Spitsbergen to East Greenland
Overview
Three Arctic Islands in one memorable voyage! Covering many miles of extraordinary coastline, encounter wildlife such as narwhal, arctic fox, polar bear and musk oxen as you visit Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland.
Highlights
- Encounter the majestic ice bear and colossal walrus
- Observe seabirds by the thousands in towering cliff-side rookeries
- Take in breathtaking flower-dotted tundra plains
- Visit the largest fjord in the world
- Witness glaciers, gigantic icebergs and rugged mountains
- See remnants of Inuit settlements
What's Included
- Shipboard accommodation
- All breakfasts, lunches & dinners on board
- Shore landings & Zodiac cruises
- Experienced Expedition Team
- Presentations on board
Full description
This is the Arctic of Viking lore and legend - a world of icy fjords, fiery volcanoes and glittering, ice-bound seas. Commencing in Spitsbergen and ending in Iceland, this adventurous voyage focuses on the rugged and seldom visited northeast coast of Greenland.
Towards the end of the summer, as the surrounding pack ice breaks up, access to the most remote and very beautiful parts of East Greenland becomes possible. Even in today's age of receding last frontiers, this region sees few visitors. Though traces of former Inuit settlements are widespread, today just a handful of small hunting and fishing communities are found along the entire coast. In a place where man's impact has been so minimal, nature lies virtually undisturbed.
Prices & Dates *
Offers
Arctic 2020: 10% Early Booking Discount plus Free Transfer Package on selected voyages
Arctic
Book your 2020 Arctic voyage aboard the Ocean Adventurer or World Explorer and receive a 10% Early Booking Discount, plus a FREE transfer package on select voyages
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Arctic 2020: Great savings on voyages aboard the Sea Spirit!
Arctic
Early Booking offer of up to 15% off, PLUS bonus savings on select Arctic 2020 voyages aboard the Sea Spirit.
Discover MoreAirfares are quoted separately to the holiday price. When enquiring, our Travel Specialists will provide the best fare possible from your preferred airline / airport.
2019 Departures - prices are per person, based on a twin cabin
| Departure | Duration | Vessel | Activities | Prices from (pp) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jul 2019+ | 24 days | Polar Pioneer | £10,700 - waitlist only! | |
| 04 Aug 2019 | 13 days | Ocean Adventurer | £7,700 - limited availability! | |
| 04 Aug 2019 | 14 days | Polar Pioneer | £6,600 - waitlist only! | |
| 06 Aug 2019 | 19 days | SV Rembrandt van Rijn | £6,182 | |
| 17 Aug 2019**+ | 24 days | Polar Pioneer | £10,700 - waitlist only! | |
| 17 Aug 2019** | 14 days | Polar Pioneer | £6,600 - waitlist only! | |
| 01 Sep 2019 | 15 days | G Expedition | £6,099 | |
| 02 Sep 2019 | 14 days | MV Plancius | £6,909 - limited availability! |
** This departure operates in reverse, from Reykjavik to Longyearbyen
+ This departure is a combination of an Around Spitsbergen and Spitsbergen to East Greenland voyage
Activity Key:
Kayaking
Kayaking taster session
Climbing
2020 Departures - prices are per person, based on a twin cabin
| Departure | Duration | Vessel | Activities | Price from (pp) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jul 2020 ^ | 15 days | Greg Mortimer | £6,500 - Waitlist only! | |
| 09 Aug 2020 " | 23 days | Greg Mortimer | £10,600 - Waitlist only! | |
| 11 Aug 2020 * | 15 days | World Explorer | £12,500 | |
| 24 Aug 2020 + | 15 days | World Explorer | £12,500 | |
| 25 Aug 2020 | 14 days | Sea Spirit | £9,756 | |
| 31 Aug 2020** | 14 days | M/V Plancius | £7,182 | |
| 31 Aug 2020 | 15 days | G Expedition | £6,599 | |
| 06 Sep 2020 * | 15 days | World Explorer | £12,500 |
^ Departure is from Kirkenes and finishes in Reykjavik
" Departure is from Reykjavik and finishes in Longyearbyen
* Departure is from Oslo and finishes in Reykjavik
+ Departure is from Reykjavik and finishes in Oslo
** Departure is from Longyearbyen and finishes in Akureyri
Activity Key:
Kayaking
Kayaking taster session
2021 Departures - prices are per person, based on a twin cabin
| Departure | Duration | Vessel | Activities | Price from (pp) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Aug 2021 + | 25 days | Greg Mortimer | £14,800 | |
| 30 Aug 2021 * | 13 days | Greg Mortimer | £7,900 |
+ Starts in Kirkenes and finishes in Reykjavik
* Starts in Longyearbyen and finishes in Reykjavik
Activity Key:
Kayaking
Diving
Snorkelling
Paddle-boarding
What's Included
- Shipboard accommodation
- All breakfasts, lunches & dinners on board
- Tea & coffee available around the clock
- All Zodiac transfers, cruising & shore landings
- Presentations by the Expedition Team and guest speakers
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges
- 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
- No surcharge guarantee
- Full financial protection »
NOTES
- Expedition jackets are NOT provided on the Rembrandt Van Rijn, Plancius or Hondius. On all other ships you will be provided with an expedition jacket to keep.
- Rubber boots are NOT provided on the Rembrandt van Rijn. On all other ships you will be provided with a pair of boots for the duration of the voyage.
Please contact us for full details and to discuss the options best for you.
Itinerary & Vessels
Itinerary & Vessels
Day 1: Embarkation, Longyearbyen
Longyearbyen is the largest community in the Svalbard Islands, and well worth exploring before you board your ship this afternoon.
Days 2-3: Exploring Spitsbergen
Spend a couple of days exploring Spitsbergen’s northwest coast, which features calving icebergs, historic whaling stations and remote trappers’ camps. Brunnich’s guillemots, little auks and kittiwakes nest in their thousands. Reindeer roam tundra dotted with wildflowers like saxifrage, moss campion and bell-heather. Weather permitting you may board the Zodiacs for fantastic views of spectacular glaciers, and look out for walruses and polar bears as they walk and swim between the fractured pack ice.
Days 4-5: Greenland Sea
While sailing the historic Greenland Sea your expedition team will entertain you with fascinating presentations on the wildlife and history of the Arctic. Keep an eye out for fin whales, encroaching sea ice and seabirds as you go.
Days 6-12: Northeast Greenland & Scoresby Sund
An ice cap covers 81 per cent of Greenland and pack ice may fill the northern bays, even in summer. Ashore, cosy trappers’ huts beckon from across the tundra, where musk ox, Arctic hare and eider ducks roam. Lively cascades at Kap Humboldt provide a microclimate for spectacular hanging gardens whilst Kong Oskar Fjord offers spectacular glacier-carved mountains. In Scoresby Sund, the world's biggest fjord system, massive glaciers calve explosively, creating giant icebergs. Near Rode Island, the Zodiacs may be able to weave through a maze of grounded icebergs, some more than 30 metres high, sculpted with deep green tunnels and aquamarine lakes. There may also be time to enjoy a warm Inuit welcome at Ittoqqortoormiit.
Days 13-14: Denmark Strait to Reykjavik, Iceland
Sail across Denmark Strait from Greenland to Iceland, reflecting on your rich experiences and enjoying the antics of northern fulmars, black-backed gulls, dolphins, orcas and other whales.
Day 15: Disembarkation, Reykjavik
Shortly after breakfast, disembark in Reykjavik.
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 15-day voyage on the G Expedition. Other departures may vary in duration and routing, please contact us for specific details.
Ocean Adventurer
Multi-destination
Grade: Standard
Type: Expedition Ship
An attractive ice-strengthened vessel, the Ocean Adventurer features plenty of outside deck space making this a great choice for a polar adventure.
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Polar Pioneer
Multi-destination
Grade: Simple
Type: Expedition Ship
One of our smallest ships, the Polar Pioneer offers traditional expedition voyaging with a range of optional adventure activities.
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Sea Spirit
Multi-destination
Grade: Superior
Type: Expedition Ship
This all-suite vessel couples adventure with spacious accommodation and a friendly atmosphere.
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G Expedition
Multi-destination
Grade: Standard
Type: Expedition Ship
The ever-popular G Expedition offers spacious and comfortable accommodation at an affordable price.
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M/V Hondius
Multi-destination
Grade: Superior
Type: Expedition Ship
New for 2019, the M/V Hondius is one of the strongest vessels of its category in the polar regions.
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S/V Rembrandt van Rijn
Arctic
Type: Sailing Ship
The S/V ‘Rembrandt Van Rijn’ was originally built as a herring lugger in the early 1900s.
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The Greg Mortimer
Antarctica
Grade: Deluxe
Type: Expedition Ship
Brand new for 2019, the Greg Mortimer is a custom-built expedition ship featuring cutting-edge design, superior comfort and environmentally friendly technology.
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M/V Plancius
Antarctica
Grade: Simple
Type: Expedition Ship
The M/V Plancius is a traditional ex-research vessel, with proven experience in icy waters.
Discover MoreExcursions
Kayaking Taster Session
Variable Jan-Mar, Oct-Dec
Multi-destination
Explore the polar region on a sit-on-top kayak.
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Mountaineering
Variable Jan-Mar, Nov-Dec
South Georgia
Enjoy spectacular views as you scale the heights of Antarctica.
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Kayaking
Duration variable Jan-Mar, Jun-Aug, Nov-Dec
Multi-destination
Paddle alongside seals, icebergs and more on a polar kayaking excursion.
Discover moreFind a holiday idea or suggested itinerary that inspires you, then send an enquiry or call us
Your dedicated travel specialist will create a quote based on your preferences
Together we’ll refine your itinerary until you’re happy and ready to book
From the moment you book until you return home we’re here for you no matter what
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