Your itinerary
Day 1
Bergen
Explore UNESCO-listed Bryggen and mountain peaksYour adventure begins in the charming city of Bergen. Surrounded by seven mountains and the sea, Norway’s old capital is also one of its most picturesque cities. If you have time before boarding the ship, why not stroll through the UNESCO-listed Bryggen district, with its colourful wooden wharfs dating back to the 18th century. Across from Bryggen, you’ll find the city’s famous fish market. You can even take the funicular railway to the top of Mount Fløyen for a refreshing hike and amazing views of the city, the mountains and sea beyond.
Day 2
Lerwick, Shetland Islands
Explore Scotland’s northernmost town Welcome to the Shetland Islands. Lerwick, the capital, is a friendly, Victorian-influenced fishing town set in beautiful scenery. Navigate the narrow lanes on foot to discover little shops selling local whiskies, woollen sweaters and fudge. By the old waterfront, you’ll find the Shetland Museum, showcasing Pictish carvings and lace shawls. Nearby you can see Fort Charlotte and the regal-looking town hall. Keep your binoculars handy to scan for grey and common seals along Lerwick’s beaches, as well as local birdlife such as Red-throated Divers, redshanks and curlews.
Day 3
Thorshavn
A visit to Streymoy in the Faroe Islands Tórshavn is located on Streymoy, the largest of the Faroe Islands. Founded by Norsemen in the 10th century, Tórshavn – Thor’s Harbour – is one of Northern Europe’s oldest capitals. Wander through the cobbled alleyways and delight in the colourful, turf-roofed houses found here. In the local museums, you can learn about the city’s origins and the flora, fauna and geology of the Faroe Islands. About half a mile out of town, the Svartafoss waterfall tumbles over mossy rocks. And as you walk along the seafront, look out for Eider Ducks and the distinctive Faroese Starling with its beige-tipped wings
Day 4
Elduvík
Surround yourself with the sounds of Faroese nature Today we’ll stop to explore the tiny village of Elduvík, with just 23 inhabitants. Set in the Funningsfjørður inlet in the Faroe Islands. Elduvík is split in two by the river Stórá. While small, Elduvík comes complete with a school, church, dock and pier. From the pier, enjoy the view across the sparkling waters to the nearby island of Kalsoy – it’s astonishingly peaceful here. As you walk through the village’s charming streets, listen for the songs of seabirds, bleating sheep, and waves coming to shore from the fjord. You’ll notice that the roofs of many houses are built in the traditional Icelandic style: covered in grass instead of slate, offering much-needed insulation and protection against the weather.
Day 5
Cruising
Enjoy a relaxing day as we cruise towards IcelandAs we sail towards Bakkagerði, time is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Swap stories with fellow travellers in the Explorer Lounge, relax in a hot tub on deck while scanning for seabirds and marine life, or join the Expedition Team in the Science Centre as they set the scene for northern Iceland: its stunning landscapes, cultures, and beliefs.
Day 6
Bakkagerði
Look for elves in natural beautyYour Iceland cruise continues to Bakkagerði, a tiny, remote settlement. According to folklore, Bakkagerði is inhabited by a large population of local land spirits or elves, known as huldufólk, meaning ‘hidden people’. Walk around town to explore this magical place. The area around Bakkagerði is a popular hiking area. You can join the Expedition Team to walk through lush, green valleys and gorgeous scenery among colourful rhyolite rocks. The coastal cliffs are home to fulmars, kittiwakes, eiders and puffins. We may also visit the Atlantic Puffin colony on Hafnarhólmi – a true gem for nature lovers and wildlife photographers.
Day 7
Husavik
Iceland’s best whale watching spot Today you’ll discover Húsavík, a fascinating small town that’s one of the best places in the world from which to see whales. Húsavík looks out over Skjálfandi bay, which enjoys visits from humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphin, harbour porpoise and even the elusive blue whale. If you’re lucky, you might see one or more of these giants at sea. Learn more about them at Húsavík’s Whale Museum. The town’s Exploration Museum has a section dedicated to space. As Húsavík’s geology resembles lunar rocks, NASA sent astronauts from their Apollo space missions to train here. You can also enjoy the geothermal waters at Geosea, which overlooks Skjálfandi bay, and refresh with a beer at the local microbrewery.
Day 8
Akureyri
See dramatic moonscapes and waterfallsGaze at snowcapped peaks as we cruise along Eyjafjörður, Iceland’s longest fjord. It’s also known as a great place to spot humpbacks and minke whales, as well as white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises. Iceland’s ‘Northern Capital’, Akureyri, sits at the fjord base. Here, you can enjoy the oasis of a botanical garden, and visit top-notch eateries and museums. A little further afield, you can witness the picturesque Goðafoss waterfall, where turquoise waters pound against black rocks. You can also keep an eye out for Eider and Harlequin Ducks at Lake Mývatn, one of Iceland’s more active volcanic areas.
Day 9
Cruising
Time to relax and discover what adventures lie ahead As we cross the Arctic Circle and head towards Jan Mayen, you’ll enjoy a day at sea. There’s plenty to do on board. Scan for marine wildlife from the deck, enjoy the panoramic sauna or soak in a hot tub, or simply relax in the Explorer Lounge & Bar, a great place to read or watch the world glide by. The Expedition Team will also be on hand to share insights on what’s to come over the next few days exporing the Arctic.
Day 10
Jan Mayen Island
Visit an active volcano that’s a haven for birdlifeToday we reach Jan Mayen, a volcanic island suspended 500 km offshore with no permanent residents and almost no visitors. The only inhabitants are temporarily stationed Norwegian military personnel, meaning we join a very select group given the chance to set foot here. Dominated by Beerenberg, the world’s northernmost active volcano, the landscape feels almost alien: volcanic rock, moss, and lichen stretching to the horizon. Conditions permitting, we’ll go ashore to explore. While there are no land mammals, Jan Mayen is a designated Important Bird Area, home to large colonies of northern fulmars, Brünnich’s guillemots, and little auks. Keep watch for whales and seals in the surrounding waters too. This is one of the true highlights of any Arctic expedition.
Day 11
Cruising
A peaceful interlude in your adventureSpend the day at your leisure as we sail across the Barents Sea deeper into the Arctic towards the Svalbard archipelago. Watch the open water slip by from the Explorer Lounge & Bar, soak in a hot tub on deck while scanning for seabirds, or work up a sweat in the gym. The Expedition Team will set the scene for what’s ahead with lectures on Svalbard’s history, geology, and wildlife. This time is yours to enjoy.
Day 12
Svartisen Glacier
A land of spectacular beautySpitsbergen, Svalbard’s largest island, is a wilderness of steep mountains, glaciers, and scattered offshore islands. Over the next few days, we’ll explore dramatic fjords where glaciers creak and calve icebergs into the sea, push north towards Northwest Spitsbergen National Park where sea ice may shape our route, and scan for the wildlife that thrives here: polar bears, walruses, Arctic foxes, reindeer, and colonies of seabirds nesting on the cliffs. Each day will be different. Landings, Zodiac cruises, kayaking, hikes: be ready for anything as your Captain and Expedition Team read the conditions and seize every opportunity the Arctic offers.
Day 13
Svartisen Glacier
Svartisen Glacier
Day 14
Ny-Ålesund/Svartisen Glacier
Ny-Ålesund
Svartisen Glacier
Day 15
Longyearbyen
A last day at the top of the worldYour Arctic adventure ends in Longyearbyen, where you’ll catch your flight back to Oslo. You’ll return home knowing more about Arctic animals, history, polar ice, and climate change than when you arrived – and with memories of an incredible experience.
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Elduvík Village Visit & Kalsoy Viewpoint
Visit the hamlet of Elduvík, a tiny Faroese settlement split by the Stórá river, where a white-washed church, pier, and cottages nestle against a fjord of pewter-blue water. Listen for the songs of seabirds and the soft bleating of sheep as waves fold onto the stony shore.
From the pier, view across to Kalsoy, its green slopes raked by ancient sheep-tracks. Note the traditional grass-sodded roofs, a time-tested island solution for insulation and storm-hardy shelter.
Bakkagerði Valley Hike & Hafnarhólmi Puffins
Join a guided hike from the colorful houses of Bakkagerði into lush valleys streaked with rhyolite. Local lore speaks of huldufólk ‘hidden people’ who dwell among these hills, lending a touch of enchantment to the landscape.
Walkways and viewing platforms lead to the Hafnarhólmi puffin colony, where kittiwakes and eiders share the cliffs. With patient watching, you’ll capture bright beaks and whirring wings—an experience prized by wildlife photographers and bird lovers alike.
Húsavík Bay Wildlife Scouting from Deck
From the railings of your expedition ship, scan Skjálfandi Bay where nutrient-rich waters draw cetaceans close to shore. Look for the arching backs of humpback and minke whales, the quick surfacing of white-beaked dolphins, and the shy roll of harbour porpoises.
Crisp Arctic air, low light over sea-cliffs, and a vigilant ship’s team make for focused, unhurried viewing. Binoculars ready—this is a prime setting to pause for photos and reflection.
Húsavík Whale Museum & Exploration Museum
Come ashore to step inside the Whale Museum, where skeletons and exhibits chart the biology and conservation of North Atlantic giants. Nearby, the Exploration Museum reveals Iceland’s place in space history, including Apollo mission training among the region’s lava fields.
Interpretive displays connect Iceland’s lunar-like geology with human curiosity, from early explorers to modern science. These thoughtfully curated collections deepen what you see on the water with context, scale, and story.
Akureyri Eyjafjörður Scenic Cruising & Town Stroll
Sail beneath serrated ridgelines and cruise Eyjafjorður, Iceland’s longest fjord, where calm waters reflect snow-capped peaks. Keep watch for humpbacks, minkes, and porpoises that favor this sheltered waterway.
Ashore in Iceland’s “Northern Capital,” wander to the Akureyri Botanical Garden, a surprising oasis for sub-Arctic flora, and linger in harbour cafés and galleries. Culture and scenery dovetail here, offering both quiet contemplation and a taste of everyday Icelandic life.
Jan Mayen Landing & Beerenberg Volcano Views (Weather Permitting)
When seas and winds allow, set foot on Jan Mayen, a remote outpost cloaked in moss and lichen. The stark profile of Beerenberg volcano, the world’s northernmost active cone, dominates the skyline with glaciers cascading to a black-sand shore.
Designated an Important Bird Area, the island hosts fulmars, Brunnich’s guillemots, and little auks. The isolation, raw geology, and teeming airspace make each landing an expedition rarity worth savoring.
Spitsbergen Zodiac Landings & Glacier Fronts
In Svalbard’s amphitheater of stone and ice, board expedition boats to reach beaches and tundra otherwise out of reach. Drift beneath cliffs alive with kittiwakes and murres, and approach glacier fronts where blue seracs loom above steel-grey water.
Hear creaking ice and calving bergs while you explore in near-Arctic silence. Guides interpret permafrost patterns, wildflower mats, and polar desert ecology, turning raw scenery into a living natural history lesson.
Polar Bear, Walrus & Arctic Bird Scouting
From open decks and nimble boats, scan the sea-ice edge for wildlife signatures—ivory gulls aloft, ringed seals on floes, and the powerful silhouette of the Arctic’s apex predator. With patience and ethical distances, you’ll seek the polar bear in its natural realm.
Haul-outs of whiskered giants mark walrus haul-outs, while teeming bird cliffs erupt with sound and motion. Each encounter connects behavior, habitat, and conservation in one of Earth’s most demanding ecosystems.
Ny-Ålesund Research Town & Amundsen–Nobile Mast
On Kongsfjorden, visit Ny-Ålesund research town, a high-Arctic community where scientists study climate, glaciology, and wildlife. Stroll past color-washed buildings, a tiny post office, and the former coal-mining rail that hints at earlier chapters.
Stand by the Amundsen–Nobile airship mast, a relic of historic polar exploration from the 1920s. The juxtaposition of frontier science and legend creates a vivid window into Svalbard’s past, present, and future.
Citizen Science & Expedition Lectures at Sea
Between landings, join hands-on Citizen Science—log seabird counts, sample plankton, or help track auroras—turning transit into meaningful discovery. You’ll also learn from the Expedition Team through talks on wildlife behavior, geology, and Arctic history.
Celebrate crossing the Arctic Circle and refine your craft in photography workshops designed for low light, fast action, and icy panoramas. These sessions enrich every shore visit with sharper eyes and deeper context.
Geosea Geothermal Sea Baths, Húsavík
Soak in Geosea, a hillside spa where mineral-rich seawater feeds steaming infinity pools above Skjálfandi Bay. Warmth, salt air, and horizon-wide views create a serene counterpoint to brisk Arctic breezes.
This is an optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour. It pairs well with a museum visit or a harbor stroll, offering a restorative pause between wildlife encounters.
Lake Mývatn Geothermal Landscapes & Goðafoss
Travel inland from Akureyri to visit Lake Mývatn, a wonderland of pseudocraters, lava pillars, and steaming vents. Walk boardwalks past the geothermal fields at Hverir and the otherworldly lava formations of Dimmuborgir, guided by expert commentary.
Cap the circuit by witnessing Goðafoss waterfall, where turquoise torrents meet basalt cliffs. This is an optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour, offering a concentrated sampler of North Iceland’s volcanic drama.
Húsavík Whale Watching RIB Safari
Venture out by RIB for an agile, close-to-water perspective on Skjálfandi’s cetaceans. Skippers position respectfully for flukes, breaches, and lunge-feeding, turning minutes into vivid memories of tail-slapping humpbacks and quicksilver dolphins.
Thermal flotation gear is provided for comfort and safety—provided thermal suits keep you warm while guides share behavior insights. This is an optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.
Bakkagerði Elves & Folklore Walk with Local Guide
Stroll the lanes of Borgarfjorður Eystri as you hear tales of the huldufólk, the “hidden people” said to dwell among crags and hillocks. Your guide leads a gentle walk to scenic viewpoints where imagination and landscape entwine.
Between seabird cries and colorful homes, walk among rhyolite hills while learning about local storytelling traditions that shape community and place. This is an optional excursion at additional cost, bookable on tour.
Tórshavn Old Town Tinganes & Skansin Fort Walk
Wander Tórshavn’s storybook harbor and explore Tinganes, the red-painted peninsula where Faroese governance evolved over centuries. With your guide, walk the cobbled lanes past turf-roofed houses and pocket-sized churches before reaching the cannons of Skansin fort, set to guard the harbor approaches.
The capital’s name—Thor’s Harbor—echoes its 10th-century Norse roots. Between basalt cliffs and sea, you’ll hear seabirds overhead and glimpse everyday island life in a capital that still feels like a village.
Lerwick Heritage Walk & Shetland Museum
Explore Scotland’s northernmost town on foot and join a guided heritage walk along Lerwick’s narrow lanes and historic waterfront. Step into the Shetland Museum to trace island life through Pictish carvings, fishing lore, and delicate lace shawls, then continue to the ramparts of Fort Charlotte and the ornate Town Hall.
Along sandy inlets, keep an eye out for grey and common seals while shorebirds patrol the tideline. This compact capital blends Norse and Scottish influences, making everyday scenes—stone quays, knitwear shops, and boat sheds—feel richly storied.
