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Day 1 Emmark from Glasgow
A former industrial powerhouse, Glasgow has reinvented itself as a cultural hot spot, packed with museums, galleries, and parks. Discover the splendid Art Nouveau architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh before your expedition cruise begins.
You’ll embark in Glasgow (Greenock), where MS Spitsbergen, one of our smaller vessels, purpose-built for close-up exploration, will be waiting for you. Get to know the ship before meeting the Expedition Team – your guides for the adventure ahead – and enjoy your first dinner aboard as we set sail.
Day 2-3 At Sea
Day 4 Heimaey's Explosive Past
Heimaey is the only inhabited island in the Westman Islands, off Iceland’s southern coast. It has a fascinating history and still bears the scars of the powerful volcanic eruption that nearly destroyed the island.
Visit Eldheimar, a museum that features an excavated home frozen in time, and learn more about the eruption and its aftermath. You could also take a hike to find puffins at Stórhöfði, where nearly eight million of them nest every summer. Don’t pass up the chance to climb Mount Eldfell to the volcano’s summit, where you’ll have incredible views of the town below.
Day 5 Charming Grundarfjörður
The majestic Kirkjufell mountain, one of the best-known landmarks of Iceland, rises just two miles west of the small harbor of Grundarfjörður, a quaint fishing town in Breiðafjörður bay.
Nearby, you’ll find Snæfellsnes Peninsula National Park, with the striking, ice-capped Snæfellsjökull volcano at the western tip. Its wide array of landscapes has earned it the nickname ‘Little Iceland’.
At the national park, you can visit Djúpalónssandur’s black sand beach and the Saxhóll crater. Or why not ride a snowcat to the top of the Snæfellsjökull glacier or take a guided underground tour along a gigantic lava tube?
Day 6 Picturesque Ísafjörður
Flanked by towering mountains on all sides, Ísafjörður is a nearly perfect natural harbor and an excellent gateway to the Westfjords region. Stroll around to see the architecture, shop for local handicrafts, and see some of the oldest houses in Iceland.
One of these historic 18th-century buildings is home to Westfjords Heritage Museum, where you can learn about the maritime past of this fascinating port. If you prefer something more energetic, take the steep hike up to Naustahvilft – the Troll’s Throne. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts with a stunning panoramic view at the top.
Day 7 Whale watching in Húsavík
Today you’ll discover Húsavík, a pleasant small town famous for excellent whale-watching opportunities. The town looks out over Skjálfandi bay, which enjoys visits from humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises and even elusive blue whales.
Geology and mythology come together at nearby Ásbyrgi canyon, a horseshoe-shaped canyon that, according to Norse mythology, was created when Odin’s horse Sleipnir accidentally put one of his eight legs down on the ground.
Further south is Lake Mývatn. Nowhere else will you find such an array of active volcanic features and landscape evolution, including evidence of dramatic eruptions such as the 18th-century Mývatn fires and the Krafla fires of the late 1970s.
Day 8 At Sea
Day 9 Volcanoic Jan Mayen
Jan Mayen has no permanent residents and visits to the island are rare. In fact, we’re one of the few to attempt landings here. If conditions allow, you’ll be setting foot in one of Earth’s most remote places.
Jan Mayen’s surreal, moss- and lichen-streaked landscape is dominated by the Beerenberg volcanic cone. It’s the world’s northernmost active volcano, which last erupted in 1985.
You won’t see land mammals here, but the island is designated an Important Bird Area, supporting large populations of northern fulmars, Brünnich’s guillemots and little auks. Look out for abundant marine life in the surrounding waters, including whales and seals.
Day 10 At Sea
Day 11-13 Scenic Spitsbergen
Witness a land of spectacular beautySpitsbergen showcases Arctic beauty in its untouched glory – a wilderness of steep mountains, stark glaciers, and eerily beautiful islands. Over the next three days, you’ll visit some of the world’s most dramatic fjords and see glaciers preparing to calve icebergs into the sea.
Each day will be different. From landings to kayaking, be ready for anything as your Captain and Expedition Team decide on the best landing sites and activities based on the day’s conditions. Perhaps we’ll head to the snowcapped peaks of Isfjord, or visit Ny-Ålesund, the world’s northernmost settlement and an important climate research station.
If we’re really lucky, we might even see the elusive polar bear in its natural environment.
Day 14 Return to Longyearbyen
Your island-hopping adventure into the Arctic comes to an end in Longyearbyen, a town on top of the world.
A transfer will take you to the airport for your flight home. You’ll return with a wealth of knowledge about Arctic animals, geology, history, polar ice and climate change – and memories of an incredible experience that will last a lifetime.
