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Spitsbergen, East Greenland & Iceland 2012 Reverse
A reverse itinerary of the Spitsbergen, East Greenland and Iceland voyage this exciting journey begins in Iceland and visits remote Inuit communities and Viking settlements, all the while watching out for wildlife as we round Greenland and head up its east coast before crossing to Spitsbergen. We search for polar bears and whales, as well as walruses. The stunning icebergs in Ilulissat epitomises nature's artistry at its best. Three countries, three versions of the Arctic – this is the expedition for travellers seeking contrasts of landscapes and culture
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Tour Highlights
- Fjords, icebergs and Inuit, East Coast of Greenland
- Explore the Scoresbysund fjord complex
- Greenland Sea
- Musk Ox
- Arctic Exploration
- Eat fermented shark, Reykjavik
- Iceland’s only native land mammal, the Arctic Fox
- Splash out in Reykjavik’s pools
- On board to a strange new world at Longyearbyen
- Polar bears
- Send a letter from the northernmost postbox in Ny Alesund
- Walk Reykjavik’s Laugavegur day or night
Inclusions
- Transfer on embarkation day (Day 2) from hotel in Reykjavik to pier for the start of voyage
- Departure transfer on last day of voyage from Longyearbyen pier to airport
- One night pre-voyage hotel accommodation in Reykjavik
- Complimentary expedition parka - yours to keep
- Shipboard accommodation
- Port taxes
- Highly experienced expedition leader, crew and lecturers
- All meals including afternoon teas on most days
- Access to public viewing areas
- Shore excursions by Zodiac boat
- On-board lectures, videos, slide and film shows
- On-board medical officer
- Comprehensive pre-departure booklet and expedition manual
- Rubber boots
- Expedition cruise ship
- Zodiac
- 14 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 13 dinners
Spitsbergen, East Greenland & Iceland 2012 Reverse
Day 1
Reykjavik
Meals Privided:
Day 1 is an arrival day and you can arrive at any time. You will be on your own to make your own discoveries in Reykjavik. A night in a hotel is included in the voyage price. A transfer from Reykjavik international airport is not included in the voyage price. There are numerous flights a day into Reykjavik, pre-arranged individual transfers are prohibitively expensive and we recommend you arrange a taxi locally. No meals are included on Day 1.
Day 2
Embarkation Day
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
In the morning you will join a group transfer to the pier for embarkation onto the ship. Full details will be sent with your final joining instructions. Once onboard, our expedition team will welcome you and once you’ve settled in we’ll set sail from Reykjavik.
Day 3
Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar)
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The history of the Westman Islands is as shrouded by the mists of time as a Norse Saga. We know that Westman was the name used by the Norse to refer to Irishmen. In the 1600s, a fleet from the Ottoman Empire that included Barbary pirates raided the islands, capturing 400 Icelanders.
You’ll learn more of the history of the islands on a walking tour of the town of Heimaey. You’ll see a documentary about the 1973 eruption of Eldfell. Like the rest of Iceland, the Westman Islands are volcanically active, creating a new island, Surtsey, as recently as 1973.
Day 4-9
Eastern Greenland
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The naturalists assist with seabird identification from the deck of the ship as you sail towards eastern Greenland. Greenland is under home rule, but its international relations are conducted by Denmark. The coast of eastern Greenland is wild, rugged and often ice-bound, an excellent habitat for wildlife that require ice floes to thrive. We’ll sail the ice edge searching for walrus and polar bear. We will lower Zodiacs from time to time to cruise at ocean level or to go ashore. We’ll compare cultures as we visit the remains of ancient Thule settlements and a remote modern-day village, the most northerly on Greenland’s eastern coast. At all times, we’ll be on the alert for musk oxen, because 40% of the world’s population lives on the eastern coast of Greenland. Before leaving Greenland, we plan to sail into Scoresbysund, the largest fjord complex in the world and the birthplace of many icebergs.
Day 10-11
Greenland Sea
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
While at sea, the Expedition Team will deliver illustrated presentations about the Svalbard Islands, Norway, the third Arctic country you will visit. Presentations topics include history, ornithology and marine biology.
Day 12-14
Exploring Spitsbergen
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The temperature drops as we continue northward, crossing 80° N, 965 km (600 miles) from the North Pole. Polar bear and walrus are known to inhabit the waters around the icy north of Svalbard!
Spitsbergen is the largest of the Svalbard Islands, an Arctic archipelago first visited by Europeans in 1596. We’ll take advantage of local weather and ice conditions to seek polar bear and walrus. Anticipate visits to the 14th of July Glacier, the settlement of Ny Alesund and Monaco Glacier.
Day 15
Longyearbyen
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
This expedition disembarks in Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s administrative center.
IN A NUTSHELL
15 days
Please call
108
