Arctic Cruise to Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland

Stay overnight at your hotel. The evening is at your own leisure.

Longyearbyen is a Norwegian settlement often referred to as the capital of Svalbard. This is a lively small town, situated in a fantastic Arctic landscape. Barentsburg is a Russian settlement with an exotic collection of Russian artifacts and architecture.

Kings Bay is the largest fjord on the northwest coast of Spitsbergen. At 78º 55’ N, Ny Ålesund is the world’s northernmost permanently inhabited community, where a number of countries run their own national research stations. Activity here is particularly high in the summer. When Dutchman Willem Barents first discovered Svalbard in 1596, the name he gave to this new land was ‘Spitzbergen’ (“Spitz” meaning sharp), reflecting the sharp and steep mountains in the area. Magdalenefjorden is home to a very important piece of cultural heritage; a whaling station from the 16th century, including a graveyard of whalers who died during the first “oil adventure."

Moffen is a high latitude islet at 80°N with a walrus colony and bird sanctuary. The atoll-like shape of the island made it a perfect safe harbor for any early whalers caught in bad weather.

Leave the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream to enter the cold water current that follows the coast of East Greenland. Make your way south, within the boundaries of Northeast Greenland National Park; the largest national park on Earth. The mountains are alpine, the waters are scattered with large icebergs and the valleys are populated with Musk oxen. This voyage will take you to one of the most isolated places on Earth – but aboard one of the most capable specially-built expedition vessels. Expert guides and lecturers will safely guide you on hikes and small boat trips in addition to briefings and lectures on the places you visit.

Ittoqqortoormiit or Scoresbysund is the most isolated town in Greenland. The trappers living here are the only ones allowed to hunt within the North East Greenland National Park.

Sailing across the Denmark Strait to Iceland, arrive at Ísafjörður on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Snæfellsnes is known as “Iceland in a nutshell” due to of the diversity of its landscape; lava and rock formations, glaciers and volcanic activity, and a wealth of bird life. Ísafjörður has a long history as center of commerce and fish trading. Take a stroll in the cosy town with its timber houses built by wealthy foreign traders in the 18th century.

Grundarfjörður is considered a place of unusual beauty and is one of very few places in the world where the authorities have provided reserved areas for the “hidden people” or elves!

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and referred to locally as the “smallest big city on Earth.” In relative close surroundings of the city, you may find glaciers, waterfalls, geysers and mountains. Here is where your voyage ends.