Arctic Odyssey from Svalbard to Iceland

Longyearbyen→Reykjavik

27.07.26 - 09.08.26

V2126072713SH VEGA

Ports8

Countries3

Nights13

An expedition from Svalbard to Iceland featuring Arctic wildlife, drifting pack ice, remote high-latitude coastlines, and Iceland’s geysers, hot springs, and cascading waterfalls

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Take a remarkable journey from Svalbard and the rarely visited Jan Mayen Island to Greenland and Iceland on this thrilling Arctic adventure. Explore Svalbard’s pristine landscapes, cross the Norwegian Sea to remote Jan Mayen Island, and navigate East Greenland’s dramatic Kong Oscar Fjord and Scoresby Sund, the world’s largest fjord system. Visit Ittoqqortoormiit, one of Greenland’s most isolated settlements, and experience Greenland’s striking scenery with its towering cliffs, drifting icebergs, and diverse Arctic wildlife. The expedition continues to Iceland, visiting the charming villages of Ísafjörður and Vigur Island, known for its rich birdlife and traditional eiderdown farming, and concludes in Reykjavik

NOTE: This itinerary provides general information about each destination. Also, please be aware that some of the venues and highlights mentioned may not be open or accessible on the day we visit. For the most accurate tour program, we recommend contacting your Swan Hellenic agent or travel agent closer to your departure date.

Overview

Day 1

Longyearbyen

The world's most northerly town, Longyearbyen, on Spitsbergen, Svalbard's largest island, also claims the most northerly high street and pub. It's home to the North Pole Expeditions Museum, chronicling early pole-reaching efforts by air. Arctic waters around are populated by whales, including bowheads and narwhals, while walruses are regularly seen hauling out

Days 2-4

Svalbard

Svalbard is the kingdom of the polar bears, deep in the Arctic Circle, featuring varied polar landscapes and gargantuan glaciers. Beyond magnificent fjords in the north, the remaining sea ice serves as prime hunting grounds for polar bears. Closer to Longyearbyen, tundra and beaches replace snow and ice. Alongside 600 polar bears, this Arctic hotspot is home to walrus, Svalbard reindeer, ringed seals and arctic fox

Day 5

Day at sea

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers

Day 6

Jan Mayen Island

The snow-covered stratovolcano Beerenberg dominates the ice cap and glaciers at the northeast end of Jan Mayen Island. Halfway between Svalbard and Iceland, this Norwegian island's only residents are the Norwegian Armed Forces or meteorological station staff. Purple saxifrage and endemic dandelions grow next to the black sands, while northern fulmars, Brünnich’s and black guillemots, and little auks make Jan Mayen an important birding area

Days 7-9

Kong Oscar Fjord

Kong Oscar Fjord marks the northern edge of Scoresbysund and leads to Northeast Greenland National Park, the world’s largest national park. Its vast valleys open to the sea, framed by towering mountains, deep waters and shimmering ice. This dramatic, hostile yet beautiful landscape features Berzelius Bjerg, a striking mountain with colourful strata, formed millions of years ago when these peaks lay beneath the ocean

Day 10

Ittoqqortoormiit

One of the world's most remote towns and the most isolated community in Greenland, Ittoqqortoormiit is largely inaccessible by ship for nine months of the year. Founded in 1925 by Danish explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen and Inuit settlers, it is home to 450 residents who mostly rely on hunting and fishing. The community preserves Greenlandic traditions, from harvesting qiviut–the prized muskox underfur–to maintaining sled dogs and wearing national dress

Days 10-12

Scoresbysund

The world’s largest fjord system, Scoresbysund spans over 350 km into Greenland’s heart. This vast network of fjords, glaciers and icebergs is framed by towering basalt mountains, which shield Greenland’s wildlife from Arctic winds. Muskoxen, Arctic foxes and mountain hares roam the land, while little auks, puffins, fulmars, snowy owls, gyrfalcons and great black-backed gulls soar overhead. Seals and whales are common sightings in the waters

Day 13

Vigur Island

A jewel of the Westfjords, Vigur is the fjord's second-largest island and a thriving seabird sanctuary. Flocks of arctic terns, puffins, guillemots and eider ducks nest atop rocky cliffs. As one of only two inhabited islands, Vigur supports a family farm continuing the centuries-old eiderdown harvest across 3,500 nests. This remote pillar also houses Iceland's sole windmill, its tiniest post office and a 200-year-old, still-seaworthy rowing boat

Day 14

Reykjavik

Iceland’s vibrant capital, Reykjavík, is the world’s northernmost capital city and a lively gateway between Arctic nature and modern Nordic culture. Set between mountains and the North Atlantic, the city is known for its colourful houses, striking architecture, and a strong connection to geothermal energy, which provides heating and hot water across the city and warms outdoor pools year-round. Reykjavík offers a rich cultural scene with museums, music, and design, while dramatic volcanic landscapes, lava fields, and waterfalls lie just beyond the city. The surrounding waters are prime for whale watching, making Reykjavík a fitting and memorable conclusion to an Arctic voyage