If there is a common thread that runs throughout this expedition, it is our guests’ desire to see puffins up close and personal. We have observed puffins throughout our journey, but today was the day when everyone’s dreams came true. We were in the town of Bakkagerdi, which is the home of a wonderful puffin colony, complete with a boardwalk to make visiting the puffins much easier. Puffins are not the only seabird you will find in a typical seabird colony, and today we were treated to close views of puffins, in addition to fulmars, kittiwakes, and a host of birds that make the cliffs of Bakkagerdi their home.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 07 Jun 2025
Bakkagerdi, 6/7/2025, National Geographic Explorer
- Aboard the National Geographic Explorer
- Arctic
Steve Morello, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Steve Morello has had a long and colorful career in the natural history world. Born in New Jersey, he was lucky to be able to summer on the shores of Cape Cod. Whether it was exploring the tidal pools, snorkeling along the beach, or hiking in the dun...
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Fire and Ice: An 8-Day Sail Around Iceland
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6/9/2025
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National Geographic Explorer
Heimaey
We started the last day of our voyage with a beautiful morning at sea, enjoying the calm seas and sunshine. Our National Geographic photo expert Jonathan Kingston gave an enlightening presentation about giving your photographs a voice. Shortly after, we sailed by the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago and saw many seabirds going in and out of their nests on the steep cliffs. Before lunch, we docked in Heimaey, the only inhabited island of the archipelago. Some of our guests went on a panoramic tour and others went on a hike to the top of the new crater of Eldfell, formed during the eruption of 1973. Everybody had time to explore this lovely town on a warm summer day. Once back on board, we gathered for the Captain’s Farewell and the introduction of the amazing crew of National Geographic Explorer . After our last dinner on board, the captain took us on a ship cruise around Surtsey, the newest island of Iceland, born from an undersea eruption in 1963. The sunset light made it even more magical. We admired views on Surtsey and of the Vestmannaeyjar with Eyjafjallajökull behind us.