SVALBARD, EAST GREENLAND & ICELAND
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13 DAYS
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Reykjavik, Iceland | Dramatic capital city, Hallgrímskirkja church, Maritime Museum, embark the ship |
| Day 2 | Dynjandi Waterfall | One of Iceland’s most impressive falls |
| Day 3 | Hrisey Island | “Pearl of Eyjafjörður”, true paradise for bird lovers: Arctic terns, puffins, and eider ducks |
| Day 4 | Husavik | Famed for whale watching, Viking history, geothermal swimming spot |
| Day 5 | At Sea | Enjoy stunning views of the passing ocean from the observation decks, attend expert-led presentations |
| Day 6 | Jan Mayen Island | Snow-covered stratovolcano Beerenberg, important birding area |
| Day 7 | At Sea | Make the most of the ship's amenities and mingle with other passengers |
| Days 8 - 11 | Svalbard | Kingdom of the polar bears, varied landscapes, gargantuan glaciers, magnificent fjords, walrus, Svalbard reindeer, ringed seals, arctic foxes |
| Day 12 | Longyearbyen, Norway | Disembark in the world's most northerly town and continue on your onwards journey |
SHIPS OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
Swan Hellenic Vega
The SH Vega is a 5 star elegant Scandi-design boutique ship offering you an intimate setting from which you will be fully immersed in all the sights and scenery of your voyage. She made her maiden voyage in July 2022, and carries a maximum of 152 guest in 76 cabins. The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth as possible. For the comfort of guests, suites have a separate living room and bedroom. All staterooms are equipped with spacious wardrobes and bathrooms.
Day 1 Longyearbyen, Norway
The world’s most northerly town, Longyearbyen, on Spitsbergen, Svalbard’s largest island, also claims the most northerly high street and pub. It’s home to the North Pole Expeditions Museum, chronicling early pole-reaching efforts by air. Arctic waters around are populated by whales, including bowheads and narwhals, while walruses are regularly seen hauling out.
Days 2 – 4 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.
Days 5 – 6 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 onboard professional photographers.
Day 7 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 8 Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland
One of the world’s most remote towns and the most isolated community in Greenland, Ittoqqortoormiit is largely inaccessible by ship for nine months of the year. Founded in 1925 by Danish explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen and Inuit settlers, it is home to 450 residents who mostly rely on hunting and fishing. The community preserves Greenlandic traditions, from harvesting qiviut–the prized muskox underfur–to maintaining sled dogs and wearing national dress.
Days 9 – 11 Scoresbysund
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.
Day 12 Vigur Island
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 13 Reykjavik, Iceland
Iceland’s vibrant capital, Reykjavík, is the world’s northernmost capital city and a lively gateway between Arctic nature and modern Nordic culture. Set between mountains and the North Atlantic, the city is known for its colourful houses, striking architecture, and a strong connection to geothermal energy, which provides heating and hot water across the city and warms outdoor pools year-round. Reykjavík offers a rich cultural scene with museums, music, and design, while dramatic volcanic landscapes, lava fields, and waterfalls lie just beyond the city. The surrounding waters are prime for whale watching, making Reykjavík a fitting and memorable conclusion to an Arctic voyage.