Fair Isle, Jan Mayen & Spitsbergen Birding

Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice Edge & Spitsbergen - Birding Special

Prices From £2,431pp
May to June | 9 nights

Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice Edge & Spitsbergen - Birding Special

Aboard: MV Plancius MV Ortelius M/V Hondius

This North Atlantic Odyssey cruise will take you from the sub-Arctic to the heart of the Arctic in search of unrivalled avian, marine and land wildlife encounters. You will discover Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands before sailing north to explore the mysterious Norwegian volcanic island of Jan Mayen and enjoying a thrilling sail along the Arctic ice edge. Your action-packed adventure will conclude with a brief exploration of the wildlife-filled wilderness wonderland of Spitsbergen.

This special expedition will emphasise birding, featuring at least one dedicated expedition guide. The guide will share their expert knowledge of bird species, assist you in identifying and photographing birds on deck, and provide insights into the birds we encounter. Along with outdoor sessions, the guide will delve into Arctic bird species and related topics through onboard recaps and lectures.

This trip operates on various dates aboard 3 different vessels. Please enquire for full rates and dates.

Highlights

  • Join dedicated birding experts to spot, photograph and learn all about an array of Arctic birdlife
  • Search the waters of the North East Atlantic for a variety of marine life including numerous species of whale, orca and dolphins
  • Discover the enchanting lands of Fair Isle on the Shetlands
  • Explore the volcanic island of Jan Mayen
  • Enjoy a thrilling sail along the Ice Edge
  • Experience the wildlife paradise of Spitsbergen
  • Search for sightings of polar bears, reindeers and other Arctic wildlife
  • Spectacular scenery throughout
  • Myriad birdlife
  • Enjoy Zodiac cruises and land walks

What's Included

  • Full board accommodation on board with all meals, snacks and hot drinks
  • All zodiac excursions and landings with expert guides
  • Programme of expert lectures
  • Loan of rubber boots and snowshoes

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Aberdeen
1Day

Aberdeen

Your adventure begins in the “Granite City” of Aberdeen, where having arrived independently you will make your way to the port to board your expedition vessel. As you settle into your comfortable accommodation and familiarise yourself with the ship, we will set sail. Make sure to spend some time on deck as we leave the port as Aberdeen’s surrounding waters are known to be frequented by several cetaceans, including orcas (killer whales).

Fair Isle, Shetlands
2Day

Fair Isle, Shetlands

Today we will make the first stop of our voyage as we visit the small island of Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands. World renowned for its varied and abundant birdlife as well as its traditional knitwear, Fair Isle is home to a fantastic bird observatory and just 70 human inhabitants. As we make land you can enjoy a walk to the observatory to see an abundance of sea birds and hopefully some grey seals as well.



At Sea
3 - 4Days

At Sea

Over the course of the next two days your expedition ship will be sailing north towards the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, 300 nautical miles northeast of Iceland. As we sail you can enjoy the fantastic program of presentations and lectures by noted naturalists covering everything from the geology and wildlife of the areas you will be visiting to the history of polar exploration.

The main highlight of this portion of your voyage may be simply spending some time on deck or in the observation lounge seeking out sightings of the minke, fin, orca, and blue whales that are known to frequent the waters below.

Jan Mayen
5Day

Jan Mayen

Today brings us to the stark volcanic island of Jan Mayen where upon arrival we will be greeted by the spectacular sight of the snow-capped summit of Mt. Beerenberg. This area offers excellent scenic photo opportunities with broken glaciers grasping out into the frigid sea from the imposing slopes of this 2300m high volcano.

After making your way to land via Zodiac boat you can enjoy a gentle hike across the barren volcanic landscape to see the remains of a 17th-century Dutch whaling station. With permission from the Norwegian authorities, we also hope to visit the weather station here.

Ice Edge
6 - 8Days

Ice Edge

As we sail under the midnight sun we will make our way north along the edge of the sea ice to continue our search for marine wildlife sightings. This time spent at sea will be filled with exciting exploration as your captain and experienced crew expertly choose course to offer the best chances of wildlife encounters. As we sail we hope to spot bowhead whales, harp seals and a wide variety of seabirds. It is during this part of our journey that we are also most likely to encounter polar bears, so make sure to have your cameras on hand!

As we reach 79° north we will change direction to sail westwards to the rocky edges of the continental shelf of west Spitsbergen. Here we will be on the lookout for the fin whales and minke whales which are often spotted near the glacial mouths of the gaping Spitsbergen fjords.

Forlandsundet, Spitsbergen
9Day

Forlandsundet, Spitsbergen

The last place we will visit on our fulfilling North Atlantic voyage will be the visually spectacular area of Forlandsundet. This 88 km long sound is found between the main island of Spitsbergen and the narrow Prins Karls Forland and is home to an abundance of enchanting Arctic wildlife including large haul-outs of walrus. As with all polar expeditions, flexibility is the key, and should conditions dictate an alternative route we will instead sail into St. Johns Fjord or land at Alkhornet in the mouth of Isfjorden. Here we will find huge numbers of seabirds nesting on the cliffs, whilst Arctic foxes stalk below hoping for eggs and chicks to fall within their grasp. You will also be able to see reindeers here grazing on the sparse vegetation that covers that the landscape.

Longyearbyen
10Day

Longyearbyen

Your thrilling Arctic cruise will come to an end in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of Svalbard, where after breakfast you will disembark and bid a fond farewell to your expedition team and new-found friends. You may wish to spend some further time here exploring this unique Arctic town or enjoying some of the many extra excursions and activities that are on offer here. Please enquire for details of the land-based activities that we would be happy to arrange for you. Otherwise, it’s sadly time to make your way to the airport for your onward or homeward flights, filled with memories of the adventure of a lifetime.

A view from Above

All Aboard

MV Plancius
Mid range vessel

MV Plancius

Plancius was built as a Dutch oceanographic research vessel and refurbished as a passenger ship in 2009. It has ice strengthened bow and stern and is ideal for polar sailing. There is a mixture of suites and cabins, all with window or porthole. There are twin, triple and quadruple cabins suitable for sharing. Public areas are a spacious observation lounge and bar, library, lecture theatre and dining room along with plenty of outside deck space and an open-bridge policy. Rubber boots are supplied for all passengers.

MV Ortelius
Mid range vessel

MV Ortelius

Ortelius was built as a Russian scientific survey ship with ice strengthened hull, ideal for polar sailing. She has been completely refurbished for polar expedition travel and has a selection of suites and cabins with windows or portholes and private facilities. There are twin dining rooms, a lecture room, bar and observation lounge and lots of open deck space plus an open-bridge policy. Ortelius also has a helicopter landing pad and helicopter excursions are available on some itineraries.

M/V Hondius
Luxury vessel

M/V Hondius

Launched in 2019, the Hondius is a deluxe vessel that has been built to the very highest Polar Class for ice-strengthened vessels. The first civilian vessel in the world to receive a Polar Class 6 notation and designed to fully comply with the mandatory requirements of the Polar code, the M/V Hondius leads the way for both safe ship operation and protection of the Polar environment.

Providing deluxe accommodation for up to 170 passengers, the M/V Hondius offers one of the highest comfort experiences of all vessels which operate in the Polar Regions. The accommodation onboard is provided in numerous suites of varying sizes, from the Hondius Suite to quadruple porthole cabins, with all cabins having either a balcony, large windows or portholes. Each cabin has been custom-designed and impeccably outfitted in a stylish décor.

The M/V Hondius has been designed to offer a deluxe feel whilst still maintaining a sense of cosy camaraderie, with welcoming communal, observation and dining areas. An entire deck has been dedicated to space for lectures and presentations, and every element of the vessel has been thoroughly thought-out to provide the very best passenger experience.

The vessel features a sheltered Zodiac boarding zone making joining and returning from land-based excursions fast and easy, and has been built to exceed the latest Green requirements imposed by the International Maritime Organisation to ensure that your trip causes as little impact as possible on the areas you will visit.

Too much to choose from? This is where we come in

Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Arctic adventure for you.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike has more than 15 years of experience in the travel industry and continues to be inspired by the people, places and wildlife he discovers. His in-depth personal knowledge of a diverse range of destinations ensures your adventure itinerary will be a holiday like no other.

Sheena Ogley Senior Travel Expert

Sheena’s abiding love of adventure travel has taken her to some of the most incredible wildlife-rich places on Earth. Her vast experience and genuine desire to share her knowledge makes her an outstanding and invaluable person to help you organise your wildlife adventure trip.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

Simon’s deep passion for and first-hand knowledge of a vast range of destinations all over the world gives him the ideal skills to help you create a truly unforgettable wildlife inspired adventure to the most exciting places on the planet.

Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us
0800 195 3385
Outside the uk
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43

Chat Now

Fill in our
Enquiry form

Book Consultation

Book a
Consultation

text
close

Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43 Call us - 0800 195 3385

Chat Now

Fill in our
Enquiry form

Book Consultation

Book a
Consultation

Start your adventure here

From first ideas to final itinerary, we'll guide you every step of the way. Tell us where you'd love to go and a specialist will be in touch.

We take your privacy seriously. See our privacy policy for how we handle your data

Call Us
0161 568 2004
From outside UK:+44 1625 58 11 43

Lines are open from 9am -5.30pm Monday - Friday