Upon arriving in the splendid capital city of Oslo, known for its green spaces and museums, explore on your own before settling into your airport hotel.

This morning, the group will transfer to the airport and board the private charter flight to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen’s largest settlement.

Explore and enjoy the abundant wildlife and austere beauty found in the largest island in the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, Spitsbergen. Visit the spectacular glacier fronts and steep-walled fjords, with walrus, polar bears and Svalbard reindeer amongst your possible wildlife sightings. You may be thrilled to see arctic terns, skuas, long-tailed ducks, kittiwakes and ivory gulls and if conditions permit, and sail within 10 degrees of the North Pole!

While sailing south through the historic Greenland Sea toward Jan Mayen, your Expedition Team will keep you informed with presentations about the storied history and politics of the Arctic, its fascinating wildlife, geology, ecology and climate, and the incredible sights you will soon explore. On deck, you’ll learn to identify seabirds “on the wing.” The team will also keep a lookout for the whales that frequent the waters here.

North of the Arctic Circle, about 280 miles (450 km) east of Greenland and 340 miles (550 km) north of Iceland, is mysterious Jan Mayen, deep in 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 inhabitants.

If the weather permits, 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.

Also get a close-up view of the volcano and the stratified cliffs of the spectacular north coast as you 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 Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres).

This tour of Scoresbysund offers plenty of opportunities to explore ashore or by Zodiac cruise. At one moment, step back in time and explore the remains of ancient Thule settlements with views of icebergs and towering mountains rising straight out of the sea, and be immersed in the contemporary culture, meeting the locals and gaining an appreciation for their way of life in Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland’s most remote community. At the mouth of the sound, this remote settlement boasts a blend of traditional and modern lifestyles and is actually closer to Iceland than it is to its nearest Greenlandic neighbors to the southwest. Here, you’ll have the chance to support local Inuit artisans by purchasing unique handicrafts. 

In terms of wildlife, grazing muskoxen are a possible sight, as 40 percent of the world’s muskoxen population lives in this region. Polar bear sightings are also a remote possibility, as are encounters with more elusive arctic wildlife, such as the arctic hare. Seabirds to watch out for nesting atop the steep cliffs of the sound include little auks, fulmars and guillemots.

As you sail south, the Denmark Strait is your pathway toward Iceland. Take in a lecture, share your photos, sip an icy cocktail in the bar or watch a movie— there are many things to do during your time at sea. Your Expedition Team is also ready to answer any questions and point out wildlife.

Disembark in Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, at the end of your journey. If you have booked post-expedition accommodation, a transfer is provided to take you to a central downtown location.