REYKJAVIK TO TROMSO
ICELAND, JAN MAYEN & SPITSBERGEN 

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14 DAYS

ITINERARY SUMMARY
Day Place Highlights
Day 1 Reykjavik Explore Reykjavik
Days 2-6 Explore Iceland Latrabjarg Cliffs, Dynjandi Waterfall, Vigur Island, Hornbjard Cliffs & Akureyri
Day 7 At Sea Whale watching
Day 8 Jan Mayen Whales, little auks, northern fulmars, Brunnich’s Guillemots
Day 9 At Sea On board presentations, sea birds, whales
Days 10-11
Spitsbergen Polar bears, bird life, beautiful landscapes
Days 13 Bear Island On board presentations, sea birds, whales
Day 14 Tromso, Norway Disembark

Day 1 Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik Iceland reflection
Overview:

Sprawling Reykjavík, the nation’s nerve center and government seat, is home to half the island’s population. On a bay overlooked by proud Mt. Esja (pronounced eh-shyuh), with its ever-changing hues, Reykjavík presents a colourful sight, its concrete houses painted in light colours and topped by vibrant red, blue, and green roofs. In contrast to the almost treeless countryside, Reykjavík has many tall, native birches, rowans, and willows, as well as imported aspen, pines, and spruces. Reykjavík’s name comes from the Icelandic words for smoke, reykur, and bay, vík.

Days 2-6 Exploring Iceland

Puffin Iceland

On Iceland’s north coast and close to the westernmost tip of the country are the impressive cliffs of Latrabjarg; Europe’s largest bird cliff. Millions of individual seabirds make their home along the promontory safe from the range of scavenging foxes on the steep ledges. Atlantic Puffins, Northern Gannets, Razorbills and guillemots have each selected their preferred areas in and above the cliff in which to roost and nest. The Latrabjarg cliffs reach heights of up to 440 meters along a staggering 14 kilometer stretch of the coast.

Dyjandi-Waterfall_1071806576-small

Iceland is well-known for its spectacular waterfalls. The iconic Dynjandi waterfall, located in the Westfjords region, is regarded as one of Iceland’s most impressive and majestic waterfalls. At the top, the cascading water is roughly 100 feet wide and tumbles down about 330 feet into the fjord. Its name Dynjandi means, “the thundering one” and its vast size, enormous sound, and sheer force is overwhelming. It has also been nicknamed, ‘The Bridal Veil’ because of the way the water sprays and spreads over the rocks.

silversea Elliott Neep vigur Island

Image Credit: Elliott Neep

Vigur Island is a little more than a mile (1.6 km) in length and about 450 yards (412 m) wide. This green oasis punctuates the waters of the Ísafjarðardjúp fjord east of the town of Isafjordur. The island is home to a single farming family and has some meticulously preserved historical landmarks including Iceland’s only windmill, built in 1840 and used until 1917 for grinding imported wheat from Denmark; and a 200-year-old rowing boat, which is still in use to ferry sheep to the mainland. Summer is the best time to see large numbers of Atlantic Puffins, Arctic Terns and Black Guillemots.  Cruise along Hornbjard Cliffs, Iceland.

 

Akureyri, called the Capital of the North is the second largest urban area in Iceland, and a lively one at that. Hemmed by the 60-km (37-mile) long Eyjafjörður, Akureyri is sheltered from the ocean winds and embraced by mountains on three sides. Late 19th-century wooden houses impart a sense of history, and the twin spires of a modern Lutheran church rising on a green hill near the waterfront, provide a focal point. To the south of Akureyri is the pyramid-shape rhyolite mountain Súlur. Beyond it is Kerling, the highest peak in Eyjafjörður District.

Day 7 At Sea

Northern Fulmar Arctic

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is whale watching from the Observatory Lounge, writing home to your loved ones or gazing out across the Greenland Sea, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Day 8 Jan Mayen

Jan-Mayen_102657194

Humpback and minke whales cavort and feed in the waters around the impressive volcanic island of Jan Mayen with its towering ebony peaks and broad black lava beaches. The primordial landscape is dominated to the north by the 7,500 feet high (2,300 meters) Mt Beerenberg, an active volcano covered in glacial ice that last erupted in 1985. With permission from the Norwegian authorities, a landing is possible at this rarely visited outpost.

Day 9 At Sea

Northern Fulmar Arctic

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do.

Days 10-11 Exploring Spitsbergen

There are several deep fjords and prominent glaciers in the northern reaches of Svalbard, as well as the northern hemisphere’s widest glacier front. Ice conditions will dictate how much can be accessed in terms of cruising bird islets like the Andøyane Islets or approaching glaciers like Monaco Glacier and Seliger Glacier. The Northern Region is also known to have several walrus haul-outs and areas defined as “Arctic Desert”. Walks and hikes ashore to have a closer look at flora and wildlife are a possibility in the spectacular Northern Region of Svalbard.

Polar-bear-foraging-Spitsbergen

Svalbard’s Southern Region and specifically Spitsbergen’s west coast is less ice-clogged than the rest of Svalbard due to the moderating influenced of the Gulf Stream. Several fjords cut into the western coast of Spitsbergen and have been used by trappers and hunters, as well as the different mining companies that tried to exploit the riches of the archipelago’s largest island of Spitsbergen. Remains of huts and mines, as well as active commercial and scientific settlements can be found and visited. Depending on the time of the season, glaciers can be visited on foot or by sea.

Day 12 Bear Island

Bear Island Norway

Almost half way between Tromsø and Svalbard is isolated Bear Island – considered the southernmost island of the Svalbard Archipelago. The unglaciated island is an impressive Nature Reserve of steep, high cliffs that are frequented by seabirds, specifically at the southern tip. Brünnich’s guillemots, common guillemots, black guillemots, razorbills, little auks, Northern Fulmars, glaucous gulls, black-legged kittiwakes, and even Atlantic puffins and Northern gannets nest along the cliffs south of Sørhamna.  Despite the name polar bears are very infrequent visitors.

Day 13 Tromso

Tromso-in-Northern-Norway_1053722456

Tromsø surprised visitors in the 1800s: they thought it very sophisticated and cultured for being so close to the North Pole—hence its nickname, the Paris of the North. It looks the way a polar town should—with ice-capped mountain ridges and jagged architecture that is an echo of the peaks. The midnight sun shines from May 21 to July 21, and it is said that the northern lights decorate the night skies over Tromsø more than over any other city in Norway.

To book this cruise contact us on 1300 784 794 or email: contact@arctictravelcentre.com.au

We will tailor the perfect holiday to suit your needs.