Expedition Iceland And Svalbard

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.

An island of breathtaking natural phenomena, simultaneously hot and cold. Here, an expedition awaits you into foreign worlds - surreal, thrilling, and steeped in legends and myths. Beyond the stunning volcanic landscapes and colossal waterfalls, the wildlife will also captivate you. At this time of year, you might spot whales as these gentle giants return north from their winter havens. In the tranquil Westfjords, Patreksfjördur offers peace and serenity, where our experts will guide you through the small town and its surroundings. The Westfjord panorama and the Dynjandi waterfalls vividly illustrate the transformations wrought by the ice age. While most coasts are covered in black lava, Raudasandur Beach presents a striking palette of red, orange, and gold sands. No, you are not in Ireland, though the green-clad cliffs of Hornvik might suggest otherwise. The history of Djupavik is intertwined with the herring shoals that once thrived here, reflected in the old herring factory, now a museum. Akureyri, a gem of the north, welcomes you as your gateway to majestic nature. This is the homeland of writer Jon Sveinsson and a place where Iceland's rugged north reveals the signs of contemporary volcanic activity with bizarre lava formations and craters. At Lake Myvatn, observe numerous seabirds before the Godafoss, the "Waterfall of the Gods," offers a spectacle of roaring impressions. Alternatively, a scenic flight over the volcanic landscape unveils the immense scale of Iceland's largest lava field and the mighty Vatnajökull glacier. For a more personal interaction with Icelandic nature, ride friendly island inhabitants, the Icelandic horses, renowned for their smooth Tölt gait. Expand your knowledge with fresh insights on Grimsey, where you will delve into the Viking history, birdlife, and geology of this volcanic island lying directly on the Arctic Circle.

Next, the largely glaciated island of Jan Mayen, crowned by the towering 2,277-meter Beerenberg, serves as a formidable prelude to another thrilling chapter of your explorer's journey.

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.

Your journey continues northward as the HANSEATIC nature takes you to the spectacular natural wonders of Spitsbergen. Here, whales, polar foxes, walruses, and polar bears play the leading roles. You will be escorted by glacier fronts and distinctive peaks that appear in ever-new forms. The extensive polar experience of the captain and crew ensures extraordinary moments as you cruise before unique glacial landscapes, land with the Zodiacs, and embark on numerous walks with your experts. With some luck, the small island of Prins Karls Forland offers impressive wildlife sightings: herds of imposing walruses often gather here. In Ny Alesund, you will reach one of the northernmost settlements on Earth. Once a coal mining site, today, international scientists focus on meteorology, climate change studies, and aurora research. When you enjoy the view from the Zodiac of the mighty 11 km (7 mi.) long ridge of Lilliehook Glacier, one of Svalbard’s largest glaciers, you will feel the silent power of the Arctic – because it leaves no one untouched. The blue shimmering Monaco Glacier in Liefdefjord similarly showcases the wonders nature is capable of. The finale is marked by the deep blue sea and the snow-covered peaks of the Smeerenburgfjord — a truly unforgettable sight! Following in the tradition of legends like Willem Barents, Roald Amundsen, and Umberto Nobile, you now join the ranks of those who have discovered the polar worlds.

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.

Longyearbyen is the biggest settlement in Svalbard. Seat of the Norwegian administration, it also has the best services and infrastructure in the archipelago. Located deep in the Adventfjord, a sidearm of the Isfjorden (Icefjord), Longyearbyen’s airport can be used all-year round, but its harbor is blocked by ice in winter. Most shops, hotels, restaurants and a hospital are within easy walking distance of the port. One of the most prominent buildings in town is the UNIS center, where several Norwegian universities have joined forces to operate and offer the northernmost higher education to both Norwegian and international students. Adjacent to UNIS, and well worth a visit, is the Svalbard Museum, covering the natural history and exploitation of Svalbard. Remnants of the former mining activity can be seen all around Longyearbyen and even in town.