Three Arctic Islands: Extended Passage

Hallgrímskirkja Church towers over Reykjavik, one of Scandinavia’s most hip capitals, world-renowned for Nordic cuisine, quirky museums, and lively shopping streets. Embark your expedition vessel in the heart of the city in the afternoon: after completing mandatory safety drills, join your Expedition Team on the outer decks and toast your departure from Iceland as we set sail towards East Greenland.

Separating Iceland and Greenland is the Denmark Strait, a turbulent stretch of chilly ocean which teems with rich marine life. Grab your binoculars and join your Expedition Team on the outer decks to watch for wildlife. When you need to warm up, join your team to discover insights on Arctic ecology, geology, and wildlife, as well as briefings preparing guests for Zodiac operations and polar bear safety in the wilderness of Greenland.

On the third day of our expedition, the rugged coast of Greenland comes into view. Your Expedition Leader and Captain will carefully plan their approach and aim to take guests exploring on the Zodiacs to experience the majesty of Earth’s largest island first-hand, taking advantage of the best local conditions to find thrilling spots to explore. Grab your camera and binoculars and get ready to explore!

Ittoqqortoormiit is among the most remote communities on Earth, and the only settlement in this region. Meaning ‘People who Live in Big Houses’ (referencing the town’s establishment in 1925), supply ships only visit once or twice a year, and most residents continue a subsistence hunting lifestyle which has changed little for millennia. Ittoqqortoormiit is a town with a strong sense of community and traditional culture, Hosting an excellent museum, several small shops and a beautiful traditional church, locals often welcome visitors wearing colourful traditional costumes, and are justifiably proud of their strong sense of community and deep connection to their traditional culture. Ittoqqortoormiit is the perfect introduction to the culture and lifestyle of Greenland – remote, wild, yet brimming with staggering beauty, both human and natural. 

From Ittoqqortoormiit, we enter the Northeast Greenland National Park — the world’s largest protected land area, spanning nearly a million square kilometres and encompassing the northernmost land on Earth. The region was once home to nomadic Inuit hunters, but today is uninhabited save for a few small Danish military bases.

Our voyage through the Park will be a true polar expedition: due to the unpredictable Arctic conditions and extreme isolation of the area, our exact destinations are flexible and dictated by weather, wind, sea, and ice. The Captain and Expedition Leader determine daily plans, which are announced the evening before. Potential highlights include vast cliffs and fjords, fascinating historical sites, thriving wildlife hotspots, and vast glaciers producing enormous icebergs.

Throughout your time in the Park, your Expedition Team will provide engaging lectures, friendly discussions, and share insights onshore and on the Zodiacs, all while searching the breathtaking landscape for Arctic wildlife. In this remote and pristine wilderness, guests are promised an experience rich in natural beauty, discovery, and adventure.

The next step on our expedition lies across the vast and icy Greenland Sea. Here, the last gasp of the Gulf Stream mixes with cold currents drifting down from the Arctic Ocean, creating vast biological productivity – so be sure to grab your binoculars and join your Expedition Team on deck to watch for wildlife! During sea days, guests can enjoy fascinating lectures, indulgent spa treatments, or simply relax and watch seabirds from the ship’s hot tubs.

Closest to Greenland lie the green fjords of southwest Svalbard, such as Bellsund and Hornsund, nourished by balmy Atlantic currents. These fertile valleys support reindeer, Arctic foxes, nesting seabirds, and drifting icebergs from nearby glaciers. Rich in wildlife and history, the area offers highlights like the historic sites of Calypsobyen and Bamsebu, and the bustling bird cliffs of Gnålodden, making it one of Svalbard’s most diverse and captivating regions.

Northwest Svalbard preserves a rich history of early Arctic exploration and whaling, and has been protected as a National Park since 1973. First visited by William Barents in 1596, the area was quickly pounced upon by whalers from Holland and England, whose haunting remnants, such as the blubber ovens and graves of young sailors at Smeerenburg, remain visible. The region has been reclaimed by nature and is once again a pristine wilderness haven thanks to being heavily protected in law, and holds a rich ecosystem of Arctic flowers, seabirds, walrus and polar bears amongst many other species.

Next we enter the icy wilderness of north-eastern Svalbard, a stark polar desert kept cold by the absence of warming ocean currents. Our exploration plans depend on rapidly changing sea, wind, and ice conditions, embodying the dynamic and unpredictable essence of true polar adventure. Here, vast glaciers descend into ice-choked waters, surrounding rugged landscapes which appear barren, yet teem with life. Hundreds of thousands of seabirds nest on cliffs above, while Arctic foxes prowl the chilly shores below. These cold coastal waters are rich in shellfish, attracting the walrus which are common in the area.

As the weak Arctic sun rises, we sail into the breathtaking Kongsfjord, a vast fjord system framed the dramatic Three Crowns mountains, mantled with creaking glaciers. Here we will visit Ny-Ålesund, Earth’s northernmost settlement. This quirky community is known for historic role as a base for legendary polar explorers such as Amundsen and Nansen, and more recently for its plethora of international research stations. This remote outpost continues to support vital research amid its breathtaking surroundings, blending the frontiers of science and exploration. 

As we slowly venture towards Longyearbyen, we will explore the sheltered bays and lonely beaches of central Spitzbergen and its surrounding islands. Destinations may include Poolepynten, inhabited by herds of walruses who can be seen (and smelled!) from a distance. These large mammals flaunt their tusks and whiskers, as well as their considerable bulk. During the afternoon, we will venture towards Isfjorden, all the while on the lookout for wildlife and spectacular views as we return to civilization. 

On the final morning of our expedition, we arrive back in Longyearbyen. After days of isolation in the wilderness of the Arctic, even this small city will feel like a metropolis! After bidding a fond farewell to the Expedition Team and Crew of Discoverer and your fellow Arctic explorers, enjoy some time exploring the world’s northernmost city before making your way to Svalbard Airport to fly back to the Norwegian mainland- with memories to last a lifetime.