi Bay
Today is for the whales. We start at the orange lighthouse at Svalbarðseyri and cross the Víkurskarð pass to Húsavík, then head out on Skjálfandi Bay for a whale watching tour, the main event of the day. Whales are never guaranteed, but Húsavík’s whale coast gives us our best shot. Back on land, there’s time for a stroll around the harbor, the 1907 wooden church, and a headland walk. We finish with the warm water of the Forest Lagoon and a farewell dinner together in Akureyri.
Accommodations: Skáld Akureyri
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7 | Back to Reykjavík
After a last breakfast in the North, we drive south, arriving in Reykjavík in the late afternoon. It’s never long enough, but you’ll leave with new friends and a deeper appreciation for this wild, warm-hearted corner of the world.
Meals: Breakfast
Plan to depart from Keflavik International Airport (KEF) after 4 pm today.
About Your Expedition Leader
Born in Greece and now splitting her time between Greece and Iceland, Syrago Koutsoni is a naturalist guide with a passion for wildlife, wild landscapes, and human connection. After 13 years as a nurse, she followed her curiosity to Iceland, where she became a certified glacier and ice cave guide. With a background in anthropology, Syrago brings a unique perspective to guiding, blending an appreciation for nature with a fascination for people and their stories. Her calm, caring, and unhurried approach helps travelers slow down and notice the little things that make each experience special. Among her favorite wildlife encounters are Arctic fox mothers caring for their kits and elephant matriarchs leading their herds, reminders of the remarkable strength of females in nature. When she’s not guiding, Syrago enjoys dancing, practicing handstands, and soaking in Iceland’s geothermal pools. Her happy place is a glacier in southern Iceland on a clear winter morning, surrounded by glowing blue ice and solitude.
Details
Price: $8395* per person, private room included with no single-supplement fee. A discount of $1197* per person is available for travelers sharing a room.
What’s Included: Six nights of accommodations in a private room (no single-supplement fee; discounted double-occupancy rate available); hosting and guiding throughout by Syrago Koutsoni; a local woman biologist as nature interpreter on Grímsey; six breakfasts and four dinners as listed; private van transportation, including fuel and tunnel tolls; Grímsey ferry crossing with weather contingency planning and rebooking; whale watching tour on Skjálfandi Bay; horseback riding at Langhús farm; admission to Forest Lagoon geothermal baths; 24/7 in-country support; and a conservation donation on behalf of every traveler.
What’s Not Included: International flights; travel insurance (quotes available); lunches; dinners in Akureyri other than the farewell dinner; alcohol and other drinks; optional activities (guided flotation session); gratuities; personal expenses.
*Reflects payment by ACH. Credit card fees, if applicable will be assessed at time of booking.
Group Size: 4-6
Every Her Wild Life expedition is built for women who want full, active days and authentic wildlife encounters, which sometimes means being out early and moving when the wildlife is most active. We put you in the right place at the right time, while acknowledging that the best encounters take a mix of guide expertise and genuine luck.
This North Iceland expedition involves:
- An easy activity level: No previous experience is required, and horse riding is beginner-friendly.
- Two longer drives: Day 1 and Day 7 are the long driving days. Every other day stays short and is broken up by stops.
- A ferry crossing to Grímsey of about three hours each way, with an early start on the day we go.
- Weather-dependent plans: Grímsey depends on the sea and the fog, so we schedule it early in the trip and keep two backup days. If the ferry isn’t an option, a flight from Akureyri is the alternative, and we’ll swap days to follow the best weather.
- Early June conditions: In late May and early June, North Iceland experiences average daytime highs ranging from 43°F to 57°F and nighttime lows between 35°F to 46°F. Wind speeds typically average 8 to 14 mph, though coastal gusts can make the open air feel 5°F to 10°F colder. Pack layers, because the weather can change quickly.
- Pack your sense of adventure, wonder, and humor.
Conservation Impact
Every Her Wild Life trip helps protect the natural world we love exploring. A conservation donation is made on behalf of each participant, supporting efforts to protect wildlife, preserve habitats, and ensure these extraordinary places thrive for generations to come.
