15-Days Spitsbergen, Iceland, Faroe Islands – Island Hopping in and around the Arctic (Southbound)

Your expedition begins in Oslo, Norway’s fjord-side capital. If you have time before your flight, why not explore the city centre.

With its rich history and fashionable art scene, Oslo is a fascinating city. You’ll find museums, galleries, and breathtaking architecture all within easy reach – including the beautiful Opera House and new Munch Museum.

Take a stroll in the stunning Ekeberg Sculpture Park, visit Akershus Fortress or relax in a floating sauna. Explore modern Sørenga and enjoy urban beach life, or try New Nordic cuisine before flying out to Longyearbyen in the Svalbard archipelago.

After breakfast, it’s time to explore the world’s northernmost town, a colourful frontier settlement where people are outnumbered by snowmobiles.

Longyearbyen is perfect for exploring on foot. Stroll down the main street and you might see Svalbard reindeer saunter by. Although wild, they’re curious and tame. Admire the polar bear-inspired art or visit the North Pole Expedition Museum.

Get ready for your included excursion after lunch, or join an optional electric bike, dogsledding or hiking tour. In the afternoon, it’s time to board your ship and continue your Arctic discovery as we cruise around Spitsbergen.

Spitsbergen showcases Arctic beauty in its untouched glory, a wilderness of steep mountains, stark glaciers and eerily beautiful islands. You’ll visit some of the world’s most dramatic fjords, immense U-shaped valleys and glaciers preparing to calve icebergs into the sea. You might also spot the region’s apex predator, the magnificent polar bear. They trek the ice along the coast, hunting for seals. We’ll take advantage of every opportunity to land, taking expedition boats ashore for hiking and other activities. If we can, we’ll launch our kayaks to enjoy the scenery in near-perfect silence.

As your Arctic cruise continues towards Jan Mayen, enjoy a day at sea. There’s plenty to do onboard. Scan for marine wildlife from the deck, enjoy the panoramic sauna or a soak in the hot tub. Visit the Science Center for insights into the destinations ahead on your island-hopping expedition. Enjoy a fascinating lecture from the Expedition Team or help collect important data for our Citizen Science projects. Photography enthusiasts can pick up some pointers from our onboard photographer on how to capture wildlife and landscapes. You’ll find the comfort of the Explorer Lounge a great place to read or watch the world glide by.

Jan Mayen has no permanent residents and visits to the island are rare. In fact, we’re one of the few to attempt landings here. If conditions allow, you’ll be setting foot on one of Earth’s most remote places.

Jan Mayen’s surreal, moss and lichen-streaked landscape is dominated by the volcanic cone of Mount Beerenberg. It’s the world’s northernmost active volcano and last erupted in 1985.

You won’t see land mammals, but the island is designated an Important Bird Area, supporting large populations of Northern Fulmars, Brünich’s Guillemots and Little Auks. Look out for abundant marine life in the waters too, including whales and seals.

As we sail from Jan Mayen to Akureyri, you’ll have time to sit back and swap stories of your adventures so far. Keep your eyes peeled while on deck for some wonderful marine life and seabirds – you can even relax in the hot tub up there at the same time.

Join the Expedition Team in the Science Center as they set the scene for the next leg of your expedition in North Iceland. Learn about the island’s stunning landscape, culture and beliefs – such as the Icelandic Elves. You may even get the chance to join one of our knitting workshops.

Gaze at snow-capped peaks as we cruise along Eyjafjörður, Iceland’s longest fjord. It’s one of the best places in Europe to spot humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises. You may see orcas, blue and fin whales too.

Iceland’s ‘Northern Capital’, Akureyri, sits at the fjord base. You’ll enjoy the oasis of a botanical garden, top-notch eateries and museums. A city walk is included.

Join optional excursions to visit impressive Goðafoss Waterfall where turquoise water pounds against black rocks. Spot Eider and Harlequin Ducks at Lake Mývatn, one of Iceland’s more active volcanic areas.

Discover Húsavík on today’s included walking tour – a fascinating small town that’s one of the best places in the world to see whales. We’ll head to Skjálfandi Bay to look out for humpback, minke, white-beaked dolphin, harbour porpoise and, maybe even the elusive blue whale. Learn more about them at Husavik’s Whale Museum.

There’s even a space exploration museum here; NASA thought Húsavík’s geology resembled lunar rocks and sent astronauts from their Apollo space missions here to train. You can also enjoy the geothermal waters at GeoSea overlooking Skjálfandi Bay, and then refresh with a beer at the local microbrewery.

Your Iceland cruise continues to Bakkagerði, a tiny settlement off the beaten track. Your included excursion takes you on a living walk around town to learn about the area from local people. According to folklore, Bakkagerði is inhabited by a large population of elves. It’s also a popular hiking spot. You can hike through lush green valleys and pristine wilderness among colourful rhyolite rocks. The coastal cliffs are home to fulmars, Kittiwakes, Eiders and puffins. We may also visit the Atlantic Puffin colony on Hafnarhólmi – a true gem for nature lovers and wildlife photographers.

Today we cruise from Iceland towards the Faroe Islands. It’s another opportunity to enjoy all the comforts your expedition ship has to offer.

You may have unanswered questions about things you’ve seen in Iceland or things to come in the Faroe Islands. As ever, our Expedition Team will be on hand with lectures and insights about these Arctic islands. The Science Center will keep enquiring minds busy. Work out in the gym or relax in the panoramic sauna, where you can watch the views as you sail. Look for birds and wildlife from the decks. Or just take the time to sort through all those photos you’ve been taking.

Your expedition cruise arrives in the Faroe Islands, part of the Kingdom of Denmark. We’ll stop to explore the tiny village of Elduvík with just 23 inhabitants. While small, it comes complete with a school, church, dock and pier.

From the pier, enjoy the view across the sparkling waters to the nearby island of Kalsoy. It is astonishingly peaceful here.

Homes here are built in traditional Icelandic style, with wooden walls and grass roofs that offer excellent insulation. As you walk through the village’s charming streets, you’ll hear the songs of seabirds, bleating sheep, and waves coming to shore from the fjord.

On Streymoy, the largest of the Faroe Islands, is Tórshavn. Founded by Norsemen in the 10th century, Tórshavn – ‘Thor’s Harbour’ – is one of Northern Europe’s oldest capitals.

Your included walking tour winds through cobbled alleyways and colourful, turf-roofed houses. In the local museums, you’ll learn about the city’s origins and the flora, fauna and geology of the Faroe Islands.

Just over a mile north of the town, Svartafoss Waterfall tumbles over mossy rocks. And as you walk along the seafront, look out for the Eider Drake and the distinctive Faroese Starling with its beige-tipped wings.

Lerwick is the northernmost town in Scotland, with deep Norse roots. You’ll hear it in the dialect and see it in the town hall’s stained glass windows, which tell stories from Viking times. The Shetland Museum, with its Pictish carvings contrasting beautifully with delicate Shetland lace shawls, is a great place to find out more. These islands are famous for birdlife. Key breeding species to look out for include Red-throated Divers, Redshank and Curlew. If you’re walking along the shoreline, look out for grey and common seals too – they’re often seen peeking out from the waters just offshore.

Your Arctic expedition cruise ends in Bergen. Surrounded by mountains and the sea, the old capital is one of Norway’s most picturesque cities. Join our Post-Programme for a guided tour of the sights, including the famous Bryggen district. You can also explore on your own. Take the funicular railway up to the summit of Mount Fløyen for amazing views over the city. Stroll through UNESCO-listed Bryggen and discover its colourful wooden wharfs. Pick up souvenirs in the artisanal boutiques before heading home.