Ultimate Arctic Odyssey

Begin your expedition in Hafnarfjordur, an Icelandic town set among ancient lava fields. Discover its Viking roots and local folklore, including stories of Iceland’s hidden people. Walk through Hellisgerði Lava Garden, visit the Hafnarborg Art Museum, and experience the town’s unique cultural heritage.

Enjoy traditional cuisine at the Viking Village and learn about the region’s past at the Hafnarfjordur Museum. Explore historic sites, local traditions, and volcanic landscapes as you start your Arctic voyage.

Arrive in Stykkisholmur, a coastal town near the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Discover Icelandic culture, colorful harbor views, and striking natural scenery. Visit Snaefellsjokull National Park, home to the glacier-covered volcano that inspired Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Climb Sugandisey Island for views across Breidafjordur Bay and its scattered islands. Learn about Viking history and local folklore at community museums. Sample regional specialties including lobster soup, fresh seafood, and rye bread baked using geothermal heat while exploring this welcoming Icelandic destination.

Amid the enchanting Westfjords of Iceland stands Isafjordur, a fishing town thriving with local energy and culture. Summer months here are brisk, but this cool climate and breathtaking and quaint scenery make the village feel like an undiscovered treasure. The massive depression among the flat-topped mountains called Naustahvilft - known colloquially as the troll seat - combines Iceland’s natural beauty with the town’s rich folklore. Stop at Dokkan Brugghus, the only brewery in the Westfjords, and sample the local beers crafted with naturally filtered spring water from the nearby mountains. For those for whom the sea’s siren call beckons, you must visit the Westfjord History Museum based on Isafjordur’s maritime heritage and its rise in the fishing industry.

Few travel milestones are as memorable as crossing the fabled Arctic Circle. As your ship sails north, you join the ranks of explorers who have ventured into these high latitudes, where the sun lingers on the horizon and ice-choked seas define the landscape. Many mariners celebrate this passage with the lighthearted tradition of becoming a “Blue Nose,” a symbolic order marking your entry into the true High Arctic. Whether you mark it with a toast on deck or simply savor the view, this moment is a highlight of any polar journey.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Home to about 100 people — the northernmost inhabited island in Iceland — and one million birds, Grimsey Island is a treasure in the Arctic Circle. The Puffins and the residents enjoy 24 hours of sun throughout the summer. Look for the stone sphere marking the edge of the Arctic Circle. Its design makes it easier to move as the Arctic Circle moves, always keeping the true demarcation. Grimsey Island is a birdwatcher’s paradise, filled with various species, including razorbills, kittiwakes, auks, and thick-billed murres. Amid the breathtaking landscapes are the island’s basalt columns. These geometric geological structures covered in lush moss dip into the water, creating a mesmerizing scene.

The name “Ittoqqortoormiit” means “Big-House Dwellers” in the Eastern Greenlandic dialect. Very few visitors make the trek here, as the winters are long, and the sea is frozen for nine months of the year. Ittoqqortoormiit is located at Scoresby Sound, which—with its many side fjords—is the largest fjord complex in the world and the world’s longest fjord system. Within its borders stands the tallest mountain in the Arctic region, the two-mile-tall Gunnbjørn Mountain. During early spring, when the sea ice is still thick, yet the sun is high in the sky, many local residents venture out on weekend dog-sledding trips. Guests will be warmly welcomed ashore for an open-town experience, inviting everyone to explore at their own pace and engage directly with the local community with no shore excursion booking required. This immersive visit is designed to encourage authentic discovery and meaningful interactions throughout the town.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

The world’s largest fjord system, Scoresby Sound astonishes with its scale and serenity. Sheer mountains rise above glassy channels, where icebergs the size of cathedrals drift in ever-changing shades of blue. Remote Inuit settlements dot the coastline, offering a glimpse of life lived in harmony with Arctic rhythms. Zodiac excursions bring you close to calving glaciers or wildlife such as musk oxen and seabirds, while the stillness of this vast fjord imparts a powerful sense of awe and discovery.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Spend the day on the high seas pampering yourself at the spa or enjoying some time on deck. Mingle with fellow explorers and swap stories of your exploits, making plans for new ones once you get to shore.

Few travelers ever set foot on Jan Mayen, a volcanic outpost adrift in the Arctic Ocean. Dominated by Beerenberg, the world’s northernmost active volcano, the island’s glaciers cascade to the sea, carving stark slopes that tumble into lava fields and bird-clad cliffs alive with fulmars and kittiwakes. Landings here are a true expedition prize—remote, wind-sculpted, and rich with the sense of discovery that defines polar exploration.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with the expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Spend the day on the high seas pampering yourself at the spa or enjoying some time on deck. Mingle with fellow explorers and swap stories of your exploits, making plans for new ones once you get to shore.

Witness magnificent fjords and glaciers throughout Tromso, Norway, and immerse yourself in a sophisticated cultural life and architectural delights. A superb example of blending the built environment with the natural setting is the Arctic Cathedral, an architectural marvel made of aluminum-coated concrete panels, making a stunning facade resembling an iceberg. To see the real icebergs, you only have to take the Fjellheisen cable car 1,525 feet above sea level for incredible views of the Norwegian fjords. You can also stroll around the Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden, visit the Science Center of Northern Norway, or gain new knowledge at the city’s museums, including the Polar Museum, Tromso University Museum, and Perspektivet Museum.

This village in the North Cape on the island of Mageroya claims to be the northernmost fishing village in the world. Rolling hills of green, magnificent arctic fjords and an untamed natural beauty make it a stunning stop off the beaten path. Rugged cliffs are home to thousands of cormorants, puffins, and gannets. While few people inhabit the village, you are likely to come across wild reindeer that may venture close to town. Within the village of Skarsvag sits the Christmas and Winter House, a cozy visitors’ attraction where you can experience the holiday year-round with a hot drink and slice of cake as you peruse the local wares and handicrafts and enjoy an atmosphere of dazzling decorations and festive music.

A destination that embodies the ultimate expedition experience, Bear Island is a testament to the raw beauty and untamed wilderness that makes the High Arctic so captivating. As you approach the island, you’re greeted by sheer cliffs that stand as silent sentinels, touched by the relentless caress of icy winds. These dramatic landscapes form the backdrop to an exhilarating adventure - a place where the thrill of discovery is matched only by the awe of nature’s grand design. As your yacht glides along its rugged coastline, keep your eyes peeled for the playful antics of curious seals, and marvel at the majestic flight of seabirds that call this domain home. The air is alive with the promise of the unexpected, as expedition landings invite you to walk paths forged by explorers past. Here, you are not just observing nature; you are a part of it.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE - Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with the expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Even in one of the most isolated regions of the Arctic, there is still the captivating history of a pioneering past. Your expedition leaders, Captain, and the onboard pilot will determine possible landings each day for all-out explorations. Wildlife abounds throughout the archipelago of Svalbard, including puffins, reindeer, Arctic terns, and foxes. An expert photographer will help you look out for the perfect photo opportunity of these animals, but especially for the elusive polar bear. As Zodiac cruises may bring you closer to glaciers, keep your eyes on the water for whale fins.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs, and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with spontaneous exploration as your Captain works with your expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Ny-Alesund is the northernmost settlement on Svalbard. Here, you can find an international scientific research station. Near the village is a breeding ground for rare geese and arctic terns. Not far from here, you may cruise toward the Ossian Sars Nature Reserve, a place to preserve surrounding vegetation that is a sight to behold.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and ever-changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. The team encourages you to embrace a spirit of adventure, spontaneity, and flexibility as your Captain works with your expedition team to determine possible sites for shore landings and Zodiac safaris. While itineraries serve to guide your exploration, all routes are always subject to change in order to prioritize safety and create the optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Longyearbyen is in a valley on the shores of the idyllic Adventfjord, surrounded by steep mountains and several glaciers. There are only around 25 miles of roads in this village, which is divided into several neighborhoods, including the town center and Nybyen (New Town), which consists of charming miners’ barracks constructed after the war, as well as guest houses, a restaurant and gallery, and not to mention beautiful views of the landmark mountain, Hiorthfjellet. Be sure to visit the Svalbard Museum as a break from many activities like summer dogsledding or cruising to the abandoned Russian city of Pyramiden.