Day 1: | Depart UK for Oslo
depart London Heathrow 07:20, arrive Oslo 10:25 and group transfer to the hotel. Afternoon city tour and visit to the Viking Museum. Evening dinner buffet and overnight at the Clarion Hotel Royal Christiania |
Day 2: | Longyearbyen & embarkation
group transfer from hotel to Oslo Airport. Depart Oslo 09:20 arrive Longyearbyen 13:55. Time to explore the administrative capital of the Svalbard archipelago of which Spitsbergen is the largest island. The delightful Parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting and more than 100 species of plant have been recorded in this area so perhaps time for some photography. Early evening departure – set sail out through the fjord of Isfjorden. |
Days 3-5: | Exploring Spitsbergen and the islands of Svalbard
the Expedition Team plans all your activities to take advantage of local weather and ice conditions. Anticipate visits to the 14th of July Glacier, the settlement of Ny Alesund, a base station of international Arctic research, and Monaco Glacier. Be on the alert as we explore for wildlife. Sightings of Arctic Terns, Arctic Skuas, Long-tailed Ducks, Kittiwakes, Glaucous Gulls and reindeer are possible. Moffen Island is a walrus sanctuary, if the conditions are right, we may see walrus hauled out on shore or swimming in the protected waters. Polar bear sightings are another possibility. |
Days 6-7: | Greenland Sea
while at sea, the Expedition Team delivers illustrated presentations about the wildlife and cultures they anticipate you will encounter in Greenland. The naturalists assist with seabird identification from the deck of the ship. You may participate in as many, or as few, shipboard activities as you choose. |
Days 8-11: | Eastern Greenland
the coast of eastern Greenland is wild, rugged and often ice-bound. This area is an excellent habitat for wildlife that require ice floes to thrive, such as polar bear. We’ll sail the ice edge, lowering Zodiacs from time to time to cruise at ocean level or to go ashore.
If conditions permit, we’ll compare cultures as we visit the remains of ancient Thule settlements and a remote modern day settlement. At all times, we’ll be on the alert for musk oxen, because 40% of the world’s population lives on the eastern coast.
Before we leave Greenland we plan to sail into Scoresbysund, the largest fjord in the world. |
Days 12-13: | Denmark Strait
while crossing Denmark Strait en route to Iceland, we’ll watch for whales, and learn about the extraordinary geology and history of Iceland and its surrounding islands. |
Day 14: | Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar)
the history of the Westman Islands is as shrouded by the mists of time as a Norse Saga. The name refers to a term used by the Norse to refer to Irishmen, or west men.
In the 1600’s a fleet from the Ottoman Empire that included Barbary Pirates raided the islands, capturing 400 inhabitants. They were sold into slavery in Algiers.
Like the rest of Iceland, the Westman Islands are volcanically active. As recently as 1963, a new island, Surtsey, was created as a result of a volcanic eruption. |
Day 15: | Disembark at Reykjavik
disembark at Reykjavik after breakfast, and transfer to your centrally located hotel (Hotel Centrum). Time to explore the capital or to venture further afield and explore Iceland’s geothermal wonders. |
Day 16: | Transfer to Keflavik airport and depart on Icelandair at 16:10 to Oslo, arriving London Heathrow 20:10. |
Note: | Please note the voyage route and daily itinerary is subject to ice and weather conditions therefore flexibility is the key to enjoying your expedition voyage to the full. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. Flight timings are subject to change at the discretion of the airline. Group flights are from London Heathrow via Oslo to Longyearbyen with Scandinavian Airlines, and from Keflavik (Reykjavik’s nearest international airport) to London Heathrow, however if you wish to fly from another UK airport please call us to discuss your options. Thank you. |