Arctic Islands & Fjords

Day 1: Longyearbyen

The world's most northerly town, Longyearbyen, on Spitsbergen, Svalbard's largest island, also claims the most northerly high street and pub. It's home to The North Pole Expeditions Museum chronicling early pole-reaching efforts by air. Nearby, Svalbard Global Seed Vault preserves duplicate seeds from gene banks worldwide. Arctic waters around are populated by whales, including bowheads and narwhals, while walruses are regularly seen hauling out.

Day 2 to 8: Svalbard

Svalbard is the kingdom of the polar bears, deep in the Arctic Circle, featuring varied polar landscapes and gargantuan glaciers. Beyond magnificent fjords in the north, the remaining sea ice serves as prime hunting grounds for polar bears. Closer to Longyearbyen, tundra and beaches replace snow and ice. Alongside 600 polar bears, this Arctic hotspot is home to walrus, Svalbard reindeer, ringed seals and arctic fox.

Day 9: Day at Sea

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Day 10: Jan Mayen Island

The snow-covered stratovolcano Beerenberg dominates the ice cap and glaciers at the northeast end of Jan Mayen Island. Halfway between Svalbard and Iceland, this Norwegian island's only residents are the Norwegian Armed Forces or meteorological station staff. Purple saxifrage and endemic dandelions grow next to the black sands, while northern fulmars, Brünnich’s and black guillemots and little auks make Jan Mayen an important birding area.

Day 11: Day at Sea

Days at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind and do whatever takes your fancy. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading a chapter or two, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to the green days spent exploring on land.

Day 12: Grimsey Island

Grímsey is a remote island located 40 km off Iceland’s north coast. Many people travel here for the purpose of setting foot in the Arctic Circle, the only place in Iceland where you can. The island is also home to fewer than 100 people, but over one million seabirds. Birdlife thrives here thanks to the lack of egg predation and the well-stocked surrounding seas. Grímsey has one of Iceland’s largest tern nesting sites and largest puffin colonies.

Day 13: Isafjordur - Vigur Island

Surrounded by fjords in the Westfjords region, Ísafjördur is a bustling fishing town in northwest Iceland with colourful wooden 18th- and 19th-century houses in its old town, Neskaupstadur. Nearby, Sudavik is home to the Arctic Fox Centre. Iceland’s only mammal, the arctic fox, lives on the lush tundra of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, the northernmost peninsula in the Westfjords with two of Europe’s largest bird cliffs.

A jewel of the Westfjords, Vigur is the fjord's second-largest island and a thriving seabird sanctuary. Flocks of arctic terns, puffins, guillemots and eider ducks nest atop rocky cliffs. As one of only two inhabited islands, Vigur supports a family farm continuing the centuries-old eiderdown harvest across 3,500 nests. This remote pillar also houses Iceland's sole windmill, its tiniest post office and a 200-year-old, still-seaworthy rowing boat.

Day 14: Reykjavik

Make sure there is sufficient timeto explore this diminutive but dramatic capital city. Despite its small size, you won’t be short of things to see and do. To get your bearings, take the elevator to the top of Hallgrímskirkja. This church, designed by famed Icelandic architect Gudjón Samuelsson is one of the most distinctive buildings in town. When you return to earth, visit the city’s other renowned building Harpa Concert Hall, located at the heart of Reykjavík's regenerated harbour – also the home of the Maritime Museum. Speaking of cultural spaces, tour the National Museum to learn the story of Iceland from past to present. The Reykjavík Art Museum houses an impressive contemporary collection including eye-catching pieces by Erró. And, of course, just 50 kilometres outside the city lies Thingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland’s original Viking parliament.

• Group return transfers (Airport to hotel, hotel to airport for charter flight, Airport to ship, ship to airport)
• One-night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard. Copenhagen hotel if cruise start in Longyearbyen and Reykjavik hotel if cruise start in Kangerlussuaq
• One way charter flight from Copenhagen to Longyearbyen or from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq
• All meals onboard
• 24-hour room service
• Coffee, tea, soft drinks, and selected alcoholic beverages available 24 hours per day
• Lecture programs by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
• Standard WiFi
• Self-service laundry
• Onboard gratuities and port taxes
• One selected shore excursion per non-expedition port of call
• Up to 2 expedition activities per expedition port of call
• Stainless Steel water bottle and backpack

• Any items not mentioned as included.