Northern Lights Expedition Cruise

Having made your way to Kirkenes, you will be met and transferred to the group hotel. The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense. Overnight at Thon Hotel Kirkenes (or similar).

After a leisurely breakfast, check out of your room before commencing an excursion of Kirkenes and its surrounds. Transfer to the pier for embarkation in the late afternoon, when you will have time to settle into your cabin before attending a mandatory safety briefing, and enjoy the thrill of departure as the ship sets sail. This evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners, friendly expedition team, and crew at the Welcome Dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure.

Over the next few days you'll explore parts of Norway's remarkable 600-mile-long coastline. Starting in North Cape, in the very north of the country, the ship makes its way south, stopping in the Lofoten Islands and visiting mesmerizing Mount Torghatten, famous for the hole through its center.

The spectacular northern lights is a natural phenomenon that is most commonly seen in the sky above the Arctic Circle, between late autumn and early spring. As you are near North Cape in northern Norway, keep a close watch in hope of witnessing this dazzling spectacle in the night sky. The North Cape is located at a latitude of 71° 10' 21 and is Europe's northernmost point. Here you'll enjoy a short walk, visit the North Cape Hall, and perhaps sample some local treats.

Enjoy a Zodiac cruise through spectacular Trollfjord, a gorge flanked by steep mountains and so narrow that it can only be accessed by small ships. In the Lofoten Islands, voted by National Geographic as one the of the most beautiful destinations in the world, stroll through picturesque villages dotted with red and white fishers' huts, surrounded by soaring granite peaks. Visit the Lofoten Seafood Center and learn about the impressive cod fisheries and perhaps sample some local seafood.

Crossing south of the Arctic Circle, visit the Vega archipelago, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. Vega Island is fantastic for bird-watching and here eider ducks are the main attraction, where they are raised for their down, which at one point accounted for one-third of the islanders' income. The islanders still make houses for the birds to nest in and in return, the ducks provide valuable down when they and their chicks leave the nests to continue their lives at sea. The archipelago reflects a traditional way of life that has not changed for more than 1,500 years. On nearby Torget Island, the plan is to land and hike to Torghatten, a fascinating rock formation with an equally interesting legend describing the hole in the mountain as having been created by a troll's arrow.

Enjoy the crossing to Jan Mayen, accompanied by seabirds while searching for whales. Enjoy informative talks from the team of experts, get to know your fellow expeditioners, stay active in the gym, or treat yourself to a massage in the wellness center. Remember to look to the skies at night and hope for sightings of the northern lights.

The approach to Jan Mayen is spectacular. The huge Beerenberg volcano is the world's northernmost active volcano, last erupting in 1985. The northern part of the island is a great place to look for whales and dolphins, and contains impressive glaciers, some of which reach the sea. If the weather is friendly, we will try to land at Kvalrossbukta, a relatively sheltered bay on the island's west coast. This is one of the landings used to supply the Norwegian weather station at Olonkinbyen, a settlement situated on the eastern side of the island. We hope to land in front of the station at Olonkinbyen, and visit it before embarking on a three-hour hike (weather permitting) back across the island to where the Greg Mortimer will be waiting for passengers in Kvalrossbukta. The trusty Zodiacs will transport everyone back to the ship.

The series of onboard lectures continues as the ship sails toward the wild coast of East Greenland. You will learn about sea ice, glaciers, the unique geology found in East Greenland, and daring tales of European exploration. We are also in the prime zone to view the northern lights, so glance up to the skies and you might just see more than shimmering stars.

In the coming days, a host of choices are available, and depending on ice and weather conditions, the east coast of Greenland is yours to explore. The members of the experienced Expedition Team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to tailor the voyage to suit the day-to-day conditions. This allows them to make best use of the prevailing weather, ice conditions, and any opportunities for wildlife encounters. We generally attempt up to two landings or Zodiac excursions per day, including cruising along spectacular ice cliffs, following whales feeding near the surface.

Be prepared to experience ice—and lots of it! East Greenland contains some of the Arctic's most impressive scenery. Deep fjords and narrow channels, flanked by sharp ice-clad peaks soaring up to 6,500 feet, and glaciers birthing gigantic icebergs that drift throughout the fjord system, combine to create breathtaking scenes.

The tundra landscape is home to musk oxen, arctic hares, and reindeer. Throughout the area there are ancient Thule archaeological sites, historical trappers' huts, and the cabins of present-day Inuit hunters. A highlight is a visit to the Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit, the most isolated and northernmost permanent settlement in the region, with approximately 450 inhabitants. The community has an excellent museum, gift shop, an abundance of Greenlandic sled dogs, and provides the opportunity to meet the friendly locals.

Explore Scoresbysund, the world's largest fjord system and a favorite hunting ground of the local Inuit. Massive glaciers flow into this fjord, the birthplace of hundreds of majestic Greenland icebergs. It is a spectacular place that simply needs to be seen to be believed. North of Scoresbysund lie Kong Oskar and Kaiser Franz Josef fjords, two of the most significant fjord systems in Greenland, each one encompassing several smaller fjords and sounds. Thanks to the fertile volcanic soil and the surrounding mountains offering protection from strong winds, the area is rich in wildlife. You may spot everything from musk oxen and arctic foxes to mountain hares and even reindeer near the fjord. Look skyward and you could catch a glimpse of birds, including the glaucous gull, black-legged kittiwake, northern fulmar, common raven, and common eider.

There will be an attempt to enter Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord, a remote and rarely visited fjord system with countless opportunities for exploration, located within the Northeast Greenland National Park. Cruising through Kong Oskar Fjord, marvel at the geological beauty of the mountains. You will then head south along the coast of Liverpool Land, with passage dependent on ice conditions.

Stretch your legs on hikes across tundra in search of ancient graveyards and summer villages occupied 3,000 years ago by Inuit. You may see musk oxen, arctic hares, and reindeer grazing. The maze of calm, interconnecting waterways in this area provides excellent opportunities for sea kayaking. You will see ring seals, perhaps catch a glimpse of the elusive narwhal, and maybe even a polar bear hunting on pack ice.

Crossing the Denmark Strait to Iceland, search for whale blows and photograph the many seabirds that trail the ship in the ever-present arctic winds. The dark night skies promise more opportunities to experience the northern lights.

Over the coming days, you'll explore the Westfjords region, which features outstanding landscapes with jaw-dropping views of dramatic fjords carved by ancient glaciers, sheer table-top mountains that plunge into the sea, and pristine north Atlantic vegetation. The region features attractive towns such as as Isafjordur, the famous Dynjandi waterfall, and spectacular fjords that are ideal for kayaking, hiking, and birdwatching.

In genuine expeditionary style, the itinerary is flexible to allow for spontaneity. The plan is to visit Hornstrandir Peninsula, one of Iceland's remotest and most pristine regions, which is filled with deep and dramatic fjords, towering bird cliffs, stunning natural beauty, and opportunities for wildlife encounters. Enjoy the bountiful silence and magnificent landscapes seen by the few adventurers that make their way here. In Húsavik, you may have magical encounters with the many whales that visit this part of Iceland, known as the country's whale-watching capital.

During the early morning, cruise into Reykjavik and disembark at approximately 8:00 am. Bid farewell to your expedition team and fellow passengers as you continue your onward journey. Transfer to Keflavik airport or to your centrally located hotel.

Note: We do not recommend booking flights departing prior to 12:00 pm on the day of disembarkation, as we may experience delays at the conclusion of the voyage.