Arctic Odyssey

• Day 1 - Arrival to Reykjavík (hotel night)

  Welcome to Reykjavík, the world's northernmost capital city! We’ve arranged a hotel accommodation where you can rest after your flight and get ready for our upcoming Arctic adventures. Still have some energy left? Then use this opportunity to explore the city, which offers various points of interest and attractions for visitors. Enjoy the panoramic city view from the Perlan observation deck, the futuristic Hallgrímskirkja church towering over the city, cozy houses with colorful tin roofs, narrow streets, historic relics of the Viking era and breathtaking landscapes surrounding Reykjavik.

  We bet you’ll fall in love at first sight! Walk along Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street, or visit the Whales of Iceland exhibition and the National Museum. For dinner Reykjavík offers countless options to enjoy an authentic Icelandic meal.

• Day 2 - Embarkation in Reykjavík

  After breakfast at your hotel, the morning is yours to explore the city. Our expedition starts in the afternoon. You’ll be transferred to the pier where our expedition team will offer a warm welcome aboard our comfortable vessel M/V Sea Spirit. Get
  settled into your spacious cabins and explore the ship — It’ll be your home away from home during the extraordinary adventure to come. After departure, we’ll kick off our adventure with a full schedule of info briefings and introductions from
  the expedition staff. After a sumptuous dinner, step out onto the open decks to admire the spectacular views as we sail through Faxaflói. And keep your eyes open for whale encounters!

• Day 3 - At sea

  From Iceland we head toward East Greenland, crossing the Arctic Circle on the way. Presentations and workshops by our expert staff, as well as our 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.

• Day 4/9 - East Greenland Adventure

  This is expedition cruising at its most authentic. Our itinerary and exploration opportunities in East Greenland are dependent on weather and sea ice conditions. Again you can be sure that our experienced captain and expedition leader will take advantage of every opportunity to experience excellent wildlife viewing, to discover incredible scenery, and to 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. We anticipate exploring these fjord systems to the extent made possible by ever-changing ice conditions.

  Deep fjords and narrow channels, flanked by ice-clad peaks up to 2000 meters high, reach far into the mountainous heart of Greenland. On shore, fields of multicolored 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 we 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.

  And in late August, there’s a chance to witness the breathtaking Northern Lights! As summer fades, the skies come alive with vibrant colors, offering a magical experience you won’t want to miss.

• Day 10/11 - At Sea

  After our amazing time in East Greenland we head toward Svalbard. All along the way we remain vigilant for sightings of marine mammals such as whales and seals.

• Day 12/13 - Exploration of Svalbard

  In Svalbard, the High Arctic wilderness comes alive, offering an authentic expedition experience. Our route and exploration opportunities depend on the ever-changing weather and sea ice conditions. With our skilled captain and expedition leader, we adapt the itinerary to seize the best opportunities presented by Nature in this remote and untamed corner of the Arctic.

  We 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. Immense tidewater glaciers calve icebergs into turquoise waters. 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 Ålesund, a former mining town that is now home to an international community of Arctic researchers, complete with museum, gift shop, and post office. This was also a staging area for historic attempts to discover the North Pole.

• Day 14 - Disembarkation in Reykjavík, Iceland

  After breakfast we say farewell in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland and ending point of our expedition. We provide a transfer to the airport or to the city center if you wish to spend another day or more in Iceland before flying home.

  Reykjavík is home to a wealth of 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 Reykjavík’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!

Please consider that our voyages are expeditionary in nature. This means, that there are no concrete itineraries, your captain and expedition leader will utilise their vast experience to chart the best course for your expedition depending on the climatic and environmental conditions. Mentioned highlights and wildlife cannot be guaranteed.