Your adventure begins in the remote Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, renowned for its stunning scenery and abundant, varied wildlife such as polar bears and walrus. From there, sail south to the mysterious, volcanic Jan Mayen, a nature reserve so remote that few have ever been fortunate enough to explore this Arctic treasure. The next stop is Greenland’s beguiling east coast, where you will cruise deep into Scoresby sund to marvel at the overwhelming beauty of the world’s largest fjord system, gaze in awe at unimaginably vast icebergs, and admire the diversity of the flora and fauna that have fascinated explorers and visitors for centuries—and seize the opportunity to explore the remains of ancient Thule settlements. Your epic adventure culminates with a journey under the midnight sun to Reykjavik, where you can soak up Icelandic culture in a city that never sleeps.

Your Fly, Stay & Cruise Package Includes:

• $2500 flight credit per person
• 3 nights accommodation in Helsinki with breakfast
• Tallinn, Estonia day tour
• Helsinki city tour
• 17-night, Four Arctic Islands cruise on board Ocean Adventurer, Helsinki to Reykjavik
• All onboard meals in complimentary dining venues & selected non-alcoholic beverages
• A wide range of onboard activities & entertainment
• 2 nights accommodation in Reykjavik with breakfast
• Golden Circle & Fontana Geothermal Spa day tour           
• Private transfers throughout
• Port charges, fees & taxes onboard your cruise

Pricing is per person twin share and based on travel 06-28 August 2024

Solo traveller pricing available. Please speak to one of our travel consultants for more details

Cruise Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Helsinki, Finland

Your Arctic adventure begins in Helsinki, renowned for its extraordinary architecture and intriguing mix of eastern and western influences. If you arrive early, explore the many museums, galleries and restaurants, relax at a Finnish sauna or wander the vibrant Design District before retiring at your included hotel.

Day 2: Fly to Longyearbyen, Svalbard & Embark

This morning, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen’s largest settlement, as part of the transfer package. As you embark this afternoon, you’ll hope to enjoy great views of the mountainous landscape that serves as a backdrop for this seaside town.

Days 3 to 6: Exploring Spitsbergen

Exploring Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, rewards you with austere beauty and opportunities to spot its abundant wildlife. Here, you’ll visit spectacular glacier fronts and tundra in full bloom, with walrus, polar bears and Svalbard reindeer amongst your possible wildlife sightings. Birders will be thrilled to see Arctic terns, skuas, Brünnich’s guillemots, black-legged kittiwakes and ivory gulls. If conditions permit, you could sail within 10 degrees of the North Pole!

Days 7 and 8: Cruising

While sailing south through the historic Greenland Sea toward Jan Mayen, your Expedition Team will keep you informed with presentations about the history and politics of the Arctic, its fascinating wildlife, geology, ecology and climate, and the incredible sights you will soon explore. On deck, you’ll learn to identify seabirds “on the wing.” The team will also keep a lookout for the whales that frequent the waters here.

Days 9 and 10: Exploring Jan Mayen

North of the Arctic Circle, about 280 miles (450 km) east of Greenland and 340 miles (550 km) north of Iceland, the mysterious Jan Mayen rises from the depths of the North Atlantic. Often shrouded in thick fog, the small mountainous island was declared a nature reserve in 2010 and is rarely visited, save for the 18 rotating personnel of the Norwegian military and Norwegian Meteorological Institute, who are the only inhabitants.

Landing here will be dictated by the weather and sea. If conditions allow, as we approach, keep watch on deck as the spoon-shaped island’s highest summit emerges. At 7,470 feet (2,277 meters) high, the breathtaking Beerenberg volcano features a symmetrical cone shape and impressive glaciers that spill into the sea.

If we’re fortunate, we may get a close- up view of the volcano and the stratified cliffs of the spectacular north coast as we Zodiac cruise along the coast of the island, searching for wildlife. Designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for the large numbers of breeding seabirds, Jan Mayen supports colonies of northern fulmars, little auks, glaucous gulls, kittiwakes, and black and Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres).

Days 11 to 15: Exploring Scoresby Sund, Greenland

Your tour of Scoresby Sund—the largest, deepest and, some say, most beautiful multi-armed fjord system in the world— will offer plenty of opportunities to explore ashore or by Zodiac cruise.

At one moment you’ll be stepping back in time, exploring the remains of ancient Thule settlements with views of icebergs and towering mountains rising straight out of the sea, and the next you’ll be immersed in contemporary culture, meeting the locals and gaining an appreciation for their way of life in Ittoqqortoormiit, East Greenland’s northernmost community. At the mouth of the sound, this remote settlement boasts a blend of traditional and modern lifestyles and is geographically closer to Iceland than it is to its nearest Greenlandic neighbours to the southwest. Here, you’ll have the chance to support local Inuit artisans by purchasing unique handicrafts.

In terms of wildlife, grazing muskoxen are a possible sight, as 40 percent of the world’s muskoxen population lives in this region. Polar bear sightings are also a remote possibility, as are encounters with more elusive Arctic wildlife, such as the Arctic hare. Seabirds to watch out for nesting atop the steep cliffs of the sound include little auks, fulmars and guillemots.

Days 16 and 17: Cruising

As we sail south, the Denmark Strait is your pathway toward Iceland. Take in a presentation, share your photos, sip an icy cocktail in the bar or watch a film— there are many things to do during your time at sea. Your Expedition Team will also be on hand to answer any questions and point out wildlife.

Day 18: Depart Reykjavik, Iceland

You’ll disembark in Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, at the end of your journey. If you have booked post-expedition accommodation, we provide a transfer to a central downtown location. 

Day tour information:

Tallinn day tour:

Enjoy a guided tour along with your own time in Tallinn, Estonia's capital.

You will take a ferry to Tallinn from Helsinki's port. Ferry check-in closes 30 mins prior to departure. Due to the traffic peak hour in the morning, we suggest you get ready for the trip on time.

The tour departs daily at 9am from Helsinki's port and reaches Tallinn at 11:15am. You will be greeted by our Guide and 3-hour guide tour starts from the harbor. During the tour, you will see the main city square and the Tallinn Town Hall, Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral, Toompea Castle and much more. Tallinn, Estonia’s capital on the Baltic Sea, retains its walled, cobblestoned Old Town, home to cafes and shops, as well as Kiek in de Kök, a 15th-century defensive tower. The Old Town, dating from around the 15th century, is Estonia’s only UNESCO World Heritage site.

After the tour, you will be transferred to the port around 17.30pm, preparing for the departure to Helsinki. On the ferry returning to Helsinki, you can relax and enjoy the services on board. You will arrive in Helsinki at 21:00pm.

Helsinki day tour:

The tour allows you to visit Helsinki's main attractions, including Sibelius Monument, Esplanade Park, Old Market Hall, Market square, Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral, Senate Square, Temppeliaukio/Rock Church, Havis Amanda and Helsinki Cathedral etc. along with photo stops. Your guide will share the city's stories, Finnish history and culture along the way.

Golden Circle & Fontana Geothermal Spa:

Follow in the footsteps of the Vikings of old as you walk down into the rift valley where the American and Eurasian continental plates are literally pulling apart at Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of the oldest existing parliament.

Then at the Fontana Spa located at Laugarvatn, take advantage of the panoramic views while enjoying the natural saunas and bathing in the soothing warm pools of varying temperatures. In the saunas, hearing the boiling water bubble and gurgle below the floors is surreal - you can literally feel the geothermal power underneath the earth. Afterward, we continue on to the geothermal springs as the ground trembles and hot water spouts spectacularly skywards at the Geysir Hot spring area.

Experience the magnificence and power of Gullfoss Waterfall, a set of glacial river cascades falling 32 meters into a narrow canyon with a thunderous roar.

All in all - it's the perfect combination of activities. Amazing must-do sightseeing, and a relaxing bathe in a geothermal spa set in a gorgeous location!