Spitsbergen, Greenland & Iceland
Itinerary
Day 1:
Embarkation: Longyearbyen
Embarkation is in the late afternoon at Longyearbyen on the Arctic island of Spitsbergen.
Day 2-4
Exploring Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen is the largest of the Svalbard Islands, an Arctic archipelago that is part of Norway. We'll spend the next three days exploring, taking advantage of local weather and ice conditions. Anticipate visits to the 14th of July Glacier, the settlement of Ny Alesund and Monaco Glacier. Be on the alert as we explore for wildlife. Sightings of Arctic Terns, Arctic Skuas, Long-tailed Ducks, Kittiwakes and Glaucous Gulls are possible. Moffen Island is a walrus sanctuary. If the conditions are right, we may see the tusked creatures hauled out on shore or swimming in the protected waters. Polar bear sightings are also possible.
Day 5-6
Greenland Sea
While at sea, the Expedition Team will deliver illustrated presentations about the wildlife and cultures you will encounter in Greenland. The naturalists assist with seabird identification from the deck of the ship. You may participate in as many, or as few, shipboard activities as you choose.
Day 7-12
Eastern Greenland
The coast of eastern Greenland is wild, rugged and often ice-bound. This area provides an excellent habitat for wildlife that requires ice floes to thrive, such as polar bear. We'll sail the ice edge our binoculars at the ready. If conditions permit, we'll compare cultures as we visit the remains of ancient Thule settlements and a remote modern-day village. At all times, we'll be on the alert for musk oxen, because 40% of the world's population lives on the eastern coast of Greenland. Before leaving Greenland, we plan to sail into Scoresbysund, the largest fjord complex in the world, and the birthplace of many icebergs.
Day 13
Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar)
The history of the Westman Islands is as shrouded by the mists of time as a Norse Saga. The name was used by the Norse to refer to Irishmen or west men. In the 1600s, a fleet from the Ottoman Empire that included Barbary pirates raided the islands, capturing 400 inhabitants. They were sold into slavery in Algiers. You'll learn more of the history of the islands on a walking tour of the town of Heimaey. You'll see a documentary about the 1973 eruption of Eldfell. Only the determination of the islanders saved the community from destruction. Like the rest of Iceland, the Westman Islands are volcanically active. As recently as 1973, a new island, Surtsey, was created as a result of an eruption.
Day 14
Reykjavik
This expedition disembarks in the bustling capital of Iceland, Reykjavik.
