Day 1: Embarkation in Reykjavik, Iceland
Welcome to Reykjavik, Iceland! Spend the morning exploring this vibrant capital city, whether that’s strolling the streets to look for street art, visiting landmarks like Hallgrímskirkja church or the Sun Voyager sculpture, or touring museums like the National Museum of Iceland or the Perlan Museum.
In the afternoon, you’ll 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 Reykjavik as we set sail at 6 p.m.
Day 2: Volcanic History in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
On the first 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.
Days 3–4: Wildlife Spotting in East Iceland
This morning will be spent at sea, sailing around the southern coast of Iceland. These fertile waters are an excellent spot for whale watching, so make your way on deck with binoculars in hand. By the afternoon, we’ll arrive in eastern Iceland, where we’ll spend the next day and a half.
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.
Days 5–7: 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 8–13: Exploring the West Coast of Svalbard
After a few days at sea, we’ll reach the archipelago of Svalbard, located halfway between Norway and the North Pole. Despite its remoteness, nearly 3,000 people live here, primarily in the main town of Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost settlement. Svalbard is an International Arctic wildlife wonderland, home to reindeer, walruses, seabirds, and polar bears, regulated by a special treaty like Antarctica.
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.
If conditions allow, we plan to sail right up to the edge of the sea ice that extends all the way up to the North Pole and drop our Zodiacs to explore. 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.
Day 14: Disembarkation in Longyearbyen, Svalbard
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 Longyearbyen or head to the airport for your flight home.