Arctic Highlights Southbound
15 days, Longyearbyen to Keflavik
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 1Longyearbyen
Embark aboard the Expedition in the afternoon and depart Longyearbyen. An arrival transfer is included. Guests should follow the joining instructions provided in their welcome information for luggage drop-off and embarkation details.
Please make sure you drop your checked luggage off at the meeting point between 9am - 12pm. A local representative will be in the luggage storage room. They can provide general information about the town or your embarkation process.
All passengers will be transferred to the ship as a group for embarkation at 4pm. Please ensure that for embarkation you have your passport accessible (not in your luggage which is being transferred separately to the ship).
Please ensure your flight arrives by 2pm at the latest in order to be on time for today's 4pm embarkation.
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.
Arrival Transfer
Locate the G representative for your included arrival transfer.
Meals included:
DinnerDays 2–5Svalbard
Begin the expedition among the fjords, glaciers, historic sites and tundra landscapes of western and northwestern Spitsbergen. The expedition team will use local weather, sea-ice and wildlife conditions to select the best available opportunities for landings, Zodiac cruises and scenic ship cruising before setting a course toward Greenland.
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.
Over four full days, explore a small portion of the western coast of Svalbard. Entering the fall the days are getting shorter so try to take advantage of all of the sunlight possible to search for wildlife.
Spend these days in search of the elusive polar bears as they hunt seals. Look out for Svalbard's unique subspecies of reindeer. Although much smaller than their southern relatives, they still carry impressive antlers. Keep a sharp lookout for Arctic foxes.
By not having a set itinerary, we take on an expedition spirit and are free to take advantage of the best that Svalbard has to offer.
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.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDays 6–7Greenland Sea
Cross the Greenland Sea toward East Greenland. Attend lectures and educational programs led by the expedition team, spend time on deck watching for whales, seals and seabirds, and watch for drifting pack ice. If conditions safely allow, the ship may explore near the ice edge for a closer look at the polar marine environment.
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.
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 8–12East Greenland: Scoresbysund, Ittoqqortoormiit and Remote Fjord Exploration
Spend several days exploring the immense fjords and rugged coastal landscapes of East Greenland. Sail among sculptural icebergs, glacier-carved valleys, steep mountain walls and broad stretches of Arctic tundra as the expedition team selects the most suitable opportunities each day.
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, Zodiac cruises and scenic navigation through Scoresbysund and remote fjords extending south along the East Greenland coast.
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.
Expedition
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDays 13–14Denmark Strait
Cross the Denmark Strait toward Iceland. Continue the onboard lecture series and spend time on deck watching for whales, seabirds and changing ocean conditions.
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 | DinnerDay 15Port of Keflavik
Disembark shortly after breakfast at the Port of Keflavik. Transfer arrangements will be confirmed onboard before departure. Guests should observe the published onward-flight restrictions when making travel plans.
For guests departing on disembarkation day, G Adventures will provide a complimentary transfer at 8:00am to Keflavik International Airport from the port.
For guests who are planning on staying in Keflavik or Reykjavik post trip, taxis will be available for hire at the pier to transfer them to their accommodations.
All transfer arrangements will be confirmed while on board prior to departure, to ensure that all needs are met.
Please do not book onward travel prior to `12:00pm.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.