Scotland to Svalbard

Day 1: Embarkation, Edinburgh

Board your ship this afternoon and set sail towards Kirkwall.

Day 2: Orkney Islands

Visit the historic and mystical sites of Mainland Orkney (the archipelago’s largest island) by coach. Explore the Standing Stones of Stenness, the intriguing Ring of Brodgar, and the village of Skara Brae.

Day 3: Shetland Islands

Continue north to the Shetland Islands. Fair Isle is a real paradise for birdwatchers. Huge numbers of birds inhabit the lush grasslands and spectacular cliffs with over 345 recorded species – more than anywhere else in Britain. You may spot northern fulmars, kittiwakes, northern gannets, puffins, and great and arctic skuas as you hike on the island.

Day 4: Faroe Islands

Land at the Faroes’ capital, Torshavn, for a tour to Kirkjubøur. Once the ecclesiastical and cultural centre of the Faroes, the imposing ruin of the 13th century Saint Magnus Cathedral still dominates the site.

Day 5: at sea

Keep watch for whales and seabirds as you cruise north to Jan Mayen.

Day 6: Jan Mayen

Jan Mayen is a stark volcanic island crowned by the snow-capped summit of Mt. Beerenberg. From the slopes of this imposing volcano, broken glaciers grasp out into the frigid sea. The only inhabitants are the staff at the Norwegian weather station, who share the island with northern fulmars, kittiwakes and Brünich’s guillemots.

Day 7: at sea

Your Expedition Team will prepare you for the Arctic encounters to come with some informative presentations as you continue your voyage north.

Days 8-11: Spitsbergen

Over the next few days your Expedition Team will take advantage of local ice and weather conditions to explore the highlights of south west Spitsbergen. Discover spectacular fjords, jagged snowy mountain peaks and immense tidewater glaciers that calve icebergs into turquoise waters. Fields of flowering tundra are home to grazing reindeer and playful Arctic fox, whilst bountiful seas entice walrus and a wide variety of whales. The whole area is alive with migratory birds, including numerous rare species, taking advantage of summer’s fecundity in 24-hour daylight. You may also visit the historical remnants of whaling camps, coal mining operations, trappers’ cabins and even an abandoned polar research station.

Day 12: Disembarkation, Longyearbyen

Your expedition comes to an end as you disembark in Longyearbyen this morning.

Notes

• All voyage itineraries are intended as a guideline only - embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy of expedition travel. Actual routes and landings will be dependent on weather, sea and ice conditions. A degree of flexibility is essential in the polar regions!
• The above sample itinerary is based on the 12-day voyage on the Sea Spirit. Other departures may vary in duration and routing, please contact us for specific details.