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Homes in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway

The Wild Arctic: Cruise from Svalbard to Iceland

Longyearbyen to Reykjavik - Example 15 Day Cruise aboard SH Vega
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Embark on a 15-day cruise from Svalbard to Iceland aboard SH Vega. Start in Longyearbyen, where polar bears, walruses, and Arctic foxes roam. Explore Svalbard’s fjords and icy landscapes, then venture to Jan Mayen, home to the towering Beerenberg volcano. Navigate Greenland’s Scoresbysund, the world’s largest fjord system, surrounded by glaciers and rugged cliffs. Visit Ittoqqortoormiit, a remote Inuit settlement where Arctic traditions continue. Spot muskoxen, seals, and seabirds before sailing to Iceland’s Westfjords. Explore Isafjordur’s maritime history and walk Vigur Island’s bird-filled shores. Witness the breathtaking Dynjandi waterfall before arriving in Reykjavik, where Viking history and modern culture meet. Encounter Arctic wildlife, explore untouched landscapes, and experience the region’s remote beauty.
Walking through vast arctic landscapes. Colorful houses of SvalbardHallgrimskirkja Church in ReykjavikPolar bear and cubIceberg near floe edgeHomes in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
Highlights
  • Cruise through Svalbard’s fjords, home to polar bears and walruses
  • Witness Beerenberg, Jan Mayen’s towering snow-covered volcanic peak
  • Explore Scoresbysund, the world’s largest fjord system in Greenland
  • Encounter Arctic wildlife, including muskoxen, seals, and snowy owls
Activity Level: Variable
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Longyearbyen

Arrive at the airport and head to your hotel. Relax, and spend the overnight here preparing for your adventure.

*Specific hotel and location to be announced.

Day 2: Longyearbyen | Embark

Visit Longyearbyen, the northernmost town on Spitsbergen, Svalbard’s largest island. Walk its farthest-north high street and stop by its remote pub. Explore The North Pole Expeditions Museum, which showcases early attempts to reach the pole by air. See the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, storing backup seeds from around the world. Watch for bowhead and narwhal whales in the Arctic waters, and spot walruses resting along the shores.

Day 3-5: Svalbard

Svalbard is the kingdom of the polar bears, deep in the Arctic Circle, featuring varied polar landscapes and gargantuan glaciers. Beyond magnificent fjords in the north, the remaining sea ice serves as prime hunting grounds for polar bears. Closer to Longyearbyen, tundra and beaches replace snow and ice. Alongside 600 polar bears, this Arctic hotspot is home to walrus, Svalbard reindeer, ringed seals and arctic fox.

Expedition Activity: Zodiac Tour 
Duration: 2 hrs

Day 6-7: At Sea

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip, or head to the library, which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of the on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from the onboard professional photographers.

Day 8: Jan Mayen Island

The snow-covered stratovolcano Beerenberg dominates the ice cap and glaciers at the northeast end of Jan Mayen Island. Halfway between Svalbard and Iceland, this Norwegian island's only residents are the Norwegian Armed Forces or meteorological station staff. Purple saxifrage and endemic dandelions grow next to the black sands, while northern fulmars, Brünnich’s and black guillemots and little auks make Jan Mayen an important birding area.

Day 9-11: Scoresbysund | Ittoqqortoormiit

The world’s largest fjord system, Scoresbysund spans over 350 km into Greenland’s heart. This vast network of fjords, glaciers and icebergs is framed by towering basalt mountains, which shield Greenland’s wildlife from Arctic winds. Muskoxen, Arctic foxes and mountain hares roam the land, while little auks, puffins, fulmars, snowy owls, gyrfalcons and great black-backed gulls soar overhead. Seals and whales are common sightings in the waters.

In the southeastern part of Greenland, the city of Ittoqqortoormiut appears, on the territory of which only 500 people live. A thick layer of sea ice prevents ships from approaching the city's port for nine months of the year, so he arrived in this remote city. Ittoqqortoormiut was founded in 1925 by the Danish explorer Einar Mikkelsen and a group of about 80 Inuit, covering a vast hunting ground. There is still hunting and sea fishing. The territory of Ittoqqortoormiit is home to white foxes, bears and seal colonies.

Day 12: At Sea

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip, or head to the library, which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of the on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from the onboard professional photographers.

Day 13: Isafjordur | Vigur Island

Surrounded by fjords in the Westfjords region, Ísafjordur is a bustling fishing town and cultural center in northwest Iceland with cafés, restaurants and museums. The Heritage Museum, also known as the Maritime Museum, houses some of the country's oldest buildings and explores the region's fishing heritage through compelling exhibits. Nearby, Osvor is a replica of a 19th-century Icelandic fishing station.

A jewel of the Westfjords, Vigur is the fjord's second-largest island and a thriving seabird sanctuary. Flocks of arctic terns, puffins, guillemots and eider ducks nest atop rocky cliffs. As one of only two inhabited islands, Vigur supports a family farm continuing the centuries-old eiderdown harvest across 3,500 nests. This remote pillar also houses Iceland's sole windmill, its tiniest post office and a 200-year-old, still-seaworthy rowing boat.

Day 14: Dynjandi Waterfall

Considered one of Iceland’s most impressive falls, the thunderous Dynjandi waterfall in the Westfjords region gives the impression of a bridal veil as it spreads down ever-growing cascades. The walk takes 15 minutes, passing five smaller waterfalls.

Day 15: Reykjavik | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Make sure there is sufficient time to explore this diminutive but dramatic capital city. Despite its small size, you won’t be short of things to see and do. To get your bearings, take the elevator to the top of Hallgrímskirkja. This church, designed by famed Icelandic architect Gudjón Samuelsson, is one of the most distinctive buildings in town. When you return to earth, visit the city’s other renowned building, Harpa Concert Hall, located at the heart of Reykjavík's regenerated harbor – also the home of the Maritime Museum. Speaking of cultural spaces, tour the National Museum to learn the story of Iceland from past to present. The Reykjavík Art Museum houses an impressive contemporary collection including eye-catching pieces by Erró. And, of course, just 50 kilometers outside the city lies Thingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland’s original Viking parliament.

Ship/Hotel

SH Vega

SH Vega
SH Vega Club Lounge
SH Vega Club Lounge

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

  • Jun 21, 2025from $11,425
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Deals

Up to $5,500 Air Credit + Gold Wifi 27659
Book your 2025 voyage by July 7, 2025, and take advantage of up to $5,500 Air credit plus Gold Wifi. The offer applies to selected sailings across all balcony categories. Valid on new bookings only, subject to availability, and cannot be combined with any other promo, except for the 5% repeat guest discount. Additional restrictions may apply. Please contact us for details.
Applies to Jul 17, 2025 departure

Per person starting at
$15,880
SH Vega Suite OceanViewOceanview
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Oceanview D4
19 m2, Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
SH Vega Suite OceanViewOceanview
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Oceanview M4
19 m2, Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Balcony
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Balcony D5
28 m2, Located at the forward and aft of the ship, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or double bed bedrooms with a living room area, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6m2 balcony
Balcony
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Balcony M5
28 m2, Located at the center of the ship, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or double bed bedrooms with a living room area, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6m2 balcony
Balcony
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Balcony D6
28 m2, Located on deck six, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or double bed bedroom with living room area, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6m2 balcony
SH Vega SuitePremium suitePremium Suite
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Suite
44 m2, Our Suites features a super king bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom, and a 12 sq.m. private balcony.
SH Vega Suite PremiumSH Vega Suite PremiumPremium suitePremium Suite
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Premium Suite
49 m2, Our grandest suites feature a super king bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom, a spacious walk-in wardrobe, and a 12 sq.m private balcony.
Included
  • 14 Breakfasts, 12 Lunches, 13 Dinners
  • 14 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Wifi
  • Self-service laundry 
  • Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
  • Lecture programs by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
  • Onboard gratuities & port taxes
  • Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions.
  • Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
  • One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
  • 24-hour room service
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
  • We recommend every traveler to take out a travel cancellation insurance, travel interruption insurance and a travel health insurance policy with an assumption of the return transport costs of repatriation

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This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
Lindsay Gompf

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