Arctic Odyssey

Welcome to Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Svalbard and the gateway to your Arctic adventure! Upon arrival at Longyearbyen Airport, the team will warmly welcome you and arrange your transfer to a comfortable hotel, included in your itinerary. Once settled, you can have the freedom to explore this charming and easily walkable town.  

Begin your journey at the outstanding Svalbard Museum, where you can delve into the region’s rich history and pick up rare polar books and maps. Later, savor a delicious meal at one of Longyearbyen’s inviting restaurants. If you’re still awake at midnight, you can witness an unforgettable sight—the sun shining high in the Arctic sky, a phenomenon that will accompany you throughout your time in Svalbard.

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, take the morning to explore Longyearbyen at your own pace. Admire the breathtaking views of icy fjords and glacier-capped mountains that frame this historic former coal-mining town. Browse local shops for unique souvenirs or pick up any last-minute essentials, such as cold-weather gear—though you won’t need much, as you receive a complimentary parka and waterproof boots to borrow aboard the ship. Choose from various casual dining spots for lunch, including the world’s northernmost pizzerias and kebab stands.  

In the afternoon, transfer to the pier, where the crew will warmly welcome you aboard the luxurious expedition vessel. Settle into your spacious suite and explore the ship, your comfortable home for the adventure ahead. As you set sail, the journey begins with engaging briefings and introductions from your expert expedition team. After the first of many delicious onboard dinners, step onto the open decks to take in the stunning 24-hour daylight as you glide through the wildlife-rich waters of Isfjorden.

Svalbard is a true High Arctic wilderness and this part of the voyage is a real expedition. Your route and exploration opportunities here are heavily dependent on the weather and sea ice conditions you encounter. Your 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.

You 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. Jagged, snowy mountain peaks flank deep fjords and narrow channels. Immense tidewater glaciers calve icebergs into turquoise waters. Fields of flowering tundra are home to grazing reindeer and playful Arctic foxes. Bountiful inshore and offshore waters are home to various marine mammals. Polar Bears can be spotted anytime, anywhere in and around Svalbard.

Also in this area is Ny Alesund, a former mining town now home to an international community of Arctic researchers, complete with a museum, gift shop, and post office. This was also a staging area for historic attempts to discover the North Pole.

From Svalbard, you head southwest across the Greenland Sea toward East Greenland. In these far northern latitudes, sea ice can be encountered at any time of the year. All along the way, you remain vigilant when you see marine mammals such as whales and seals. 

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

The Franz Josef Fjord and Kong Oscar Fjord systems are part of Northeast Greenland National Park, the world’s largest national park. Scoresby Sund is the largest and longest fjord system in the world. You 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 meters 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 multicolored tundra are home to musk oxen and Arctic hare. The vast, open, and seemingly untouched landscape since the beginning of time is a hikers’ paradise. You can also find ancient Thule archeological sites, historical trappers’ huts, and modern Inuit hunters’ cabins throughout this area.

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 the opportunity to meet Inuit people.

The days are filled with memorable excursions, sumptuous meals, presentations by your experts, and enough stunning scenery to fill your camera and overwhelm your emotions.

After your amazing time in East Greenland, you cross the Denmark Strait toward Iceland, crossing the Arctic Circle. Presentations and workshops by your expert staff and your 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 and exterior stateroom windows and balconies.

Your last expedition day is spent in Iceland's beautiful Vestfirðir (Westfjords). This remote and sparsely populated region of crenulated coastlines, voluminous waterfalls, and rugged mountains sees only 10% of Iceland's visitors. Deep fjords are home to whales, while estuaries abound with seals and birdlife. 

After breakfast, you say farewell in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, and the ending point of your expedition. Transfer to the airport or the city center is provided if you wish to spend another day or more in Iceland before flying home.

Reykjavik has many cultural institutions, such as museums, galleries, and the Hallgrímskirkja 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!