Svalbard to Iceland Via Jan Mayen

Your Arctic expedition will begin in the Finnish capital city of Helsinki where after arriving independently you can make your way to your hotel for your overnight stay. You may wish to arrive a couple of days early to allow time to sample some of this city’s many delights.

On the morning of day 2 you will join the transfer to the airport for your charter flight to Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of Svalbard. Upon arrival there will be some time to explore this unique Arctic town before you board your ship and settle in to your comfortable surroundings. As we set sail you will get fantastic views of the mountainous background and dramatic landscapes of this remote settlement. Your experienced expedition crew will brief you on what’s ahead as you embark on your Arctic adventure.

For the next 4 days you will immerse yourself in the beauty of this spectacular remote island, on a constant search for the wildlife that makes this part of the world so intriguing. Exploring western Spitsbergen and its stunning fjords and glacier fronts, you will embrace the very nature of expedition cruising as there will be no particular fixed itinerary for your cruise. However, there are a number of destinations that you can expect to visit, and your experienced expedition team will choose the best course for optimum wildlife viewing and the best places from which to get an insight into the history and geology of Spitsbergen.

Spitsbergen is the largest of the islands in the Svalbard archipelago, teeming with abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery. You will cruise along the glaciers and fjords in search of sightings of polar bear, walrus, reindeer and various whales. Birding here is fantastic with likely sightings of Arctic terns, skuas, long-tailed ducks, kittiwakes, little auks and the rare ivory gull. If conditions are favourable in this northern Arctic wilderness we may be able to sail within 10 degrees of the North Pole!

For the next couple of days, we will be sailing south through the historic Greenland Sea towards your next stop on this exciting itinerary. Take the time to relax and enjoy the comforts of your expedition ship, watch a movie, sip on a cocktail from the bar or take advantage of the free time and collate the many pictures you will no doubt have taken in Spitsbergen. You can join interesting presentations and talks about the wildlife and history of the Arctic, whilst on deck the nature experts onboard can help you to identify the seabirds that follow the ship.

On day 9 we will have reached the location of our next adventure…the wild, mysterious and remote volcanic island of Jan Mayen. This impressive nature reserve deep in the North Atlantic Ocean is in fact so remote that very few people have ever been lucky enough to enjoy an exploration here. Weather permitting, we hope to spend the day here enjoying exciting Zodiac cruises for close-up views of the breathtaking Beerenberg volcano and a shore visit in search of the island’s abundant birdlife. The birding enthusiasts among us will be on the lookout for the glaucous gulls, Brünnich’s guillemots, kittiwakes, northern fulmars and little auks that are found in great numbers on this BirdLife International designated Important Bird Area.

These 2 days will spent at sea sailing under the Midnight Sun on the Denmark Strait towards Iceland, the final stop on your journey. Spend these days spotting marine mammals and birds from the observation deck or join interesting presentations and lectures about the history of exploration in the Arctic.

The morning of day 12 signals the end of your voyage and, after breakfast onboard, you will disembark in Reykjavik and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day will be at your leisure, with time to explore some of this charming and unique capital city. The following morning, it will be time to check out as your itinerary comes to an end and join a transfer to the airport for your onward or homeward flight. Should you wish to spend some extra time in Reykjavik, please let us know and we will be happy to provide you with plenty of post-voyage options for extending your trip.