Jewels of the Arctic combines the best of Spitsbergen and Greenland, with a taste of Iceland, on a 14-day expedition cruise on the Polar Pioneer. Spitsbergen’s rugged northwest coast comprises mountains, tundra and fjords. While crossing the icy waters of the Greenland Sea, onboard experts share their knowledge of the region’s plants, animals and history. Greenland’s remote east coast shows off the immensity of the icecap, fantastic icebergs, and a fairytale landscape of granite spires rising 1000 m above exquisite fjords! The local Inuits welcome you and share their unique culture on this fascinating Arctic expedition cruise.

Highlights

Experience some of our planet's most extraordinary plants, birds & wildlife
Paddle & Zodiac between ice floes and icebergs along beautiful coastlines
Learn about early explorers including Nansen, Andrée, and Scoresby
Enjoy warm Ittoqqortoormiit welcomes from Inuit glad to share their culture

Activities

Places Visited

Trip Type:

Small Ship

Activity Level: Relaxed

Full Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Longyearbyen, Svalbard | Embark

Ship
1 Dinner

Arrive in Spitsbergen and enjoy a tour of colorful Longyearbyen. Board Polar Pioneer in the late afternoon, settle in and sail down magnificent Isfjorden, flanked by bird cliffs, vast glaciers and jagged mountains.

Day 2-3: West Coast of Spitsbergen

Ship
2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners

Spitsbergen’s northwest coast features calving icebergs, historic whaling stations, and trappers' camps. Brünnich’s guillemots, little auks and kittiwakes nest in the thousands. Reindeer roam tundra dotted with wildflowers like saxifrage, moss campion, and bell-heather. Zodiac cruise to gain fantastic views of ice cliffs, including Monacobreen, one of Spitsbergen’s largest glaciers. In the north, look for walrus and possibly polar bears.

Day 4-5: Greenland Sea

Ship
2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners

While crossing the Greenland Sea, your expert naturalists and guest lecturers entertain you with fascinating talks on plants, animals, and early explorers like Nansen, Andrée, and Scoresby. Keep an eye out for fin whales, encroaching sea ice, and seabirds. Relax and prepare for a landing, if conditions permit, on Greenland’s northeast coast, home to polar bear, Arctic hare, and musk oxen.

Day 6-8: Exploring Greenland

Ship
3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners

Ice is often the overwhelming first impression of Greenland. An ice cap covers 81 percent of the island and pack ice, even in summer, may fill northern bays. Ashore, cozy trappers' huts beckon from across the tundra, where musk ox, arctic fox and eider ducks roam in Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord. Lively cascades at Kap Humboldt provide a microclimate for spectacular hanging gardens. Kong Oskar Fjord offers spectacular glacier-carved mountains.

Day 9-11: Scoresbysund

Ship
3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners

In Scoresby Sund, the world’s biggest fjord system, massive glaciers calve explosively, creating giant icebergs. Near Røde Island, your Zodiacs weave through a maze of grounded icebergs, some more than 30-meters high, sculpted with deep green tunnels and aquamarine lakes. Enjoy a warm Ittoqqortoormiit welcome from Inuit happy to share their culture. Kayakers find ideal paddling conditions, wending their way through interconnected waterways, watching for polar bears and narwhals.

Day 12: Blosseville Coast

Ship
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Sail south along the Blosseville Coast, searching for musk ox and narwhals and marveling at the mountain scenery that dominates the skyline. If weather permits, head for Rømer Fjord, a deep waterway with stunning mountain views.

Day 13: Crossing the Denmark Strait

Ship
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

As the ship sails across Denmark Strait towards Iceland, there's time to reflect on your rich experiences, enjoy northern fulmars and black-backed gulls, and spot dolphins, orcas, and sperm whales in their feeding grounds.

Day 14: Isafjordur | Disembark | Fly to Reykjavik, Iceland

1 Breakfast

Arrive early morning in Isafjordur, a stunning fishing town in Iceland's northwest. After breakfast, bid farewell to Polar Pioneer and her crew and catch an included economy flight to Reykjavik. Begin your journey home or continue your adventure by exploring Iceland.

Ship/Hotel

Polar Pioneer

The Polar Pioneer offers a wide range of polar adventures on its departures including SCUBA diving, sea kayaking, camping, and rock and ice climbing. The Polar Pioneer also offers a very unique opportunity to follow Ernest Shackleton's footsteps & a specialized photography tour in Antarctica.

Dates & Prices

Per person starting at

$8,600

Select a Date

Twin Shared

Twin Shared Cabins have two lower bunks, a desk, small washbasin, ample storage and hanging space and portholes. Showers and toilets are very close by and are shared with other Main Deck cabins.

Notes

Please Note: 2017 and 2018 rates are posted based off of the current exchange rates from Australian dollars. Please contact us for current rates.

Cruise Fare Includes - 2017 and 2018 Departures:

Group transfer from airport to Polar Pioneer in Longyearbyen
Group sightseeing tour in Longyearbyen on arrival pre-voyage (post-voyage on Reykjavik to Longyearbyen itinerary)
Economy class flight from Isafjordur to Reykjavik (vice versa on Reykjavik to Longyearbyen itinerary)
Accommodation during the voyage
All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during the voyage
All shore excursions and Zodiac (inflatable boat) cruises
Educational lectures and guiding services from an expert team
Access to an on board doctor and basic medical services
Complimentary custom-designed Polar Expedition jacket
Loan of gumboots during the voyage
Daily cabin service
Comprehensive pre-departure information
Professionally produced electronic voyage journal
Port taxes, charges and landing fees.

Cruise Fare Includes - 2019 Departures:

Group transfer from airport in Longyearbyen or Reykjavik to Polar Pioneer
Group sightseeing tour in Longyearbyen on arrival pre-voyage (post-voyage on Reykjavik to Longyearbyen itinerary)
Group transfer from Polar Pioneer to downtown Reykjavik or airport in Longyearbyen
Accommodation on the Polar Pioneer in your chosen cabin category with daily cabin service
All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage
All shore excursions and Zodiac (inflatable boat) cruises
Educational lectures and guiding services from our expert team
Access to our on-board doctor and basic medical services
A custom-designed polar expedition jacket to keep
Free gumboot hire during the voyage
Comprehensive pre-departure information
Professionally produced voyage journal (one per booking)
All entry fees to historic landing sites
All port taxes and charges.

Not included in Cruise Fare - All Departures:

International or domestic flights to or from Polar Pioneer, unless specified
Airport arrival or departure taxes
Transfers not mentioned in the itinerary
Visa, passport, and vaccination charges
Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges
Hotels and meals not included in voyage itinerary
Optional excursions not included in the voyage itinerary
Optional activity surcharge. Please contact us if you wish to book any optional activities, such as sea kayaking
All items of a personal nature including but not limited to: alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, gratuities, and email or phone charges.

Payment Details

Terms & Conditions

Operated by Aurora Expeditions

Map

Inquire

Christina M

We Love to Talk Travel

Call 1.800.344.6118
or
Chat Now

Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!

Meyer Smolen

Traveler Favorites

View All Destinations

How Can I Help?

We Make Travel Easy

Plan My Trip