During this 14-day active adventure from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, to Reykjavik, Iceland, we intend to explore the islands of Spitsbergen, Moffen, Greenland and Westmann. Optional kayaking adds adrenalin to an Adventure Ship expedition that includes Zodiac cruising and shore landings.

Longyearbyen is the seat of government for the archipelago of Svalbard, Norway’s Arctic islands. Located on the picturesque island of Spitsbergen, the community has a population of about a thousand. Boarding of the Adventure Ship Akademik Sergey Vavilov occurs in the late afternoon, so we suggest that you arrive early to explore the quaint village.

The Expedition Team plans all your activities to take advantage of local weather and ice conditions. Anticipate visits to the 14th of July Glacier, the settlement of Ny Alesund, a base station of international Arctic research, and Monaco Glacier. Be on the alert as we explore for wildlife. Sightings of Arctic Terns, Arctic Skuas, Long-tailed Ducks, Kittiwakes, Glaucous Gulls and reindeer are possible. Moffen Island is a walrus sanctuary, if the conditions are right, we may see walrus hauled out on shore or swimming in the protected waters. Polar bear sightings are another possibility.

The optional kayaking will occur at the same time as a shore landing or a Zodiac cruise. The exact location and time will be determined by the kayak master in consultation with the Expedition Leader.

While at sea, the Expedition Team delivers illustrated presentations about the wildlife and cultures they anticipate you will encounter in Greenland. The naturalists assist with seabird identification from the deck of the ship. You may participate in as many, or as few, shipboard activities as you choose.

The coast of eastern Greenland is wild, rugged and often ice-bound. This area is an excellent habitat for wildlife that require ice floes to thrive, such as polar bear. We’ll sail the ice edge, lowering Zodiacs from time to time to cruise at ocean level or to go ashore.

If conditions permit, we’ll compare cultures as we visit the remains of ancient Thule settlements and a remote modern day settlement. At all times, we’ll be on the alert for musk oxen, because 40% of the world’s population lives on the eastern coast.

Before we leave Greenland we plan to sail into Scoresbysund, the largest fjord in the world.

While crossing Denmark Strait en route to Iceland, we’ll watch for whales, and learn about the extraordinary geology and history of Iceland and its surrounding islands.

The history of the Westman Islands is as shrouded by the mists of time as a Norse Saga. The name refers to a term used by the Norse to refer to Irishmen, or west men.

In the 1600’s a fleet from the Ottoman Empire that included Barbary Pirates raided the islands, capturing 400 inhabitants. They were sold into slavery in Algiers.

Like the rest of Iceland, the Westman Islands are volcanically active. As recently as 1963, a new island, Surtsey, was created as a result of a volcanic eruption.

This expedition disembarks in the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik.

• Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping.
• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage.
• All shore landings and excursions per the daily program.
• Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings and other activities.
• Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled.
• Photographic Album on DVD.
• A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings.
• Hair dryer in every cabin.
• A Quark Expeditions parka.
• Coffee, tea, cocoa and bottled water available around the clock.
• Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Arctic Reader.
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
• Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all passengers to a maximum of $100,000 per person.
• One night pre- and one night post-expedition hotel accommodation with breakfast as indicated in the itinerary.
• Group transfers from the hotel to the airport and from the airport to the ship for embarkation
• Group transfers from the ship to the local airport upon disembarkation and from the airport to the hotel at the end of the voyage – plus all baggage handling aboard ship.

• Any airfare, however for some departures, economy seats on our charter flights must be purchased in conjunction with the voyage. The applicable per person cost is indicated.
• Passport and visa expenses.
• Government arrival and departure taxes.
• Any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel before embarkation.
• Baggage, cancellation and medical travel insurance.
• Excess baggage charges.
• Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges.
• Telecommunications charges.
• The customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for Hospitality Team Members, ship’s crew and Expedition Team members.
Map of Voyage