Prolific birdlife including Atlantic puffins are found on Fair Isle in the Shetlands | Olga Parshina
Prolific birdlife including Atlantic puffins are found on Fair Isle in the Shetlands  | Olga Parshina
Polar Bear in the arctic  | Sue Werner
Skaill House on the Orkney Islands  | John Bozinov
Calm reflections sailing Svalbard  | Gesine Cheung
Reykjavik, Iceland  | Valerie Deltour
Curious Bearded Seal relaxing on the pack ice  | Gesine Cheung
Seals around Svalbard  | John Bozinov
Views across Magdalenefjord as we approach in the zodiac  | Gesine Cheung

Across the Arctic Circle, Jan Mayen & Svalbard

Visit the remote volcanic island of Jan Mayen

13 Days from

$7795 USD

Trip Code: IGN
View dates to BookEssential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Main Deck Suite
$10595 USD
Classic Suite
$11395 USD
Superior Suite
$11595 USD
Deluxe Suite
$12895 USD
Premium Suite
$14195 USD
Single Suite
$15695 USD
Owner's Suite
$18095 USD

Duration

  • 13 Days

Activities

  • 11 days expeditions cruising

Accommodation

  • 11 nights aboard Sea Spirit
  • 1 night hotel

Meals

  • 11 Dinners
  • 10 Lunches
  • 12 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading  

1 / 10

Discovery and Cruising

Trip highlights

  • Explore Skara Brae, a 5000 year old Neolithic village
  • The birdwatching paradise of Fair Island
  • Visit Torshavn the capital of the Faroe Islands
  • Experience the Majestic beauty of Spitsbergen
  • Possible Polar Bear & Beluga Whale sightings

Overview

This comprehensive voyage takes you from the Scottish highlands, across the Arctic Circle, all the way north to the incredible landscapes of Svalbard. Commencing in Edinburgh we sail north to the historic Orkneys and on to the lush and craggy Faroe Islands, its cliffs teeming with seabirds. We continue north to view the ice-covered slopes of Mount Beerenberg, the world's northernmost active volcanic, located on the island of Jan Mayen island and cruise the island's northern coast where we search for whales and dolphins. From here we sail to Svalbard's northwest coast with an aim to cross 80 degrees north. We will keep our eyes out for Polar Bear and walrus on the pack ice and hope to zodiac cruise some of the dramatic bird cliffs, looking for puffins nesting on ledges. Here we can marvel at the archipelago's volcanic geology, cruise through impressive glacier-filled fjords or strike out on tundra hikes. This journey ticks all the boxes- whether your passion is wildlife, wilderness or history.

Itinerary

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Welcome to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland and starting point of our expedition. To provide you with more time to enjoy this metropolis rich in history and culture, we’ve arranged pre-cruise hotel accommodations. Relax and take a stroll through town, enjoying both medieval and classic 18th-century architecture. The famous Edinburgh Castle rises majestically above it all.

Meals: Nil

Enjoy the morning and early afternoon at leisure. Each corner of Edinburgh’s old streets opens beautiful unexpected vistas of green hills or a blue flash of the distant sea. In the afternoon, you will be transferred from the hotel to the ship in the nearby Port of Leith. Before dinner, there’s time to explore the Sea Spirit, your home-away-from home for the next days.

Meals: B,D

Kirkwall is a small, quiet town, with a gentle pace of life. The town is the capital of the remote and amazing Orkney archipelago. Kirkwall is first mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in 1046. Such a long history has left a rich heritage that we explore today. The most famous are the sandstone St Magnus Cathedral, considered the finest medieval building in the north of Scotland, the Bishop’s Palace and the Earl’s Palace. We head into the west of Mainland, Orkney’s largest island, passing through the gentle rolling landscape and into the Neolithic Heartland of Orkney; an area designated as a World Heritage Site due to its wealth of pre-historic archaeology. Passing the Standing Stones of Stenness, we will stop at the Ring of Brodgar; a huge ceremonial circle of stones dating back almost 5000 years. We then continue on to the 5000-year-old village of Skara Brae, beautifully interpreted in the visitor centre. See the remarkable dwellings revealed from beneath the sand dunes by storms only 150 years ago. Hear some of the stories from your guide today en route back to Kirkwall. Once back in the island capital we will take a tour of St Magnus Cathedral, built by the Vikings during their 500 year reign over the islands.

Meals: B,L,D

Fair Isle is a real paradise for birdwatchers. Huge number of birds inhabits the lush grasslands and spectacular cliffs. Over 345 species have been recorded here – more than anywhere else in Britain. During our walk across the island, we hope to see northern fulmars, kittiwakes, northern gannets, puffins, and great and arctic skuas.

Meals: B,L,D

National Geographic Traveler had designated Faroe Islands as “authentic, unspoiled and likely to remain so”. It seems that the Nature spares no colours in “painting” the islands. Deep-green hills, bright blue sea, colourful houses and boats, orange-red puffins’ beaks make the sceneries unforgettable, meanwhile traditional wooden dwellings with turf roofs look like they belong in a fairy tale. The rugged Faroese are proud of their Viking heritage and their love of the sea. Today we will explore Tórshavn, the capital and largest city of Faroe Islands. Tórshavn is a unique city, where history meets modernity, where picturesque old turfed houses and modern buildings stand side by side

Meals: B,L,D

Presentations and workshops by our expert staff, as well as our range of onboard recreation facilities, ensure that this day at sea is not idly spent. Seabird viewing and whale sightings can be enjoyed from panoramic open decks as well as exterior stateroom windows and balconies.

Meals: B,L,D

Jan Mayen hosts the landscapes of breathtaking beauty and northernmost subaerial active volcano on the planet – the Beerenberg. The island is wild and uninhabited not including members of Norwegian weather station. The signboard at the entrance door says (translated from the Norwegian): “Theory is when you understand everything but nothing works. Practice is when everything works but nobody understands why. On this station, we combine theory and practice in a way that nothing works and nobody understands why”. Northern fulmars, Kittiwakes, and Brünich’s guillemots breeding on steep cliffs and slopes represent the birdlife of Jan Mayen.

Meals: B,L,D

Lectures prepare us for the unique Arctic wildlife and awesome landscapes of Spitsbergen, which we will spend coming days exploring.

Meals: B,L,D

This is a real expedition in a true High Arctic wilderness. As such, our route and exploration opportunities here are heavily dependent on the weather and sea ice conditions we encounter. Our experienced captain and expedition leader decide the itinerary and continually adjust plans as conditions and opportunities warrant. You can be sure that the best possible advantage will be taken of the circumstances presented to us by Nature in this wild and remote corner of the Arctic. Polar bears and other quintessential Arctic wildlife can be spotted anytime, anywhere in and around Svalbard. We exploit every opportunity to experience excellent wildlife viewing, to discover incredible scenery, and to walk in the footsteps of the historic polar expeditions that came before us. We anticipate exploring the spectacular fjords, coasts, and islands in the western part of Svalbard. This area contains the archipelago’s most impressive scenery and some of the Arctic’s best wildlife viewing opportunities. Deep fjords and narrow channels are flanked by jagged snowy mountain peaks. Immense tidewater glaciers calve icebergs into turquoise waters. Fields of flowering tundra are home to grazing reindeer and playful Arctic fox. Bountiful inshore and offshore waters are home to walrus and a wide variety of whales. The whole area is alive with migratory birds, including numerous rare species, taking advantage of summer’s fecundity in 24-hour daylight. To complete the Arctic experience we also explore places rich with history. Our area of exploration contains the historical remnants of whaling camps, coal mining operations, trappers’ cabins, staging areas for historic attempts to discover the North Pole, and even an abandoned polar research station. The days are filled with memorable excursions, sumptuous meals, presentations by our experts, and enough stunning scenery and wildlife to fill your camera and overwhelm your emotions.

Meals: B,L,D

After filling up with one last buffet breakfast on board, we bid you farewell in Longyearbyen. We provide transfers to the airport or to the town center in case you plan to stay longer in Svalbard. By this time, you may already be making plans for your next amazing trip with us into the polar worlds!

Meals: B

Ready to start your adventure?

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What’s included?

Included

  • 12 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 12 dinners
  • 1 night hotel accommodation in Edinburgh on a triple or twin share basis (depending on ship berth configuration chosen)
  • Transfers to and from the ship on Day 2 & Day 13
  • Comfortable cabin accommodation and use of all public areas on cruise
  • Specialist expedition staff
  • All shore excursions from the ship including the use of Zodiacs
  • Lectures, videos, slide and film shows and guide services
  • Medical services. There is a resident medical officer and infirmary on board (charges may apply)
  • Port taxes and port charges imposed by government authorities
  • Pre-departure information
  • Complimentary Polar Expedition Jacket
  • Rubber boots for shore landings for the time of the cruise
  • Digital Voyage Log

Not included

  • Air transport and airport transfers before and after the cruise (other than group transfer from the ship)
  • Visa, passport and vaccination charges and airport departure taxes
  • Accommodation and meals or other services not included in the ship cruise itinerary
  • Laundry, postage, personal clothing, medical expenses, travel insurance and items of a personal nature such as bar charges, wine and phone calls
  • Emergency evacuation charges
  • Customary end of voyage tips

Responsible travel

Extra trip info

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