Jewels of the Arctic - Greenland Solar Eclipse

Having made your way to Oslo, you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to ourgroup hotel. Upon arrival at your included hotel, please visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk to collect yourluggage cabin tags and to speak with our ground operations team, who may have information to share with youabout pre-embarkation or to provide you with information about where to dine, withdraw cash or purchase lastminute items from a local pharmacy or supermarket.The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense.Accommodation: The Clarion Hotel Oslo (or similar)

Oslo is the capital of Norway and is also its largest city, situated at the head of Oslo Fjord and surrounded by hills and forests. Home to some 50 museums and full of galleries, cafés, a sculpture park and the Royal Palace, this vibrant city with its handsome 19th-century buildings and wide streets has much to offer. Its history dates back 1,000 years, and includes a rich seafaring heritage that ranges from the Viking era to Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon Tiki expedition. Discover more about this exciting city on our varied selection of excursions.

This morning, please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabinnumber. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before transferring to the airport for our charter flight to Longyearbyen forembarkation. Any valuables or personal items should be kept on you throughout the day. In Longyearbyen, explorethe town on a guided tour.After the tour, you will be transferred directly to the pier to embark in the late afternoon. Settle into your cabinbefore attending important safety briefings and enjoy the thrill of departure as we ‘throw the lines’ and set sail.Note: the excursion is contingent on the arrival time of our charter flight to Longyearbyen.

Oslo is the capital of Norway and is also its largest city, situated at the head of Oslo Fjord and surrounded by hills and forests. Home to some 50 museums and full of galleries, cafés, a sculpture park and the Royal Palace, this vibrant city with its handsome 19th-century buildings and wide streets has much to offer. Its history dates back 1,000 years, and includes a rich seafaring heritage that ranges from the Viking era to Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon Tiki expedition. Discover more about this exciting city on our varied selection of excursions.

Svalbard offers arctic wilderness at its best. The members of our experienced Expedition Team, who have madecountless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to tailor our itinerary, choosing the best options based on theprevailing weather, sea-ice conditions and opportunities for wildlife encounters.Phenomenal fjords, magnificent mountains ranges, and a polar desert rich in fossils set the stage for heroic tales ofearly exploration. See walrus hauled-out on sea ice or on beaches. On land, we stretch our legs on walks acrosstundra carpeted in brightly coloured wildflowers. We visit towering cliffs noisy with nesting guillemots and puffins,and scree slopes that hold Svalbard’s largest little auk colonies.If you have chosen an optional activity such as kayaking, you will have an opportunity to enjoy that activity whenconditions allow. For those who are enthusiastic to participate in a polar plunge, as soon as conditions are suitable,you will hear the announcement to prepare for an exhilarating dip – a memory you will savour for years to come.

A flexible itinerary allows us to take advantage of favorable ice and weather conditions to travel through the northern stretches of Svalbard to points visited by famous polar explorers such as Andrée, Amundsen and Nobile. Destinations might include the narrow waterways and striking mountains of Krossfjord and Raudfjord. The ship may visit the historic settings of Ny Alesund, Ny London or Amsterdamoya. And of course, we hope to see distinctly Arctic wildlife from walrus hauled out in noisy groups on remote shorelines, to reindeer grazing alpine slopes, and from ptarmigan in their camouflaged hiding places, to mighty polar bears striding the shores in search of their next meal.

A flexible itinerary allows us to take advantage of favorable ice and weather conditions to travel through the northern stretches of Svalbard to points visited by famous polar explorers such as Andrée, Amundsen and Nobile. Destinations might include the narrow waterways and striking mountains of Krossfjord and Raudfjord. The ship may visit the historic settings of Ny Alesund, Ny London or Amsterdamoya. And of course, we hope to see distinctly Arctic wildlife from walrus hauled out in noisy groups on remote shorelines, to reindeer grazing alpine slopes, and from ptarmigan in their camouflaged hiding places, to mighty polar bears striding the shores in search of their next meal.

A flexible itinerary allows us to take advantage of favorable ice and weather conditions to travel through the northern stretches of Svalbard to points visited by famous polar explorers such as Andrée, Amundsen and Nobile. Destinations might include the narrow waterways and striking mountains of Krossfjord and Raudfjord. The ship may visit the historic settings of Ny Alesund, Ny London or Amsterdamoya. And of course, we hope to see distinctly Arctic wildlife from walrus hauled out in noisy groups on remote shorelines, to reindeer grazing alpine slopes, and from ptarmigan in their camouflaged hiding places, to mighty polar bears striding the shores in search of their next meal.

The approach to Jan Mayen is spectacular. The huge 2,277-metre (7,470 foot) Beerenberg volcano is thenorthernmost active volcano in the world, and it last erupted in 1985. The northern part of the island is a great placeto look for whales and dolphins and contains impressive glaciers, some of which reach the sea. If the weather isfavourable, we will try to land at Kvalrossbukta, a relatively sheltered bay on the island’s west coast. This is one ofthe landings used to supply the weather station Olonkinbyen, situated on the eastern side of the island.

Described as one of the most remote islands in the world, Jan Mayen liesbetween Norway to the east and Greenland to the west. It is a rugged volcanicisland 34 miles long and is made up of two parts – the larger section to thenorth (Beerenbeg Volcano) and the longer but narrower section to the south. Amile-wide isthmus links these two parts. Geologically, the island was formed bya ‘hotspot’ where molten magma pushes up through the earth’s crust to createvolcanoes in the middle of nowhere. Politically, Jan Mayen is an integral partof Norway. The eighteen people living on the island work for either the NorwegianArmed Forces or the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Their main purpose isto operate the Loran-C radio navigation system. From 1615 to 1638, the Dutchran a whaling station here. Today, the island is a nature reserve underNorwegian jurisdiction aimed at preserving the pristine Arctic island and themarine life, including the ocean floor.

In the coming days, a host of choices are available to us, and depending on ice and weather conditions, the eastcoast of Greenland is ours to explore. Our experienced Expedition Team, who have made countless journeys to thisarea, will use their expertise to tailor our itinerary on a day-to-day basis. This allows us to make best use of theprevailing weather, ice conditions and encounters with wildlife. We generally attempt up to two landings or Zodiacexcursions per day, including cruising along spectacular ice cliffs, following whales feeding near the surface.East Greenland contains some of the Arctic's most impressive scenery. Deep fjords and narrow channels, flanked bysharp ice-clad peaks up to 2,000 m (6,562 ft) high. Gigantic icebergs calved from glaciers drift throughout the fjordsystem creating breathtaking scenery. The landscape is filled with multi-coloured tundra home to musk oxen andarctic hare. Throughout the area are ancient Thule archaeological sites, historical trappers' huts, and modern Inuithunters' cabins.A highlight is a visit to the Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit, the most isolated and northernmost permanentsettlement in the region, with approximately 500 inhabitants. Here you can explore the village, the fascinatingmuseum or sit in the beautiful Lutheran Church. The locals are friendly, and from underneath their Arctic fox-furjackets, the shy young children are keen to say hello and practice their English. The community boasts an excellentmuseum, gift shop, an abundance of Greenlandic sled dogs, and the opportunity to meet Inuit people.Thanks to the fertile volcanic soil mountains that protects areas from the strong winds, the area is rich in wildlife.You may spot everything from muskox and arctic foxes to mountain hares and even reindeer near the fjord. Lookskyward and you could catch a glimpse of birds including common eider, glaucous gull, black-legged kittiwake,northern fulmar, and arctic terns gracefully gliding or plunging into icy bays for zooplankton.

Scoresbysund is the ultimate fjord system; likely the longest, largest and deepest of any in the world. The massive fjord is tucked into the eastern coast of Greenland and on the icy western edges of the Greenland Sea. Scoresbysund’s scale deserves several days to explore, especially while plying the waters between castle-sized icebergs as they gently drift under the persuasion of the Arctic waters in the mighty fjord. Scattered in the remote bays and smaller fjords are places to discover old Inuit settlements, slowly growing over with Arctic willow and dwarf birch. The lower slopes of many mountains are draped in the herbs and grasses favoured by muskox, Arctic fox, lemmings, Ptarmigan, Barnacle Geese, and Snowy Owls. Tundra walks give impressive views of landscape, flora and fauna. Not to be neglected, the waters of Scoresbysund warrant a vigilant eye for sightings of whales, seals, narwhals, beluga whales and walrus.

Scoresbysund is the ultimate fjord system; likely the longest, largest and deepest of any in the world. The massive fjord is tucked into the eastern coast of Greenland and on the icy western edges of the Greenland Sea. Scoresbysund’s scale deserves several days to explore, especially while plying the waters between castle-sized icebergs as they gently drift under the persuasion of the Arctic waters in the mighty fjord. Scattered in the remote bays and smaller fjords are places to discover old Inuit settlements, slowly growing over with Arctic willow and dwarf birch. The lower slopes of many mountains are draped in the herbs and grasses favoured by muskox, Arctic fox, lemmings, Ptarmigan, Barnacle Geese, and Snowy Owls. Tundra walks give impressive views of landscape, flora and fauna. Not to be neglected, the waters of Scoresbysund warrant a vigilant eye for sightings of whales, seals, narwhals, beluga whales and walrus.

Scoresbysund is the ultimate fjord system; likely the longest, largest and deepest of any in the world. The massive fjord is tucked into the eastern coast of Greenland and on the icy western edges of the Greenland Sea. Scoresbysund’s scale deserves several days to explore, especially while plying the waters between castle-sized icebergs as they gently drift under the persuasion of the Arctic waters in the mighty fjord. Scattered in the remote bays and smaller fjords are places to discover old Inuit settlements, slowly growing over with Arctic willow and dwarf birch. The lower slopes of many mountains are draped in the herbs and grasses favoured by muskox, Arctic fox, lemmings, Ptarmigan, Barnacle Geese, and Snowy Owls. Tundra walks give impressive views of landscape, flora and fauna. Not to be neglected, the waters of Scoresbysund warrant a vigilant eye for sightings of whales, seals, narwhals, beluga whales and walrus.

The day builds with excitement as we set sail towards our prime viewing position within the totality path. Enjoylunch onboard while our crew expertly navigates the ship towards the perfect spot to witness the eclipse. Asanticipation mounts, gather on deck with fellow eclipse chasers in preparation for the celestial event. The dramaunfolds as the moon starts to take a bite out of the sun, slowly plunging the landscape into an ethereal twilight.Then, the grand finale arrives. Totality transforms the day into night for a breathtaking 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Astotality recedes, the sun peeks through, creating a stunning diamond ring effect. Relax and relive this unforgettableexperience with your fellow travellers over a celebratory dinner. Note: subject to weather, cloud cover, sea state, iceand other conditions beyond our control.

Continue to explore the fjord systems in Greenland, each one encompassing several smaller fjords and sounds.Thanks to the fertile volcanic soil and the surrounding mountains offering protection from strong winds, the area isrich in wildlife. You may spot everything from musk ox and arctic foxes to mountain hares, and even reindeer, nearthe fjord. Look skyward and you could catch a glimpse of birds, including the glaucous gull, black-legged kittiwake,northern fulmar, common raven and common eider.There are great hiking options in the area, where flowering tundra plants, scattered bones of whales and muskoxfrom centuries of hunting by the Inuit and fumaroles can be found. These are areas where heated groundwater boilto the surface creating bubbling pools and mineral formations as the water reacts with the atmosphere.The area also boasts some of the most striking sedimentary sandstone, shale, and siltstone formations imaginable.The layers of sediment here are estimated to have taken about 4,000 years to be laid down, and the alternatingcolours and patterns in the layers of rocks are stunningly beautiful.

Crossing the Denmark Strait to Iceland, search for whale blows and photograph the many seabirds that trail our shipin the ever-present arctic winds.

During the early morning, we cruise into Reykjavik and disembark at approximately 8.00 am. Farewell yourExpedition Team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys. Transfer to Keflavik airport.Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, we recommend booking flights departing after 12.00 pm on the day ofdisembarkation in case there are delays.

Sprawling Reykjavík, the nation's nerve center and government seat, is home to half the island's population. On a bay overlooked by proud Mt. Esja (pronounced eh-shyuh), with its ever-changing hues, Reykjavík presents a colorful sight, its concrete houses painted in light colors and topped by vibrant red, blue, and green roofs. In contrast to the almost treeless countryside, Reykjavík has many tall, native birches, rowans, and willows, as well as imported aspen, pines, and spruces.Reykjavík's name comes from the Icelandic words for smoke, reykur, and bay, vík. In AD 874, Norseman Ingólfur Arnarson saw Iceland rising out of the misty sea and came ashore at a bay eerily shrouded with plumes of steam from nearby hot springs. Today most of the houses in Reykjavík are heated by near-boiling water from the hot springs. Natural heating avoids air pollution; there's no smoke around. You may notice, however, that the hot water brings a slight sulfur smell to the bathroom.Prices are easily on a par with other major European cities. A practical option is to purchase a Reykjavík City Card at the Tourist Information Center or at the Reykjavík Youth Hostel. This card permits unlimited bus usage and admission to any of the city's seven pools, the Family Park and Zoo, and city museums. The cards are valid for one (ISK 3,300), two (ISK 4,400), or three days (ISK 4,900), and they pay for themselves after three or four uses a day. Even lacking the City Card, paying admission (ISK 500, or ISK 250 for seniors and people with disabilities) to one of the city art museums (Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir, or Ásmundarsafn) gets you free same-day admission to the other two.