Wonders of the Arctic - Tour 1

In the afternoon, you can discover the city of Oslo on your own. Overnight stay in Oslo.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Longyearbyen. You land in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, located on the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy a stroll through the former mining town. You’ll leave Longyearbyen behind for a dinner and informal lecture in a cozy, authentic cabin. The topic of the evening is polar bears. How much do you know about the King of the Arctic? (Duration of the excursion: approx. 3 hours). Overnight stay in Longyearbyen.

Many associate dog sledding with winter and freezing temperatures – but the dogs need exercise during the summer months as well! Our custom-built dog sleds on wheels offer a perfect solution for both two and four-legged to get out and enjoy the beautiful Svalbard scenery. (Duration of the excursion: approx. 4 hours). Overnight stay in Longyearbyen.

Enjoy the comfort and efficiency of a guided tour with electric bikes. On this tour, you get to see many of Longyearbyen's attractions while getting close to nature. This is a great tour also for bird enthusiasts, as we will get up close to the summer’s vivid birdlife. Embarkation in the afternoon. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.

Sailing to Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, you take in an expansive fjord spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of this fjord also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears..

You may eventually see the jagged edge of the east Greenland sea ice flashing into sight ahead, depending on the conditions. Keep watch for whales and migrating seabirds here.

As you approach Greenland, you may sail through the sea ice into Foster Bay and land at Myggebugten. Beyond the old hunters’ hut (where Norwegian trappers hunted for polar bear and Arctic fox in the first half of the 20th century), there is a sprawling tundra populated by musk oxen, with geese floating the small lakes. From here you sail through Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord, surrounded by towering mountains and bright interior icebergs. An alternate route is Sofia Sound, a narrower waterway.

For those who choose to attend, we have our first long walk (6-7 hours) of the voyage today. We start at Myggbukta station and head into Badlanddal, then turn south to Fangsthytte near Kap Bennet. A Zodiac will sail ahead of the walking party and parallel to the coast to watch out for bears.

You arrive at Teufelschloss (Devil’s Castle), a mountain with layered geology. On the other side of the fjord is Blomsterbugt and the intended landing site. In the afternoon you head towards the islands of Ruth, Maria, and Ella. Maria is the most likely spot for a landing.

In the morning you enter Segelsallskapets Fjord, with the streaked slopes of the Berzelius Mountains bordering the north side. You land on the south shore, where ancient sedimentary formations lie right at your feet. A hike takes you near a small lake with good chances to see musk oxen, Arctic hares, and ptarmigans. In the afternoon the ship ventures into Alpefjord, aptly named for the spire-like peaks that thrust up around it. You may then embark on a Zodiac cruise around Gully Glacier, which once blocked access to the interior of these waters. Continuing deep into the fjord, you experience a definitive Greenland adventure.

The first half of the day you spend in Antarctic Havn, an extensive valley where you can spot groups of musk oxen. At this time of year, the sparse vegetation is dressed in the fiery colors of autumn.

Today you reach Scoresbysund, sailing along the glaciated Boons Kyst. You may also enjoy a Zodiac cruise past one of the glacier fronts, along with a visit to the basalt columns and ice formations of Vikingebugt.

In the afternoon, we plan to sail by the east coast of Milne Land among a multitude of giant icebergs. If we can also land at Charcot Havn, we will make a walk to the Charcot Glacier. We will then continue by Bjørneør and sail into Øfjord, where we might also make a landing.

The goal is a Zodiac cruise near Sorte Ø, surrounded by icebergs. Their austere blue-white contrasts sharply with the sediment slopes nearby. The afternoon plan is to sail through the northern parts of Røde Fjord and into Harefjord, with the chance to see musk oxen and warm autumnal foliage.

In the morning you encounter colossal icebergs, some over 100 meters (328 feet) high and more than a kilometer (.62 mile) long. Most of them are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400 meters deep (1,312 feet). You then land near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning and a good shot of seeing Arctic hares.

Today’s long walk goes from Sydkap to Nordøstbugt (12 km, 7.5 miles to the northeast), where the river coming from Holger Danskes Briller flows into the sea. We plan to walk south along the shore to Satakajik, seeing whale vertebrae and the remains of Thule summer houses. Passengers who opt out of the long walking group will join us at this location for their second excursion of the day.

Today you make a tundra landing on Liverpool Land, in Hurry Inlet. The afternoon stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresbysund at about five hundred inhabitants. At the post office you can buy stamps for your postcards, or just stroll around to see the sled dogs and drying skins of seals and musk oxen. In the afternoon you sail south, passing the picturesque landscapes of the Blosseville Coast.

A sea day grants you the opportunity to spot whales and seabirds – and at night, the magical northern lights.

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. Disembarkation in Akureyri, transfer to the airport and flight to Reykjavik. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Reykjavik.

Today you will visit the sights of the Golden Circle. This eclectic journey takes visitors to the world famous Geysir area with its active geysers and Gullfoss waterfall, which plunges 230 feet (70 meters) in three stages into a narrow rock chasm. The journey continues into Thingvellir National Park, where Iceland’s ancient parliament convened, and the hot spring of Nesjavellir. On the way back to the capital, we briefly stop at the former bishopric of Skalholt and visit the greenhouses of Fridheimar (Duration of the excursion: approx. 8 hours). Overnight in Reykjavik.

Individual departure home.