Svalbard to Jan Mayen & Iceland

Your Arctic expedition itinerary will begin in Oslo, Norway, where you will join your included evening flight to Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Svalbard archipelago. Upon arrival in this remote wilderness you may be surprised to find that Longyearbyen is actually a relatively modern town, with first-class facilities, bars, restaurants and an internationally renowned museum – all surrounded by beautiful untouched Arctic tundra.

Overnight hotel stay in Longyearbyen included.

After a great night’s sleep in your hotel, this morning you can enjoy an exciting included excursion around Longyearbyen and its unique surroundings. This prime destination for adventure travellers is filled with fascinating features and an exploration of the area will offer an insight into life in this remote, yet somehow cosmopolitan, Arctic town. In the afternoon we will make our way to the port to board your expedition ship, and after settling in to your comfortable cabin and familiarising yourself with your new surroundings, we will set sail into the beautifully scenic Isfjord.

On day 3 your adventure will begin in earnest as we start our 2 day exploration of the stunning North West corner of Spitsbergen, where mighty fjords, scattered islands and remote windswept beaches create the most picture prefect Arctic landscapes. As with all polar expedition cruising, our itinerary throughout our time in Spitsbergen will be flexible and may be dictated by ice and weather conditions. Each day your experienced crew and captain will decide upon the best route to take in order to offer the very best scenic, adventure and wildlife experiences, with each day bringing something new and exciting.

Throughout your time here you will explore by small Zodiac boats and on foot to see up-close the wonders that this remarkable area has to offer. Your crew will also offer invaluable insights into the history of the Arctic, its wildlife and geology on shore visits that will transport you into this unique Arctic wilderness. Areas we expect to visit on Spitsbergen’s historic North West coast include Kongsfjord, where mighty glaciers calving icebergs into the sea are framed by stunning mountain formations, making this one of Spitsbergen’s most beautiful fjord areas. In this area we also hope to visit the former mining settlement of Ny-Ålesund which is now an international centre for research, with a picturesque mix of old and new buildings.

Moving further up the west coast we hope to visit the Magdalenafjorden and Gravneset areas where there will be ample opportunities for hiking adventures and thrilling kayaking excursions at the nearby Gully Glacier. For even more excitement, you may have the opportunity to take a swim in the frigid Arctic waters and earn a rare Arctic swimming certificate! A highlight in this area will be a visit to Liefdefjord where we hope to take a small boat cruise along the front of the spectacular Monaco Glacier.

Having sailed across the top of Spitsbergen, we will reach the Eastern Svalbard Nature Reserves, which boast the highest population of polar bears on the archipelago. There are good chances of observing Polar bears here, but like most things in a true wilderness, there are no absolute guarantees. Within the Svalbard archipelago there are over 3000 polar bears, probably the largest concentration on Earth, and they are often spotted on this itinerary.

Exploring around Eastern Svalbard in search of wildlife sightings and scenic experiences, we hope to visit Isflakbukta on Phippsøya, part of Sjuøyane (Seven Islands), which are located at the far north of the Svalbard archipelago. This is further north than most expeditions will go, and a visit here should reward in some excellent sightings of the thousands upon thousands of seabirds that mate here, along with large pods of walrus diving for clams in the bays.

Continuing our circumnavigation, we hope to cruise into Sorgfjord to visit the site of a famous 17th-century battle between whalers, and take a hike in beautiful Eolsneset. We also hope to enjoy some small boat cruising in the Hinlopen Strait and visit Torellneset to spot more walruses and other intriguing Arctic wildlife.

Moving towards the most southern point of the archipelago we will reach Edgeøya, Svalbard’s third-largest island, where we will take a shore visit to Kapp Lee to discover the remnants of historic Svalbard exploration on this largely unglaciated island. Our final stop in Svalbard will be Hornsund, where you may have the chance to explore the ice-filled fjord by small boat, or land to hike to a viewpoint overlooking the huge Brepollen Glacier. There are also good chances of observing Polar bears here.

After our thrilling exploration of Svalbard, today will be spent at sea sailing south towards Jan Mayen. Whilst at sea you can choose to attend one of the informative and entertaining lectures and talks from your onboard experts covering everything from the wildlife and geology of the area to the history of polar exploration. We also recommend spending some time on deck looking out for seabirds and marine wildlife and getting tips from the expedition photographer, or simply relax in the comfort of your ship and recharge for your next adventure.

Today we will reach one of the most isolated places in the world, the unique settlement of Jan Mayen. This volcanic island lies in the middle of the North Atlantic and is home to just 14 people, with visits from tourists exceptionally rare. We will attempt to make a landing here to discover the island’s unique landscape which is dominated by Beerenberg, the northernmost active volcano on earth.

Leaving the exotic Arctic island of Jan Mayen behind, we will sail further south towards Iceland, and you will notice a distinct rise in air temperatures as we sail further from the High Arctic territory. Your entertaining and informative lecture and presentation programme will continue, along with safety and bio-environmental briefings for your landings in Iceland, and some time on deck should result in multiple seabird sightings.

Welcome to the mystical lands of Iceland, where we will find a spectacularly diverse landscape of lava and rock formations, glaciers, volcanic activity and hot and cold springs. Our first stop will be one for the birders amongst us as we visit the Hornbjarg cliff, one of the greatest sea bird habitats in Iceland. Exploring by small boat we will attempt a landing here to take a hike to get a closer look and see the hundreds of thousands of seabirds that reside here including brünnich and common guillemots, razor bills, fulmars and kittiwakes.

In the afternoon we will cruise to Reykjafjörður to discover this equally stunning area. Here we expect to use the small boats to make a landing for a walk along the pebbly beach to see the shorebirds and beautiful spring flowers.

Today we will visit one of Iceland’s best kept secrets, the spectacular Westfjords region, where our first destination will be Biludalur. Here we will step ashore to sample life in this remote fishing community and visit the village’s intriguing exhibition about the mythical marine beasts, the sea monsters of Arnarfjörður which are said to guard this enchanting area.

Later in the evening we will enjoy a sail around the tip of the Látrabjarg peninsula, where if conditions are favourable we should be able to see the Bjargtangar lighthouse, Europe’s westernmost point.

Our last day of exploration in Iceland will bring us to West Iceland, otherwise known as “The Sagaland”, where we will visit the town of Stykkishólmur. Here you can enjoy a gentle stroll through the town or join an optional kayaking, horse riding or hiking excursion to explore more of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. On these excursions you can expect to see the Snæfellsjökull glacier as well as the area’s volcanic craters, black sandy beaches, bird cliffs and spectacular mountains. After an exploration of Stykkishólmur we will get back on board to start our journey to Reykjavik and enjoy our last night on board.

Arrival in to the port in Reykjavik signals the end of our Arctic adventure and sadly it will be time to bid a fond farewell to our expedition team and fellow passengers. You may wish to spend some extra time here to explore this charming and vibrant modern city which offers top restaurants, interesting museums and quirky narrow streets. Should you wish to extend your stay, please let us know and we will be happy to help you with organising excursions, transport and accommodation.