Spitsbergen, Iceland, Faroe Islands – Island Hopping In and Around the Arctic (Itinerary 2)

Spitsbergen, Iceland, Faroe Islands – Island Hopping In and Around the Arctic
(Itinerary 2)

14 days with Hurtigruten Rating:

Itinerary

Day 1 Oslo / Longyearbyen

Your trip starts with an evening flight from Oslo. If time allows, enjoy the museums, parks and trendy cafés of the Norwegian capital before your flight to Longyearbyen in the Svalbard Archipelago. Transfer to and overnight at your hotel.

Day 2 Longyearbyen

Join an excursion after lunch to explore Svalbard’s capital, nestled next to the Isfjord and surrounded by rugged mountains. You’ll find Longyearbyen a surprisingly modern settlement, with a small and welcoming international community running cafés, bars, restaurants, artisanal shops, and even a chocolatier and a micro-brewery. Board your ship in the afternoon.

Day 3-4 North West Spitsbergen National Park

Summertime in the Svalbard Archipelago is when polar bears trek along the coast’s drifting ice on the hunt for seals. With a bit of luck, we hope to spot one or more of these top predators in the national park.

Depending on the movement and thickness of the sea ice, we might visit Kongsfjord´s mighty glaciers and catch sight of icebergs calving into the sea. We also plan to call on Ny-Ålesund, a former mining town now transformed into an international science center. Here, you’ll find 16 permanent research stations from 10 countries dedicated to the study of glaciology, wildlife, and climate change.

Day 5 At sea

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea with onboard lectures while we set course towards Jan Mayen. Our Expedition Team will hold talks and workshops and share their knowledge and experience.

Day 6 Jan Mayen Island

The Norwegian island of Jan Mayen has two main areas. The north is dominated by ice-capped Beerenberg, the northernmost active volcano on Earth. The south is flatter and unglaciated, and where 30 people live at a weather station. The island is a breeding site for large numbers of seabirds such as fulmars, auks, and guillemots.

Visits to Jan Mayen are extremely rare, and Hurtigruten is one of the few to attempt landings on this Arctic island.

Day 7 At sea

Days at sea are an opportunity to wind down and watch the waves or enjoy a lecture or two from the Expedition Team.

Day 8 Akureyri

Welcome to Iceland’s largest community outside of Reykjavík. Expect comfy cafés, restaurants, and chic art galleries. There are also various museums of interest, distinct churches, and botanical gardens, which will be in full bloom at the time of your visit. Akureyri is also close to natural treasures, such as Lake Mývatn and the Goðafoss waterfall.

Day 9 Husavik

Húsavík is Iceland’s oldest Norse settlement and considered one of the best whale-watching spots in Europe. Up to 23 species of whale, including the blue whale, are known to visit nearby Skjálfandi Bay. The town also has many interesting museums and an outdoor thermal hot spring on the picturesque peninsula.

Day 10 Bakkagerði

Bakkagerði is one of Iceland’s smallest hamlets, a quiet haven well off the tourist track. The place is well-known for its fairy-tale-like natural beauty, and the locals have come to call the region `The Land of the Elves.´ Many puffin colonies also line the nearby fjord, making it a popular place for birdwatching.

Day 11 Enjoy a day at sea

The day is at your leisure aboard the ship. Relax while gazing out at the view, learn more from the knowledgeable Expedition Team in our lecture series, or swap experiences of the expedition so far with your fellow explorers.

Day 12 Elduvík

Located in the Funningsfjørður inlet in the Faroe Islands, the village of Elduvík lies by the shore at the end of a long, lush valley surrounded by stunning green mountains and with the river Stórá running through the middle. Just 23 people inhabit the village, complete with a school, church, dock, pier, and colorful houses.

Day 13 Lerwick

Built on the herring trade in the 17th century, Lerwick northernmost town is home to a third of the Shetland Islands' population.Visit local boutique shops along Commercial Street, wander along the waterfront with its sandstone buildings, or visit the museum to learn more about the town’s Norse heritage.

Day 14 Bergen

Your journey ends in the bustling port city of Bergen. We recommend booking a Post-program to extend your stay here to explore Bergen´s famous fish market and its UNESCO-listed Bryggen wharf of colorful wooden warehouses. You can also board a funicular up to Mount Fløyen for views over city, the fjord, and the surrounding mountains.

All This Included

This late autumn voyage takes in a variety of wild, lush green islands in and around the Arctic region, all the while with chances of the aurora borealis appearing above. We start in Svalbard, Norway, and sail south down to the northern coasts of Iceland via volcanic Jan Mayen. Then, we sail to the Faroe Islands, across to Scotland, and end in Norway.

Flights

Flight in coach class from Oslo to Longyearbyen before the expedition cruise

Hotel

Overnight in Longyearbyen before the expedition cruise, including breakfast and lunch

Transfers

All transfers in Longyearbyen including an excursion before the expedition cruise

Expedition Cruise

Expedition cruise in a cabin of your choice
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner including beverages (house beer and wine, sodas, and mineral water) in restaurant Aune
Complimentary tea and coffee
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board. Be aware that we sail in remote areas with very limited connection. Streaming is not supported.
Complimentary reusable water bottle to use at water refill stations on board
English-speaking Expedition Team who organise and accompany activities on board and ashore
Range of included excursions

Onboard Activities

Experts on the Expedition Team deliver in-depth lectures on a variety of topics
Use of the ship’s Science Center, which has an extensive library and advanced biological and geological microscopes
Citizen Science program allows guests to assist with current scientific research
Professional onboard photographer gives top tips and tricks for the best landscape and wildlife photos
Use of the ship’s hot tubs, sauna and indoor gym
Informal gatherings with the crew such as daily recaps and preparation for the day to come

Landing Activities

Escorted landings with small explorer boats
Loan of boots, trekking poles, and all equipment for activities
Complimentary wind- and water-resistant expedition jacket
Expedition Photographers help with your camera settings before landings

Highlights

Visit five wild and beautiful islands from our countries in and around the Arctic.
Destinations include Svalbard, Jan Mayen, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Scotland.
Journeying in late autumn means the mesmerizing Northern Lights might appear.
Explore habitats with a range of wildlife and famous for bird- and whale-watching.

Accommodations

Cruising: Cabin onboard MS Spitsbergen

Notes

Cabin upgrades are available.
All planned activities are subject to weather and ice conditions.
Excursions and activities are subject to change.
Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.

Terms and Conditions

For Hurtigruten terms and conditions, please click here.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines.

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