The Polar Travel Company

Master the pack ice on an epic voyage from Iceland to Spitsbergen. Explore dramatic coastlines, cross the Arctic Circle, and visit remote Jan Mayen, following the ice edge in search of whales, seals, and polar bears under the midnight sun.

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Duration: 16 days / 15 nights
Starts: Keflavik, Iceland
Ends: Longyearbyen, Norway
Language: English speaking voyage

This is a combination cruise consisting of a few smaller cruises.
The midnight sun is a phenomenon where the sun is visible for 24 hours; the summer solstice occurs on June 21.
The itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather and ice conditions. Your Captain and Expedition Leader will make the necessary adjustments to ensure the best possible experience.

Included

This unique Arctic adventure connects the magical fjords of Iceland with the snow-capped peaks of Spitsbergen. The journey begins by exploring the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Breidafjordur Bay, home to thousands of puffins and Norse legends. Sailing north, the vessel enters the Greenland pack ice, a wild and changing environment where harp and hooded seals are sought, as well as the elusive polar bear in its purest Arctic habitat.

The expedition reaches the remote volcanic island of Jan Mayen, crowned by the imposing 2,300-meter Mt. Beerenberg, where remains of 17th-century whaling stations are visited. Following the ice edge north, the Greenland Sea is crossed in search of bowhead, blue, and orca whales. The voyage culminates in the realm of the polar bear, Spitsbergen, exploring deep fjords, seabird-filled cliffs, and slopes where Arctic reindeer graze on sparse vegetation.

Highlights:
Navigation through the pack ice from Iceland to the Svalbard archipelago.
Visit to the isolated volcanic island of Jan Mayen and its weather station.
Observation of the midnight sun phenomenon and the summer solstice.
Sightings of iconic wildlife: polar bears, seals, blue whales, and orcas.

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Day 1: The start of an Arctic adventure
Setting sail from Keflavik
Board the ship in the late afternoon in Keflavik. We sail north into Faxafl�i Bay toward the Snaefellsnes Peninsula while looking for whales in the bay.

Day 2 to 7: Ice caps and volcanoes
Northwest Iceland and the Arctic Circle
Exploration of Snaefellsj�kull and the islands of Breidafjordur. We will visit the fishing village of Flatey, the bird colonies of L�trabjarg, and an eider duck farm in Aedey. We sail toward the fringes of the sea ice looking for seals and polar bears before landing on Grimsey.

Day 8: Stopover in Akureyri
Capital of North Iceland
Short stay in Akureyri to end the first leg of the trip. The ship prepares for the oceanic crossing north toward remote Jan Mayen.

Day 9 to 15: Into the deep Arctic
Jan Mayen and the ice edge
Sailing toward isolated Jan Mayen to visit its weather station and historic remains. We continue north along the edge of the sea ice searching for bowhead whales and polar bears. Upon reaching Spitsbergen, we will explore Alkhornet, where reindeer and Arctic foxes live beneath bird-filled cliffs.

Day 16: Journey's end in Longyearbyen
Disembarkation in Spitsbergen
Final disembarkation in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen. End of the expedition with memories of a pioneering Arctic adventure.