HIGHLIGHTS
- Follow
in the footsteps of the Norsemen on Fair Isle and the Vikings in the
Faroe Islands
- Explore
the volcanic and glacier- covered Jan Mayen island, in the heart of the
North Atlantic Ocean
- Encounter
iconic Arctic and north Atlantic wildlife, such as puffins and other
seabirds, reindeer, and whales
- Cruise
in a Zodiac to explore diverse landscapes and wildlife
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| May 02, 2026 | May 16, 2026 | 15,395 |
16,003 |
Mandatory Transfer Package Details:Package Price: USD 995 Includes - One night’s pre-expedition hotel night in Aberdeen
- Group transfer from Aberdeen hotel to ship on embarkation day
- Departure transfer in Longyearbyen on disembarkation day
- Charter flight from Longyearbyen to Helsinki on disembarkation day
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| May 02, 2026 | May 16, 2026 | 15,395 |
16,003 |
Mandatory Transfer Package Details:Package Price: USD 995 Includes - One night’s pre-expedition hotel night in Aberdeen
- Group transfer from Aberdeen hotel to ship on embarkation day
- Departure transfer in Longyearbyen on disembarkation day
- Charter flight from Longyearbyen to Helsinki on disembarkation day
ITINERARY
Day
1: Arrive in Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Arrive
any time on Day 1 and make your way to your included hotel. The gateway
for your Arctic adventure, the Scottish city of Aberdeen has many
monikers, but its most famous is Granite City, as it was once the
granite capital of the world. Wandering the streets, you’ll
soon see why, as the Victorian buildings sparkle in the sun. A bustling
cultural hub, Aberdeen also offers a range of museums, galleries,
theaters, shops, cafés and restaurants to explore.
Day
2: Embarkation Day
Today
you will have some free time before being transferred to the port to
board your ship. As you set sail this afternoon, you’ll want
to be out on deck, camera in hand—the area’s
coastal waters offer excellent possibilities for spotting bottlenose
and white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises and minke whales.
Day
3: Exploring Fair Isle
The
U.K.’s most remote inhabited island, the extraordinary Fair
Isle is located halfway between the Shetland and Orkney Islands.
Boasting a rugged beauty, Fair Isle’s landscape is diverse,
with fields and moors dominated by seaside cliffs and an astounding
number of sea stacks, natural arches and caves.
Despite
its small size, the island offers activities for history, nature and
photography buffs alike. Visit the museum to immerse yourself in local
artifacts, photos, knitwear and other historic memorabilia.
Don’t forget to snap a shot of the circa 1935 classic red
phone booth by the post office!
In
terms of wildlife, orcas are native to the waters around Fair Isle, and
they sometimes come close in pursuit of seals. But the island is best
known for its coastal cliffs teeming with seabirds in spring and
summer. The star attraction is the Atlantic puffin, a clown-like bird
that burrows in nests in the grassy flat tops of the island’s
cliffs. Photographers will surely want to capture pictures of their
bemused expressions, and Fair Isle’s easily accessible grassy
banks make it one of the best places in the Shetlands (if not the
entire Scottish Isles!) to observe these colorful creatures. Northern
fulmars, kittiwakes, storm petrels, razorbills and guillemots may be
spotted soaring over the open waters.
Visitors
to this community of crofters, artisans and artists may be able to pick
up a traditional Fair Isle sweater to keep warm during the rest of your
Arctic voyage.
Day
4 & 5: Exploring the Faroe Islands
Known
for its beautiful, unspoiled landscape, with verdant pastures giving
way to rugged, steep cliffs, the Faroe Islands have a storied past,
though the details of the archipelago’s early history remain
mysterious. The first settlers may have been seventh-century Irish
monks seeking solitude on these islands far removed from any continent.
Their isolation ended in 800 AD, with the arrival of Norse farmers, and
Norwegian colonization continued throughout the Viking Age. Today, many
of the inhabitants of the Faroe Islands, now a self-governing country
within the Kingdom of Denmark, are descendants of Norwegian Vikings,
and speak Faroese, a descendant language of Old Norse.
We
will have two days to explore this seldom-visited archipelago made up
of 18 rugged islands located about halfway between Scotland and
Iceland. The mighty North Atlantic is omnipresent wherever we go with
no place on the Faroe Islands farther than 3 miles (5 km) from its
shores. The sea has always dominated life on the
Faroes—throughout history as much as today: rich fisheries,
magnificent ocean views and thriving sea bird colonies make up this
rare Nordic jewel—often referred to as Europe’s
best kept secret.
We
will spend a day exploring the outer islands of the archipelago,
separated by narrow sounds and fjords, and delight in their surreal
landscapes, dramatic cliffs, and rock formations. You’ll see
green valleys engulfed by steep mountains, protecting picturesque
villages with colorful turf-topped homes. Wind, weather and sea
conditions will influence and shape our activity options, but we will
of course always keep our eyes out for marine and bird life, especially
the iconic Atlantic puffin.
Our
second day in the Faroes will be dedicated to the capital city of
Tórshavn, where the Vikings established their government in
825 AD. One of the world’s smallest capitals, the picturesque
Tórshavn has a relaxed vibe and a number of historical and
cultural sites. Meander the maze of narrow laneways of the Old Town,
admiring the quaint wooden houses with traditional sod roofs and white
paned windows. If you’re looking for more action, a hike to
historic Kirkjubøur not only unlocks some of the
country’s best medieval history but also rewards with
sweeping views over the southern islands of Koltur, Hestur &
Sandur. Or perhaps you’ll prefer to wander the charming
harbor, filled with cafés, pubs and old warehouses, and
simply gaze out at the sea while sipping a latte.
Day
6 & 7: Cruising
Say
goodbye to the Faroes as we cruise toward the world’s most
northerly volcanic island, Jan Mayen. There are several activities to
keep you engaged while at sea. Learn to identify seabirds gliding
alongside your ship, attend dynamic presentations by your Expedition
Team, relax in our polar library or simply spend some time on deck,
admiring the ocean views. With your binoculars and camera at the ready,
keep your eyes peeled for the blow of a humpback, blue or fin whale.
Encounters with minke whales or orcas are also possible, since their
curiosity can bring them near the ship. If you’re lucky, you
may even see harp seals.
Day
8 & 9: Exploring Jan Mayen
North
of the Arctic Circle, about 280 miles (450 km) east of Greenland and
340 miles (550 km) north of Iceland, the mysterious Jan Mayen rises
from the depths of the North Atlantic Ocean. Often shrouded in thick
fog, the small mountainous island was declared a nature reserve in 2010
and is rarely visited, save for the 18 rotating personnel of the
Norwegian military and Norwegian Meteorological Institute, who are the
only year-long inhabitants, save for some additional personnel during
the summer.
Landing
here will be dictated by the weather and sea. If conditions allow, as
we approach, keep watch on deck as the spoon-shaped island’s
highest summit emerges. At 7,470 feet (2,277 meters) high, the
breathtaking Beerenberg volcano features a symmetrical cone shape and
impressive glaciers that spill into the sea. During the summer months,
the island’s lower landscape is covered with grass, moss and
a smattering of hardy flowers that add a burst of color to the
otherwise barren black lava terrain.
One
site we hope to visit is Olonkinbyen and the surrounding area. Named
after Russian-Norwegian polar explorer Gennady Olonkin, it’s
the island’s only settlement and the location of the
meteorological station, where you may have the chance to learn about
polar research while seeing how weather is monitored at the top of the
world. Another option might be the black sand beach at Kvalrossbukta,
where the remnants of a 17th-century Dutch whaling station and a large
northern fulmar colony can be found. In 1632, two Basque ships landed
at the small bay and plundered the station. A Dutch party was sent here
the following year to protect the land stations during winter, but all
seven men perished from scurvy. Whaling in the area came to an end
about 20 years later.
If
conditions permit, we may view the volcano and the stratified cliffs of
the spectacular north coast as we Zodiac cruise around the island,
searching for wildlife. Designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife
International for the large numbers of breeding seabirds, Jan Mayen
supports colonies of northern fulmars, little auks, glaucous gulls,
kittiwakes, and black and Bru?nnich’s guillemots
(thick-billed murres). And if we are fortunate, you might see
“sea parrots,” the Atlantic puffin again. The
waters here are rich feeding grounds for marine life, so keep a lookout
for minke, fin, blue or humpback whales.
Day
10: Cruising
As
we sail farther north, spend some time with your shipmates in the
lounge, swapping stories and photos, or take the opportunity to learn
about the regions travelled with your experienced and knowledgeable
Expedition Team.
Day
11 to 13: Exploring Spitsbergen, Svalbard
Rugged,
wild and situated entirely within the Arctic Circle, the largest island
of the Svalbard archipelago is unforgettable. From immense glaciers to
lush tundra to polar deserts, the landscape here is as varied as the
wildlife.
As
we explore the fjords of the southwestern corner of this magical
island, it won’t take long for you to see firsthand why
Spitsbergen is the “wildlife capital of the
Arctic.” Some areas we hope to visit include Hornsund and
Bellsund fjords and Hornbreen Glacier.
The
possible landing sites at Hornsund, the island’s most
southerly fjord, have rich histories. You may visit Isbjornhamna, a bay
at the entrance of the fjord, where we hope to explore colonies of
delightful little auks. You may also spot Svalbard reindeer and hike to
a viewpoint for views of calving glaciers.
A
12-mile (20 km) long sound, Bellsund lured miners a century ago to its
natural resources. Today, visitors come to Bourbonhamna and Calypsobyen
to see historic mining and trapper sites and marvel at the magnificent
vistas. It may also be possible to hike along the colorful tundra,
dotted with flowers bursting for a taste of sunshine, and discover old
whale bones.
Day
14: Disembark in Longyearbyen and Fly to Helsinki
The
time has come to say farewell to your newfound friends and Expedition
Team. After disembarking, spend the day exploring the frontier-style
settlement of Longyearbyen before catching the charter flight to
Helsinki.
Ocean Explorer (Luxury Expedition, 138-guests)
Ocean Explorer, the newest addition to our fleet, is modern, elegant
and purpose-built for polar exploration. The 138-passenger vessel has
been designed with the latest in expedition ship technology. One of the
ship’s key features is the ULSTEIN X-BOW®, a marine
engineering innovation that ensures a comfortable and smooth sailing
experience thanks to the inverted bow. Located at the bow is the
two-story, light-filled library, which introduces a welcome airiness to
the expedition ship.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Specialist
Expedition Leaders:
Our
team is comprised of the most professional and passionate Expedition
Leaders in the world, who bring a wide range of experience and
expertise to every adventure.
Immersive
Off-ship Activities:
Itineraries
are packed with adventure options designed to immerses travelers in the
polar wilderness, enabling them to connect with the natural wonders of
their surroundings.
On-Ship
Experiences & Facilities:
Designed
for comfort and adventure, each ship accommodates no more than 200
guests. Facilities include comfortable cabins, exceptional dining
options, wellness treatments, and breathtaking panoramic views of the
polar landscape.
Food
& Beverages :
Premium
dining, with a wide selection of options that accommodate a variety of
dietary preferences.
Quark
Expedition Perks :
Complementary
Wi-Fi, alcohol on all voyages, and the Official Quark Expeditions parka
to take home.
Transfers
:
Select
voyages include essential transportation and accommodation arrangements
for guests, ensuring seamless travel to and from the expedition
starting point.
Adventure
Options:
- Hiking in the Arctic
- Photography
- Polar Plunge in the Arctic
- Presentations
- Zodiac Cruising in the Arctic
Optional
Activity
- Paddling
Excursion in the Arctic - USD 295
