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Spitsbergen to East Greenland

From £8636

Excluding Flights

12-24 Nights

Jul-Aug

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 well as abundant birdlife as you visit Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland.

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.

Itinerary

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 below sample itinerary is based on the 15-day voyage on the Ocean Explorer. Other departures may vary in duration and routing, i.e. alternative embarkation or disembarkation ports, or do not include the pre-voyage hotel night. Please contact us for specific details.

Spend the day exploring Helsinki, which is known for its scenic harbour and Art Nouveau architecture.

Fly from Helsinki to Longyearbyen, the largest community in the Svalbard Islands, and well worth exploring before you board your ship this afternoon.

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.

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.

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 micro-climate for spectacular hanging gardens whilst Kong Oskar Fjord offers spectacular glacier-carved mountains. Enjoy a warm Inuit welcome at Ittoqqortoormiit, the most remote community in East Greenland.

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.

Shortly after breakfast, disembark in Reykjavik. Speak to our team about extending your stay in Iceland’s capital city or venture into the countryside.

Prices

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

From £8636 Excluding Flights

12-24 Nights

Jul-Aug

NOTES

  • The inclusions for this cruise are dependent on the vessel chosen – those shown are applicable to all. Please contact us for full details and to discuss the options best for you

Make this trip yours

Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.

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We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch. 

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