Arctic Explored: Svalbard, East Greenland & Iceland Expedition

Arrive in Paris, where your Arctic expedition begins. Make your own way to the group hotel for your included overnight stay. This evening, meet your fellow travellers and members of the expedition team over dinner. Tomorrow, an included charter flight takes you from Paris directly to Longyearbyen in Svalbard.

Meals:  D

After breakfast, transfer for the included charter flight from Paris to Longyearbyen, the world's northernmost town and gateway to the Svalbard archipelago. On arrival, there will be time to explore Longyearbyen, with its colourful buildings and long mining history, before boarding the ship. Meet the captain and expedition team and settle into your cabin as you set sail into the High Arctic.

Meals:  B,L,D

Spend four days exploring the islands and remote coastline of Svalbard, with long summer days under the Midnight Sun allowing plenty of time to make the most of changing conditions and wildlife opportunities. In northwest Spitsbergen, glacier-carved fjords, mountains and Arctic tundra provide habitat for Svalbard reindeer, Arctic fox and walrus, while the expedition team will be constantly watching for signs of polar bears. Offshore, these nutrient-rich waters attract Blue, Sperm, Minke and Humpback Whales during the summer months. Explore fjords such as Krossfjorden and Liefdefjorden, where glaciers descend towards the sea and icebergs drift through the surrounding waters. Zodiac excursions offer opportunities to explore closer to the glacier fronts, while shore landings reveal tundra vegetation, historic whaling sites and remnants of Svalbard's hunting past. Conditions permitting, continue north and east towards Nordaustlandet and Hinlopen Strait, where sea ice can persist well into summer. Svalbard's cliffs also support large breeding colonies of guillemots, fulmars, kittiwakes, Little Auks and puffins, with opportunities to explore beneath the colonies by Zodiac. The exact route and daily landings will be determined by weather, sea ice and wildlife, allowing the expedition team to make the most of conditions as they unfold.

Meals:  B,L,D

Leaving Svalbard behind, cross the Greenland Sea towards East Greenland. Enjoy time on board attending lectures, relaxing in the lounge, catching up on reading or photography, and watching for whales and seabirds from the outer decks. As you travel west, there is the possibility of encountering the sea-ice edge, where open water meets shifting ice floes. Conditions permitting, explore by Zodiac and look for Ringed and Bearded Seals resting on the ice. The expedition team will also continue to watch for polar bears as you make your way towards Greenland.

Meals:  B,L,D

Arrive in Scoresby Sund, the world's largest fjord system, for three days of exploration along the remote east coast of Greenland. Extending some 350 kilometres inland, the fjord branches into a network of channels surrounded by mountains, glaciers and icebergs. Explore by ship and Zodiac, with shore landings providing opportunities to walk across the tundra and search for wildlife. Musk oxen, Arctic fox, Arctic hare and lemmings inhabit the region, while seals and a variety of whale species can be found in the surrounding waters. Narwhal also occur here, although sightings are never guaranteed. The region supports a wide variety of Arctic birdlife, including geese, eiders, divers, Arctic Terns, puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes. Conditions permitting, visit Ittoqqortoormiit, one of Greenland's most isolated communities, situated near the entrance to Scoresby Sund. Spend time exploring the settlement and learning about life in this remote part of East Greenland, where hunting traditions remain part of the local culture. As throughout the expedition, daily activities will depend on weather and ice conditions, with the itinerary adapted to make the most of opportunities for Zodiac cruising, shore landings and wildlife viewing.

Meals:  B,L,D

Cross the Denmark Strait towards Iceland, with a day at sea to relax following your time in Scoresby Sund. Join lectures introducing Iceland’s natural and cultural history, spend time on deck looking for seabirds and marine life, or catch up on your photography as you sail towards the Westfjords.

Meals:  B,L,D

Arrive in Iceland's Westfjords and the small fishing community of Ísafjörður. Once a 16th-century trading post, today the town is a cultural centre for this sparsely populated region, with museums, galleries and artisan workshops to explore. This afternoon, travel further into the Westfjords to Dynjandi Waterfall. Set at the head of a remote fjord, the waterfall descends around 100 metres over a series of six stepped falls before reaching the shore below.

Meals:  B,L,D

Continue to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the fishing village of Grundarfjörður, surrounded by mountains and overlooked by distinctive Mount Kirkjufell. The surrounding area is also habitat for White-tailed Eagles, Iceland's largest bird of prey. Depending on the day's programme, explore the landscape around Kirkjufell or visit a traditional farm for an introduction to local culture and Icelandic horses. This afternoon, visit Flatey Island in Breiðafjörður Bay. Explore the island on foot among its historic houses, small church and traditional rural landscape. Flatey has strong connections with Iceland's medieval sagas and is also an important breeding area for seabirds, with around 50 species recorded nesting on the island.

Meals:  B,L,D

Arrive in Reykjavík early this morning. After breakfast, disembark and take the included coach transfer to either a central Reykjavík location or Keflavík International Airport, where your expedition concludes. *Due to possible weather or operational delays, please do not arrange onward travel before 12 noon.

Meals:  B