Arctic Journey: Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland

Day 1: Longyearbyen

Welcome to Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Norwegian territory of Svalbard and the starting point of the expedition. After arriving via scheduled commercial flight service, you are free to explore this fascinating Arctic settlement. Be sure to see the excellent Svalbard Museum and take advantage of quality shopping and dining opportunities in the town centre. Your hotel for the night has been arranged and is included in the price of the voyage.

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Day 2: Departing Longyearbyen

In the afternoon, you are welcomed aboard the luxury expedition ship. Explore the ship and get comfortable in your home away from home for the extraordinary adventure to come. Savour the anticipation of your Arctic dreams coming true as we slip our moorings and sail into a true wilderness where wildlife abounds. The scenery as you sail through Isfjorden on your first evening is spectacular and there is already the possibility of marine mammal encounters.

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Day 3: The High Arctic

Svalbard is a true High Arctic wilderness and this part of the voyage is a real expedition. The route and exploration opportunities here are heavily dependent on the weather and sea ice conditions you encounter. The experienced captain and expedition leader decide the itinerary and continually adjust plans as conditions and opportunities warrant. You can be sure that the best possible advantage will be taken of the circumstances presented to you by nature in this wild and remote corner of the Arctic.

Anticipate exploring in the northwestern part of the island of Spitsbergen. This area contains the archipelago's most impressive scenery and some of the Arctic's best wildlife viewing opportunities. Deep fjords and narrow channels are flanked by jagged snowy mountain peaks. Immense tidewater glaciers carve icebergs into the water. Fields of flowering tundra are home to grazing reindeer and playful Arctic fox. Bountiful inshore and offshore waters are home to a wide variety of marine mammals. Polar Bears can be spotted anytime, anywhere in and around Svalbard.

Also in this area is Ny Alesund, a former mining town that is now home to an international community of Arctic researchers. This is also a staging area for historic attempts to discover the North Pole.

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Days 4-5: Across the Greenland Sea

From Svalbard, head southwest across the Greenland Sea towards East Greenland. In these far northern latitudes it is possible to encounter sea ice any time of the year. All along the way, remain vigilant for sightings of marine mammals such as whales, seals and the majestic Polar Bear. As we head south, darker nights create a high possibility of seeing aurora borealis.

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Days 6-11: Exploration of East Greenland

This is expedition cruising at its most authentic. The itinerary and exploration opportunities in East Greenland are dependent on weather and sea ice conditions. Again, you can be sure that the experienced captain will take advantage of every opportunity to experience excellent wildlife viewing, to discover incredible scenery and to go ashore wherever possible.

The Kaiser Franz Josef fjord is part of the Northeast Greenland National Park, the world's largest national park. Scoresby Sund is the largest and longest fjord system in the world. Anticipate exploring these fjord systems to the extent made possible by ever-changing ice conditions.

This whole area contains some of the Arctic's most impressive scenery. Deep fjords and narrow channels, flanked by ice-clad peaks up to 2000 metres high, reach far into the mountainous heart of Greenland. Tidewater glaciers create colossal icebergs that float with wind and tide throughout the fjord system. On shore, fields of multicoloured tundra are home to musk oxen and Arctic hare. The landscape - vast, open, and seemingly untouched since the beginning of time - is a hikers' paradise. Throughout this area you also find ancient Thule archeological sites, historical trappers' huts, and modern Inuit hunters' cabins.

The Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit is the only permanent settlement in the region. The community boasts an excellent museum, a gift shop, a post office, an abundance of Greenlandic sled dogs, and of course the opportunity to meet Inuit people.

The days are filled with memorable excursions, sumptuous meals, presentations by the experts, and enough stunning scenery to fill your camera and overwhelm your emotions. Each night brings new possibilities for incredible displays of aurora borealis, the Northern Lights. This is the perfect time and one of the world's best places to experience this otherworldly celestial phenomenon.

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Day 12: Denmark Strait

After your amazing time in East Greenland, cross Denmark Strait toward Iceland, crossing the Arctic Circle on the way. Presentations and workshops by the expert staff, as well as the range of onboard recreation facilities, ensure that this day at sea is not idly spent. Seabird viewing and whale sightings can be enjoyed from panoramic open decks as well as exterior stateroom windows and balconies.

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Day 13: Snaefellsnes

The famous Snaefellsjokull volcano and picturesque Kirkjufell mountain are dominant features in the impressive landscape of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. A rich cultural and literary history and the success of fishermen and merchants are evident in local fishing villages.

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Day 14: Departure in Reykjavik

After breakfast, say farewell in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland and ending point of the expedition. A transfer is provided to the airport or to the city centre if you wish to spend another day or more in Iceland before flying home. Reykjavik is home to a wealth of cultural institutions such as museums, galleries, and the Hallgromskirkja church. Leisure possibilities inside the city include parks, gardens, and thermal baths. You can also take advantage of Reykjavik's wide range of shopping possibilities, excellent dining options, and famous nightlife. And of course the entire country of Iceland is accessible through day tours or longer journeys by rental car. The options for additional adventures are endless!

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NOTE: This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise.