Day 1: Embarkation in Longyearbyen, Svalbard
Welcome to Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost permanent settlement! It’s located on the island of Spitsbergen in Svalbard, an archipelago located halfway between Norway and the North Pole with a population of nearly 3,000. Svalbard is an International Arctic wildlife wonderland, home to reindeer, walruses, seabirds, and polar bears, regulated by a special treaty like Antarctica—and we’re heading out to look for them all.
Spend the morning exploring this fascinating town, whether that’s visiting the Svalbard Museum, perusing local gift shops, or having a beer from Svalbard Brewery Then, in the afternoon, embark upon the Polar Angel, our home for the next 14 days. Get to know the ship and your fellow expeditioners as you settle in, then wave goodbye to Longyearbyen as we set sail at 6 p.m.
Day 2: Exploring Northwest Spitsbergen
Our first full expedition day begins with a half-day sail up to Northwest Spitsbergen. Once there, we’ll look to explore Raudfjord, or «Red Fjord,» so named for the scenic red sandstone mountains along its edge. Conditions permitting, we’ll go ashore for a hike across the tundra.
Day 3–4: Wildlife Spotting along the Ice Edge
For a two-day interlude, we’ll leave Svalbard behind for a rare change to explore the edge of the sea ice that extends all the way up to the North Pole. Despite being far from land, life proliferates here—we might see walruses or ringed seals hauled out on the ice, seabirds flying overhead, or potentially even polar bears, if we’re lucky. If conditions allow, we’ll drop our Zodiacs to get up close and personal with the ice.
Days 5–7: Exploring Spitsbergen
Returning to Svalbard, we have three exploration days ahead of us. The expedition team will ensure your safety and enjoyment during your time in Svalbard, considering weather, sea, and land conditions as they decide your activities for the day. Depending on their determinations, you might make a landing to hike across the tundra, visit a small settlement to learn about Svalbard’s coal mining and whaling history, take a Zodiac cruise through an iceberg-filled fjord surrounded by glaciers and mountains, or observe thousands of seabirds nesting on the rocky face of a towering cliff.
Days 8–10: Crossing the Greenland Sea
During our time at sea, our expedition staff will share their knowledge about the region’s wildlife and history, both human and natural, through a series of lectures. But don’t forget to spend time on deck to watch seabirds circle the ship, or to scan the surface of the sea for whales. If whales are spotted, the science team may deploy a suite of instruments to study them, from drones to
hydrophones.
Our crossing is also an excellent time to make use of the ship’s amenities, whether that’s the bar in the lounge or the sauna and plunge pool in the «whaleness center.»
Days 11–12: Wildlife Spotting in East Iceland
We’ve finally made it to Iceland, where we’ll spend two days exploring the eastern coast of the volcanic nation. Activities will depend on weather conditions, but we hope to visit the remote island of Papey, a birding hotspot thanks to its puffin and guillemot colonies. It’s also home to the oldest wooden church in Iceland. We’ll also look to visit some of the picturesque small towns in the shadow of snow-capped mountains along the coast, as well as offer hikes and Zodiac cruises.
Day 13: Volcanic History in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
On the last full day of our adventure, we’ll travel to the volcanic archipelago of Vestmannaeyjar. We’ll go ashore on the island of Heimaey, the site of a 1973 eruption that buried some 400 buildings in the town of Vestmannaeyjar in lava and ash. Activities here might include hiking to the crater’s edge, visiting Viking ruins, enjoying a meal at a local restaurant, or Zodiac cruising around the island looking for wildlife, from whales to puffins.
Day 14: Disembarkation in Reykjavik, Iceland
The time has come to say farewell to your fellow expeditioners, expedition staff, scientists, and crew. Disembarkation is at 8 a.m., leaving you the day to explore Reykjavik or head to the airport for your flight home.