Arctic Highlights Northbound
15 days, Keflavik to Longyearbyen
Itinerary Notes
This trip is assigned a Physical Rating of 2. It is accessible to most fitness levels and for those able to do extended walks and light hiking on various terrain. It is important to note that for landings in the Arctic we use Zodiacs and wet beach landings in what sometimes can be extreme environments. This will require you to be able to safely navigate ice and snow on uneven ground, to lift your leg over the side of a Zodiac and push yourself up, walk on wet, rocky beaches and stand throughout the landing with no place to sit. Please also note that the Expedition does not have an elevator and thus staircases must be used to move between decks, and depending on the weather the ship can sometimes find itself navigating rough and choppy sea conditions. For visual examples of the zodiac landings and activities please refer to the Excursions image gallery on the Expedition landing page here.
When arranging your transportation, such as flights, please take into consideration the below time restrictions for joining and departing from your group. With these times, we have taken into account travel time to/from the airport in the given destination and required time for check-in or baggage collection/immigration.
Itinerary
Day 1Keflavík Port
Embark aboard the Expedition in the afternoon and depart Keflavík in the late afternoon. An arrival transfer is included. Guests should follow the joining instructions provided in their welcome information for luggage drop-off and transfer details.
Drop off your checked luggage by 2pm at the joining hotel's luggage storage room and there will be a late afternoon transfer. Depart port of Keflavik in the late afternoon.
Arrival Transfer
Locate the G representative for your included arrival transfer.
Embarkation of the Expedition
In the afternoon, join your fellow passengers to take your group transfer and begin your journey on the Expedition. Please refer to your welcome letter or the joining instructions posted in the lobby of the start hotel. Make sure you have your passport handy as you are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
Meals included:
DinnerDays 2–3Keflavik/Denmark Strait
Settle into life aboard the Expedition as the ship crosses the Denmark Strait toward East Greenland. Attend lectures and educational programs led by the expedition team, spend time on deck watching for seabirds and marine mammals, and prepare for the days of exploration ahead.
Arctic Lectures and Educational Programs
Attend lectures hosted throughout the day on anything from local wildlife to the history and exploration of the Arctic.
Expedition
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDays 4–8East Greenland: Scoresbysund, Ittoqqortoormiit and Remote Fjord Exploration
Spend several days exploring the vast fjord systems and remote coastal landscapes of East Greenland. Sail among immense icebergs, glacier-carved valleys, steep mountain walls and broad stretches of High Arctic tundra as the expedition team selects the best available landing and Zodiac-cruising opportunities based on local conditions.
A planned visit to Ittoqqortoormiit offers insight into daily life, history and culture in one of Greenland’s most remote communities. Elsewhere in the region, the flexible expedition program may include hikes, shoreline exploration and Zodiac cruises through dramatic fjords and quiet bays. Wildlife sightings are always unpredictable, but the region may offer opportunities to observe musk oxen, Arctic foxes, seals, whales and Arctic birdlife.
Expedition
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
Ittoqqortoormiit Community Visit
Visit Ittoqqortoormiit for an up close look into life in the most remote town in Greenland. This small settlement is home to only 450 individuals and one grocery store. The people of Ittiqqortoormiit rely heavily on hunting and fishing and have honed these skillsets for many generations. They enjoy spending warmer weather on dog sleds, snowmobile trips, or camping excursions. With the closest inhabited settlement hundreds of miles away across some of the most unforgivable terrain in the world, the warmth and sense of community fostered by the people of Ittiqqortoormiit act as a beacon in the Arctic.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDays 9–10Greenland Sea
Cross the Greenland Sea toward Svalbard. Continue the onboard lecture series and spend time on deck scanning the horizon for whales, seals and seabirds. Ice and weather conditions may provide opportunities to experience drifting sea ice and the wider polar seascape.
Frigid waters drain from the Arctic Ocean in a southwest current along the coast of Northeast Greenland. Often, drifting pack ice is pushed along the coast. We will attempt to approach and follow the pack ice edge to explore the polar seascape. Keep a lookout for sea mammals like seals and whales and also sea birds such as kittiwakes and fulmars.
Expedition
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
Arctic Lectures and Educational Programs
Attend lectures hosted throughout the day on anything from local wildlife to the history and exploration of the Arctic.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDays 11–14Western Svalbard
Explore the fjords and coastlines of western and northwestern Spitsbergen, taking advantage of local weather, sea-ice and wildlife conditions. The expedition team will remain flexible, choosing from possible landings, Zodiac cruises and scenic ship cruising to make the most of each day.
Look for Svalbard reindeer, Arctic foxes, seals, whales and the region’s diverse birdlife. Polar bears also inhabit the archipelago, although sightings can never be guaranteed. Historic sites, glaciers, mountain scenery and tundra landscapes add depth and variety to the final days of the expedition.
Expedition
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
Zodiac Excursion (Arctic)
Jump into a Zodiac, and head out to explore. Keep an eye out for wildlife. The expert Expedition staff will teach the group about the flora and fauna along the way. This activity depends on weather and ice conditions.
Optional Activities - Days 11–14 HideShow
Arctic Polar Plunge
You remembered to pack your bathing suit, right? Depending on weather conditions, opt to do the polar plunge and jump into the frigid waters of the Arctic. Convince some of your fellow passengers to join and you’ll be left with an amazing group experience no one will ever forget!
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 15Longyearbyen
Disembark shortly after breakfast in Longyearbyen. Transfers to Svalbard Airport will be arranged for passengers with scheduled flights, with final timing confirmed onboard before departure.
General disembarkation from the vessel is at approximately 8:00am. You will be transferred to the airport depending on the time of your flight. Transfer times will be confirmed and communicated onboard prior to departure. Luggage storage at the port will be available until time of departure.
Due to restrictive airline schedules for flights departing from Longyearbyen, we are pleased to offer an early morning disembarkation and transfer to the airport for those passengers with flights departing Longyearbyen around 7:40am (dependent on airline schedules).
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.